Sophie and Robert are trekking high up in the mountains.
But their relationship is rocky to say the least.
While up high, all alone, something happens…
And Sophie could begin a brand new life.
This short story is part of a complete lesson plan with reading questions, vocabulary exercises and discussion questions.
Use this in your class today!
Check the link below and download the full lesson plan…
A Lovely Day In The Mountains
It was just a beautiful view. Sophie wanted to just stop and gaze at it for hours.
But then the sound of her husband Robert’s voice. Harsh and impatient.
“Sophie, come on.”
Robert stared back at his wife as she struggled up the narrow path.
She stopped at the tiny ledge. She took a breath and gazed out across the crests of mountains that surrounded them.
The view was simply magnificent.
“Can’t we just stay here for a minute?” said Sophie. “We could enjoy the view.”
“We have to keep moving,” he said. “We’ve got to get to the cabin by sundown. Or we’ll be in trouble.”
Robert curled his lip at the white tops of the mountain range. Like they were a hindrance to his plans.
“Just one minute, Robert,” said Sophie, keeping her voice in check. Not berating him, offering him a very subtle suggestion.
Robert took a deep breath and shook his head.
“Well, we could. But we were delayed back at that footbridge for a while.”
Sophie told herself not to react. Forced herself to keep quiet.
When he said we, he meant her. She had to beg him to just stay a while down at the bridge.
They had come all this way, but hardly had any time to just sit still for a moment and enjoy the view. To look at the beautiful mountains and flowing rivers.
To just gaze in awe at all this nature that surrounded them.
They were always in a rush. And it always seemed to be her that caused any delays or hold-ups.
In her mind, she harboured a constant feeling of guilt or shame.
Like it was her fault for anything that went wrong in their lives together.
Robert turned to face her from just up the pathway.
He smiled down at her. A tight smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
“When we get to the cabin, you can have a rest there,” he said.
And it was that. In the choice of words he used.
We — meaning it is a joint effort to get to the cabin.
But you — meaning you are the one that always needs to rest. You are the one that always causes delays.
“Okay,” said Sophie.
She didn’t want to argue. But she did want to clear all of this up. It was just that there never seemed to be the right time to talk about it.
It was like Robert knew when she was going to bring the subject up and then he would be the perfect, loving husband.
They continued hiking up the side of the mountain. For a small moment, Sophie lost herself in her thoughts. Drowned out Robert’s passive-aggressive jibes at her.
At the speed that she walked.
The way she walked.
The way she carried her backpack.
Even the colour of it.
Nothing was right for him.
He had a criticism for everything she did and said.
Over the years, it had chipped away at her. Made her doubt herself. Made her feel something different about herself whenever she looked in the mirror.
She loved Robert. But she hated him at the same time.
She thought this was normal. All part of married life.
But then, when she spoke to whatever remaining friends she had — Robert vetoed many of her old friends — she found that their husbands didn’t have the same effect on them as Robert did on her.
One friend told her how her husband always supported her in everything she did.
How she had joined a class to learn life drawing.
It turned out to be a terrible waste of time, the friend laughed. I am no artist. But my husband gave me full support and encouragement to try it out.
Sophie couldn’t understand that kind of relationship at all.
Robert gave her no encouragement for anything she wanted to do.
She had become a broken shell of her former self.
“What are you daydreaming about now?”
Up ahead, Robert was glaring back down at her.
Just because he was at a slightly different altitude didn’t change the fact that he was always looking down at her. There wasn’t much difference in their height, but he always managed to look down his nose at her.
Another way of belittling her.
Making her feel worthless.
Sophie caught up with him at the ledge where Robert now stood.
“Can we just —”
Robert rolled his eyes at her.
“Just what? Have another rest?”
Sophie tugged the straps of her backpack off her shoulders and let it fall to the floor.
“Well, we hardly stop anywhere. We hardly look at anything.”
Robert stared at her, his mouth curled in absolute contempt.
Then he waved vaguely at the range of mountains in front of them.
“Fine, fine. Do what you want.”
He unstrapped his own backpack and flung it to the ground.
“But you do realise that if we are stuck out here, on the mountain path, and the sun goes down, we will be traipsing about in near total darkness?”
Sophie forced herself to turn and look at him.
“We have plenty of time,” she said.
“Oh, do we?” said Robert. “Well then. Let’s just hang around here all day then. Let’s sit here for a couple of hours.”
He took three steps to the ledge.
“If that’s what Sophie wants to do, that’s what we will do.”
Sophie refused to rise to the bait.
“Look, Robert,” she said, nodding her head to the pristine white-topped mountains opposite. Below them, a huge ravine descended into a river that appeared to be miles below.
