It was half-past eight in the morning. The telephone rang and Mary went to answer it.
'Hello, who's that?' she asked.
'It's me—Peter.'
Peter was a friend of Mary's eight-year-old brother, Johnny.
'Oh, hello, Peter. What do you want?' said Mary.
'Can I speak to Johnny?'
'No,' said Mary, 'you can't speak to him now. He is busy. He is getting ready for school. He is eating his breakfast. Grandmother is combing his hair. Sister is under the table, putting his shoes on. Mother is getting his books and putting them in his school bag. Goodbye, I've got to go now. I have to hold the door open. The school bus is coming.'