中级口语教程

Lesson1

TooClever

TextA

Afarmerwholivedinasmallvillagesufferedfromaseverepaininthechest.This

neverseemedtogetanybetter.Thefarmereventuallydecidedthathewouldconsultadoctor

inthenearesttown.Butashewasamiserlypersonhethoughthewouldfindoutwhathe

wouldhavetopaythisdoctor.Hewastoldthatapatienthadtopaythreepoundsforthefirst

visitandonepoundforthesecond'visit.Thefarmerthoughtaboutthisforalongtime,and

thenhedecidedtogoandconsultthedoctorinthetown.

Ashecameintothedoctor'sconsultingroom,hesaidcausally/Goodmorning,doctor.

HereIamagain.'Thedoctorwasalittlesurprised.Heaskedhimafewquestions,examined

hischestandthentookthepoundwhichthefarmerinsistedongivinghim.Thenthedoctor

saidwithasmile,Well,sir.There'snothingnew.Pleasecontinuetotakethesamemedicine

Igaveyouthefirsttimeyoucametoseeme.,

TextB

Amanwenttoseehisdoctoronedaybecausehewassufferingfrompainsinhis

stomach.Afterthedoctorhadexaminedhimcarefully,hesaidtohim,'Well,there'snothing

really

wrongwithyou,I'mgladtosay.Youronlytroubleisthatyouworrytoomuch.

Doyouknow,Ihadamanwiththesametroubleasyouinhereafewweeksago,andI

gavehimthesameadviceasI'mgoingtogiveyou.Hewasworriedbecausehecouldn'tpay

histailor'sbills.Itoldhimnottoworryhisheadaboutthebillsanymore.Hefollowedmy

advice,andwhenhecametoseemeagaintwodaysago,hetoldmethathenowfeelsquite

allrightagain.,

'Yes,Iknowallaboutthat,'answeredthepatientsadly.'Yousee,I'mthatman'stailor.'

AdditionalInformation

Doctor:Goodmorning.Howareyou?

Patient:I'mveryworried;doctor.

Doctor:Oh?Whatareyouworriedabout?

Patient:I'mafraidthatI'mveryill.

Doctor:I'msorrytohearthat.Whydoyouthinkso?

Patient:BecauseIfeeltiredallthetime,evenwhenIwakeupinthemorning.Ifind

itverydifficulttodoanywork.1havenoappetite.Mywifecooksme

deliciousmealsbutIcanonlyeatalittle.

Doctor:Howdoyousleep?

Patient:Verybadly,doctor.

Doctor:Doyoufinditdifficulttogettosleep,ordoyouwakeupearly?

Fatient:Both,doctor.Inevergettosleepuntil2o'clockandIalwayswakeat5.

Doctor:Areyouworriedaboutanything?

Patient:Well,yes,Iam.I'mworriedaboutmywork.I'vejusttakenanewjob.

Iearnalotofmoneybutit'sdifficultwork.I'malwaysafraidofmaking

amistake.

Doctor:Isee.Pleasetakeoffyourshirtandliedownonthecouch.

Patient:Yes,doctor.(TheDoctorexaminesthepatient)

Doctor:Well,there'snothingverymuchwrongwithyou,I'mgladtosay.You're

workingtoohardandworryingtoomuch.Doyoutakemuchexercise?

Patient:No,doctor.Ineverhaveenoughtimeforexercise.Istartworkveryearlyin

themorningandfinishlateintheevening.ThenIcan'tgettosleep.Can

yougivemesomemedicinetohelpmetosleep?

Doctor:Ican,butI'mnotgoingto.Youdon'tneedmedicine.Youneedadvice.

Don'tworksohard.Toomuchworkisbad.foryou.Don'tworryaboutyour

work.It'ssillytoworry.Takeregularexercise.

Patient:ButImaylosemyjob,doctor!It'shardtogetajoblikemine.

Doctor:Thengetaneasierone,evenifyouearnlessmoney.

Whichwouldyouratherhave,healthorwealth?

Patient:You'reright,doctor.It'smoreimportanttobehealthythanwealthy.I'll

changemyjob.I'mgratefulforyouradvice.

Doctor:Comeandseemeagaininamonth'stime.Ithinkyou'llbeadifferentman!

