BAZA ZNANJA

Kurs: - Pre-Intermediate

Modul: So, because

Autor: prof. Gordana Matorkić

Naziv jedinice: Love Story

LOVE STORY

(Adapted from Tales of Early Life by Patricia Field)

Sandra liked art best because HE sat next to her in art. She liked the sound of his name, Michael Thompson. She could say it perfectly in her head, but she couldn’t say it out loud because every time she tried her throat became dry.  As a nine-year-old, Sandra had problems to pronounce many other words, so it was natural that the name of Michael Thompson was even more difficult to pronounce. She never even tried to whisper it because she thought everybody would know she liked him.

She was nine years old. He was ten. She couldn’t exactly say what he looked like because she never looked at him. But he was yellow and blue somehow and most boys were red and black. He was also smooth and most boys were rough.

Art was nice anyway, so Michael Thompson wasn’t the only good thing about it. But he certainly was the best. Miss Green, her teacher was often nervous in the Friday art lessons and Sandra knew it was because she was a new teacher and there were twenty-seven of them in the class and many children weren’t very well behaved. Sandra liked Miss Green, but not as much as she liked Michael Thompson.

That day’s art lesson was more than usually lovely. They were making pictures in twos. Boys usually weren’t serious about making pictures, so that day wasn’t different. Only Michael Thompson paid attention to the teacher’s words, as he usually did.

“What colour do you want to do?” he asked her, in that serious way he had.

“Yellow and blue,” she said. And she wanted to say “like you”. But she didn’t. She just kept saying “Yellow and blue like you,” over and over again in her head because the rhyme made her happy. She and Michael Thompson worked quietly together while most of the others threw paint and water at each other or talked and screamed. “Yellow and blue like you.” She painted and was happy.

Miss Green came to them, so Sandra said:” Finished, Miss” and then waited anxiously for Miss Green’s response.

“That’s very good, Sandra Pitcher and Michael Thompson,” said Miss Green. “Now empty your water and start another one.”

“Come on,” Sandra said to Michael. She got up and crossed the classroom, carrying the dirty water in a jam jar. When she reached the sink she knew, she just knew that he followed her, so she looked round breathlessly. And he did. He did.

Sandra threw the dirty water into the sink and filled the empty jam jar with clean water. “Come on,” she said again to Michael Thompson and he followed her.

Sandra Pitcher still wonders about what might have happened if… Maybe today she would be Mrs Thompson.

But life had a different path for her. She tripped over Peter Robinson, who for some reason, was lying on the floor, went down with a bang and spilled the water all down the front of her dress. She burst into tears.

“Silly girl,” said Michael Thompson, as he stepped carefully over her. As the bell went, he walked into the playground and out of her life.