Love Actually

5/19/2018 Love Actually

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Love Actually (1700)

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LOVE ACTUALLY RICHARD CURTIS

Penguin Readers Level 4 1700 headwords

Chapter 1 Love Is All Around Us

Chapter 2 Alone and Sad

Chapter Love !urts

Chapter 4 "he Real #orld

Chapter $ Spe%ial Relationships

Chapter & A%hing !earts

Chapter 7 "he 'ight (e)ore Christ*asChapter + "he Christ*as Con%ert

Chapter , Love A%tuall- Is All Around

Introduction

.It see*s to *e that love is ever-where/ It isn.t ig news ut it.s alwa-s there/ athers and sons3 *others and

daughters3 husands and wives3 )riends and strangers///// I ) -ou loo )or it3 -ou.ll )ind I thin that love a%tuall-

is all around us //// 5

It is not long e)ore Christ*as a ti*e )or )a*ilies3 a ti*e )or love/

Peter and 6uliet are getting *arried3 ut not ever-one is so happ-/ 6a*ie loses his girl)riend/ ar is in love with

a girl who will never e his/ Sarah.s love )or her rother *aes it di))i%ult )or her to )ind a o-)riend/ !arr-.s love

)or his wi)e3 8aren3 is going to e tested - a eauti)ul new e*plo-ee/ 9aniel.s wi)e has :ust died/ (ill- a%3 theageing ro% star3 is alone a)ter a li)eti*e o) singing aout love/ And the new (ritish Pri*e inister is a ver-

lonel- *an/

So is love reall- all around us; Can these people )ind it; Is there enough *agi% in the world )or ever-one3 even at

Christ*as; "he )il* Love A%tuall- rant as the Pri*e inister3 Alan Ri%*an as !arr-3

?**a "ho*pson as 8aren3 Colin irth as 6a*ie3 Lia* 'eeson as 9aniel3 and *another )a*ous (ritish a%tors/

It was written - Ri%hard Curtis3 who has also wored on other ver- su%%ess)ul )il*s lie (ridget 6ones.s 9iar-


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@'o I.* :ust )eeling ad/5

@I love -ou3. 6a*ie told her3 and he issed her/

@I now/5

@I love -ou even when -ou.re ill and loo terrile/5

@I now/ 'ow go3 or -ou.ll *iss it/5

@Right/5

6a*ie le)t the roo*3 then put his head round the door again/ @9id I tell -ou that I love -ou;5

@es3 -ou did3. 8at-a said i*patientl-/ @'ow goD5

BA )ew streets awa-3 9aniel sat alone in his ho*e o))i%e3 thining aout the re%ent death o) his wi)e/ !e rested his

head in his hands )or a *o*ent/ "hen he li)ted his head3 pi%ed up the phone and rang his )riend 8aren/

@8aren it.s *e again/ I.* sorr-/ "here.s reall- nood- else I %an tal to/5

8aren was in her it%hen3 %ooing her %hildren.s dinner/ @E) %ourse we %an tal3. she said/ @It.s a ad *o*ent now3

though/ Can I %all -ou a% in a *inute;5

@E) %ourse3. 9aniel replied/

@It doesn.t *ean I.* not terril- sad that -our wi)e :ust died/.

@Understood/ Ring *e later/5 9aniel put the phone down/

8aren turned a% to her seven-earold daughter3 9ais-/ @So what.s this ig news;. she ased/

@#e.ve een given our parts in the Christ*as pla-3. 9ais- told her/ @I.* the loster/5

@"he loster;. said 8aren/@es/5

@In the Christ*as pla-;5

@es3. said 9ais-/ @irst loster/5

@"here was *ore than one loster at the irth o) 6esus;5

@esD5

B

In a %hur%h - a river3 Peter was standing with his est *an3 ar/

It was his wedding da-/

@'o surprises;. Peter ased/

@'o surprises3. ar pro*ised/

@'ot lie the stag night;5

@Unlie the stag night/5

@"hose (raGilian wo*en were a *istae3 weren.t the-;5

@"he- were/ ?spe%iall- e%ause the- were a%tuall- *en/5

@"hat.s true/ >ood lu%/5

"he- shoo hands/

As the *usi% started3 Peter stepped )orward and turned towards he a% o) the %hur%h/ And there3 waling towards

hi*3 was 6uliet3 s*iling happil- in her white wedding dress/

ar pi%ed up his video re%order and started to )il*/

6uliet waled *ore Hui%l- until she was standing neFt to Peter/ "he servi%e egan/ #edding *usi% pla-ed3 songs

were sung3 and at the end o) the servi%e Peter and 6uliet eF%hanged rings/ "he vi%ar s*iled/@ou are now *an and wi)e3. he told the*3 and the happ- %ouple issed/

Peter turned to ar/ @'o surprises/ >ood3. he said/

@'o3 I.ve grown up3. ar replied/

At that *o*ent3 the traditional wedding *usi% stopped3 and )ro* ehind a %urtain voi%es egan to sing a (eatles

song/ "he %urtain went a%/ "went- people were singing @All ou 'eed Is Love./

6uliet looed happil- at Peter/ @9id -ou do this;5

@?r /// 'o/. Peter looed at ar/ ar looed awa-/

All around the %hur%h3 people stood up and started :oining in with their instru*ents/ At the )ront3 an ele%tri%

guitarist appeared/

B

En the sa*e da- the new Pri*e inister.s %ar3 prote%ted - poli%e %ars3 drove along 9owning Street and stoppedoutside nu*er 10/ "here were %rowds outside the uilding shouting his na*e/ 6ournalists )ro* "3 radio and the

newspapers pushed )orward with their *i%rophones and %a*eras/ "he Pri*e inister was a popular and attra%tive

*an/

Inside 103 9owning Street it was suddenl- Huiet a)ter all the noise outside/ "he Pri*e inister.s personal adviser

was waiting )or hi*/


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@#el%o*e3 Pri*e inister3. Annie said/

@I *ust pra%tise *- wave3. replied the Pri*e inister/ !e issed her/

@!ow are -ou )eeling;. Annie ased/

@>ood/ Power)ul/5

@#ould -ou lie to *eet the people who wor here;5

@es3 ver- *u%h3 i) that *eans I don.t have to start running the %ountr- -et/5

Annie led hi* to a long line o) e*plo-ees/ @"his is "eren%e3 sir35 she said/ @!e.s in %harge/5

@>ood *orning3 sir3. "eren%e said/

@>ood *orning3. the Pri*e inister answered/ @I had an un%le %alled "eren%e/ I hated hi*/ "here was so*ethingver- strange aout hi*/ I lie the loo o) -ou3 though/5

@"his is Pat3. Annie said Hui%l-/

@>ood *orning3 sir/ I.* responsile )or arrange*ents in -our private )lat3. said Pat/

@>ood *orning3 Pat/ I.ll e easier to loo a)ter than the last Pri*e inister no a-3 no teenagers3 no )rightening

wi)e/.

@And this is 'atalie3. Annie said/ @She.s new3 lie -ou/5

@!ello3 'atalie3. said the Pri*e inister/

@!ello3 9avid I *ean3 sir/ Eh3 I %an.t elieve I said that/ I.* so sorr-3 sir5

@"hat.s )ine3. said the Pri*e inister/ !e laughed as 'atalie.s )a%e went prettil- pin/ "hen he looed at her *ore

%are)ull-/

@Right3. said Annie/ @Let.s )iF the %ountr-3 shall we;.@>ood ideaD #h- not;5

As the Pri*e inister waled awa-3 he looed a% over his shoulder and too another Hui% loo at 'atalie/

"hen he went into his o))i%e/

@Eh no3. he said to hi*sel)/ @!ow in%onvenient/5

Chapter ! Aone and Sad

(a% )ro* Peter and 6uliet.s wedding3 6a*ie unlo%ed his )ront door and hurried into his living roo*/ Another3

slightl- -ounger *an %a*e into the roo* at the sa*e ti*e )ro* the it%hen/

@!elloD. 6a*ie said to his rother with surprise/ @#hat are -ou doing here;;

.Eh3 I %a*e round to orrow so*e old C9s3. Chris replied/

@9id the lad- o) the house let -ou in;5

@es/5 @Lovel-3 help)ul girl/ I %a*e a% e)ore the re%eption to see i) she was )eeling etter3. 6a*ie said/ @Listen3

perhaps we should tae u* out )or her irthda- on rida-/ #hat do -ou thin; I )eel we.ve een ad sons this

-ear/5

@E83. Chris agreed/ @"hat sounds )ine oring3 ut )ine/.