But Robert was in full swing now. She could see that there was no point in appeasing him at all.
“Yes, let’s look at the mountains,” he said. “That’s why we’re here, right? To do just what Sophie wants.”
He took another step closer to the ledge.
“Be careful,” said Sophie.
“Look at all the beautiful mountains —”
Robert took one more step. But he lost his footing. His foot slipped on the stones and pebbles and he went over the edge.
In one fell swoop, he disappeared and fell from Sophie’s view.
He made a final gasp — more of surprise than anything — and then he was gone.
And instantly, Sophie was overcome with a feeling of great relief.
“Oh no,” she said quietly to herself.
And smiled at the view.
Reading Comprehension Questions
Who are the main characters in the story?
Where does the story take place?
Describe the view that Sophie finds so beautiful in the mountains.
How does Robert react to Sophie’s desire to stop and enjoy the view?
Why does Robert want to reach the cabin by sundown?
What does Sophie observe about Robert’s use of the words “we” and “you” when talking about delays?
How does Sophie feel about the constant rush and lack of time to enjoy the scenery?
What effect has Robert’s criticism had on Sophie over the years?
How does Sophie feel about Robert’s lack of encouragement for her pursuits?
Compare Sophie’s relationship with Robert to her friend’s relationship with her husband.
Why does Sophie consider her former self a “broken shell”?
Describe Robert’s attitude towards Sophie when he looks down at her.
What is the significance of Sophie letting her backpack fall to the ground?
How does Robert react when Sophie suggests stopping for a break again?
Why does Sophie think they have plenty of time despite Robert’s concerns about darkness?
What is the setting as Robert loses his footing and falls over the edge?
How does Sophie react when Robert falls?
What is Sophie’s initial feeling when Robert disappears from view?
What is the final outcome of Robert’s fall from the ledge?
How does Sophie feel at the end of the story, and what does her smile signify?
Essential Vocabulary
Gaze | Drowned out | Joint effort |
Harsh | Jibes | Passive-aggressive |
Impatient | Criticism | Altitude |
Struggled | Encouragement | Traipsing |
Ledge | Waste of time | Darkness |
Breath | Vetoed | Pristine |
Magnificent | Belittling | Ravine |
Sundown | Contempt | Pebbles |
Trouble | Bait | Overcome |
Hindrance | Appeasing | Implicate |
Tight | Gasped | Berating |
Reach | Viewpoint | Hindrance |
Hike | Footbridge | Doubted |
Awe | Hold-ups |
Exercise
Write down all the words and phrases in your vocabulary notebook. Look in your dictionary and find the meaning of each word. Write the definition next to each word.
Then make up your own sentences using each word or phrase.
For example:
Gaze — a steady intent look.
Drowned out — to overwhelm or obscure, usually by sound, making it difficult to hear or see properly.
Then write a sentence of your own that uses the new word or phrase correctly.
She couldn’t help but gaze in awe at the breathtaking beauty of the mountain landscape.
The noise from the construction site drowned out the peaceful sounds of nature.
Do this with all the vocabulary and, over time, this will help improve all your English skills — reading, writing, speaking and listening.
Discussion Questions
What do you think about the setting of the story? Can you imagine yourself in a similar situation in the mountains?
How would you describe Sophie and Robert’s relationship based on their interactions in the story?
What emotions do you think Sophie is experiencing throughout the story?
In your opinion, is Robert a supportive husband? Why or why not?
How does the author use the mountain setting to reflect the characters’ relationship dynamics?
Why do you think Sophie feels guilty or ashamed at various points in the story?
Can you relate to Sophie’s feelings of being rushed and criticized? Share a similar experience if you have one.
What do you think Sophie means when she says, “She loved Robert. But she hated him at the same time”?
Do you think it’s common for people in relationships to have conflicting feelings like Sophie’s? Why or why not?
Discuss the significance of the mountains in the story. How does the author use them as a metaphor?
How does Sophie’s perception of herself change throughout the story?
Why do you think Robert vetoed many of Sophie’s old friends? What impact might that have on their relationship?
Compare Sophie’s friend’s relationship with her husband to Sophie and Robert’s relationship. What differences do you notice?
Do you think Sophie’s reaction to Robert’s fall is surprising? Why or why not?
How does the story explore themes of control and power in relationships?
Analyse Robert’s behaviour towards Sophie. What does it reveal about his character?
How does the story portray the concept of compromise in a relationship?
If you were in Sophie’s position, would you have smiled at the view after Robert’s fall? Why or why not?
Discuss the role of nature in the story. How does it influence the characters and their decisions?
What do you think might happen next in Sophie’s life after the events of the story?
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