SONGS FROM THE SOUL Stories from Around the World These stories come from different countries, but often show thar life has the same problems, the same surprises, the same tears and laughter wherever we are. Children are crnel to parents, and parents are cruel to children in India or in Britain, Love and kindness are strong in New Zealand and in India, In Malaysia Samy finds good Juck and Chai finds bad luck; Linda finds a strange and terrible truth in Nigeria; in India young, pretty Kanna finds that the world is a hard, hatd place. And Ghenga, sitting in front of a computer sereen in a eyber café in Nigeria, thinks he is very clever ~ but he quickly learns that he is not as clever as he thought he was... BOOKWORMS WORLD STORIES English has become an international language, and is used on every continent, in many varieties, for all kinds of purposes. Bookivorms World Stories are the latest addition to the Oxford Bookworms Library. Their aim is to bring the best of the world’s stories ro the English language learner, and to celebrate the use of English for storytelling all arouné the world. Jennifer Bassett Series EditorNOTE ON THE STORIES ‘The eight stories in this book were sclected from the winning stories in the 2005 and 2006 ‘Commonwealth Short Story Competitions. Overall Winner and Regional Winner (Asia) 2005 Preeta Krishna (India) for ‘Treason’ Regional Winner (Europe) 2005 Mary McCluskey (UK) for ‘Complicity’ Winners of Highly Commended stories 2005 Anthony C, Diala (Nigeria) for ‘The Strange Child? Suchitra Karthik Kumar (India) for ‘Chinna and Muthu? Winners of Highly Commended stories 2006 Shahana Chaudhury (India) for “The Evening Train’ Susan Costello (New Zealand) for ‘With Sincere Intent’ Folakemi Emem-Akpan (Nigeria) for ‘The Deceivers? Nandita Ray (Malaysia) for “The Luck of Four’ —_~ OXFORD BOOKWORMS LIBRARY World Stories Songs from the Soul Stories from Around the World Stage 2 (700 headwords) Series Edivor: Jennifer Bassere Founder Editor: Teicia Hedge Activities Editors: Jennifer Bassett and Christine LindopNOTES ON THE ILLUSTRATORS CHANDRAMOHAN KULKARNI (illustrations on pages 3, 5, 18, 20) was born in 1956 in Pune, Maharashtra, India. He has been a freelance artist for many years, working in book illustration and cover design. He has done almost 5,000 cover designs, and illustrates contemporary literature in Marathi, a local Indian language. His work is shown in exhibitions throughout India. JO THAPA (illustrations on pages 9, 10, 23, 25) lives in Wellington, New Zealand, with her partner, son, cat, dog, and two birds. She is an illustrator and a painter, workingin both digital and traditional painted mediums. She has had ‘many exhibitions of her paintings in Wellington. ZID (illustrations on pages 13, 15), a Malaysian now living in Singapore, was born in 1983. His full name is Mohammad Yazid Kamal Baharin, and he works as a freelance painter, illuscrator, and comic artist in both real and digital media. He has done several art shows. MESHACK ASARE (illustrations on pages 29, 30, 38, 40) was born in Ghana in 1945. He studied Art, and later, Social Anthropology, and was a teacher for many years. He is now a very well-known writer and illustrator of children’s books. His books have won numerous awards, including Noma and UNESCO awards, and have been published in many countries ANURADHA THAKUR (illustrations on pages 33, 35) was born in Maharashtra, India. She has been a freelance artist for more than twenty years, and has had exhibitions of her work all over India. Her work has also received several awards, She travels widely around the country to learn about tribal life styles for her work, and she has run arc workshops for rural people. RETOLD BY JENNIFER BASSETT Songs from the Soul Stories from Around the World — OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESSOXFORD (Great Carencon ret, Oxford ox2 60 ‘Onord Universty ress isa depertment ofthe University of Oxford lefinhesthe Urner object of eden in sea scholship, andedsatonty pbishngwonkaadein ‘Onlerd New Yrs ‘Ascland Cape Towa, Daves Salam HongKong Karachi ‘uals lumper Madd Melbourne Mexico City Niro ‘New Deli Shanghai Tipe! 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No pt ots pubexion may besepeacuce, stored ina reel rem or tantoited, nay form or ay meant ‘night the prc permission in wrsngofGxdrd Univers Pres crasexprasl permed by wearer terns sreed with he apport ‘aegis rights orfanisacien Enguiiesconering pret ‘use he ope ofthe above sow been othe LT Rigs parent, ‘Ono Unversiy Press athe adress bore ‘vou rust ot cialate his bockn any other nding or cover ‘edyou mint ose ths mae conton on any sguer ‘Ay websces refed a tis publication ae te public demain end ‘heir addresses ane pened Oxf University Pres fr inermaton ch (nford Univesity Press dsl any respons for Une content ssa: 978019759512 -Acomplee recording ofthis Bookworms edion of ‘Sesh Soalisevalabieinam aio puck so 9780 947004 Pale in Coa Wordcount main ex 5 955 For more infomation on he Oxon ookwoem Libres, ‘ist wnrvoupcomfoookworns ‘Tee stories are sled nom the waning entre of the Commonielth Shor Stony Ccompesiion sdminisered the CommoneathBroageatng vant Mnded by "he Commonveas Fandtion ‘Pepa regret rpermion eda cx mp cpap as: ‘Shuhana Chahuy fr Te Evert Tr Sean Costello or With Ser en ‘Anthony C Ds for The Senge Ch Tlskems mem Akron for Testor ret sna for Ia: Mary Mechs for Came spear teenie stead ee een renee CONTENTS INTRODUCTION NOTE ON THE STORIES NOTES ON THE ILLUSTRATORS NOTE ON THE LANGUAGE INDIA ‘The Evening Train Shabana Chaudbury prerany Complicity Mary McCluskey MALAYSIA ‘The Luck of Four Nandita Ray INDIA Chinna and Muthu Suchitra Karthik Kuomer NEW ZEALAND With Sincere Intent Susaze Costello NIGERIA The Strange Child Anthony C. Diala 1Np1A Treason Preeta Krishna NIGERIA ‘The Deceivers Folakenti Ement-Akpant GLOSSARY activrTiEs: Before Reading acriviriss: After Reading ABOUT THE AUTHORS. ABOUT THE BOOKWORMS LIBRARY i 2 31 36 al 4 46 50.NOTE ON THE LANGUAGE ‘There are many varieties of English spoken in the world, and the characters in these stories sometimes use non-standard forms (for example, leaving out auxiliary verbs such as do, have, and are). This is how the authors of the original stories represented the spoken language that their characters would actually use in real life. There are also words that are usually only found in a particular variety of English (for example, ah in Malaysian English), and a few words from other languages (for example, kunkum from Sanskrit). All these words are either explained in the stories or in the glossary on page 41. The Evening Train SHAHANA CHAUDHURY ad A sory from India, retold by Jennifer Bassett Life ina big city is fast, busy, always changing. Life in 2 village is not so fast, and change comes slowly. Old people don’t like chango; they like things to stay the same. But to the young, a city is full of excitement, of promise, of change. Keshto, an old man ina quiet Indian village, Is happy with his place in the world. But his son, Karthik, is not happy... the last potato was ready. Keshto put it into the basket and stood up. His thin old body was tired after hours of work on the potatoes. Slowly, he walked out of the hurt. The hot afternoon lay across the countryside like a sleepy lover. The green rice fields, the dark mango trees, the river ~ all were still and quiet. Soon, the afternoon will wake up, Keshto thought ‘The