Simon cautiously sits on long wooden bench that is slightly uneven, Laura observes, one bench foot rests on thick mat edge in school hall.

The Bench Seat

School Readers · Level 13

Laura and Simon are helping prepare the school hall for a film afternoon. They arrange chairs, then put a long bench at the back. Simon sits down to check it. The seat rocks from side to side.

Simon stands safely clear while Laura looks under empty four-legged bench moved beside aisle, mat edge still under one foot.

Simon stands up so Laura can check safely. She looks under the bench. All four legs are there, and none seem broken. They move the bench away from the walking space.

Teacher points to one bench foot on thick mat edge, Laura and Simon watch.

Their teacher comes to look. She notices one foot resting on the edge of a thick mat. The other feet are on the floor. “That makes the seat uneven,” she says.

Teacher checks steady empty bench now moved fully onto clear level floor away from mat, Laura and Simon stand nearby with clear walkway.

Laura and Simon help move the bench onto a clear level space. Their teacher checks it before anyone sits down. Now it stays steady. They make sure there is room to walk past it.

Two teenage classmates sit on steady bench viewing blank grey film screen, Laura checks clear aisle, Simon and teacher by light switch.

When the class arrives, two students choose the bench. They can see the screen from the back without blocking the door. Laura checks the clear path once more. Simon dims the lights with their teacher.

Laura puts chairs away while Simon rolls mat aside in school hall after film.

After the film, they help put the chairs away. “The bench was not broken,” says Laura. “It just needed the right place.” Simon rolls the mat aside. “Looking underneath helped us find out.”

The Bench Seat

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