Story problems either bring students to a screeching halt or send them into a frenzied search for numbers and operations. They cause greater anxiety, still, in English language learners. These problems are often the nemesis of many a math teacher. This author grappled with this challenge in the context of teaching a series of lessons on integers and integer story problems. This narrative is offered as a specific illustration of how to apply key mathematics concepts when working with English language learners. It also illustrates the development of academic language, both vocabulary and structure, in the context of math. This intersection of math and language is explored through story problems involving integers. (Contains 4 figures.)