The Grumpy Therapist
The Grumpy Therapist
Characters:
- Narrator
- Mittens (a grumpy cat)
- Barkley (a nervous dog)
- Hazel (a stressed hamster)
- Shelby (a lonely parrot)
Narrator: In the bustling city of Meadow Creek lived Mittens, a cat of unparalleled grumpiness. His days were filled with sneers, complaints about the quality of his tuna, and disdain for just about everything. But fate, as it often does, had a peculiar twist in store for Mittens.
Mittens: (Grumbling) Another day, another reason to be annoyed. Honestly, can't a cat get some peace around here?
Narrator: One afternoon, a distraught dog named Barkley wandered into Mittens's garden. Barkley was known for his crippling anxiety.
Barkley: (Whimpering) Oh dear, oh dear. I can't seem to fetch the ball without… without the earth swallowing me whole!
Mittens: (Scoffs) A dog with feelings? Preposterous! But, fine. What's got your tail in a twist?
Barkley: It’s… it’s everything! The squirrels, the mailman, the very idea of walks! I’m just… so… nervous!
Mittens: (Sighs dramatically) Look, mutt, life’s terrible. Accept it. Now go bury a bone or something.
Narrator: Surprisingly, Mittens's cynical honesty was exactly what Barkley needed to hear. He trotted off, a little less anxious and a lot more determined to face his fears.
- Cynical:
- Believing the worst of human nature and motives.
- Distraught:
- Deeply upset and agitated.
- Preposterous:
- Absurd; ridiculous.
- unparalleled:
- Having no equal or match; extraordinary.
- disdain:
- A feeling of strong dislike or lack of respect for someone or something.
- peculiar:
- Strange, unusual, or different from what is normal.
- perspective:
- A specific way of viewing or thinking about a situation.
One passage, many ways to practice
Reading-skill questions, word work and writing prompts — all built from this text.
Main Idea
Identify the central idea and explain how important details develop it.
Context Clues
Use clues in the passage to work out what words mean. A separate printable Vocabulary worksheet is also available.
Summarize
Select, organize, and restate the most important information without adding opinion.
Purpose
Analyze what the author aims to do and how choices serve audience and purpose.
Structure
Analyze how sections and organizational choices build the text's ideas or effects.
Language & Tone
Interpret nonliteral language and analyze how word choice shapes tone and meaning.
Vocabulary
Practice words from the passage with a printable worksheet.
Writing Prompts
Use the passage as a springboard for short written responses, from personal reflection to evidence-based arguments.
Fix the Sentence
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What is Mittens's general attitude toward the world at the beginning of the play?
- 2What is Barkley's main problem?
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About this reader's theater passage for Middle School
“The Grumpy Therapist” is a reader's theater reading passage about Animal Therapy, written for Middle School. It takes about 3 minutes to read (452 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.