Lesson 19 Sold out
The play may begin at any moment, I said.
It may have begun already, Susan answered.
I hurried to the ticket office. May I have two tickets please? I asked.
I'm sorry, we've sold out, the girl said.
What a pity! Susan exclaimed.
Just then, a man hurried to the ticket office.
Can I return these two tickets? he asked.
Certainly, the girl said. I went back to the ticket office at once.
Could I have those two tickets please? I asked.
Certainly, the girl said, but they're for next Wednesday's performance.
Do you still want them? I might as well have them, I said sadly.
Lesson 20 One man in a boat
Fishing is my favourite sport. I often fish for hours without catching anything. But this
does not worry me. Some fishermen are unlucky. Instead of catching fish, they catch old
boots and rubbish. I am even less lucky. I never catch anything, not even old boots.
After having spent whole mornings on the river, I always go home with an empty bag.
You must give up fishing! my friends say. It's a waste of time. But they don't realize one
important thing. I'm not really interested in fishing.
I am only interested in sitting in a boat and doing nothing at all!
Lesson 21 Mad or not?
Aeroplanes are slowly driving me mad. I live near an airport and
passing planes can be heard night and day. The airport was built years ago, but for some
reason it could not be used then. Last year, however, it came into use. Over a hundred
people must have been driven away from their homes by the noise. I am one of
the few people left. Sometimes I think this house will be knocked down by a passing
plane. I have been offered a large sum of money to go away, but I am determined to stay
here. Everybody says I must be mad and they are probably right.