fields, the trees, and the river will come alive again, and a little later, the evening train will roll in ro the station. People will get out of the train for a few minutes to drink Balai’s ginger tea and to breathe the sweet2 Songs from the Soul: Stories from Around the World village air. And then, they will buy my beautiful golden porato cakes and eat them on the way home. This was Keshto’s life, Twenty-five years of making porato cakes. Every day he waited for the evening train to stop at the little village station on its journey from one city to another. He smiled at the tired faces of the passengers, and they smiled back and bought his delicious potato cakes. Then they got back into the train and hurried away to their bigger, better, city lives. In the old days, Karthik, his only child, was always with him when he brought his potato cakes to the station. The boy loved to watch the train and the passengers then, But the years came and went, and the boy's mother died. Now Karthik loved the city, and trains no longer interested him. ce I know a man in the city, father He can help me to start a food stall. 1 will get ricb, and then you can stop workings you can rest, and take life easy. No, som. We belong here. Everyone has a place under the sun. That is the way things are. Father, this is a new world. People change their place. You and | can have a better life if we want to. This is a good life, son. And you can make it better Borrow money from the government and start your owm business. I hear they are offering good money, and easy payments. The Evening Train ‘Father, this is a new world. People change their place. You and I can have a better life if we want to.4 Songs from the Soul: Stories from Around the World But that’s here, in the village, father. And | want to go to the city, Then you must go without me. I cannot, father, can I? ae The sound of bells brought Keshto back to the real world. He looked around. It was late, and Karthik was still not here. These days Keshto could not make all the potato cakes and cook them without help. Behula, the little gil with strange green eyes, came past Keshto’s hut. She made a pretty picture, following her cow and carrying a stick that was much bigger than she was. ‘Grandfather, do you have a potato cake for me? she asked. Keshto smiled. “Come back later and I will have one for you. No, Iwill have two for you. Oh, have you seen Karthik dada?? Behula saw everything, knew everything. The child never rested, moving around the village like a playful little wind. IF you wanted to know something, you just asked Behula. ‘He was sitting by the river, talking to a man.’ “Which man?? Behula shook her head. A man, any man. She didn’t know. She ran happily after her cow, a child with no cares in the world. The Evening Train Strange, thought Keshto. Everyone knew everyone in the village, Who was this stranger, sitting by the river, talking to his son? But now, he had to make the potato cakes before it was too late. He stood up, his seventy years heavy on his thin back and his tired legs. He walked slowly into the hut and towards the big basket full of potatoes. It was already dark inside the hut. Outside, down at the station, the evening train rolled in, And Keshto knew it was too late.Complicity MARY McCLUSKEY ¥ A story from Britain, retold by Jennifer Bassett Children soe and hear a lot. Parents don't always understand this. They think they can have secrets, end their children will never know. Emma and her brother Jimmy are going With their mother to get @ chicken from the farmer. During the visit Emma watches and listens ~ and thinks she understands Or does she? fe wanted to go with Mam and we said so, loudly, Jimmy and me. We wanted to ride on the old country bus, out of the dirty, smelly air of the village, with its crowded little houses. All che houses belonged to the mine and were just the same —long crowded lines of them, going up the hill to the mine at the top. The air at the farm smelled soft and clean. You could almost taste it in your mouth, Mam was taking a jug of her homemade cider to the farm. The farmer would have the cider, and Mam would take one of the farmer’s chickens. That was the agreement. A jug of cider for a chicken. Complicity 7 My father, sitting by the fire, nodded. “Take them,’ he said. Since his accident at the mine, he didn’t like us playing around him in the house. Mam hesitated. ‘Just this once,’ she said. When we climbed down from the bus, Big Dan Stockley was there at the gate. He was a heavy man, with big red hands and strong arms. A face brown from the sun, with very light blue eyes. He was the kind of man who stared a lot ~at me, at my mam, “You're late, Rose,’ he said. He was looking at the jug in her hands. His tongue wet his top lip. “You've no chickens left?” she asked. “None caught,’ he said. He pointed to the yard, where there were a few cl We looked at them. Jimmy made a move towards one, and it turned and ran on its thin legs to the end of the yard. We laughed. “You know what we said, Dan. A chicken for a jug,” said Mam, Dan looked at her. ‘Too bad,’ he said. ‘So how's Johnny boy?” No one ever called my father ‘Johnny’, It sounded wrong. jckens. ‘Some running around.’ ‘Fine,’ said Mam. Not the man he was since that accident. Eh, Rose?"8 Songs from the Soul: Stories from Around the World She turned away. “You can’t let us have one chicken?’ she asked. ‘If you can catch one, you can have one,’ Dan said My mother hesitated. Then she put the jug of cider in Dan’s hands. “Hold this,’ she said The farmyard was wet and muddy from the morning rain. Mam ran towards the chickens, and Jimmy was behind her in seconds, feet slipping in the mud, laughing happily. “Come on!’ he shouted. So I went too. I chose the fattest, prettiest chicken, with a silvery colour, and ran after it. But the chicken understood me and it ran away as fast as it could. Mam was laughing, and the sound rang out across the yard. She was chasing a fat brown chicken around in a circle, her skirts held up, her long white legs dirty with mud. ‘Mammy, chase it here!’ Jimmy shouted. Jimmy waited, his arms ready to catch. He was covered in mud, even on his face. Mam looked at him, giggling, then ran at che chicken, waving her skirt at it, like a dancer. “Get him,’ she called. Her laugh rang out again, Her face was pink, her hair falling free down her back. She held up her skirt and turned around to look at me, and to look at Big Dan. He stood at the end of the yard, Complicity ‘Mam looked at Jimmy, giggling, then ran at the chicken, waving her skirt at it, like a dancer.10 Songs from the Soul: Stories from Around the World i holding the jug of cider in his big red hands. When he saw her looking, he winked. ‘The chicken ran straight into Jimmy's arms. The bird was squawking, trying to escape. ‘Mam! Quick!’ Jimmy shouted. Mam ran forward and broke the chicken’s neck. Our dinner. A chicken for a jug of cider. “Emma, look?’ she called. ‘Nice fat one.’ Hooked. ‘Dad will be pleased,’ I said. I thought of him, sitting on his straight chair with a glass of medicine for the pain, while we ran in the sun and Big Dan watched my mam. My mother’s eyes held a deep stillness. “He will, yes,’ she said. I remember her smile, so small, of complicity A shared secret of wrongdoing The Luck of Four NANDITA RAY e000 A story from Malaysia, retold by Jennifer Bassett People believe there are lucky numbers, and unlucky numbers. The number 13 is unlucky in England and Americs; in some Asian countries the number 4 is unlucky. Chai and Samy are old friends. Every week Chai buys @ huge number of lottery tickets. He's always hoping for lucky numbers, for the big win. hai walked slowly into the coffee-shop, breathing heavily. His huge stomach was the first thing to go through the door. He looked around to find his usual table. It was empty. So was the coffee-shop most of the rime these days. He sat down heavily, pleased to get off his feet, and nodded at the short Indian man at the back of the coffee-shop. “Oi Samy! One teh-tarik, four-spoon sugar,” he called, ‘Usual-lah? smiled Samy, in his friendly way. Chai’s face was hot, and his breathing was noisy. Samy came over to sit with his friend. “So, Chai! Very hot-lah today. Hot like this, and I cannot get many customers,’ said Samy, shaking his head.12 _Songs from the Soul: Stories from Around the World “You know, Samy,’ Chai said. ‘If 1 win the four-digit lottery, I can buy a big aircon house outside the city, and go and live there!” ‘Yes ah? Buy already-lah today’s lottery numbers?” said Samy. “OF course-lah! See? said Chai. He moved his large body with difficulty, and pulled out from his back pocket a huge number of lottery tickets. “Hiya, Chai, You spend too much money on those things-lah! Eh! How about giving me one of your numbers? You always got good luck,’ laughed Samy. Chai often won something on the lottery, Maybe it was his good luck, or maybe it was because he spent almost all his money on buying tickets. “How can-lah, Samy? I give away my numbers, I lose Samy said. ‘I’m not your good friend ah? I always give you free tea.’ ‘OK-lah, OK-lah!’ said Chai. The kitchen-boy came with his glass of tea, and Chai put away his tickets. He was beginning to feel hot and a little angry; he didn’t like his friend laughing at him ‘Give you one. Here! Four-four-four-four! My birth date,’ whispered Chai. He spoke softly because he didn’t want anyone to hear him, and also because he was finding it difficult to breathe. ‘Aiyoyo . . .!? Samy began to speak, then stopped. He The Luck of Four B “Give you one. Here! Four-four-fow My birth date,” whispered C14 Songs from the Soul: Stories from Around the World knew the words ‘four’ and ‘death’ sounded almost the same in Chinese, but he decided not to say anything. Chai suddenly closed his eyes in pain. He felt there was something around his chest, pulling tighter and tighter and tighter. Something was banging in his head, hurting his eyes. He felt sick. “Eh, Chai! What's wrong? You not well? I take you to see the doctor?” ‘No... no need. The weather-lah . .. go home and sleep. Sure feel better.’ Chai got to his feet, breathing noisily. Then his eyes closed again and he almost fell. His friend quickly took hold of his arm. “Come, I take you home.’ ‘I’m OK,’ whispered Chai. His head felt better. He found his way out of the shop and turned into a narrow little street, the quick way to his home. Dirty water from the houses ran down the street, and the smell of it was terrible. There were strong cooking smells too, coming from the open back doors of shop-houses. Chai tried to walk faster. He had to get home before seven. He walked on, and his leftarm went dead. He couldn’t feel it at all. The side of his face began to hurt. ‘Four-four-four-four . . .’ Chai whispered. The pain in his chest was suddenly huge, terrible; he could not breathe, he could not sce. He fell to the ground, and darkness closed in around him. Somewhere a child The Luck of Four 15 shouted, cooking pots banged together, a police car siren screamed . . At seven that evening, the winning numbers for the four-digit lottery were called out, Samy sat in his chait, his eyes on the television, his shaking hands holding a single lottery ticket. Slowly, his old face began to smile, a great big happy s16 Chinna and Muthu SUCHITRA KARTHIK KUMAR A story from india, retold by Jennifer Bassett Insome places in the world, life is hard. When the rain does not fall, your fields turn brown and your cattle die. Soon you will die too. You have to do something, and surely the old ways are best. But Chinna is just a young boy, a child, He doesn’t know the old ways, he doesn’t know what is best. Or does he? hwack! For a second the big black bird did not move, then it fell softly to the geound. ‘Chinna, you're the best!” The catapult dropped out of little Chinna’s hands. He looked at the dead black bird on the ground, and tried nor to ery. He did not hear his friends, calling and laughing and shouting how clever he was, gE That year the sun burned down on the village. The land was brown and dry ~ and thirsty; the cattle were thirsty, the plants in the fields were thirsty, people were thirsty Water was drying up. The Rain Gods were angry, and they needed a sacrifice. Chinna and Muthu v7 Chinna was the only son of Nachiappa Gounder, the village chief, and the sacrifice would happen in the chief's house. The sacrifice of a goat. The men brought the goat in when Chinna was having lunch. Chinna stared at it as it went out into the back yard, its little feet dancing on the hard floor, like a dancer’s shoes. It had unusually big eyes for a goat. & Chinna lay awake, his eyes wide open. It was long past midnight, and the night air was hot and still. He could not sleep, so he jumped up and went out into the yard He picked up a stone and threw it carelessly into the old cattle-shed. Almost immediately, there was a noise. Chinna looked inside, The little goat was awake, and was walking up and down, up and down. ‘Hold still, hold still.’ Chinna put his arms around the goat. It felt soft and warm, and had a wonderfully sweet smell of milk and hay: It made a little noise, and China smiled. ‘My name is China, but you don’t have a name, no? Hmm . . . Let's think. Muchu? Muthu was my dog,” The boy and the goat sat quietly. Chinna told Muthu everything about his life, and then he looked up at the moon in the sky. Tomorrow it would be full. Like a great ball of yellow gold. Tomorrow. Chinna felt cold.18 Songs from the Soul: Stories from Around the World “There is no need to be afraid,’ Nachiappa Gounder said. ‘We will break a pumpkin for the Gods.” Chinna and Muthu 19 ‘The next morning the house was full of noise and people running, shouting, laughing. The women gave Chinna a bath, then took him to the yard. The drums were already beating loudly; everything was ready for the sacrifice. ‘Bring in the goat,’ the priest called. Chinna hid behind one of the women. ‘A man came running into the yard. ‘Aiyyal The goat is missing!” The drums stopped. Everything was suddenly cuict. Then everybody began to cry out at the same time, “The Gods are angry with us!’ “We will die, we will all die?” ‘Not one drop of rain will touch our land!” ‘QUIET!’ It was Chinna’s father. “There is no need to be afraid. ‘We will break a pumpkin for the Gods. It is a present from our land, from our own fields. The Gods will surely accept this from us.” For a few moments there was a lot of talk and noise. ‘There was also one very quiet conversation between Nachiappa Gounder and the priest, during which there was a promise of two fields of good land. After this conversation, the priest called out: “Be quiet! Gounder Aiyya knows what is good for all of us. Why have the drums stopped? Start the singing!” The drums and the singing got louder and louder. The men brought in a large pumpkin and gave it to the chief.20 Songs from the Soul: Stories from Around the World Before Nachiappa Gounder put the pumpkin down on the table of sacrifice, he stopped and looked at China. Chinna’s ears felt burning hot. He stared back at his father’s face, The sun was in his eyes, and he couldn’t see clearly: Was that a smile, or an angry stare? E That night, the boy and the goat sat under Chinna’s favourite tree, Chinna stared at the river, while Muthu pushed her nose into Chinna’s hand, looking for food. Chinna was thinking hard. Did his father know about this secret place too? China smiled, and threw a stone, trying to make it jump over the water. The stone sank, leaving behind a ripple on the water, and another... then another... ‘Then China felt it on his arm and looked up. A drop. And another. The skies opened, and fell down on the only two sleepless things in the village that night. Wonderful, warm, kindly, and heavy. With Sincere Intent SUSAN COSTELLO ea Astory from New Zealand, retold by Jennifer Bassett Everybody has @ different way of breaking bad news. Some people like to do it quickly, in just a few simple words. Other people talk around it, hoping that the listener will begin to guess what's coming. But there's no easy way, especially between people who love each other. Bill and his wife are very close. They‘re good friends, they enjoy a laugh and a giggle together... ill, my husband of nearly twenty years, was still lying on a bed in the Accident and Emergency department. “Well, what did they give you for lunch?” I askec, putting my bag on the floor and sitting down on the visitor’s chair beside his bed. ‘Four different kinds of sandwiches and some soup, which was delicious.” ‘Really?’ “Yes. What did you have?” ‘A pizza and a piece of cake.’22_ Songs from the Soul: Stories from Around the World We smiled at each other. “Has the doctor come back yet, to say what's the matter with you?’ I asked. ‘He came half an hour ago, and told me to wait here for a bed upstairs. All the beds there are full at the moment. But . . .” His voice suddenly got quieter. ‘I haven't been bored. I've had a lot of fun warching rhe people opposite.” Thalf turned, and saw a man lying on the bed with his right leg in plaster. He looked very unhappy. “What happened?” ‘Well, about two minutes after you left, the ambulance men brought him in. He was cleaning a light in the kitchen, but it was turned on and he accidentally tonched a wire and got an electric shock.” I giggled. ‘I thought we were the only people who did things like that. ‘Anyway, the electric shock wasn’t strong and it didn’t hurt him, Bur he fell off the chair and broke his leg.” We both laughed, and I moved over and sat on the bed “He was still down in the plaster room,’ Bill went on, “when his wife and son arrived. They both looked very worried, and there was a policeman following them. The poor boy, who’s about fourteen, had to put more brake fluid into his mother’s car, but by mistake he put soapy water in, not brake fluid! His mother tried to stop the car With Sincere Intent “The electric shock wasn't strong and it didn't burt him. But he fell off the chair and broke his leg.”24 Songs from the Soul: Stories from Around the World at the bottom of the hill on the way here, and of course the brakes didn’t work. The car went straight across the road and into a fish pond in somebody’s garden. ‘Luckily they weren’t hurt, and the owner of the fish pond called a taxi for them. But you won't believe this... About Bill tried to keep his voice quiet. ‘Luckily, twenty minutes later one of the nurses took a phone call and ran over to the wife. One of her daughters, the nurse told her, was in trouble. How could she tutn off the water in the house? Who knows what was going on in that house! The poor woman ran to the phone, listened for a moment, shouted at the girl to get the neighbour from next door, and then she and the boy left in a great hurry. We haven’t seen them since.’ We laughed as quietly as we could, but it was difficult because we were shaking with laughter. ‘Now,’ said Bill, smiling at me, ‘before I go on, do our children know where to turn our water off?" ‘I don’t know if they know, but I do. It’s the thing outside the front door.” ‘Do you know where to curn off the electricity in the house?’ Bill said. In the hall.” ‘And do you know where to put soapy water in the car, and where to pur brake fluid?" “Yes, Bill,’ I said, giggling. A‘ter Bill’s sudden illness in the night, and then the terrible journey to the hospital With Sincere Intent 25 in the early hours of the morning, it was wonderful to have a laugh and a giggle. ‘Right then,’ said Bill. ‘Give us a kiss.” I moved closer. My lips touched his over so many years ~ and I understood. My body was shaking and I could noc speak. My arms went round him, and we held each other closely for a long, long time. And, when at last we looked at each other again, his voice was quiet and loving. ‘They say I haven’t got long, my love, but you'll be fine so many kisses without me.”The Strange Child ANTHONY €. DIALA * A story from Nigeria, retold by Jennifer Bassett Beiore young people ast married, they usually meet each other's families - mother, father, brothers, sisters. And everybody comes to the wedding, to celebrate the joining of two families. Linda has been married to Emeka for nearly three years, but she has never met his family. She is unhappy about this, and decides to change things. But sometimes it is better not to ask questions... Ls lay in bed, turning from side to side. She could not sleep. There was a question in her mind that was as old as her marriage —a question that did not go away, a question that had no answer. Something about her husband puzzled her, but she could not decide what it was. She stared for a long time at the ceiling. And then, da woke her husband. Emeka turned to look at her. His eyes were sleepy. “What is it? he said, staring at his wife. ‘My love, I have been your wife for almost three years. at last, During this time, how often have I asked to meet your The Strange Child u family? And every time you say no. 1 know nothing about your past life, or your family, and I cannot stay married to a man who is a mystery. So, I have decided. If you still won't take me to your village, I shal. go alone with our son this weekend. I must meet your family.” Emeka stared at the wall. Linda wanted to win this long hattle herween them. He conld hear it in her voice. The fight was over. He could not stop her, and he had nothing more to say. “Do what you want,’ he said. ‘I don’t know why you want to see my family. They will never welcome you. “They don’t want to sce me. They disowned me years ago =P’ve told you that many times. I don’t ever want to see them again.’ He turned on his side and went back to sleep. Three days later, Linda travelled to Emek:’s village with her two-year-old son. She drove carefully through the narrow roads in her small sports car. The countryside was beautiful, she thought, with its hills ane its thick green forests. But the houses were poor and not at all beautiful Near the end of the journey she began to feel excited. She stopped to ask the way, then at last she arrived at a small house, which looked old and uncared fot. In the house were a grey-haired old man and a young man, who was Emeka’s brother. ‘The house is empty today,’ the old man explained, ‘because Saturday is the28 Songs from the Soul: Stories from Around the World The Strange Child 29 village market day.’ He offered Linda kola nut and a calabash of waters these were the usual things offered to a visitor in the countryside. Linda was pleased and thankful for this welcome. She then told her story, beginning from the day when she met her husband at a gas station. The old man and Emeka’s brother looked more and more puzzled. When Linda finished her story, she showed them her marriage certificate and pictures of her husband. ‘Please,’ she said, ‘please, please forgive him.’ The old man stared silently at the floor for a long time. Emeka’s brother moved uncomfortably in his seat. Linda held her son’s hand tightly and watched the two men worriedly. ‘What are they thinking about» she thought. “Will they welcome me to the family?" After some time, the old man stood up. ‘Come, my daughter,’ he said. ‘1 am Emeka’s father, so I cannot lie to you. Follow me please.” The old man took her outside the house, to the edge of the yard. He stopped under a huge mango tree. He pointed to the ground under the tree. “Emeka is buried there,’ he said quietly. ‘He died in a car crash, exactly three years ago. He is my son and I loved him very much. We never disowned him.’ Linda stood as still as a stone. Her mind stopped working; she saw and heard nothing. The old man stopped under a huge mango iree. He pointed to the ground under the tree.30 Songs from the Soul: Stories from Around the World Emeka’s father looked unhappily at the little boy standing beside her. He looked exactly the same as Emeka at that age. The old man was filled with worry. What will happen, he thought, to this strange, strange child? 3t Treason PREETA KRISHNA w A sory from India, retold by Jennifer Bassett A child lives in 2 small, safe world, but that does not last long. There are hard lessons to learn about the adult world, which can be a dangerous place - @ place where people say one thing, but do another, @ place where truth is difficult to find. Kanna is a young girl, without a care in the world. She and her father are making a family visit, to a grandmother that Kanna has never seen before... C= on, Kanna, hurry up, or we'll be late. We have to get there by midday.’ Iwas walking slowly along the side of the road, trying to catch a butterfly. ‘Pa, there’s a yellow one, just up there on that flower. Can you catch her?” My father is a very brave man. He can do anything... anything, We were going to my grandmother’s house, he told me. I haven’t ever heard of her before. Why do we have to go now? Today is a pleasant day to sit by the pond, feed the fish with rice, and then feel the fish trying to eat my toes32_Songs from the Soul: Stories from Around the World “Please, Pa, let's go another day” Pa would not listen. And I just couldn’t understand why. So I went along, my long pink skirt blowing behind me in the wind, There were jasmine flowers around my head, and my hair was washed and dried with sweet- smelling smoke, which was only used on special days. I felt pretty. [had deep red kuemkam on my forehead, and a pretty necklace around my neck. Twelve glass bangles on my wrists made music every time ] moved We took first one bus, then changed to another, and after that there was a long walk to my grandmother's house. When we came close, I saw the gate. It was huge, as tall as two men, and I suddenly felt cold inside. “Must we go in? I asked. My father gave me a hard look 1 was surprised. He never looked angrily at me like that usually. Not even when he drank too much beer, or was with some strange woman. was still there when the watchman Iwaited atthe gat came to close it, and afraid, I ran in. The place was so big, it did not look real. There were beautiful green lawns everywhere, and a huge water fountain, with a stone man and woman holding each other. The water from the fountain fell down into a great pond which had goldfish swimming in it. Even the flowers on the pond were huge. I saw the yellow butterfly again. “Pa, she’s come with us!’ I shouted. For a moment I ‘Treason ‘There svere beautiful green lawns everywhere, and a huge water fountain.34 Songs from the Soul: Stories from Around the World forgot where we were. again, and the words died in my mouth. My father stared angrily at me A fat old maidservant took us into the house. “Wait here while I bring Ama,’ she said, leaving us alone Inside the house everything, was huge too. There were dead animal heads high on the wall, long soft curtains at the tall windows, beautiful old wooden furniture ‘Idon’t like it here, Pa, let’s go.” My father pulled me towards a long seat. I never saw a scat so big before, and I sat on the edge of it, afraid it would eat me. I tried to stand up, but Pa held my arm very tightly. This wasn’t him. He never did things like this to me, never. Was it because of this place? The maidservant came in with nice things to eat and two glasses of pink sherbet. ‘Tdon’t want it,’ I said. Then a woman came in. There was nothing grand- motherly about her. She had black hair, bright red lips, a lot of make-up, and big expensive rings on her fingers. My father stood up when she came in. The woman looked me up and down, from head to toe. ‘Well, she’s a pretty little thing, like you said, but isn’t she too young? ‘She'll learn. She’s very quick to learn,’ my father said That's my Pa, always proud of me. Treason 35 *L hope you’ve told her everything,’ said the woman. ‘I don’t want her crying and sobbing.” My father nodded A pretty girl came in and walked up to me. ‘Let me show you around,’ she said. I didn’t want my father to be angry with me, so I went with the girl our of the room. Ten minutes later I heard the bang of the big gate again. My father was gone. So was the yellow butterfly.36 The Deceivers FOLAKEM! EMEM-AKPAN A story from Nigeria, retold by Jennifer Bassett Many people these days use computers to talk to people all over the world. They meet in chat rooms, and talk by typing in questions and answers. They often don’t use their own names, and never see the person's face or hear their voice. Gbenga is in a cyber café, sitting in front of a computer, ready to lag in to the Yahoo chat room and talk to his new friend... benga hit the enter key on the computer keyboard, ‘and waited for Yahoo to accept his login. He moved his long legs around under the desk, trying to get comfortable. This afternoon he was not Gbenga from Ni from . . . somewhere in the US. The computer didn’t need to know where. igeria; he was Celia, a While Gbenga waited, he looked around the cyber café. Just the usual crowd — people looking for jobs, school students not in school, a few workers without the Internet in their offices. Soon, the login was done. Excitedly, Gbenga clicked on mervyn360@yahoo.com. He already knew Mervyn The Deceivers 7 from the last time he was onk:ne as Celia. They chatted for a while and got friendly, so they made a date to chat again today. Now, if he playe¢ the game well .. ‘Hi, Mervyn, Are you there? he typed hurriedly, and hit the enter key. The reply came almost immediately. "Yeah. Been waiting for you.” ‘Sorry I’m late. 1 just got back from school. Man, it was hard work.’ ‘School?’ came the reply. “Yes. School.” “You go to night school?” mean...” And then Gbenga remembered that it was early morning in the States, and he ~ Celia — was living in the States. ‘’'m studying for my exams and take an hour of extra lessons each morning.’ ‘Oh, didn’t know that. So where do you live? ‘Kentucky’ Gbenga typed quickly: He was ready for that question. “Where in Kentucky?” “Louisville. Want to come for a visit?” “That would be cool. Ie’s not far from here. I live in Frankfort.’ ‘Whoa, just around the corner!” Now to more important things, Gbenga thought. “You're not a student, are you?” he typed. “No. I work with my father. He’s an architect.”38__Songs from the Soul: Stories from Around the World Ghenga typed hurriedly, and bit the enter key. The reply came almost immediately The Deceivers 39 “You're an architect too?” typed Gbenga. “Yep. You don’t like architects?” ‘do... Ido, I mean...’ Gbenga started thinking hard. Here was Mervyn, American, with money, and believing he was Celia, What could he do? How could he get some dollars out of Mervyn? He couldn’t think of an easy answer. He decided to go on playing with Mervyn, getting friendly. And then he would ask his friends to help him make a good plan. “You guys have a big architects’ company? Gbenga typed. ‘Sure. Now don’t do all the asking. I’ve got questions of my own. You live alone?” “Yes.” ‘Maybe ['ll come for that visit. If you invite me... ‘Later.’ “That doesn’t sound very welcoming!” ‘Sorry, didn’t mean to sound like that. By the way, what's your surname?” The reply did not come fast, so Gbenga sat back in his seat to rest a while. |A young guy sitting opposite him in the café looked up at him. A dirty pair of gasses was pushed far down om his fat nose. Not a pretty face, Gbenga decided. “Excuse me,’ said the young guy. “Yeah? Ghenga said. “Can you please spell Prescott?’ the guy asked.40 Songs from the Soul: Stories from Around the World ‘Asin. ..? “Prescott as in a name. I’m chatting with some babe and she needs me to tell her my surname.” A sudden suzprise ran through Gbenga, but he spelt the name aloud for the guy. “Thanks. Do you...” Gbenga looked down quickly. His screen was flashing, NEW MESSAGE RECEIVED. It was Mervyn’s reply. “Prescott, my surname is Prescott,’ appeared on Ghenga’s computer screen. Gbenga’s surprise changed immediately into a sudden anger. He looked at the guy with dirty glasses. “Hey, what login name are you using?” “Thav’s not your business!” Gbenga stood up, all six foot of him. ‘What login name are you using” he said angrily. ‘Mervyn360@yahoo.com. You got a problem with that?" 4 GLOSSARY aircon air conditioning, a machine that cools and dries the air Aiyya_an Indian word meaning ‘master’, a man who is the boss architect a person whose job is to design and plan buildings bangle a large ‘ring’ of gold, silver, ete. to wear around the wrist brake you press the brakes to stop a car brake fluid liquid used in brakes bury to puta dead body into the ground butterfly an insect with big coloured wings calabash a bottle made from the dried shell of a large fruit catapult 2 stick with a rubber band, used for shooting stones cattle cows that are kept for their milk or meat certificate an important piece of paper that shows something is true chat friendly ‘talking’ (by typing, nor speaking) on the Internet chest. the top part of the front of your body chief the leader or boss of a group of people cider an alcoholic drink made from apples cool (informal) saying ‘cool shows you admite of like something countryside land that is away from towns and cities cyber café a café with computers where you can send emails, ete. date (make a) co arrange a meeting with a girl/boyfriend deceiver a person who makes somebody believe something untrue delicious very good and tasty to eat disown to say that you do not want to be connected to a person drum a musical instrament that you hit with sticks or your hands electric shock a painful feeling when electricity goes through your body flash ro send out a bright light that comes and goes quickly food stall litle ‘shop" with an open front which sells fooda2 Glossary forehead the part of the face above the eyes forgive to stop being angry with someone for a bad thing they did fountain water that shoots up into the air, and falls down again siggle to laugh in a silly way ginger a plant with a strong hot taste government the group of people who control a country. guy (informal) aman hesitate to be slow to speak because you are not sure huge very, very big hut a small, simple building with one room jasmine a plant with white or yellow flowers with a sweet smell jug a container with a handle, used for liquids kiss co touch someone with your lips to show love ola nut the seed of the cola tree kumkum an Indian word for a coloured powder made from plants, used for religious markings (e.g. a red dot on the forehead) Jab (Malaysian English) a word used at the end of sentences or words, which can soften the meaning, or emphasize, or reassure Jawn an area of short grass in a garden or patk log in to type your password etc. to begin using a compucer, login (n) lottery buying tickets with numbers on, to win Tacky ney if you're maidservant a woman who works in another person's house make-up special powders and ereams for women’s faces mango a large fruit, yellow inside, that grows in hot countries mine (x) a very big hole in the ground where people get coal, gold, ete, mud soft wet earth; muddy (ad) necklace a piece of jewellery to wear around the neck nod to move your head down and up again quickly; meaning ‘yes’ online using a computer or the Internet Glossary 4B plaster a hard covering used for holding broken bones in place pond a small area of water priest a person who leads people in theit religion proud feeling pleased about someone because they have done well pumpkin a large round vegetable with thick orange skin puzzle to feel confused because you do not understand something pple a small wave on the wate- of a lake or pond, roll in_ to arrive somewhere, moving smoothly on wheels sacrifice offering something to a god (eg. an animal that has been killed), in order to get something more important shared having something with znother person shed a small simple building where you keep things or animals sherbet in Asia a cold sweet drink made from fruits and flowers siren a machine that makes a loud sound as a warning slip(v) to slide a short way by cecident and nearly fall soap a substance you use with water for washing; soapy (adj) sob to cry noisily soup a liquid food made by cocking meat, vegetables, etc. tebr-tarik a hot tea drank in Melaysia and Singapore treason the crime of doing something secret that will hurt your ‘country; of, in this story, that will hurt a person close to you wink (u) to quickly close and open one eye as a secret message to somebody ‘wire a thin piece of metal chat slectricity can eravel through yard an area next to a building, usually with a wall around itACTIVITIES Before Reading Before you read the stories, read the introductions at the beginning. Then use these activities to help you think about the stories. How much can you guess about them? 1 The Evening Train (story introduction page 1). Do you agree (A) or disagree (D) with these ideas? 1 Young people usually prefer to live in cities because life is more exciting there. 2 Children always want something different from theit parents. 2 Complicity (story introduction page 6). At the end of this story, what do we know? Make a guess. Choose one answer. 1 We know that Emma’s mother has a secret. 2 We know that Emma’s mother doesn’t have a secret. 3. We know that Emma thirtks her mother has a secret. 