8at-a.s voi%e %a*e )ro* the edroo*/ @Are -ou %o*ing a% to ed3 darling; 6a*ie will e ho*e soon/5

B

(- now3 on the sa*e eauti)ul winter da-3 9aniel and his eleven-earold stepson were at his wi)e.s )uneral/ A

%rowd o) aout eight- people )illed the %hur%h3 all dressed in la%/

@And now3. said the vi%ar3 @9aniel wishes to sa- a )ew words/. 9aniel stood up and )a%ed the guests/ (ehind hi*

was a large pi%ture o) his wi)e3 as she was e)ore she died/.6o and I had a lot o) ti*e to prepare )or this *o*ent3. he egan/ @So*e o) her reHuests were not ver- serious I

have not3 )or eFa*ple3 rought Claudia S%hi))er with *e to the )uneral/. ?ven the vi%ar s*iled/ @(ut she was Huite

%lear aout other things that she wanted/ - darling girl3 and Sa*.s darling *u*3 wanted to sa- her last good-e

to -ou3 not through *e ut through the words o) the great3 the wonder)ul3 (a- Cit- Rollers/5

"he (a- Cit- Rollers were a pop group who were popular with -oung teenagers in the 1,70s/ "heir terrile song3

@(-e (-e (a-.3 pla-ed loudl- through the %hur%h/

And as the song pla-ed3 *ore pi%tures were shown3 in%luding a twelve-earold 6o dressed in a (a- Cit- Rollers

"shirt/ "he guests s*iled at the song and the pi%tures3 while their )a%es showed their deep sadness/

B

"hat night3 at Peter and 6uliet.s wedding re%eption3 the guests were dan%ing/ ar was still )il*ing/

Sarah3 a )riend whose phone never stopped ringing3 sat down neFt to hi* and wat%hed hi* with interest )or a )ew*inutes e)ore she spoe/

@9o -ou love hi*;. she ased so)tl-/

@#ho; #hat;5

@Peter/ 9o -ou love hi*; I :ust thought I.d as the Huestion e%ause it *ight e the right Huestion/ I *ean3 -ou

*ight need to tal to so*eone and perhaps no one has ever ased -ou3 so -ou %ouldn.t tal aout it ///5

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@'o3 no3 no is the answer/ 'o/ 'oD5

@So that.s JnoJ3 is it;

.es/ ?r /// this 96 what do -ou thin; Is he the worst 96 in histor-;5

@Proal-3. Sarah replied/ @#e.ll now de)initel- when he pla-s his neFt song/5

"he 96 looed out at the wedding guests/ @And here.s one )or lovers3. he said/ @Kuite a lot o) -ou are lovers3 I

eFpe%t ///. !e pla-ed the eginning o) a ver- wellnown and %o*pletel- unsuitale song/

@#ell3 now we now3. said ar/

@"he worst 96 in the world3. Sarah agreed/ @'o dout/5

B"he neFt da-3 Sarah was a% at wor in the large3 untid- o))i%es o) airtrade3 a %o*pan- whi%h ought )ro* poor

%ountries at )air pri%es/

A eauti)ul girl at the neFt des got up and no%ed on the door ehind her/

@Co*e in3. said !arr-/

ia waled into !arr-.s o))i%e and s*iled as her oss looed up/ @Sarah.s waiting )or -ou3. she said/

@Eh -es o) %ourse/ >ood3 good/ Are -ou en:o-ing woring here; 9o -ou now whose advi%e not to listen to;5

@I thin so/5

ia le)t as Sarah %a*e in/

@!i3 !arr-/5

@Swit%h o)) -our phone3. !arr- said/ @"hen tell *e eFa%tl- how long -ou.ve een woring here/5

@"wo -ears3 seven *onths3 three da-s/ And I thin /// aout /// two hours/5@And how long have -ou een in love with 8arl3 our *-sterious %hie) designer;. her oss ased/

Sarah looed surprised/ @?r //// . she egan3 @two -ears3 seven *onths3 three da-s and /// aout an hour and a hal)/5

@I thought so/5

@9o -ou thin ever-od- nows;5

@es/5

@9o -ou thin 8arl nows;5

@es5

@Eh3 that is ad news/5

@And I was :ust thining3. !arr- %ontinued3 @that *a-e it.s ti*e to do so*ething aout it/5

@Lie what;5

@Invite hi* out )or a drin/ "hen3 a)ter aout twent- *inutes3 sa- so*ething lie3 JI would lie to *arr- -ou and

have -our aies/J

@ou now that;5

@es/ And 8arl does too/ It would e est )or all o) us3 I thin/ It.s nearl- Christ*as/5

@Certainl- eF%ellent/ I.ll do that/ "hans3 oss/5

She opened the door to leave3 and a ver- goodlooing *an waled in/

@!i3 Sarah3. 8arl said/

@!i3 8arl3. Sarah replied/

Eutside !arr-.s o))i%e3 she stopped and too a deep reath/ She swit%hed on her phone and it rang i**ediatel-/

@9arling3. she said/ @E) %ourse/ "ell *e/. She turned to ia/

@Could -ou turn the *usi% down; #hat is that song;.It was @Christ*as Is All Around.3 - the ageing ro% star (ill- a%/

B

At a lo%al radio station in #at)ord3 on the edge o) London3 a 96 was pla-ing (ill-.s new re%ord/ As it %a*e to an

end3 the 96 spoe to his listeners/

@And that was the Christ*as song - (ill- a%3 who used to e a great *usi%ian/ !as there een a worse song

this %entur-; I don.t thin so. "he 96 looed up and saw a se%ond 96 waving at hi*/ Looing down at the list o)

guests in )ront o) hi*3 he realiGed his *istae/ @And /// -es /// I elieve (ill- is a guest on *- )riend ie.s show

in a )ew *inutes/ #el%o*e a%3 (ill-/5

(ill- and 6oe were waiting outside the studio/ "he progra**e was pla-ing in the roo* and the- didn.t loo ver-

happ-/ (ut ten *inutes later3 (ill- was in the studio with 96 ie/

@So3 (ill-3 wel%o*e a% to radio/ And -our new Christ*as song is JLove Is All AroundJ/5@es3 ut we.ve %hanged the word JloveJ to JChrist*asJ/.

@es3. said ie/ @Is that an i*portant *essage )or -ou3 (ill-;.

@'o3 not reall-3 ie/ Christ*as is )or people who %an share it with so*eone the- love/5

@And that.s not -ou;5

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@"hat.s not *e/ #hen I was -oung and su%%ess)ul3 ie3 I was greed- and )oolish/ And now I.* gre-haired and

alone/.

@#owD "hans )or that3 (ill-/3

.or what;;

.or a%tuall- giving a real answer to a Huestion/ "hat doesn.t o)ten happen here at Radio #at)ord5

@As *e an-thing -ou lie3. (ill- said/ @I.ll give -ou an honest answer/5

.E83 here.s one how do -ou thin the new re%ord %o*pares to -our old stu));5

@Eh3 ie3 -ou now as well as I do that the re%ord.s ruish/. In the neFt roo*3 6oe looed ver- unhapp-/ @(ut

wouldn.t it e great3. (ill- %ontinued3 @i) the 'u*er Ene re%ord in the %harts this Christ*as wasn.t - a spott-teenager; #ouldn.t it e great i) it was - an old )ool looing )or new su%%ess at an- pri%e; All those -oung

teenage stars will e in a hotel edroo* on Christ*as 9a- with a goodlooing girl/ And I.ll e in a %heap )lat

with *- *anager3 6oe3 the ugliest *an in the world3 )eeling ver- unhapp- e%ause our idea )or a Christ*as song

)ailed/ So i) -ou elieve in ather Christ*as3 %hildren lie -our Un%le (ill- u- *- Christ*as song/ And en:o-

the line that.s too long )or the *usi% ///5

@I thin -ou *ean3 JI) -ou reall- love Christ*as J///

Co*e on and let it snowJ es3 horrileD5

@So here it is one *ore ti*e3. ie said into his *i%rophone )or the listeners/ @A possile Christ*as 'u*er Ene

JChrist*as Is All AroundJ/ "han -ou3 (ill-/ A)ter this3 the news/ Is the new Pri*e inister in troule alread-;5

(ill- went outside to 6oe3 s*iling/

Chapter " Love Hurts

In 9owning Street3 a )ew da-s later3 the Pri*e inister and his *inisters sat around a long tale/

@E83. the Pri*e inister said/ @#hat.s neFt;5

Ene o) his *inisters spoe/ @"he A*eri%an President.s visit35

Carter told hi*/

@Ah3 -es3 -es/ I.* worried aout that/5

@"here.s a ver- strong )eeling in the part-3 and in the %ountr- too3 that we *ust e *ore independent than the last

govern*ent was/5

@I agree3. said another *inister/ @"his is our )irst reall- i*portant test/ #e *ust show the President that we don.t

tae orders )ro* hi*/5

@Right/ Right/ I understand that/ (ut I have de%ided /// not to3. the Pri*e inister told the*/ @'ot this ti*e/ #e.ll

tr- to e %lever3 o) %ourse/ (ut let.s not )orget3 the US is the *ost power)ul %ountr- in the world/ I.* not going to

start a )ight that I %an.t win/5 "he *inisters a%%epted this unenthusiasti%all-/ @Right3. %ontinued the Pri*e inister/

@'ow3 how do I get a %up o) tea and a is%uit in this pla%e;5

At that *o*ent 'atalie %a*e in with tea and is%uits/ "he Pri*e inister.s )a%e turned red as she s*iled at hi*/

@>ood3. he said/

Later that da-3 there was a no% on the door o) the Pri*e inister.s private o))i%e/

@Co*e in3. he %alled/

'atalie entered3 %arr-ing so*e )iles in one hand and a %up o) tea and a plate o) is%uits in the other/

@"hese have :ust arrived )or -ou3. she said3 giving the )iles to the Pri*e inister/ @And this is )or -ou too/5

"he Pri*e inister s*iled/ @?F%ellent/ "hans/5@I hoped -ou.d win3. 'atalie %ontinued/ @Although o) %ourse the other *an would get is%uits3 too3 i) he was here/

(ut he wouldn.t get %ho%olate is%uits/5

@"han -ou ver- *u%h3 'atalie3. said the Pri*e inister/

A)ter she le)t3 he lowered his head and hit it against the tale top/ @(e sensileD. he said Huietl- to hi*sel)/ @ou.re

the Pri*e inisterD5

B

At airtrade3 !arr- and ia were dis%ussing the Christ*as part-/

@'ot *- )avourite night o) the -ear3. !arr- said3 tr-ing not to stare at ia.s tight la% dress/ @And it.s -our

unhapp- :o to organise it/5

@"ell *e/5

@?as-3 reall-3. !arr- said/ @ind a pla%e )or the part-/ (u- *ore drins than an-od- wants/ (u- little things to eat hundreds o) the*/ And advise the girls not to go near 8evin/5

