—No, I can't. I'm too busy.

    This is a part of stories about family life. We interviewed two middle school students, John and Nancy, about their weekend chores. They told us about the chores they did last weekend.

    He didn't like doing the laundry, but he enjoyed cleaning the car with water. "I listened to music and sang my favorite songs while I worked," he said.

    Nancy had to go to the store and buy breakfast food for the family on Saturday morning. Her mother usually goes with her, but this Saturday morning she went with her sister. "I liked shopping for food. I bought things I like to eat and my parents paid for them." On Sunday morning she had to take out the trash, and then took their dog for a walk in a park. She liked the dog a lot.

    John and Nancy both liked helping with their parents' yard sale at weekends. "I liked talking to all the people," said John. Nancy said, "My parents gave me part of the money. Now I can buy anything I want."

    It was half past five in the afternoon when Sarah came home from work. She walked into theliving room and looked at her three children.

    The children were fourteen, thirteen and nine years old. They were happily watching TV. The room was dirty and untidy. There were empty glasses and dirty clothes on the floor. Toys were everywhere.

    Sarah got angry. "What a mess!" she said to her children. "I work all day and have to do the housework all evening. I'm very tired. I need to have a good rest. I won't do the housework anymore!"

    Sarah did as she said. She didn't do any housework. Every evening she sat on the sofa and watched TV. A week later, every dish in the kitchen was dirty. All the children's clothes were dirty, too. Every trash can was full. The whole house was out of order.

    Then one day when Sarah got home, she got very surprised. The kitchen was clean. The children had cleaned it!

    The second day, when Sarah got home, she found the living room was clean, and the children were washing their clothes. Sarah was happy and went to help them.

    Now Sarah and her three children do the housework together. Then they all sit on the sofa and watch TV.

—Sure. Here is the key to it.

—Oh, she is my cousin.

    Most students in America do housework after school. Parents often ask their children to do something1or interesting at home. Also, they2their children to do something hard or boring. Parents would like to give their children some pocket money for their3. And the children can4the money by doing the housework.

    The former President Obama5that he gives his eight and eleven-year-old daughters Sasha and Malia just a dollar every week, 6they often set the table, wash the dishes and clean up their7at weekends. One dollar is little for the housework, but the two8are very happy to make their pocket money. They buy their favorite books or food with9. Obama hopes his daughters can10some money-management skills.

—Yes, I did. But now things get better.

Teachers should their students.