Lesson2

AuPairGirl

TextA

GretelcomesfromAustria.Sheiseighteenyearsold.Sheisgoingtostaywiththe

Clarkfamilyforayear.GretelhascometoEnglandbecauseshewantstoimproveher

English.Sheworksasanaupairgirl.ShehelpsMrsClarkinthehouseandattendsEnglish

classesregularlyinhersparetime.

Gretelhasn'tbeeninEnglandlongandeverythingisstrangetoher.Sheoftencompares

lifeinLondonwithlifeinVienna.SomethingsarenicerinLondon;otherthingsarenotso

nice.Forinstance,theshopsarebiggerinLondonthaninViennaandthereisgreatervariety.

Butit'smoreexpensivetoenjoyyourselfinLondon.It'sexpensivetohaveamealata

restaurantortogotoatheatre.

Gretelhasgotusedtomanythingsalready,butshecan'tgetusedtobreakfastin

England."YouEnglisheatsomuchinthemorning,"sheoftensays."Fruitjuice,porridge,

baconandegg,tea,toastandmarmalade!Howcanyoufaceallthatfoodsoearlyinthe

day?"

TextB

Mariahaddecidedthatassoonasshehadfinishedschoolshewouldbecomeanaupair

girlinLondon.TwoofherfriendshadalreadyspentayearwithafamilyinKensington,and

toldhertheyhadhadaninterestingtimeandhadmanagedtolearnalotofEnglish.Shewas

advisedbyherHeadTeachertogetherparents'consentandtomakeallthenecessary

arrangementspriortoherdeparture:haveenoughmoneyforherreturnfare,knowexactly

whatkindofafamilyshewasgoingtolivewithandwhattheyexpectedofher.

ShortlyafterhereighteenthbirthdayMariareceivedaletterfromMrsHutchinson,the

wifeofanadvertisingexecutive,statingthetermsonwhichshewouldbeemployed.The

HutchinsonslivedinahouseinChelsea.Theyhadthreechildren;twoboys,agedfourteen

andten,bothatboardingschools,theelderataPublicSchoolintheMidlandsandthe

youngerataPreparatorySchoolinSurrey;

theyoungestchildwasagirlagedeight,andshewenttotheFrenchLyceeinSouth

Kensington.DuringtermtimeMariawouldhavetotakethegirltoschoolinthemorningand

fetchherintheafternoon.ShewouldhavetohelpMrsHutchinsoninthehouse-washingup,

makingthebeds,layingthetable,dustingtherooms,answeringthedoor,takingtelephone

messages,shoppingandrunningerrands.

ShewouldbeguaranteedthreeeveningsaweekfreeandcouldattendEnglishclasses

eitherfromeleventilloneinthemorningorfromhalfpastonetillfourintheafternoon.She

wouldreceive3aweekpocketmoney.Mariawasdelightedwiththeconditionsandthought

thattheywerefair.Shealsolikedthelookofthefamily,asMrsHutchinsonhadthoughtfully

enclosedaphotographwithherletter.

AdditionalInformation

Itwasnothingforagirlt.obesentawaytoservicewhenshewaselevenyearsold.That

meantleavingthefamilyasshehadneverbeenpartedfromforadayinherlifebefore,and

goingtosomeplacemilesawaytobetreatedlikeadog.I'vegotnothingagainstgirlsgoing

intogoodservice.

Inmyopinion,goodserviceinaproperlyrunbighousewasawonderfultrainingfora

lotofgirlswhoneverwouldhaveseenanythingdifferentallthedaysoftheirlivesifthey

hadn'tgone.Itwasbetterthanworkingontheland,then,andifitstillexistednow,Ireckon

I'dratherseeanyofmydaughtersbeagoodhousemaidorawell-trainedparlourmaidthana

dolled-upshop-assistantorafactoryworker.

Butfolksaretooproudtoworkforotherfolks,now.evenifit'stotheirownadvantage,

thoughasfarasIcanseeyouarestillworkingforotherfolks,whateveryou'redoing.Big

housesdidn'twantlittle

girlsofeleven,evenaskitchenmaids,sothefirstfewyearshadtobeputinsomewhere

else,beforeyougoteventhatamountofpromotion.