@ine3. said ia/ @Are we inviting wives and )a*ilies;5

@es3. said !arr-/ @I *ean3 not %hildren ut husands3 wives3 girl)riends /// ou haven.t got a horrile two*etre3

tight"shirt wearing o-)riend that -ou want to ring3 have -ou;5

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@'o3 I.ll :ust wait under the *istletoe3 hoping )or a iss/. "heir e-es *et and an ele%tri% loo passed etween the*/

@Right3. said !arr-/

As ia waled out3 !arr- shoo his head lie a *an waing )ro* a drea*/

B

9aniel was telling his )riend 8aren his worries aout his stepson/

@Sa* spends all his ti*e in his roo*3. 9aniel said/ @!e.s proal- there now/5

@"here.s nothing unusual aout that3. 8aren told hi*/ @- horrile son (ernie sta-s in his roo* all the ti*e/ And

I.* glad he does/5

@(ut this is all the ti*e/ And I.* a)raid that there.s so*ething reall- wrong/ I *ean3 he.s sad aout his *u*3 uthe %ould e doing an-thing up there/ I) he was drining eer and ringing wo*en in3 I wouldn.t now/5

@At the age o) eleven;5

@#ell3 *a-e not wo*en/ a-e :ust eer/ "he prole* is3 his *u* alwa-s used to tal to hi*3 and now the

whole step)ather thing suddenl- see*s i*portant/ It wasn.t e)ore/5

@It.s not surprising that this is a reall- horrile ti*e/ 6ust e patient and *a-e %he% his roo* )or e*pt- ottles/.

@And so*eti*es when he %o*es out o) his roo*3 I now he.s een %r-ing/5 "ears suddenl- ran down 9aniel.s

)a%e/ @It was su%h a waste when 6o died/ And it.s going to ruin Sa*.s li)e as well/ I don.t now what to do/5

8aren tou%hed his shoulder/

@(e strongD People hate *en who ehave lie girls/ 'o one will ever want to spend ti*e with -ou i) -ou %r- all

the ti*e/5

@ou.re right/5"hat evening 9aniel and Sa* sat together3 looing out a%ross the River "ha*es/

9aniel too a deep reath/ @So what.s the prole*3 Sa*;. he ased/ @Is it :ust u*; Er is it so*ething else;

a-e s%hool; Can -ou tell *e;5

@ou reall- want to now;5

@I reall- want to now/5

@(ut -ou won.t e ale to help/5

@I still want to now/5

@E83. Sa* said/ @A%tuall-3 I.* in love/5

@Sorr-;5

@I now I should e thining aout u* all the ti*e3 and I a*/ (ut I.* in love3 too3 and I was e)ore she died/

"here.s nothing I %an do aout it ///5

@Aren.t -ou a it -oung to e in love;5

@'o/5

@Right3. said 9aniel/ @#ell3 that.s not as ad as I thought/.

@#h-;5

@(e%ause I thought it was so*ething worse/5

@#orse than the terrile pain o) eing in love;.

@?r no/ ou.re right terrile pain/5

B

At the sa*e ti*e3 it was the end o) the woring da- at airtrade/

Sarah was putting her *aeup on when 8arl %a*e towards her )ro* the other end o) the o))i%e3 passing her deson his wa- out/

@>oodnight3 Sarah3. he said/

@>oodnight3 8arl/5

8arl le)t/ Sarah threw her hands in the air at the thought o) her lost opportunit-/ "hen her phone rang/

@es3. she said into the phone3 @I.* )ree/ "ell *e 6a*ie had le)t London3 and 8at-a3 )or his )ar*house in ran%e/

!e had :ust arrived3 and his suit%ase was still in the *iddle o) the living roo*/ 6a*ie sat down at a s*all tale and

looed sadl- at the old )ashioned t-pewriter in )ront o) hi*/ @Alone again3. he thought/

B

Later that sa*e night3 the Pri*e inister showed one o) his *inisters out o) his o))i%e/ 'atalie was waiting

outside/

@'atalie;5@Sir/5

She %a*e in with a pile o) )iles3 put the* down and started to leave again/

"he Pri*e inister spoe/ @?r//// I.* starting to )eel un%o*)ortale/ #e wor so %losel- together all the ti*e3 and

I now so little aout -ou/ It see*s wrong/5

@"here.s not *u%h to now3. 'atalie told hi*/

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@#here do -ou live3 )or eFa*ple;5

@#andsworth/ "he ad part/D

.- sister lives in #andsworth/ #hi%h3 eFa%tl-3 is the ad part;.

@Right at the end o) the !igh Street3. 'atalie told hi*/ @!arris Street near the Kueen.s !ead pu/5

@Right3 -es3 that is the ad part/ And -ou live with -our husand; (o-)riend; "hree lovel- %hildren ///;

.'o3 I.ve :ust le)t *- o-)riend3 a%tuall-3 so I.* a% with *- *u* and dad/D

.Eh3 I.* sorr-3. said the Pri*e inister/

@'o3 that.s )ine3. said 'atalie/ @I.* glad he.s gone/. She paused/ @!e said I was getting )at/D

.#hat;5@!e said no one is going to want a girl with legs as ig as *ine/ !e wasn.t a ni%e *an3 a%tuall-3 in the end/5

"he Pri*e inister stared at her/ @Right3. he said/ !e appeared to go a% to wor3 then looed up again/ @ou

now3 as Pri*e inister3 I %ould have hi* *urdered/D

."han -ou3 sir I.ll thin aout it/D

.9o that/ "rained ar*- illers are :ust a phone %all awa-/.

"he- looed at ea%h other and laughed/ "hen she le)t/

"he Pri*e inister looed up at a pi%ture o) argaret "hat%her on the wall/ @9id -ou have this sort o) prole*;.

he ased it/ @ou did3 didn.t -ou;5

Chapter # The Rea $ord

(a% at ho*e3 Sa* sat on the so)a while 9aniel waled round hi*3 thining hard/@#e %an solve this3. he said to his stepson/ @Re*e*er that I was a %hild too/ She.s at -our s%hool right;5

@es/5

@And how does she )eel aout -ou;5

@She doesn.t even now *- na*e/ And i) she did3 she.d hate *e/ ?ver-one at s%hool thins she.s a goddess/5

@Right3. said 9aniel/ @So -ou.ve got no %han%e3 have -ou;5

Sa* shoo his head sadl-/

B

(ill-3 the ageing ro% star3 was eing interviewed on a Saturda- *orning %hildren.s " show - the wellnown

presenters Ant and 9e%/

@So3 (ill-3 9e% said3 @there are three wees until Christ*as and it loos lie the prole*.s going to e (lue/5

@es3. (ill- agreed/ @I saw the* on the show last wee/ "he- weren.t ver- ni%e aout *- re%ord/5

.Ah3 ad o-sD. said 9e%/ @(ill-3 I understand -ou.ve got priGes )or our %o*petition winners/5

@es3 I have3. said (ill-/ @(ig pens with the winners. na*es on the*/5

@Eh3 greatD. said Ant/

@"he-.re wonder)ul3. (ill- said/ @So i) -ou.ve got a pi%ture3 lie this one here o) (lue one o) the priGes -ou %an

write on it/ Lie this/5

(ill- wrote a )ew insulting words aout the pop group a%ross the pi%ture/ Parents all around the %ountr-3 sho%ed

- the language3 pi%ed up the phone to %o*plain/

@"here are lots o) %hildren wat%hing3 (ill-3. 9e% said Hui%l-/

@Eh3 -es/. (ill- nodded/ @!ello3 %hildrenD !ere.s an i*portant *essage )ro* -our Un%le (ill-/ 9on.t do an-

s%hoolwor/ (e%o*e a pop star3 earn lots o) *one-3 and drin until -ou )all over/5@And now it.s ti*e )or the advertise*ents3J Ant told the wat%hing %hildren Hui%l-/ @#e.ll see -ou soon/ (-eD5

In the neFt roo*3 6oe hit his head against the wall/

B

Peter.s est *an ar ran an art galler-/ Inside the galler- he was on the phone3 while three s%hoolgirls were

laughing at a photograph3 on the wall3 o) )our large naed otto*s/

ar %overed the phone with his hand and spoe to the girls/ @A%tuall-3. he said/ @"he-.re not )unn- the-.re art/.

!e spoe into the phone again/ @E8 let.s sa- "hursda-3 at *- pla%e/5

@>reat3. said Peter/ @(ut I.ve got 6uliet here/ Can I pass the phone to her; She wants -our help/5

@Eh3 no3. ar thought to hi*sel)/ @E8 )ine3. he said into the phone/

@"hans/ And e ni%e3. Peter said/

@I.* alwa-s ni%e/5@ou now what I *ean3 ar/ (e )riendl-/5

@I.* alwa-s ///

@ar;5

@!i3 6uliet3. ar said/ !e paused/ @!ow was the hone-*oon;.

@It was great/5

+


9/30


"here was another pause e)ore ar spoe again/ @So what %an I do )or -ou;5

@I need help3. 6uliet told hi*/ @I.ve pla-ed the wedding video and it.s all lue and it.s got lines a%ross it/5

@I.* sorr-/5

@And I re*e*er that -ou were )il*ing a lot on the da- and I :ust wondered i) I %ould loo at -our stu))/5

@Eh3 no/ I didn.t reall- ///5

@Please3. 6uliet said/ @I :ust want one pi%ture o) *e in a wedding dress that isn.t right lue/5

.E8/ I.ll have a loo3. said ar/ @(ut I thin I re%orded so*ething else over it3 so don.t get too hope)ul/ ?r /// I

*ust go/.

