PROSE WORK (Millet: 04/11)

Those were good holidays. Things were easier than in Bois Colombes, not only between us but in
general. In the beach, I lay/would lie next to Simone while Philippe learnt how to scubadive/took up
scubadiving. We didn’t talk to anybody, nor did we look for new acquaintances; there was no need to
explain why this mother spent her holidays alone with her children, on the contrary if the situation
seemed unusual to a shopkeeper or another beach-goer, it still left hovering a mystery which could
be hurtful or respectable around us (it shrouded us in …). At the train station of Collioure, seeing this
mother exhausting/exerting herself carrying the heavy suitcase, a man had offered to help her. As he
had grabbed the suitcase and was walking ahead of us, she had whispered “Finally!” because it is
true, I had noticed it too, he had watched us for a few seconds before deciding to cross the lobby in
order to join us. I was afraid he would have heard the thought and once again I was mad at my
mother for being undoubtedly grunchy. But when he had left, she expressed her happiness, it wasn’t
in Paris that people would have been so helpful. And I was really seeing that she was flattered for
having to deal with such a gallant man.

PROSE WORK (Dugain: 11/11)

No items/products seemed original to her. But the shopkeeper, who knew her well,
pointed/suggested to/showed her a new product a common/an ordinary lamp, with clearly ethnic
patterns/colors but bulky/cumbersome.

“Would you send/deliver it to me?”

I’m afraid not, madam, not today anyway/at least, the clerk answered. It weights nothing/a trifle/ is
weightless, you know, once it has been folded. You live next doors, don’t you?

Before she could answer, a young man, the only other customer in the shop, volunteered/ offered to
take/carry the lamp to her place. This unusual act of courtesy intrigued her and she took off her sun
glasses to look at him.

And why would you do this?

Because it is not common anymore/ the habit is getting lost nowadays/going out of fashion. I’m in my
own way a nostalgic person.

The explanation satisfied her/ She was happy with the explanation. She paid and let the man take her
to the entrance/front of her building. On the way, he dared/tried/ventured:

You’re Misses Launay, aren’t you?

Whatever

I wasn’t saying that regarding/with regard to your husband, but your daughter. We had a strong
relation/we were closely linked.

My daughter? Which one?

Benedicte.
Faustine stopped by/next to a side entrance to the church, and studied the young man more
closely/gave the young man a closer look.

PROSE WORK P. MODIANO

 Le voyage a bien duré deux heures => approximation

The journey lasted roughly/about 2 hrs

 Je te confirme qu’ils sont bien venus => effectivement

They did care

 Plan établi: We’re going to split

 Certitude: We will split

 Besson’s black car were going to part/split/would part/would be parting/ were to part

Never had Wrédé seemed to me so cordial/cheerful, trustworthy/reliable/dependable. I liked

everything, from his friendly way/manner of tapping/slapping you on your shoulder, to his clear eyes,
his white teeth, and his eagerness although G. O had often told me, laughing/jokingly, that with the
Russians and the polish / Russian and polish people, you’d better be careful/you had better tread
carefully/you should exercise caution.

Very early that morning, Denise and I packed our luggage/D. and I packed up. The others were still
sleeping and we didn’t want to wake them up. I left Freddie a note.

They were waiting for us on the roadside, the one I had already seen in S. W. was sitting behind the
wheel/driving, B. next to him. I opened …