Milo was a boy of about 11 years old, who lived in a small village by the edge of the sea with his mother. Milo was a big help to his mother. Every morning he would take some money and two sacks to go and buy the groceries. First he went to the butcher and bought some bacon and salted pork. Then he went to the farmer on the hill who sold him lettuce, beans, and sometimes corn. Lastly he went to see Miss Gretchen, who sold him the eggs that Milo and his mother would have for breakfast as they listened to the sounds of the sea.
But one day there was no money on the table and Milo found that his Mother was still in bed. He went on tiptoe into her room, but saw that she was not sleeping. There were moans coming from her bed, she was shivering under the covers, and her face looked very red and tired.
“Mother!” cried Milo. “What’s wrong? Are you sick?”
She could barely speak. “Yes, Milo,” she answered. “I am very sick. I don’t think I can even stand up. You must go and bring the doctor from the other side of the farmer’s hill.”