6uliet was le)t holding the phone/B

At airtrade3 Sarah was sitting at her des/ En the des3 in )ront o) her3 was a pi%ture o) a goodlooing -oung

*an/

@!as there een an- progress in -our love li)e;. !arr- ased/

@'o3. Sarah told her oss/ @I.ve done nothing aout it and never will3 e%ause he.s too good )or *e/5

@!ow true3. !arr- agreed/

Sarah hit hi* lightl-3 and he hit her a%/ !er phone rang/

@And now3 o) %ourse3 -ou have a phone %all3. said !arr-/ !e turned to ia/ @!ow are the arrange*ents )or the

Christ*as part- going;. he ased/

@>ood3. ia replied/ @I thin I.ve )ound a pla%e/ A )riend o) *ine3 ar3 wors there/5

@#hat.s it lie;5@>ood3. said ia/ @It.s an art galler- )ull o) dar %orners )or ehaving adl- in/. She looed at hi* *eaning)ull-/

@Right3. said !arr-/ @>ood/ #ell3 I suppose I should see it/5

@ou should/5

B

6a*ie was t-ping when he heard a no% at the )ront door o) his ren%h )ar*house/ !e opened the door to a

*iddleaged ren%h wo*an/

@>ood *orning3 r (ennett3. she said3 with a strong ren%h a%%ent/

@!ello3 ?leonore3. said 6a*ie/

@#el%o*e a%/ And this -ear3 do -ou have a lad- guest;5

.Ah3 no/ 'o %hange there/ It.s :ust *e/5

@A* I sad aout that3 or not sad;5

@I thin -ou.re not surprised3. 6a*ie said/

@And -ou are sta-ing until Christ*as;5

@es5

@>ood3. said ?leonore/ @And I have )ound -ou a per)e%t lad- to %lean the house/ "his is Aurelia/5

(ehind ?leonore3 another wo*an stood nervousl- waiting/ She was a pleasantlooing wo*an in her late

twenties/

6a*ie stepped )orward to greet her/ @!ello3 Aurelia3. he said3 in %are)ul ren%h/

Aurelia said hello3 ver- Huietl-3 also in ren%h/

6a*ie said3 ver- slowl-3 that he was ver- happ- to have Aurelia there/ Con)usedM Aurelia looed at ?leonore/

@Un)ortunatel-3. ?leonore told 6a*ie3 @lie -ou3 she %annot spea ren%h/ She is Portuguese/5.Ah3. said 6a*ie3 and thought )or a *inute/ "hen he wished Aurelia good da- in Italian and told her in ad Spanish

that ?useio was a ver- good )ootaller/

@She is ten -ears too -oung to re*e*er a )ootaller %alled ?useio3. eFplained ?leonore/ @And J*u- uenoJ is

Spanish/.

@Right3. said 6a*ie/ @Sure/ #ell3 it.s ni%e to *eet -ouD.

@And perhaps -ou %an drive her ho*e when she )inishes her wor;. ased ?leonore/

@E) %ourse3. 6a*ie said/ @Con grande plesoro/5

@#hat language is that;. ased ?leonore/ @"urish;.

Later in the da-3 6a*ie drove Aurelia ho*e along an e*pt- road/ "here was silen%e in the %ar and 6a*ie looed

out in e*arrass*ent at the lovel- valle- the- were driving through/ @(eauti)ul/ (eauti)ul3. he said3 in Italian/

Aurelia looed %on)used/ @ountains3. eFplained 6a*ie3 in Italian/ @"rees3. he added/ Aurelia looed even *ore%on)used/ @'o3 right3. said 6a*ie to hi*sel)/ @Stop taling now/. !e %ontinued driving/

Chapter % Specia Reationships

Eutside 103 9owning Street3 there were large %rowds )or the visit o) the A*eri%an President/ "he %ar stopped and

its doors opened in right sunshine/ "he President got out/

,


10/30


"he Pri*e inister stepped outside and shoo hands with hi*/ !e see*ed Huieter and less %on)ident than the

A*eri%an/

@r President3 wel%o*e3. he said/ @I.* sorr- -our wi)e %ouldn.t %o*e/5

@She is too3. s*iled the President3 @although it would e rather lonel- )or her/5

@(e%ause I.* not *arried;. said the Pri*e inister/ @es3 it.s sad3 isn.t it; I.ve never een ale to get a ring on a

girl.s )inger/ I.* not sure politi%s and wo*en go together/5

@Reall-; "hat.s not *- eFperien%e/5

@#ell3. the Pri*e inister said as the- waled into the uilding3 @-ou.re ver- handso*e and I loo *ore and *ore

lie *- Aunt ildred ever- da-/ "hat.s the di))eren%e etween us/. "he- waled up the stairs/ @I.* ver- :ealous o)-our plane3. the Pri*e inister added/

"he President laughed/ @"han -ou/ #e love it too/5

"he- passed 'atalie/

.Ah3 'atalie/ !i3. the Pri*e inister said/

@>ood *orning3. the President said/ @!ow.s -our da-;5

'atalie s*iled and %ontinued down the stairs/

@"hat is a goodlooing girl3. the President said/

@es3 she.s ver- good /// at her :o3. said the Pri*e inister/ A*eri%an and (ritish *inisters and advisers :oined

the President and the Pri*e inister )or a *eeting/ A)ter so*e hours3 the advisers were still taling and there was

no agree*ent/

@'o3 no3 no3. an A*eri%an said/ @#e %annot and will not dis%uss that with -ou/5@Right3. said Carter3 one o) the *inisters present/ @(ut we thought -ou wanted our opinions/ "his is uneFpe%ted/5

@It shouldn.t e3. said the President/ @"he last A*eri%an govern*ent said the sa*e thing/ "here are no new ideas

here/.

@(ut i) I *a- sa- so3 sir3 we hoped that -our govern*ent.s plans would e etter3. Carter told hi*/

"he Pri*e inister nodded his agree*ent/ As he had said3 though3 he didn.t want to get into a )ight and then lose

it/

@"han -ou3 AleF3. he said to Carter/ @#e.re not *aing an- progress on this/ Let.s dis%uss so*ething else3 shall

we;5

Later3 the President and the Pri*e inister sat alone in the Pri*e inister.s o))i%e/

@#ell3 that was an interesting da-3. the Pri*e inister said/

@I.* sorr- we had to sa- no to -ou3. said the President/ @#e %ould sa- J*a-eJ now3 ut then we.d have to sa- no

later/ I have plans and the- will su%%eedD

.#e %ertainl- got that *essageD. "he Pri*e inister stood up/ @"here.s one )inal thing that I thin we should tal

aout3 i) -ou %ould :ust give *e a se%ond/ It.s so*ething I )eel strongl- aoutD

.I.ll give -ou an-thing -ou as )or3. the President told hi*3 @unless it.s so*ething that I don.t want to give5

"he Pri*e inister went outside3 passing 'atalie3 who was %arr-ing drins/ !e s*iled at her sh-l-/

@!i3. he said/ @ou sad *an3. he thought to hi*sel)/ "hen he went into another o))i%e3 too so*e )iles and waled

a%/

#hen he opened the door3 he )ound the President and 'atalie standing ver- %lose together/ "he President.s hand

was around her waist/ 'atalie went red and *oved Hui%l- awa-3 ut the President %al*l- too his glass/ or the

Pri*e inister3 )or a se%ond3 the world see*ed to stop/@"hans )or the drin3. the President said to 'atalie/

@I.ll go now3. she said3 and she waled past the Pri*e inister without looing at hi*/

@'atalie3. the President %alled out3 @I hope to see *u%h *ore o) -ou as our two great %ountries wor )or a etter

)uture/.

@"han -ou3 sir3. said 'atalie/

"he Pri*e inister looed at the President/ !e suddenl- )elt *ore %on)ident/

"he neFt da-3 the two leaders too Huestions )ro* :ournalists e)ore the President.s departure/

@r President3 has it een a good visit;. a :ournalist ased/

@es3 eF%ellent we got what we %a*e )or/ Eur spe%ial relationship is still ver- spe%ial/. "he President s*iled/

@Pri*e inister;. the :ournalist ased/

"here was silen%e )or a *o*ent3 and then the Pri*e inister spoe/ !e looed ver- serious/ @I love that wordJrelationshipJ35 he said/ @It %an *ean an-thing3 %an.t it; I.* a)raid this has e%o*e a ad relationship/ "he

President taes ever-thing he wants and doesn.t allow the things that *atter to (ritain/ #e are a s*all %ountr-3

ut we.re a great one too/ A %ountr- o) Shaespeare3 Chur%hill3 the (eatles3 Sean Conner-3 !arr- Potter3 9avid

(e%ha*.s right )oot and 9avid (e%ha*.s le)t )oot/ I) a )riend ullies us3 he stops eing our )riend/ #e *ust e

10


11/30


strong3 to stop the ull-ing. !e paused as he saw 'atalie in the %rowd3 at the a% o) roo*/ @And )ro* this

*o*ent I will e stronger3 and the President should e read- )or that/5

"he :ournalists were taing photographs and writing )ast3 eF%ited at having a real stor-/ "he other *inisters were

all s*iling/

@r President; r President; #hat do -ou thin3 sir;. the :ournalists shouted/

"he Pri*e inister looed a%ross at hi*/ "he President looed a% angril-3 ut with new respe%t/ "hen the

Pri*e inister.s e-es turned to 'atalie3 who looed down at the )loor/

"he President le)t3 and the *inisters were still %ongratulating the Pri*e inister in his o))i%e when the telephone

rang/ @It.s -our sister3. the Pri*e inister.s se%retar- told hi*/ !e too the phone/ @es3 I.* ver- us- andi*portant3. he said/ @!ow %an I help -ou;5