3. The Luck of Four (story introduction page 11). What do you think about these questions? 1 Are there lucky and unlucky numbers in your country? What are they? 2 Do you believe that a lucky number can win the lottery? 3 Isit a good idea to spend money on lottery tickets? actives: Before Reading 45 4 Chinna and Muthu (story introduction page 16). What happens to China in this story? Choose some of these ideas. 1. Chinna makes a new friend. 3 Chinna is in trouble. 2 Chinna’s father is angry. 4 Chinna has a secret. 5. With Sincere Intent (story introduction page 21). How do you feel about bad news? Choose from these ideas. If you have to give someone bad news, it is better to . 1 say itquickly 3 writealetter. 5 do it by telephone 2 talk around it, 4 sendanemail. 6 speak face to face. 6 The Strange Child (story introduction page 26). What can you guess about this story? Choose yes (Y) or no (N). 1 Linda will learn something terrible. Y/N 2 This story will have a happy ending. ¥ /N 7 Treason (story introduction page 31). What can you guess about this story? Choose words to complete the sentences. 1 Kanna’s father has lied to her | has told her the truth. 2 Kanna has / does not have agrandmother. 8 The Deceivers (story introduction page 36). What can you guess about Gbenga? Which of these sentences are true? 1 Gbenga does not use his rea! name in the chat room. 2 Gbenga uses a giel’s name. 3. Gbenga uses the name of a very famous person.ACTIVITIES After Reading 1 Match these parts of sentences about people in these eight stories. There are three parts to each sentence. Then choose the best linking words to join the parts together. First parts of each sentence: Keshto needs help to make his potato cakes, . . Emma, Jimmy, and their mother go to the farm... Chai is a very fat man... Chinna knows what happens in a sacrifice ... In the hospital Bill tells his wife a funny storys... Linda drives to her husband’s village, . Kanna’s father takes his young, pretty daughter . Ghenga thinks it is clever to use a false name, . ean rune Second parts of each sentence: 9. but / because she wants to meet his family, .. 10 why / because the farmer says they can have a chicken, 11 why / but he isn’t so clever after all, . 12 after / and he loves the little goat, 13 but / so his son Karthik wants to move to the city 14 and / because leaves her in the house of a woman . 15. which ( who makes her laugh, . 16 who / what spends a lot of money on lottery tickets, acrivmes: Afer Reading 47 Third parts of each sentence: 17 which | who is not her grandmother. 18 after / and is not very nice to his friend Samy. 19 but / so his real message is a sad one for them both. 20 but / and does not want to help his father any more. 21 because / so the guy opposite him is doing the same thing, 22 so/ but she learns a terrible secret about her husband. 23. so/ why he takes her away and hides her in a secret place. 24 but / because first they have 10 catch the chicken. 2. How did you feel about the people in these stories? Use the ist of names and the table below to make sentences about them, Use as many words as you like to finish the sentences. The Evening Train: Keshto/ Karthik Complicity: Mam (Rose) / Farmer Dan / Emma The Luck of Four: Chai / Samy wre 4 China and Muthu: China Chinna’s father / the goat 5 With Sincere Intent: Bill/ Bills wife 6 The Strange Child: Linda /Linda’s son / Emeka / Emeka’s father 7 Treason: Kanna / Kanna’s father 8 The Deceivers: Gbenga/ Mervyn afraid for ] angry with when Tible | ieaeediadth | ——— | tiecauas’ | -———— sorry for48 activrs: After Reading 3 Use the clues to complete the crossword with words from the stories (one word from each story). All words go across. Everybody liked Keshto’s potato cakes. Kanna tried to catch the bur it flew away. A jug of cider for a__; thar was the agreement. Bill and his wife had a good of the other family. 1 2 3. Gbenga made a new friend online in a____ room 4 5 about the accidents 6 Linda wanted Emeka’s family to___ him. 7 Chai was always hoping for a big win on the___. 8 In Chinna’s village people believed that the Rain Gods needed a__. 4 There is a hidden word in the completed crossword above. What is it? Which story docs it come from? Would you like your friend to be this? 1 The word is , from the story 2 Twould ! would not like my friend to be this because acrivrrtes: After Reading 49 5 Choose one of the eight stories and write a new ending for it in a few sentences. Which story will you choose, and why? 1 I choose the story because... 2. My new ending for this story is... 6 Here isa short poem (a kind of poem called a haiku) about ‘one of the stories. Which of the cight stories is it about? When the laughing stops, she sees her life without him, and the erying starts, Here is another haiku. Which story is this one about? Don't try to meet them. Don't go there. Don't ask questions. Bottor not to know. A haiku is a Japanese poem, which is always in three lines, and the three lines always have 5, 7, and $ syllables each, like this: | When | the | laugh | ing | stops| = 5 syllables She | sees | her | life | with lout | him | = 7 syllables And | the | ery | ing | starts | = 5 syllables Now write your own haiku, one for each of the other seven stories. Think about what each story is really about. What are the important ideas for you? Remember to keep to three lines of 5, 7, § syllables each.ABOUT THE AUTHORS SHAHANA CHAUDHURY Shahana Chaudhucy lives in New Delhi with her husband and two sons. The first twelve years of her working life were as a copywriter in advertising, and now she and her husband run a communications consultancy. Another of her stories, Venus in my Garret, was a Highly Commended story in the 2008 Commonwealth Broadcasting Association competition. When not working, she enjoys watching a movie, going away to interesting places at weekends, or just making a good cup of tea MARY MCCLUSKEY Mary McCluskey is a British journalist. She lived in Los “Angeles, USA, for some years, and now lives in a small village in England, Her short stories have appeared in magazines in many countries, and she has also written a novel, Collateral Damage. Her story Complicity is set in a mining village in the 1930s. Her great-grandparents and her grandparents were miners, and she has always been very interested in the family stories about their hard lives NANDITA RAY Nandita Ray was born and grew up in Malaysia. Sheis a docton but is also passionate about writing, Her first short story, written when she was eight years old, was about a haunted house, and was published in the school magazine. Since then she has had many poems published and won many writing competitions. She speaks five languages, loves travelling, and reads as many mystery novels as she ean. About the Authors 51 SUCHITRA KARTHIK KUMAR Suchitra Karthik Kumar is a radio broadcaster who hosts the daily live breakfast show on Hello FM in Chennai, India. She is also a professional singer and travels the world, giving singing performances. Two of her short stories have been Highly Commended by the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association: The Runaway Peppercorn in the 2003 competition, and Chinna and Muthu in the 2008 competition. She lives in a tiny apartment by the sea, with her actor husband Karthik and their little dog, Kapalee. SUSAN COSTELLO Susan Costello was born in Iran, and lived in many different places as a child. She finally settled in