Bighousesexpectedgoodservice,butyougotgoodtreatmentinreturn.It.wasn'tlike

thatatthesortofplacemyfriendshadtogo.Mostlytheywenttothefarmers'houseswithin

tenortwentymilesfromwherethey'dbeenborn.ThesefarmerswereajumpedUp,proudlot

whodidn'tknowhowtotreatthepeoplewhoworkedforthem.Theytookadvantageofthe

poorpeople'sneedtogettheirgirlsofftheirhandstogetlittleslavesfornearlynothing.The

conditionswereterrible.

Lesson3

WhoTooktheMoney?

TextA

MrSmithgavehiswifetenpoundsforherbirthday-tenprettypoundnotes.Sotheday

afterherbirthday,MrsSmithwentshopping.Shequeuedforabus,gotonandsatdownnext

toanoldlady.Afterawhile,shenoticedthattheoldlady'shandbagwasopen.Insideit,she

sawawadofpoundnotesexactlyliketheoneherhusbandhadgivenher.Soshequickly

lookedintoherownbag-thenoteshadgone!

MrsSmithwassurethattheoldladywhowassittingnexttoherhadstolenthem.She

thoughtshewouldhavetocallthepolice;but,asshedislikedmakingafussandgetting

peopleintotrouble,shedecidedtotakebackthemoneyfromtheoldlady'shandbagandsay

nothingmoreaboutit.Shelookedroundthebustomakesurenobodywaswatching,then

shecarefullyputherhandintotheoldlady'sbag,tookthenotesandputtheminherown

bag.

Whenshegothomethatevening,sheshowedherhusbandthebeautifulhatshehad

bought.

'Howdidyoupayforit?'heasked.

'Withthemoneyyougavemeformybirthday,ofcourse,'shereplied.

‘Oh?What'sthat,then?'heasked,ashepointedtoawadoftenpoundnotesonthe

table.

TextB

'Goodbye,darling,'saidMrMackin.'I'llbelatetonight.'PoorGeorge,shethought.He

wasalwaysinahurryinthemorning,anditwasn'tunusualforhimtocomehomelateat

night.HeworkedforashoecompanyinLeeds,andtherewassuchalotofworkthathe

normallystayedintheofficetillsevenoreight.

WhenGeorgehadleftthehouseMrsMackinsatdown,inanarmchairandturnedon

theradio.Itwasafewminutespasteight,andsheheardthelastwordsofthenews:'...wman

whoescapedfromLeedsprisonyesterdayisstillfree.Thepolicewarnyounottoopenyour

doortostrangers.,

Sheturnedofftheradio.Thehouseworkwaswaitingforher.Shemadethebedsand

washedthedishes.Therewasn'tauyshoppingtodo.andsoshethoughtforamomentofall

theWorkinthegarden.

TheMackinslivedinahousewithalargegardeninasuburbofLeeds.Behindthe

gardenthereweresometrees,andthenthecpenfields.

SuddenlyMrsMackinrememberedthenews.Shelaugheduneasily.Thatprisonisonly

15milesaway,shethought.Shedidn'tworkinthegarden,shemendedherhusband'sshirts

insteadAndshecare.fullylockedthefrontdoorandclosedallthewindows.

Itwasgettingdark.Sheturnedonthelightsinthelivingroom.Thcnshenoticedthatshe

hadturnedonthelightsinmostoftheroonssinthehouse.

'HowsillyIam!'shesaidnervouslyandwentintotheotherroomsandturnedtheleghts

on.

Thepersonatthedoorsaidsomethingloudly,butshewassofrightenedthatshedien't

understandaword.

AdditionalInformation

Doyoubelieveinghosts?Idon't,eitlter-oratleastIdidn'tuntilIheardastrangestory

theotherdayfromMrMikePaton,of19MarlboroughHill.

ItallbeganonNovember28,whenMrPaton'seight-ycar-oldson,Bob,wasplayingin

thebigbackgardenofhisparents'house.Hemetanoldmanwithalongwhitebeard.The

oldmantoldBobhewasbuildingtheundergroundrailwaythere,butBobdidn'tbelievehim.

BobtoldmeafterwardsthatheknewtheundergroundranunderMarlboroughHillitself.The

oldmansaidtherehadbeenanaccidentthedaybefore.Thenhewentaway.

AtfirstthePatonsdidn'tbelieveBob'sstory.MrsPatontoldmethatBoboftenmadeup

storiesaboutghostsandmonsters,likeotherchildrenofhisage.ButMrPatonwascurious

anddecidedthathewouldgotothelibrarytocheckuponthefacts.