@!ave -ou gone %o*pletel- *ad;. 8aren said/

@ou %an.t e sensile all the ti*e3. the Pri*e inister replied/

@ou %an i) -ou.re Pri*e inister/D

.Eh3 dear/ "he inister )or Sport is on the other line/D

.'o3 he isn.t/5

@I.ll %all -ou a%/5

@'o3 -ou won.t/5

8aren put the phone down and then turned to her husand/

@I.* the Pri*e inister.s sister3. she said to !arr-3 @and so *- li)e loos slightl- oring/ #hat did *- rother do

toda-; !e stood up and )ought )or his %ountr-/ And what did I do; I *ade a paper head )or a loster/@#hat are we listening to;. !arr- ased/

.6oni it%hell/5

@I %an.t elieve -ou still listen to 6oni it%hell/. @I love her3 and true love lasts a li)eti*e/ 6oni it%hell taught -our

%old wi)e how to )eel/5

@9id she;. said !arr-/ @Eh well3 that.s good/ I *ust write to her so*e ti*e and than her/5

B

A )ew hours later3 in 103 9owning Street3 the Pri*e inister swit%hed on the radio eside his ed/./// It *aes -ou

)eel proud to e (ritish3. a voi%e said/ @So here.s a song )or our Pri*e inister/ I thin he.ll en:o- this/. 6u*p.3 -

the Pointer Sisters3 pla-ed loudl- in the Pri*e inister.s edroo*/ At )irst the Pri*e inister :ust stood there/

"hen his ar*s and )eet started to *ove and he egan to dan%e/ !e dan%ed out o) the door and down the stairs/ It

had een a good da-/

!e was still dan%ing when he noti%ed his se%retar-/ !e stopped/ @?r ///.he said3 tr-ing to hide his e*arrass*ent/

@Can we *ove the *eeting with the oreign Se%retar- to )our o.%lo% to*orrow;5

@Certainl-3 sir/5

@>ood/ "hans ver- *u%h/5

B

"he neFt da-3 6a*ie was eating rea)ast in his )ar*house in ran%e when Aurelia %a*e in and too his e*pt-

%o))ee %up )ro* a pile o) papers/ !e o))ered her so*e %ae/

@#ould -ou lie so*e /// er ///;5

She s*iled/ "hen she spoe3 in Portuguese/ @"han -ou ver- *u%h3. she said3 re)using the %ae3 @ut no/ I) -ou

saw *- sister3 -ou.d understand wh-/.@"hat.s all right3. 6a*ie said3 in ?nglish/ @I.ll have it/5

.6ust don.t eat it all -oursel)3. Aurelia told hi*3 still in Portuguese/ @ou.re getting plu*per ever- da-/5

@I.* lu%-3. said 6a*ie3 who hadn.t understood a word she said/ @I %an eat as *u%h as I want and I never get )at/5

She looed at hi* and s*iled/ !is phone rang and3 laughing3 the- oth looed )or it/ In the end the- )ound it

etween the pages o) the oo he was writing/

A)ter rea)ast3 6a*ie de%ided to wor in the garden/ !e too his t-pewriter outside/ ?ver- ti*e he )inished a

page3 he put it under his %o))ee %up/

Aurelia %a*e out3 too awa- the dirt- %up and put down a )resh one/

@"han -ou3. 6a*ie said/ (ut as he spoe3 the wind %aught his papers/ "he- lew up into the air and then towards

the lae at the end o) the large garden/

@Eh3 noD. s%rea*ed Aurelia3 in Portuguese/ @Eh3 noD I.* so [email protected] hal) the ooD. 6a*ie said3 worried/

Aurelia %aught so*e o) the pages3 then ran a)ter the others/ She stopped - the edge o) the lae/

6ust leave the*3 please3. 6a*ie %alled/ @"he-.re not i*portant. !e stood up and )ollowed her/

Aurelia too o)) her dress/ 6a*ie thought how lovel- she looed in her underwear/

@StopD. he %alled to her/ @Please3 :ust leave the*/5

11


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Aurelia3 o) %ourse3 didn.t understand hi*3 and she dived into the lae/

6a*ie ran towards her/ @She.ll thin I.* not a real *an3. he thought3 @i) I don.t go in too/5

@It.s %oldD. Aurelia %ried/

6a*ie stopped )or a *inute3 then too o)) his trousers and shirt and :u*ped in/ @It.s )reeGingD. he shouted/

!e and Aurelia swa* around a)ter the papers/

@"his stu)) had etter e good3. said Aurelia3 in Portuguese/ @It isn.t Shaespeare3. 6a*ie told her3 in ?nglish/

@I don.t want to die saving ruish that *- old grand*other %ould write3. Aurelia said/

@6ust stopD. 6a*ie shouted/ @StopD5

@#hat ind o) )ool doesn.t *ae %opies;5@I reall- *ust *ae %opies o) *- wor3. 6a*ie said/ @I hope there are no )ish in here/ I hate )ish/5

@"r- not to step on the )ishD5

@EhD #hat was that;. 6a*ie %ried3 as he stepped on a )ish/

A short ti*e later3 6a*ie entered the living roo* o) the )ar*house with a %up o) %o))ee/ Aurelia was in a %hair

near his tale with his :a%et over her shoulders/

@"han -ou3. 6a*ie said/ @"han -ou ver- *u%h/ I nowD I.ll na*e one o) the %hara%ters a)ter -ou/5

@a-e -ou %an put *e in -our stor-3. Aurelia said3 in Portuguese/ @Er give *e $0N o) the *one- -ou *ae )ro*

it/.

@Er3. 6a*ie said3 thought)ull-3 @I %ould give -ou $N o) the *one- I *ae )ro* it/5

@#hat ind o) oo is it;. She pointed at the wet pages/ She pretended to laugh3 then %r-3 and then pointed to her

heart/@Ah3. said 6a*ie/ !e *ade a ni)e with his )ingers/

.Ah3 *urder3. said Aurelia/

@es3. said 6a*ie/ @Cri*e/ urder/5

@rightening;. ased Aurelia/ She a%ted )rightened3 to show hi*/

@So*eti*es )rightening and so*eti*es not3. he said/ @(ut the writing is )righteningl- ad/5

"here was silen%e )or a *o*ent/ 'either o) the* new what to sa- neFt/

@I *ust get a% to wor3. said Aurelia/ She a%ted %leaning/ @And then *a-e later -ou will tae *e ho*e;. She

a%ted driving/ !e nodded/ "he- looed at ea%h other/

@It.s *- )avourite ti*e o) da-3 driving -ou3. 6a*ie told her/

@It.s the saddest part o) *- da-3 leaving -ou3. Aurelia said/ "he- oth looed awa-/

Chapter & Achin' Hearts

ar was at ho*e3 wat%hing %hildren.s television on a Saturda- *orning3 when he heard the doorell/ !e turned

o)) the "3 opened the door and )ound 6uliet there with a large pie%e o) %ae in her hand/ She had %learl- %o*e

straight )ro* a aer-/

@Cae;. she o))ered/

@'o3 thans3. he said/

@>ood/ I )ind it di))i%ult to share %ae/5

@Eh3 right/5

@Can I %o*e in;5

@?r /// -es/ I.* a it us-3 ut ///5"he- went inside/

@I was :ust passing3. said 6uliet3 @and I thought we %ould %he% -our video/ I thought I %ould eF%hange it )or so*e

%ae or ///. She pulled sweets )ro* her po%et3./// )or so*e sweets/5

@A%tuall-3 I was serious/ I don.t now where it is/ I.ll loo around tonight and then ///5

@ar3 %an I sa- so*ething;5

@es/5

@I now -ou.re Peter.s est )riend3. 6uliet egan/ @And I now -ou don.t lie *e ver- *u%h/. !e opened his *outh3

ut she %ontinued/ @9on.t argue/ #e.ve never e%o*e )riends/ (ut I hope that %an %hange/ I.* ni%e I reall- a*/

#ell3 I u- a lot o) %ae3 ut it would e good i) we %ould e )riends/5

@es/ Sure/ Sure3. ar said3 %oldl-/

@>reat3. said 6uliet3 )eeling hurt/@(ut that doesn.t *ean we.ll e ale to )ind the video/ I had a good loo when -ou )irst %alled and I %ouldn.t see it3

so I.ll have to ///

@"here.s a video here that sa-s JPeter and 6uliet.s #eddingJ on it/ Could that possil- e it;5

.Ah3 -es3. said ar/ @#ell /// -es/5

She *oved towards the " and put the video in the *a%hine/

12


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@I.ve proal- re%orded so*ething on top o) it3. ar told her/ @All *- videos have #est #ing on the* now/5

She sat down as the video started to pla-/ !e sta-ed on his )eet/ "here 6uliet was3 waling down the %entre o) the

%hur%h/

@Eh greatD "hat.s lovel-D. 6uliet %ried/ @"his is :ust what I was hoping )or/ I loo Huite prett-/. ar stood silentl-

as3 again and again3 6uliet.s )a%e appeared on the s%reen/ @ou.ve sta-ed rather %lose to *e3 haven.t -ou;. she said

slowl-/

"he- wat%hed in silen%e as it e%a*e %lear that there was onl- one person in this wedding video/ inall-3 there

was 6uliet leaving )or her hone-*oon3 waving good-e/

@"he whole video3. she said/ @All *e/5@es3. ar said/ @es/5

@(ut -ou never tal to *e3. 6uliet said/ @ou alwa-s tal to Peter/ ou don.t lie *e/5

ar didn.t now what to sa-/ @I hope it.s use)ul3. he said3 )inall-/ @9on.t show it to too *an- people/ It needs

%utting/ 'ow3 I.ve got to *eet so*eone )or /// lun%h/ An earl- lun%h/ Sorr-/. !e waled towards the door and then

turned a%/ @I don.t want to get hurt3. he said/ @9o -ou understand that;5

!e le)t without waiting )or an answer/

Eutside the house he waled awa-3 then turned a%3 then waled awa- again/

B

"here was a no% on the door o) the Pri*e inister.s o))i%e and Annie %a*e in/

@Annie3 *- love3 *- sweet3 *- drea*3 I need -ou to do so*ething )or *e/5

@E) %ourse/ #hat would our %ountr-.s hero lie;. Annie said/ @9on.t as *e wh-3 ut /// -ou now 'atalie3 whowors here;.