New Zealand in 1980 with her husband and children, In 2004, while she was trying to design a game that would be a bestseller, she wrote her first short story, which was published a year later, The idea for her story With Sincere Intent came during a visit to the Accident and Emergency department of a hospital with her husband. ‘Her husband survived the emergency, and she is still working ‘on the design of a bestselling game. ANTHONY C. DIALA Anthony Diala, a Nigerian, is a human rights lawyer and a university teacher. He has worked in several international organizations, notably the Hague-based International Criminal Court, A one-time newspaper columnist, he writes as a hobby, and his manuscripts include novels, short stories, and a play. ‘The idea for The Strange Child came from a story from his own village in south-east Nigeria. The story centred on a man who, people said, died in a car accident — but continued living in the city until a relative found him, and then he disappeared.52 About the Authors PREETA KRISHNA Precta Krishna was born in Agra, India, and lived in different places in India before coming to live in Chennai, where she did most of her education. She has written poetry and short stories, and also writes for Frozen Thoughts, a monthly life- skills magazine. The idea for her story Treason came to het after watching a television programme which warned very poor families about sell ‘The story ng girl children to people who promised jobs. is about the loss of innocence in a hard world. FOLAKEMI EMEM-AKPAN Folakemi Emem-Akpan lives in Lagos, Nigeria, with her family. She works as a financial journalist but feels more comfortable thinking of herself as a writer. She has written stories since she was five years old, encouraged by her mother, aunts, and friends, Her first book, Toxich My Pain, was published in 2004. She hopes one day to stop her day job, and become a writer full-time. 53 OXFORD BOOKWORMS LIBRARY Classics * Crime & Mystory *Facfiles « Fantasy & Horror Human Interest + Playscripts + Thriller & Adventure True Stories + World Stories “The OXFORD BOOKWORMS LIBRARY provides enjoyable feading in English, with @ wide range of class and modern fiction, nomfiction, and plays. It includes original and adapted texts in seven carefully graded language stages, which take learners from beginner to advanced level. An overview is given on the next pages All Stage 1 tiles are available as audio recordings, as well as over eighty other titles from Starter to Stage 6 All Scarters and many titles at Stages 1 10 4 ate specially recommended for younger learners. Every Bookworm js illustrated, and Searcers and Factikes have full-colour illustrations. ‘The OXFORD BOOKWORMS LIBRARY also offers extensive support. Each book contains an introduction to the story, notes about the auchor, a lossary, and activities. Additional resources include tests and worksheets, and answers for these and for the acivities in the books. There is advice on running a class library, using audo recordings, and the many ways of using Oxford Bookworms in reading programmes. Resource materials are available on the website , ‘The Oxford Bookworms Collection is a series for advanced learners. It consists of volumes of short stories by well-known authors, both classie and modern. Texts are not abridged or adapted in any way, bur carefully selected to be accessible to the advanced student You can find details and a full list of titles in the Oxford Bookiworms Library Catalogue and Oxford English Language Teaching Catalogues, and on the website .54 55 THE OXFORD BOOKWORMS LIBRARY GRADING AND SAMPLE EXTRACTS STARTER * 250 HEADWORDS present simple ~ present continous ~ imperative = can!cannot, must — going to (future) — simple gerunds Her phone is ringing — but where is it? Sally gets out of bed and looks in her bag. No phone. She looks under the bed. No phone. Then she looks behind the door. There is her phone. Sally picks up her phone and answers it. Sallys Phone STAGE I * 400 HEADWORDS +» past simple ~ coordination with amd, but, r= subordination with befor, after, when, because, s0 I knew him in Persia. He was a famous builder and I worked with him there. For a time I was his friend, but not for long. When he came to Paris, I came after him — 1 wanted to watch him. He was a very clever, very dangerous man. The Phantom of the Oper STAGE 2 * 700 HEADWORDS present perfect ~ will (future) ~ (dom) have to, must not, cord — comparison of adjectives ~ simple if clauses ~ past continuous — tag questions ~ ash/tell + infinitive . While I was writing these words in my diary, 1 decided what to do. I must try to escape. I shall try to get down the wall outside. The window is high above the ground, but I have to try. I shall take some of the gold with me —if Lescape, perhaps it will be helpful later, Dracula STAGE 3 * 1000 HEADWORDS . should, may ~ present perfect continuous ~ used to ~ past perfect — causative ~ relative clauses — indirect statements ... Of course, it was most important that no one should see Colin, Mary, or Dickon entering the secret garden. So Colin gave orders to the gardeners that they must all keep away from that part of the garden in future. The Secret Garden STAGE 4 * 1400 HEADWORDS past perfect continuous ~ passive (simple forms) — ‘would conditional dauses ~ indirect questions — celatives with woerelwhen ~ gerurds after prepositions/phrases Iwas glad. New Hyde could not show his face to the world again. If he did, every honest man in London would be proud to report him to the police. Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde STAGE 5 * 1800 HEADWORDS -- farure continuous ~ future perfect passive (modals, c-¥inuous forms) wvould have conditional clauses ~ modals + perfect infinitive If he had spoken Estella’s name, I would have hic him. I was so angry with him, and so depressed about my future, that I could not eat the breakfast. Ins:ead I went straight to the old house. Great Expectations STAGE 6 * 2500 HEADWORDS passive (infinitives, gerunds) - advanced modal meanings — elauses of concession, condition ‘When I stepped up to the piano, I was confident. It was as if I knew that the prodigy side of me really did exist. And when I started to play, I was so caught vp in how lovely I looked that I didn’t worry how [ would sounc. The Joy Lack ClubMORE WORLD STORIES FROM BOOKWORMS The Meaning of Gifts: Stories from Turkey STAGE 1 RETOLD BY JENNIFER BASSETT Cries from the Heart: Stories from Around the World * Changing their Skies: Stories from Africa The Long White Cloud: Stories from New Zealand Dancing with Strangers: Stories from Africa * Playing with Fire: Stories from the Pacific Rim * Leaving No Footprint: Stories from Asia A Cup of Kindness: Stories from Scotland Doors to a Wider Place: Stories from Australia Land of my Childhood: Stories from South Asia ** The Price of Peace: Stories from Africa Treading on Dreams: Stories from Ireland Gazing at Stars: Stories from Asia Winner: Language LesencrLirrature Awards Finalists Language Leerer Li cae Adsela iael eat -mote Fl SUE CER UE Celis Rtg eh eats) Cee eee ee eet Do ee ae eye er ee Eu nr eee net ee eee errr CUE et LR Pree? Cea ee ee eee) [English from around thet world. The eight stories in this Nee ee et eee See eee ee ter ed eet id er ete ea reed Se eu ru eee a cae ee eee tet ee eed hota Povey adenoid ae areas [rarseblesarver ines ere eer ress oer De cece eT) OXFORD Pen racen ted UN, Ce