Hefoundthattherailwaycompapyhadstartedtobuildthelinetothewestof

MarlboroughHillin1881.buttheyhadrunintoanundergroundriver.Tenworkmenhad

diedinanaccidentandtheCompanyhadchangedthedirectionofthelineandbuiltthe

presenttunnelunderMarlboroughHill.AtfirstIdidn'tbelieveMrPaton'sstorveither,soI

didsomeresearchmyself.

InspectorBrightoftheMetropolitanPolicesaiditwasnaturaltofindtrampsinthe

districtinwinter,butnoonehadreportedoneansweringthedescriptionIhadgivenhim

sincelastAugust.

MrJosephGriffithsofLondonTransportcheckedthefilesontheaccidentforme.He

toldmethattheaccidenthadapparentlytakenplaceonorverynearthejunctionof

MarlboroughHillandWoodstockAvenueon27November1881.MrPaton'shousestandson

thecorner!

Thesourceofthisextraordinarystorywasnotaffectedbythenews.'ItoldMummyit

wastrue,'youngBobPatontoldmeyesterday.WhenIleftthehousehewasplayinghappily

withhistoycars-inthegarden!

Lesson4

MusicalHalf-Notes

TextA

AmusicianwhoplayedPopMusicinaCLublivedinboardinghouseinthecentreof

london.Healwaysusedtogetbacktohisroomverylateatnightandsometimesintheearly

hoursof

themorning.Hewassotiredwhenhegotbackthathewouldsitontheedgeofhis

bed,takeoffhisshoesandthrowthemonthefloorandsay.'Thankgoodness,anotherdayis

over.'Hewouldthengetintohedandfallfastasleep.

Butthepoorlodgerwhohadtheroomunderthemusician'swaswokenupeachnight,or

carly?inthemorning,bythetwothudsthatthetwoshoesmadeastheylandedOnhis

ceiling.Finally,hecouldnotstanditanymoreandwentandcomplainedtothemusician.

Naturallythemusicianwasveryupsetandpromisedthat,infuture,aftertakingoffhis

shoes,hewouldputthemdownasquietlyaspossibleonthecarpet.

Thenextday,hegotbackfromhisclubataboutoneo'clockinthemorning,wentupto

hisroom,satontheedgeofhisbed,tookoffoneshoeandthrewitonthefloor.

Hewasjustabouttodothesamewiththeotherwhensuddenlyrememberedthe

promisehehadmadethedaybefore.Sowithgreatcareheputthesecondshoedownsilently

onthecarpet.Thenhegotintobedandfellfastasleep.Anhourlater,hewaswokenupbya

violentknockingonhisdoor.Itwasthelodgerwhosleptintheroomjustunderhis.

'Please,please,please,'thelodgerpleaded,'droptheothershoe.Ihavebeenwaitingfor

awholehourforyoutodropit.AssoonasyoudoIcangotosleep.,

TextB

Ofallthemenwhoeverlikedfreshair,notonelikeditmorethanJamesWilson.He

tooklongwalksinthefreshair.Heranlongdistancesinthefreshair.Heplayedfootballand

othergamesinthefreshair.Helikedtoclimbmountainsandbreathethefreshairatthetop.

Heusedtogotositbytheseaandwatchthegreatwavesinthefreshair.Healwaysslept

withhiswindowswideopen.Hehadanopencarwithnoroof,andhedroveitmadly

throughthefreshair.

IfWilsonenteredaroomwherethewindowswereshut,heimmediatelyopenedthem.

Hedidthisevenwhensnowwasfallingoutside.Ifsomeoneelseshutthewindowsagain,he

walkedoutoftheroominamannerwhichshowedhisopinionswithoutanydoubt.Whenhe

travelledbysea,hecouldusuallybefoundinaplaceonboardwherethewildwindwas

blowingthroughhishair.

OnewinterWilsonwenttoFinlandonbusiness.GoodhotelsinFinlandareheated

duringthecoldwinter,andthiswinterwasevencolderthanusual.WhenWilsonreachedhis

roominthehotel,hefoundthatthewindowswereclosedtokeeptheicyairout.Hedidhis

besttoopenone,butfailed.Itwasabsolutelyimpossibletoopenit:themanagerhadvery

wiselyarrangedthat.