@"he plu*p one;5

@9o -ou thin she.s plu*p;5

@I thin her otto*.s Huite ig3 -es3 sir/ And she has ver- )at legs/.

@Right/ #ell3 I.* sure she.s a lovel- girl3 ut /// %ould -ou )ind her wor so*ewhere else;5

@E) %ourse/

"he Pri*e inister looed out o) the window )or a *inute/ "hen he sat down at his des and started to write/

!e had wored )or hours when there was another no% at the door/ !e :u*ped/

@es %o*e in/5

"he door opened and a girl %a*e in with tea/ It wasn.t 'atalie/

@Pri*e inister3. the wo*an said/

@"han -ou/5

!e looed at her and realiGed sadl- what he had done/

B

Late the sa*e night3 9aniel was in his o))i%e at ho*e3 staring at a pi%ture o) his dead wi)e/ As the door opened

and his stepson %a*e in3 he tried to loo *ore %heer)ul/

@!i3 Sa*/ Can.t sleep;5

@I got so*e terrile news toda-3. Sa* told hi*/

@#hat is it;5

@6oanna.s going a% to A*eri%a/5

@our girl is A*eri%an;5@es3. said Sa*/ @She.s A*eri%an and she.s not *- girl3 and she.s going a% to A*eri%a and that.s the end o) *-

li)e/5

@"hat is ad news3. 9aniel agreed/ @#e need 8ate and we need Leo/5

"he- went into the living roo* and put a video on/ "itani%3 starring Leonardo 9iCaprio and 8ate #inslet3 %a*e

on in the *iddle o) the )il*/

@9o -ou trust *e;. Leo.s %hara%ter was asing3 up at the )ront o) the ship/

@I trust -ou3. 8ate answered/

"he- stood there with their ar*s out3 lie irds )l-ing/

9aniel and Sa* put their ar*s out too/ 9aniel stood ehind Sa*/

@9o -ou trust *e;. he ased his stepson/

@I trust -ou3. Sa* said/@oolD. 9aniel pushed hi* down onto the so)a and the- la- a%3 laughing/

@ou now3 Sa*3. 9aniel told hi*3 @I.* sure she.s a great girl/ (ut *ost people elieve there isn.t :ust one person

)or ea%h o) us/.

@"here was )or 8ate and Leo/ "here was )or -ou/ "here is )or *e/ She.s the one3. Sa* replied/

@Right /// And her na*e.s 6oanna;5

1


14/30


@es/ Lie u*/5

9aniel thought aout this/

B

"he neFt da-3 6a*ie le)t his ren%h )ar*house to return to ?ngland )or Christ*as/ Aurelia helped hi* )ill ever-

%orner o) the %ar with wine3 %heese and other presents )or his )a*il-/

@Apologia3. 6a*ie said3 in no nown language/ @>rande )a*ilio/ >rande tradiGione di Christ*as presents

stupidos/.

!e drove Aurelia to the edge o) town )or the last ti*e e)ore the holida-/ "hen he got out o) the %ar and put out

his hand/ She too it/@#ell3 good-e3. he said/

@"han -ou3. said Aurelia3 in Portuguese/ @I will *iss -ou3 and -our ver- slow writing3 and -our ver- ad driving/.

!e s*iled at her without understanding/ She gave hi* a gentle iss on the *outh3 and then waled awa-/

6a*ie thought )or a *o*ent and then got a% into the %ar/ !e started the %ar and *oved out into the road without

looing/ A %ar drove into the a% o) his/

B

"hrough the window o) a re%ord shop3 Sa* wat%hed a video o) (ill- a%.s Christ*as song/ (ehind (ill-3 seven

girls dressed in red and white were dan%ing enthusiasti%all-/

Suddenl-3 Sa* turned and ran ho*e/

@9anielD I.ve got a planD. he shouted3 as he ran into his step)ather.s o))i%e/

@"han >od3 9aniel said/ @"ell *e/5@>irls love *usi%ians3 don.t the-; ?ven the reall- strange *en get girl)riends/5

@"hat.s right/ Ringo Starr *arried a girl )ro* a 6a*es (ond )il*/5

Right/ "here.s a ig %on%ert soon at s%hool3 and 6oanna.s in it/ I) I.* in a ro% group and pla- reall- wonder)ull-3

she *ight a%tuall- )all in love with *e/ #hat do -ou thin;5

@I thin it.s a great idea/ "here.s :ust one s*all prole* ///.

@"hat I don.t pla- a *usi%al instru*ent;5

@es/5

@"hat.s so uni*portant/5

Later that evening3 as he was waling past Sa*.s roo* to ed3 9aniel heard the sound o) dru**ing/ Sa* was

tea%hing hi*sel) to pla-/

B

It was a %old evening3 ut ar.s art galler- was war*3 *usi% was pla-ing3 and ever-od- was having a good

ti*e at airtrade.s Christ*as part-/

8arl was getting a drin/ Sarah stood nervousl- alone eside a large photo o) a naed wo*an/

@I.ll go round and tal to ever-od-3 shall I;5 8aren ased her husand/

@ou.re wonder)ul3. said !arr-/

Suddenl- ia was there neFt to hi*3 looing wonder)ul in a tight red dress/ @Is there an- %han%e o) a dan%e with

the oss;.

@es3 sure /// i) -our o-)riend doesn.t *ind/5

@I haven.t got a o-)riend3. ia said/

8aren taled sweetl- to a ver- dull %ouple3 ut her e-es were on her husand and ia/@ou.re looing ver- /// prett- tonight3. !arr- told ia/ "here was silen%e )or a se%ond/ @It.s )or -ou3. ia said/

@Sorr-;5

@It.s all )or -ou //// sir/5

8aren *oved on to tal to Sarah and the- oth wat%hed !arr- and ia/

@I suppose it.s his :o to dan%e with ever-one3 isn.t it;. Sarah said3 so)tl-/

@es ut so*e *ore than others3. 8aren replied/ 8arl appeared eside the*/ @6ust one dan%e;. he ased/

@#ho *e;. ased Sarah/

@Unless -ou ///5

@'o3 no3. Sarah said/ @>ood /// -es /// thans/5

As the- started to dan%e3 a slow3 ro*anti% song egan to pla-/

B"hat evening3 (ill- was eing interviewed - i%hael Parinson3 a ver- )a*ous " presenter/

@#ell3 this *ust e a ver- eF%iting *o*ent )or -ou3. Parinson said/ @ou are )ighting )or the Christ*as 'u*er

Ene/ !ow.s it going;5

@er- adl-/ (lue are selling )ive ti*es *ore C9s than I a*/ (ut I.* hoping that sales will i*prove/ And i) I

rea%h 'u*er Ene in the %harts3 I pro*ise to sing the song naed on "/

14


15/30


.9o -ou *ean that;. Parinson ased/

@E) %ourse I *ean it/ Loo/5

(ill- stood up3 )a%ed the presenter and opened his trousers/

@"hat will never rea%h 'u*er Ene3. Parinson laughed/

B

u%h later3 8arl said good night to Sarah in the hall o) the uilding where her )lat was/

@#ell3 I.d etter go3. he said/

.E8/5

@>ood nightD .>ood night3. Sarah replied/8arl issed her on the %hee and then on the lips/ @I don.t a%tuall- have to go3. he said/

@Right3. said Sarah/ @>ood/ "hat.s good/. She tried not to show her pleasure/ @#ould -ou eF%use *e one se%ond;.

She went outside3 s%rea*ed silentl-3 and :u*ped up and down with eF%ite*ent/ "hen she went a% inside/

@Right3. she said/ @#h- don.t -ou %o*e upstairs in aout ten se%onds;5

She was tid-ing the )lat when 8arl entered/ !e too o)) his %oat and waited/ "hen the- ran towards ea%h other and

issed/ Clothes )ell to the )loor/

@ou.re eauti)ul3. he told her/

As the- issed again3 the phone rang/

Sarah paused/ @I.d etter answer it3. she said sadl-/ She pushed hi* awa- and %overed hersel)/ @!ello3 darling ///

'o3 I.* not us-/. 8arl looed at her3 surprised and a little hurt/ @Right /// Right /// es3. Sarah %ontinued/ @I.* not

sure it.s going to e possile to phone the Kueen tonight ut /// es3 -es /// I.* sure she.ll e interested. She *oved)urther awa- )ro* 8arl/ @E83. she said/ @I.ll tal to -ou later/ (-e -e/. She put the phone down/ @I.* sorr- aout

that/D

.'o3 it.s )ine3. 8arl said/

@It was *- rother/ !e.s not well/ !e %alls a lot/. @I.* sorr-/5

@'o3 it.s )ine3. said Sarah/ @I *ean3 it.s not reall- )ine ut we.ve got no parents now and it.s *- :o to /// help hi*

i) I %an/ #ell3 not J:oJ/ I.* glad to do it/5

@"hat.s E83. 8arl said/ @Li)e is )ull o) interruptions and di))i%ulties/ So ///. !e issed her/

"he phone rang again/ "he- oth looed at it/

@#ill it *ae hi* etter;. 8arl ased/

@'o/D

."hen *a-e /// don.t answer;5

"here was silen%e )or a *inute as Sarah looed at 8arl/ "hen she pi%ed up the phone/

@!e-3 how are -ou doing; Right /// Right/. 8arl sat Huietl- eside her/ @Little darling3. said Sarah3 @please don.t/

#e.re going to )ind the answer etween us and it won.t hurt an- *ore ///

.8arl put his head in his hands3 waiting/

@'o3. said Sarah3 @I.* not us-/ I) -ou want *e to %o*e now3 o) %ourse I will/// / E8 ///. She looed at 8arl/

B

In the earl- *orning3 a)ter the airtrade Christ*as part- had ended3 8aren and !arr- were in their edroo*/

@"hat was a good night3. said 8aren3 @although I )elt )at/.

