Use of English
Task 5
This Little Piggy Stayed At Home
It was New Year’s Eve and, after a hectic Christmas, my boyfriend Paul and I were planning a quiet evening in. So, while Paul was in town, I sat down with a glass of wine, my sandwich and a pork pie, (23)______ the peace.
A few minutes later, I heard Paul arrive home and come clattering into the kitchen.
“Surprise!” he called. As I looked (24)_______ at what he was holding in his arms, my mouth flew wide open. A little pig, with a bow around its neck, sniffed the air excitedly.
What’s that? I cried, about to bite into my pork pie.
Paul gave me an odd look. “It’s a...” he began.
“I know it’s a pig,” I sighed. “But what’s it doing here?”
“She’s our new pet,” he proudly (25)_______ . I put my pork pie down guiltily. “The farmers down the road didn’t want her, and were going to send her to the slaughter-house, so I (26)_______ her,” he explained.
“But it’s a pig!” I exclaimed.
We’d just moved into our house, were in the middle of (27)_______ , and we already had a cat. There was no way we could have a pig running around the place. For the next couple of days, I didn’t speak to Paul - I was too angry (28)________ him. He put the pig in the conservatory, and I wouldn’t be hesitated about my plan to find a farm to adopt her.
When Paul went out a couple of days later, I was left holding the pig. I fed her some food and, as hard as I tried, I couldn’t help smiling when she nuzzled into my arms, lifting her leg up to be tickled. I (29)________ her little belly, and she let out a snort. I wondered if she was (30)________ bored in the conservatory, so I took her into the sitting room.
When Paul came home, he found me and the pig under a blanket on the sofa. “I’ve named her Harriet,” I said. “But it’s just until we find another home,” I added quickly.
But, as time went on, I made little (31)________ to find Harriet a new home. “I can’t get rid of her,” I told Paul one day.
“You mean it?” smiled Paul.
“She can stay,” I added.
Harriet does take (32)________ a lot of time - I even have to rub moisturiser and suncream in to protect her skin. But she’s part of the family now. This pig’s for life, nor just for Christmas!