Wilsonundressedandgotintobed.Hewasaveryangryman.

Thebedroomwasverypleasant.Twoorthreepicturesonthewallsshowedviewsof

somebeautifulpartsofFinland.Therewasnonoiseatall.Thebedwasreallyexcellent;but

Wilsoncouldnotsleep.Hecouldnotforgettheclosedwindow.Nofreshair!Itwasterrible

tothinkof!

Hegotoutofbedandtriedoncemoretoopenthewindow;butitwasuseless,andhe

sadlygotbackintobed.

Ataboutoneo'clockinthemorninghewasstillawake,worryingabouttheairinthe

bedroom.Hehadturnedoverinbedtwohundredandthirty-sixtimes.Hewasveryhot.As

heturnedoverforthetwohundredandthirty-seventhtime,onearmcameoutofthe

bedclothesandhungdownbesidethebed.Hishandtouchedthefloor.Italsotouched

somethingonthefloor.Thisthingwasashoe.

Anideacameintohisworriedmind.Angrymenactquickly,

andtheshoewasinhishandinlessthanasecond.Wherewasthewindow?Hecould

seesomethingthatlookedlikeglassoverthere.Hethrewtheshoethroughthedarknesswith

alltheforceofhisstrongrightarm.

Theshoeflewstraightthroughtheairandhittheglassinthemiddle.Aterriblesoundof

breakingglassfilledthebedroom,

buttoWilson'ssadheartitseemedlikethesoundofsweetandbeautifulmusic.

"NowIhavesomefreshairintheroom,"hethought."NOWIneednotdie."

Fiveminuteslaterhewaspeacefullyasleep.Hedidnotmoveformanyhours.

Whendaylightcamegentlythroughthewindow,heawokeandlaywithhiseyesclosed.

Wherewashe?Oh,yes!HewasinFioland;butwhatthematter?Wasauytltingwrong'?

TherewassomethingtoworryaboutWhatwasit?Oh.thebrokenwindmv!Yes,indeed.He

wouldhavetopas?forthat.Howmuch.?Wasitabigpieceofglass?Hecouldnotremember.

HeOpenedhiseyestolook.

Slowlyheturnedthemtowardsthewindow,andthenhesatupsuddenlyinbed.Hewas

verysurprised:thewindowwasnotbrokenatall.Theglasswasallinonepiece,justasgood

asithadbeenthemightbefore.Nofreshairwasetiteringtheroomthroughthatwindow.

What,then,hadhappenedwhenhethrewtheshoe?

Heturnedhiseyestothesideandsawabrokenpicturehangingonthewall.Therewasa

shoeonthefloorbelowit.Hecouldseealotofbrokenglassroundtheshoe.andtherewas

moreinsideit.

AdditionalInformation

HereiswhathappenedtoAdrianFoxonthetrainoneday:

AdrianFoxlivesinDevonandheistravellinghomefromLondonbytrain.Hedecides

tohaveacupoftea.andgoestothetrainbuffet.Whileheisdrinkinghist.ea,anattractive

girlcomesandsitsatthesametable.TheybegintalkingandthegirltellsAdriansheisgoing

toDevononholiday.Theyaresoonveryfriendly.Adrianfindsoutthatthegirlhasn'tyet

foundahoteltostayin.Adrian'smotherhasaspareroominherhouse,andAdrianinvites

thegirltostaythere.Heknowshismotherwon'tmind.Thegirlaccepts.

Afewminuteslateramancomesandsitsbesidethegirl,whointroduces

hinttoAdrian.Heisherhusband.Adriandidn'tknowthegiriwasmarried,andheisa

littleangry.Hismotherwon'tliketohavetwopeoplestayinginherhouse.Thenthree

childrenarrive.Twoofthemarecarryingcats,andonehasasmalldog.Theyarethegirl'a

children.Theyareallveryhappy,thegirlsays,tobestayinginAdrian'smother'shouse.Eut

Adrianisn'tsohappy.Whenhereachesthestationhephoneshismother...

Lesson5

IsHeaHero?

