Creep Out

Intro

Halloween is almost here in the United States, and for many people, it is a spooky time of year! Some people enjoy scary things like ghosts and zombies. They might watch a horror movie or go to a haunted house. Being frightened or startled makes them feel excited. However, for other people, Halloween makes them feel uncomfortable. They do not like ghosts and goblins. They prefer to stay safe in their own home. Halloween creeps them out.

If something creeps you out, it makes you feel scared or uncomfortable. Almost everyone is a little afraid of the dark, but some people get creeped out by unusual things. For example, the sound of fingernails on a chalkboard creeps some people out. Other people are afraid of clowns. A few people even get creeped out by things that seem harmless to most of us, like kittens, babies, or dinner parties!

It’s a little too quiet, and the silence is starting to creep Sheila out. Find out what happens next in this episode.

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Dialogue

Sheila: It’s quiet.

Andy_H: A little too quiet. 

Sheila: It’s starting to creep me out. 

Jordin: Yeah, me too. Andy, do you really think there’s somebody in that building? 

Andy_H: There is. I can feel it. They’re going to creep out any minute now. I know it!

Sheila: In the meantime, how about Sheila the Shining? No….

Andy_H: Super Sheila?

Sheila: Awww…

Dominique: How about Sheila the Stylish? 

Sheila: Oh yeah!

Andy_H: Sunny Sheila?

Jordin: What about Sheila the Systematic?

Kelsey: Striving? 

Dominique: Stupendous?

Andy_H: Super Really Awesome? 

Jordin: Sharp? 

Kelsey: Snappy? 

Sheila: I’ve got it! Sheila the Sleepy. Goodnight.

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Discussion

Andy’s dream continues. The team is waiting to see if anyone is going to come out of the building that they are staking out. The silence is starting to make Sheila uncomfortable. Jordin agrees. She asks Andy if he thinks there is anyone in the building. He’s sure that there is. He says they are going to creep out at any minute.

While they are waiting, Sheila suggests that they come up with a nickname for her, too. Her first idea is Sheila the Shining, but it doesn’t quite sound right. Andy thinks Super Sheila is a good nickname. The other members of the team have some more suggestions. However, Sheila comes up with the perfect nickname for herself: Sheila the Sleepy. And then… she falls asleep!

What creeps you out? If you could give yourself a nickname, what would it be?

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Grammar Point

Sheila nicknames herself, “Shelia the Sleepy.” She uses a definite article.

Articles in English are very important, as we use them all the time. The three articles in English are a, an, and the. Here are some basic rules for understanding how to use these articles:

The is the definite article. It is used before singular or plural nouns that are specific or particular. Here are some examples:

“The girl who lives next door to me is really cute.” This refers to a particular girl: the girl who lives next door. “The president is a busy man.” There is only one president, so we are referring to a specific noun here. “I love the books you gave me.” Again, we’re talking about particular books, the ones you gave me.

A/an are the indefinite articles. We use a/an before general, non-specific nouns or to indicate membership in a group. A/an can only be used with countable, singular nouns. Here are some examples of how to use a/an:

“Let’s go see a movie tonight.” We aren’t talking about a specific movie, as we haven’t said which movie we want to see. “Cassie is an actor.” Cassie belongs to a group: actors. We use “an” instead of “a” because “actor” begins with a vowel. “I hope I get a car for my birthday.” This refers to any car. I don’t know which car yet because I haven’t gotten the car.

Finally, all articles in English are invariable, meaning that they do not change if the noun is singular or plural, masculine or feminine. There are no other forms of the, an, or a.

Sheila uses the definite article the in an unusual way. You may have noticed that she uses it before an adjective, not a noun. Sometimes, when creating a special name for someone, we use the form Name + the + Adjective or The + Adjective + Name. For example, you have probably heard of Alexander the Great or Ivan the Terrible. These are famous people from history who were given special names because of what they did in life.

Which is correct, “I bought an blue coat,” or, “I bought a blue coat”?

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Vocab

spooky adj.

Definition

scary

Example

That spooky story my dad told us scared me so much that I couldn’t sleep for a week.

creep out v.

Definition

make one scared or uneasy

Example

This mall sort of creeps me out. Everything is so…plastic.

in the meantime expr.

Definition

for now, at the same time

Example

Why don’t you clean your room. In the meantime, I’m going to wash the dishes.

shining adj.

Definition

bright and clear (like the sun); standing apart from everyone else

Example

Winning the race was my big, shining moment in elementary school.

sunny adj.

Definition

bright, cheerful

Example

She has a sunny personality. She’s always smiling.

systematic adj.

Definition

acting according to a plan, step-by-step

Example

The way I clean the house is very systematic. I start in the kitchen, then clean the bathroom, then do the laundry.

strive v.

Definition

try, aim for

Example

I am striving to get an A in Biology this term.

stupendous adj.

Definition

amazing, awesome

Example

The view from the top of the mountain is stupendous.

sharp adj.

Definition

smart, able to pay attention, bright

Example

My son is very sharp, even though he’s only three years old.

snappy adj.

Definition

clever

Example

She has a really snappy sense of humor.