@Eh3 don.t e sill-3. !arr- said/

@It.s true/. She too o)) her dress3 sh-l-/ @I %an onl- wear %lothes now that used to elong to Pavarotti/5!arr- wat%hed her/ @I thin Pavarotti dresses ver- well/.

@ia.s ver- prett-/3

.Is she;;

.ou now she is3 darling3J said 8aren/ @(e %are)ulD5

B

Sarah3 at that *o*ent3 was visiting her rother in a spe%ial hospital/ "he %old3 lonel- roo* had ver- little

)urniture in it and a large *ale nurse stood - the door/

i%hael was paler and thinner and had dirtier hair than in the photograph on Sarah.s des/

@!ave -ou een wat%hing ";. Sarah ased hi*/

@'o /// es/ ?ver- night/D .Eh3 goodD .?ver- da-/ "he nurses are tr-ing to ill *eD5

.'ood-.s tr-ing to ill -ou3 darling/5i%hael was silent/ "hen he suddenl- li)ted his hand to hit her/ "he nurse stepped towards her to prote%t her3 ut

Sarah too i%hael.s hand/

@9on.t do that3 *- darling3. she said3 ver- gentl-/

B

En the da- a)ter the part-3 ever-one at airtrade was Huieter than usual/ !arr- was taling to ia/

1$


16/30


@Right3. he said/ @I.ll e a% at three/ I.* going Christ*as shopping never an eas- or a pleasant :o/5

@Are -ou going to get *e so*ething;5

@?r /// I don.t now/ I hadn.t thought/. "he- stared at ea%h other/ @#here.s Sarah;. he ased/

@She %ouldn.t %o*e in toda-3. said ia/ @A )a*il- prole*/D

.ou *ean3 she dran too *u%h last night; See -ou later/.

@es/ I.ll e waiting )or -ou/ An- ti*e/5

!arr- le)t the o))i%e3 ver- %on)used aout his )eelings/ !e waled down a us- street3 de%orated with Christ*as

trees and Christ*as lights ever-where/ !e thought )or a se%ond and then too out his phone and %alled/

@Are -ou going to give *e so*ething;. he ased/@I thought -ou understood last night3. said ia/ @ou %an have ever-thing/ All o) *e/5

!arr- was sho%ed/ @So /// er /// this Christ*as present/ #hat do -ou need; So*ething )or the o))i%e; Pens

perhaps; A ruler;.

@'o3. said ia/ @I don.t want so*ething I need/ I want so*ething I want/ So*ething prett-/5

@Right /// right/. !arr- turned his phone o))/ "hen he saw his wi)e in the %rowd and waved/

@Sorr- I.* late3. said 8aren/ @I had to tae (ernie to s%hool/ "here.s a rehearsal )or the Christ*as pla-/. "he- went

into one o) London.s iggest shops/ @Loo a)ter -oursel) )or ten *inutes while I get so*e oring stu)) )or our

*others3. 8aren said3 and disappeared into the %rowd/

!arr- looed around and saw so*e :eweller-/ !e stared at it )or a *inute or two3 thining/

@Are -ou looing )or so*ething spe%ial;. the assistant ased hi*/

@es //// er //// !ow *u%h is that ne%la%e; he ased3 )inall-3 pointing at one with a gold heart hanging )ro* it/@It.s O2703. said the assistant/

!arr- thought aout spending all that *one- on a wo*an who was not his wi)e/

@All right/ I.ll have it3. he said3 Hui%l-/

@I.ll put it in so*e ni%e Christ*as paper3. the assistant said/

@es3 all right/5

"he assistant too the ne%la%e and put it %are)ull- in a oF/ @Listen/ Could we e Huite Hui%;. !arr- said/

@Certainl-3 sir/ I won.t e long/. "he assistant too out so*e paper and put it around the oF/ @"here3. he said/

@"hat.s great/5

@I haven.t Huite )inished3. the assistant told hi*/ !e too out a ag/

@I don.t reall- need a ag3. !arr- said nervousl-/ @I %an put it in *- po%et/5

@"his isn.t an ordinar- ag3. the assistant told hi*/ @Loo. !e too out so*e little dried roses and put the*

%are)ull- into the ag with the ne%la%e/ "hen he opened another drawer/

@A%tuall-3 I reall- %an.t wait3. !arr- said/

@ou won.t e sorr-3. the assistant said3 as he put *ore dried )lowers into the ag/

@I *ight3. !arr- told hi*3 looing around hi*/

.6ust a )ew *ore se%onds3. the assistant said/ !e tied the top o) the ag and then opened his drawer again/

@!ave -ou al*ost )inished;. !arr- ased/ @#hat now; Are -ou going to %over it with %ho%olate;5

@'o3 sir/ I.* going to put it in this Christ*as oF/5

@I don.t want a Christ*as oFD5

@(ut it.s a gi)t3 isn.t it;5

@es3 ut /// Can I :ust pa-;5@#ell3 I :ust need ///5

@'oD 'oD5

.(ut sir ///5

@Leave it leave it3 :ust leave it/5

.Ah3 looing at the :eweller-3 are -ou;. 8aren said3 appearing eside hi*/

!arr- *oved Hui%l- awa-/ @'o3 I hate :eweller-/5

@9on.t worr-3. 8aren said/ @I don.t eFpe%t *u%h a)ter thirteen -ears3 r (utouAlwa-sLoveCho%olateAt

Christ*as/5

B

In another part o) London3 in a large3 rightl- lit roo*3 students )ro* around the world were learning ?nglish/

"he- sat at their dess listening to %assettes through earphones/@Sherlo% !ol*es is not a real dete%tive3. one student repeated %are)ull-/

@Is this the wa- to the train station;. a Russian student translated into her own language/

@I would lie a ilo o) oranges3. another one said3 in ?nglish/

@I would lie a oneda- travel %ard3. said a )ourth student seriousl-/

1&


17/30


At one o) the dess3 6a*ie was learning Portuguese/ @I.ve got a terrile sto*a%h a%he3. he said slowl-3 in

Portuguese/ @I thin it was the )ish/5

#hen he le)t the uilding and entered the underground station3 he was still taling to hi*sel) in Portuguese/

@"his is a ver- ig )ishD. he said loudl-/ @It tastes wonder)ulD5

B

@!as she noti%ed -ou -et;. 9aniel ased Sa*/

@'o3 not -et/ (ut ro*anti% )il*s are lie that3 aren.t the-; People onl- %o*e together at the end/5

@E) %ourse3. 9aniel agreed/

@I )eel ad that I never as -ou how -our love li)e.s going3. Sa* said seriousl-/@!aD I.ve )inished with all that3. 9aniel said/ @Unless3 o) %ourse3 Claudia S%hi))er %alls/5

Chapter ( The )i'ht *e+ore Christ,as

It was the evening e)ore Christ*as3 and 8aren was allowing ea%h *e*er o) the )a*il- to open one o) their

presents/ @#h- don.t -ou tae one )or -oursel);. !arr- ased her/

@a-e I will3. said 8aren/ @I thin I want this one/. She s*iled as she pi%ed up a s*all3 )lat oF3 a present )ro*

!arr-/

@I have3 o) %ourse3 ought the traditional %ho%olates too3. !arr- told her/ @(ut this is *- other /// slightl- spe%ial3

personal gi)t/.

@"han -ou3. 8aren said/ She opened it3 )ull o) eF%ite*ent/ "hen the eF%ite*ent le)t her/ @"hat.s a surprise/ It.s a

C9 6oni it%hell/5@"o %ontinue -our e*otional i*prove*ent3. her husand said/

@"hat.s great/5

@- wonder)ul wi)e/.

@!aD es/ A%tuall-3 I.ll have to leave the roo* )or a *o*ent/ All that i%e%rea*/ 9arling3 %ould -ou *ae sure the

%hildren are read- to go; I.ll e a% in a *inute/5

She le)t the roo* slowl-3 tr-ing hard to eep the s*ile on her )a%e/

B

At the sa*e ti*e3 a radio 96 was taling to the nation/ @It.s raining all over the U83. he said/ @And the ig Huestion

is who is 'u*er Ene in the %harts tonight; Is it (lue3 or the uneFpe%ted su%%ess )ro* (ill- a%; #ell3 -ou

proal- guessed3 although -ou *a- not elieve it/ It.s //// (ill- a%D5

At (ill-.s re%ord %o*pan-3 where ever-one was still in the o))i%e3 the noise )ro* the %elerations was dea)ening/

@ou are the estD. 6oe shouted/

"he phone rang and the roo* went Huiet as (ill- answered3 standing on a tale in the *iddle o) the roo*/

@!ello3. he said/

@!ello3 (ill-3. the 96 said/ @#e.re live a%ross the nation and -ou.re 'u*er Ene/ !ow will -ou %elerate;5

@I don.t now/ ?ither I.ll get drun with *- )at *anager or3 when I put the phone down3 I.ll e invited to a lot o)

wonder)ul parties - ri%h and )a*ous people/5

@Let.s hope it.s the parties3. said the 96/ @And here it is 'u*er Ene3 )ro* (ill- a% /// It.s JChrist*as Is All

AroundJ/.