TextA

"Fire!Fire!"Whatterriblewordstohearwhenonewakesupinastrangehouseinthe

middleofthenight!Itwasalarge,old,woodenhouse-thesortthatbumsbeautifullyand

myroomwasonthetopfloor.Ijumpedoutofbed,openedthedoorandsteppedoutintothe

passage.Itwasfullofthicksmoke.

Ibegantorun,butasIwasstillonlybalf-awake,insteadofgoingtowardsthestairsI

wentintheoppositedirection.ThesmokegrewthickerandIcouldseeflamesallaround.

Thefloorbecamehotundermybarefeet.Ifoundanopendoorandranintoaroomtogetto

thewindow.

ButbeforeIcouldreachit,oneofmyfeetcaughtinsomethingsoftandIfelldown.The

thingIhadfallenoverfeltlikeabundleofclothes,andIpickedituptoprotectmyface

fromthesmokeandheat.Justthenthefloor.gavewayundermeandIcrashedtothefloor

belowwithpiecesofburningwoodallaroundme.

Isawaflamingdoorwayinfront.putthebundleovermyfaceandran.Myfeetburned

meterribly,butIgotthrough.AsIreachedthecoldairoutside,mybundleofclothesgavea

thincry.Inearlydroppeditinmysurprisel?ThenIsawacrowdgatheredinthestreet.A

womaninanight-dressandaborrowedman'scoatscreamed"asshesawmeandcame

runningmadly.

"Mybaby!Mybaby!"shecried.Thecrowdcheeredwildlyasshetookthe

smoke-blackenedbundleoutofmyarms.Ihadsomedifficultyinrecognizingher.Shewas

theMayor'swife,andIhadsavedherbaby.Iwasahero!

TextB

TeresawentuptoMrsWebster'sroom,twostairsatatime.Shewasnearlyatthetop

whenshestoppedandsniffed.Astrongsmellofgaswascomingfromthatdirection.Teresa

ranuptheremainingstairsandthrewopenthedoor.Sheputherhandsoverhermouthto

stopascream.MrsWebsterwaslyingonthefloornearthesink.Herskinandlipshada

pinkishcolourandsheappearedtobeunconscious.Theroomwasfullofgas.

AdditionalInformation

Whodoesn'tlovesittingbesideacosyfireonacoldwinter'snight?Whodoesn'tloveto

watchflamescurlingupachimney?Fireisoneofman'sgreatestfriends,butalsooneofhis

greatestenemies.Manybigfiresarecausedbycarelessness.Alightedcigarettethrownoutof

acarortrainwindoworabrokenbottlelyingondrygrasscanstartafire.Sometimes,though,

afirecanstartonitsown.Wethaycanbeginburningbyitself.Thisishowithappens:the

haystartsto.rotandbeginstogiveoffheatwhichistrappedinsideit.Finally,itburstsinto

flames.That'swhyfarmerscutandstoretheirhaywhenit'sdry.

Fireshavedestroyedwholecities.Inthe17thcentury,asmallfirewhichbeganina

baker'sshopburntdownnearlyeverybuildinginLondon.Moscowwassetonfireduringthe

waragainstNapoleon.Thisfirecontinuedburningforsevendays.And,ofcourse,in64A.D.

NerofiddledwhileRomeburned!Eventoday,inspiteofmodernfire-fightingmethods,fire

causesmillionsofpounds'worthofdamageeachyearbothinourcitiesandinthe

countryside.Ithasbeenwiselysaidthatfireisagoodservantbutabadmaster.

Lesson6

HowItFeelsWhenParentsDivorce

TextA

Ari,agefourteen

Whenmyparentsweremarried,IhardlyeversawmyDad

becausehewasalwaysbusyworking.Nowthatthey'redivorced,I'vegottentoknow

himmorebecauseI'mwithhimeveruweekend.AndIreallylookforwardtotheweekends

becauseit'skindoflikeabreak-it'slikegoingtoDisneylandbecausethere'snosetschedule,

no"Behomebyfive-thirty"kindofstuff.It'sopen.It'sfree.Andmyfatherisalwaysbuying

mepresents.

MyMomgotremarriedanddivorcedagain,soI'vegonethroughtwodivorcessofar.

Andmyfather'salsogottenremarried-tosomeoneIdon'tgetalongwithallthatwell.It'sall

mademefeelthatpeopleshouldn'tgetmarried-theyshouldjustlivetogetherandmaketheir

ownagreement.Then,ifthingsgetbad,theydon'thavetogetdivorcedandhirelawyersand

sueeachother.And.evenmoreimportant,theydon'thavetoenduphatingeachother.

