Chapter 5 Five Days In this chapter Mrs Frisby encounters Dragon and she sees the rats moving large wire. Listen and follow along. **Vocabulary with definitions and audio for chapters 1-5. https://teach.italki.com/vocabulary/910556** **Vocabulary with definitions and audio for chapters 5-10. https://teach.italki.com/vocabulary/927367 Send me a message for your free pdf copy of this book. https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/13365914 The sound of the tractor did not necessarily mean that Mr Fitzgibbon was getting ready to plough. He used it for many other things — hauling hay and firewood, for instance, and mowing, and clearing snow in the winter. Mrs Frisby reminded herself of all this as she hurried over to the corner post. That was a very thick fence post at the corner of the garden nearest the farmhouse and the tractor shed. She had discovered long ago that it had, a few inches above the ground, a convenient knot hole with a hollow place behind it in which she could hide, when she had reason to, and watch what was going on in the yard. The cat, Dragon, also knew of its existence, so she had to look sharply when she came out. She came up carefully behind the post, stared this way and that, and then darted around it and up into the hole. All clear. Mr Fitzgibbon had backed the tractor out of the big, cluttered shed where he kept it. Leaving the motor idling, he climbed down from the seat and called to the house. In a moment his older son Paul came out, closing the door carefully behind him. Paul, at fifteen, was a quiet, hardworking boy, rather clumsy in his movements but strong and careful about his chores. In a few seconds he was followed by his younger brother Billy, who at twelve was noisier and had an annoying habit of skimming rocks across the grass at anything that moved. Mrs Frisby did not much care for Billy. ‘All right, boys,’ said Mr Fitzgibbon, ‘let’s haul it out and see about that linch-pin.’ ......

** This story contains graphic and explicit material it is not recommended for children. For mature audiences only. ** 18+ The Parrot and the Potbellied Pig from Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk by David Sedaris Illustrations by Ian Falconer Read by me Teacher Alyse. Listen and follow along. Send me a message me for your free pdf copy of this book. https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/13365914 The way the pig is labeled based on his Vietnamese heritage, despite being born in the U.S., mirrors the real-world experiences of many immigrants and their descendants. Even when someone identifies as fully American, they can still be seen as "other" because of their background. The parrot's insistence on framing the pig's identity through an ethnic lens—rather than his actual achievements—reflects how media narratives and public discourse can shape (and sometimes distort) the way individuals are perceived. This is especially important now, given the ongoing discussions about immigration in the U.S. Many immigrants and first-generation Americans face similar struggles with identity, belonging, and how they're portrayed in society. The story also highlights how insecurities—whether about identity, appearance, or status—can be exacerbated by external judgments. Themes and Interpretation • Identity and Stereotyping: The pig’s frustration highlights how labels—whether about ethnicity or body image—can shape and limit a person’s self-perception. • Media Manipulation: The parrot, representing a journalist, distorts facts for a sensationalized story, raising questions about bias and ethics in reporting. • Self-Perception and Insecurity: The pig’s struggles with his body image illustrate how external judgments can create deep-seated insecurities. • Cultural Commentary: The story subtly critiques societal assumptions about identity and heritage, showing how people (or animals) can be boxed in by others’ perceptions.