I'dsaythattheworstpartofthedivorceisthemoneyproblem.It'sbeenhardonmv

Mombecauselotsoftimesshecan'tpayherbills,anditmakesherangrywhenIstaywith

myfatherandhebuysmethings.Shegetsmadandsaysthingslike"Ifhecanbuyyouthings

likethis,thenheshouldbeabletopayme."AndIfeelcaughtinthemiddlefortworeasons;

first,Ican'treallyenjoywhatevermyDaddoesgetforme,andsecond,Idon'tknow

whotobelieve.MyDad'ssaying,"Idon'treallyoweheranymoney,"andmyMom'ssaying

hedoes.SometimesIfightformyMomandsometimesIfightformyDad,butIwishthey'd

leavemeoutofitcompletely.

InalotofwaysIwishmyMomwouldgetremarried,becausethenshewouldn'thaveto

worrysomuchaboutfinances.ButI'msorrythatmyDadgotremarried,becauseIfeelleft

outalotoftimes.AndonethingIreallyworryaboutisthatIthinktheywanttohaveababy,

andIknowthatiftheydo,itwillbejustlikeareplacementforme.

That'sbecauseIonlyseemyDadonweekends,andsincehewouldseethebabymore

thanhe'dseeme,he'dprobablygrowtolikeitmorethanhelikesme.Itcouldbealotlike

whathappenedwithmydogSpunkur.

I'vehadhimforaboutsixyearsandI'vealwayssaidI'llneverloveanydogasmuchasI

lovehim.Well,ayearagoIpickedupalittleblackLabradorpuppyfromthepound,and

nowIfindI'mnotasfriendlywithSpunkurasIusedtobe.AndIthinkSpunkurfeels

jealous,justlikeIwouldifmyDadandmystepmotherhadababy.

MyDadsaiditwouldn'tbethatway,thatwe'dbeawholefamilyandI'dhavealittle

brotherorsister,whichwouldbealotoffun,butItoldhim,"Look,bythetimethekidisold

ehouglitotalk,I'llbeoutofcollege.I'mnotgoingtohaveanythingtodowithababy.You

knowthatit'sjustareplacementforme!"

IfIlived'full-timewithmyDad,itwouldprobablybeeasierformetoacceptahaby

becausewe'dbeonanequalfooting,butI'dratherstaywithmyMom,wherelifeis

normal-wherewe

livelikemostpeoplelive,withbreakfastatbreakfasttimeanddinneratd;nnertime.I

domyhomework,playwithmyfriends-it'sallthewaylifeshouldbe.IfIlivedwithmyDad,

itmightbemorefunattimes,butIwouldgocrazy.Iwouldn'twanttobebroughtupthat

way.

TextB

Sara,agetwelve

IguessthemainreasonIwasmadatDaddywasbecauseitallmademymotherso

unhapp.y,andIendedupfeelingsorryforbothofthem-mymotherbecauseshewas

strugglingtomakeendsmeet,andmyDadbecausehecouldn'treallydomuchaboutit.

Eventhoughmyparentsseparatedmorethanthreeyearsago,it'sstillveryvividinmy

mindandIdoubtifI'lleverforgetthewayIfeltatthetime.Yet,asawfulasitwas,Inever

hopedthey'dgetbacktogether.AndnowIthinkI'ddieiftheydid,becauseitwouldbeso

awkwardforrne.

Ithinkthey'rebothmuchhappiernow,,andit'sobvioustomethattheybothleadtotally

differentlives.SincethebreakupI'vebeenabletoseemyparents'truecolors'especiallymy

mother's.I'veseenasideofherthatIneversawbefore.Whenshewasmarried,sheand

Daddyweretheperfectcouple,alwaysquiet,talkingaboutdignifiedthings,andtheywould

neverlaughoranything.

Nowadaysmymotherisalwayshappyandggy.Anotherwayshe'schangedisthatshe

alwaysusedtohideherproblemsfrommebutnowshe'smoreapttodiscussthings.Ithink

she'smorerelaxed-andso'smyDad.

Bothofmyparentsstarteddatingotherpeoplerightaway,andIthinkthey'llbothget

remarriedeventually,wh