@Eh noD. said (ill-/ @'ot that ruish againD. !e put the phone down/

>ina3 a -oung *anager at the re%ord %o*pan-3 stepped )orward3 holding her phone/ @(ill- it.s )or -ou3 darling/5(ill- too the phone/ @!ello/ ?lton; E) %ourse/ E) %ourse/ E) %ourse/ Send an e*arrassingl- ig %ar and I.ll e

there/. !e gave the phone a% to >ina/ @It.s going to e a ver- good Christ*as3. he said/

6oe s*iled at hi*3 looing rather lost a*ong all (ill-.s new )riends/

B

6a*ie stood at his parents. )ront door with his hands )ull o) Christ*as presents and rang the door ell/ "he door

opened/

@Loo3 ever-one3 it.s 6a*ieD. his sister %alled a% into the house/ !is )ather3 *other3 sisters3 rothers and their

%hildren all %a*e to greet hi* eF%itedl-/

@Lovel- to see -ou all3. said 6a*ie3 putting down the presents and issing ever-od-/ @(ut I.ve got to go now/5

@(ut 6a*ie3 darling ///. said his *other3 sho%ed/

@Sorr-3. 6a*ie said/ @"here are so*e things that a *an :ust has to do/5!e gave his sister the ags o) presents and le)t/ "hen he too a taFi to >atwi% Airport/

B

8arl and Sarah were the onl- two people le)t in the airtrade o))i%e/ 8arl stood up to leave/

@>ood night3 Sarah3. he said/

@>ood night3 8arl/5

17


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.I//// . 8arl stopped/ @!app- Christ*as/5

Sarah s*iled at hi*/ @!app- Christ*as/5

As 8arl le)t3 Sarah rea%hed )or her phone and rang a nu*er/

@!i3 darling3. she said3 tr-ing to sound %heer)ul/

@!ow are -ou; Is it part-ti*e down there;5

!al) an hour later she was at the hospital3 opening presents with her rother/

@I love -ou3 i%hael3. Sarah said/

@I now3. said i%hael/ !e paused/ @I love -ou too/.

B8aren stood in her edroo*3 listening to her new C9/ As 6oni it%hell sang aout the pain o) love3 tears ran

down her )a%e/ "hen she )or%ed hersel) to stop %r-ing3 put a s*ile on her )a%e3 and went a% to :oin her )a*il-/

B

Peter and 6uliet were wat%hing " when their doorell rang/ 6uliet went downstairs and opened the door to ar/

@EhD !i3. she said/

@#ho is it;. Peter %alled )ro* the living roo*/

ar put his )ingers to his lips and held up a ig white %ard with a *essage on it @Sa- it.s %arol singers/5

@It.s %arol singers3. 6uliet %alled/

@#ell3 give the* a pound and tell the* to go awa-3. Peter shouted/

ar pushed the utton on a C9 pla-er/ At the sound o) %hildren singing Christ*as %arols3 6uliet laughed/

"hen ar held up other %ards @I) I.* lu%- neFt -ear3. the )irst one said/ !e pulled out the se%ond/ @I.ll e withone o) these girls/. "he third %ard showed pi%tures o) the )our *ost eauti)ul wo*en in the world/ @(ut I :ust want

to sa-3. the %ards %ontinued3 @that to *e -ou are per)e%t/ And *- poor heart will love -ou /// until -ou loo lie

this/. ar held up a pi%ture o) a ver- old wo*an/ "hen he showed a )inal %ard that said @!app- Christ*as./

!e pi%ed up the C9 pla-er and started to wal awa-3 ut 6uliet )ollowed hi* and issed hi* gentl- on the lips/

ar s*iled/ @?nough3. he said/ @?nough now/5

B

Later in the evening3 6oe was drining alone in his )lat3 wat%hing (ill-.s video on "3 when his doorell rang/

@#hat are -ou doing here;. he said3 as he opened the door/ @#h- aren.t -ou at ?lton 6ohn.s;5

@I was there )or a *inute or two3. (ill- told hi*/ @And then I had a li)e%hanging eFperien%e/5

@Reall-; Co*e in3. said 6oe/ @And what was this li)e%hanging eFperien%e;. he ased3 when the- were inside/

@It was aout Christ*as3. said (ill-/

@ou realiGed that it was all around;5

@'o3 I realiGed that at Christ*as -ou should e with the people -ou love/5

Right/5

@And I realiGed that I a* in *- )i)ties and I have a%tuall- spent *ost o) *- adult li)e with a )at *anager/ And3

sadl-3 it is %lear to *e that -ou are3 in )a%t3 the person I love/5

@#ell3 this is a surprise/5

@es/5

@"en *inutes with ?lton 6ohn and suddenl- -ou.re in love with a *an/

@'o3 I.* serious/ I le)t ?lton.s pla%e3 and all those eauti)ul girls3 to e with -ou/ At Christ*as/5

"here was a se%ond.s silen%e/ @#ell3 (ill- ///5@#e.ve had a wonder)ul li)e together/5

@#ell3 than -ouD "hans3 *an/ I )eel ver- proud/. "he two *en put their ar*s round ea%h other/

@"hat.s enoughD. (ill- said/ @Let.s get drun and wat%h videos o) naed wo*en/5

Chapter - The Christ,as Concert

In 103 9owning Street3 the Pri*e inister was alone ver- alone/ !e looed through his Christ*as %ards/

irst3 he read a %ouple o) oring ones/ !e %ouldn.t even read the signature on one o) the*/ "he third %ard gave

hi* a sho%/ It was )ro* 'atalie/

Dear Sir - Dear David,

Happy Christmas and hope you have a very Happy !e" #ear$ %m very sorry a&out the thin' that happened$ t

"as a very odd moment and eel lie a complete ool$ *specially &ecause ( you can%t say it at Christmas, "hencan you+) %m actually yours, "ith L*,

#our !atalie

"he Pri*e inister paused )or a *o*ent3 put the %ard down3 read it again and then *ade up his *ind/ !e pi%ed

up a phone and pushed a utton/ @6a%3. he said/ @I need a %ar/ 'ow/ "han -ou/. "hen he le)t the roo*3 ran to his

waiting %ar and told the driver to go to !arris Street3 #andsworth/

1+


19/30


#hen the Pri*e inister.s %ar stopped in !arris Street3 the poli%e %ar ehind it stopped too/

"he Pri*e inister.s driver turned to hi*/ @!ere we are/ #hat nu*er3 sir;5

@I have no idea3 and it.s the longest street in the world/.

"he Pri*e inister got out o) the %ar and rang the doorell o) nu*er 1/ An old lad- opened the door/

@!ello3. the Pri*e inister said/ @9oes 'atalie live here;. @'o3. said the old lad-/

@Right3. said the Pri*e inister/ @ine/ "han -ou )or -our help/ >ood-e/D

.Aren.t -ou the Pri*e inister;. the old lad- ased/

@es in )a%t I a*/ !app- Christ*as/ "his is :ust part o) the servi%e/ I.* hoping to see ever-one - the end o) the

-ear/. "he Pri*e inister rang the neFt doorell3 as the %ars )ollowed slowl-/ "hree s*all girls answered/@!ello/ 9oes 'atalie live here;. the Pri*e inister ased/ @'o3. said the oldest girl/

@Are -ou singing Christ*as %arols;. @?r /// 'o/ I.* not/5

@Please3 sir3 please3. the se%ond %hild said/

@Please3. said the third/

@?r /// All right/5

"he Pri*e inister waved at his od-guard3 who sang with hi* as the %hildren dan%ed to the *usi%/

@#e wish -ou a !app- Christ*as3. the- sang loudl-/ @#e wish -ou a !app- Christ*as3 we wish -ou a !app-

Christ*as and a !app- 'ew earD5

"he Pri*e inister no%ed on the neFt door and ia opened it3 wearing the eauti)ul ne%la%e with the gold

heart that !arr- had ought her/

@!ello/ ?F%use *e3. said the Pri*e inister/ @9oes 'atalie live here;5@'o3. ia said/ @She.s neFt door/ ou.re not who I thin -ou are3 are -ou;5

@es3 I.* a)raid I a*/ Sorr- aout all the *istaes/ - *inisters are %o*plete )ools3 ut we hope to do etter neFt

-ear/ !app- Christ*as/5

"he Pri*e inister %o*ed his hair3 waled slowl- to the door o) 'atalie.s house and rang the ell/ "he door

opened3 and *e*ers o) the )a*il- were %rowded in the hall3 read- to go out/ 'atalie wasn.t with the*/

@!ello3. said the Pri*e inister/ @Is 'atalie there;. 'atalie was :ust %o*ing down the stairs3 ut she hadn.t noti%ed

hi*/

@!as an-one seen *- %oat;. she shouted/ "hen she saw hi*/ @Eh3 hello3. she said/

@!ello3. said the Pri*e inister/

@"his is *- *u* and *- dad3. 'atalie introdu%ed the*/ @And *- Un%le "on- and Aunt >l-nne ///5

@Pleased to *eet -ou3. said the Pri*e inister/

@And this is /// the Pri*e inister3. 'atalie told the*/

@es3 we %an see that3 darling3. said 'atalie.s *other/

@And un)ortunatel- we.re ver- late3 'atalie said/

@It.s the s%hools. Christ*as %on%ert3 9avid3. said 'atalie.s *other/ @And it.s the )irst ti*e all the s%hools have done

it together3 even St (asil.s3 whi%h is ver- ///.

@"oo *u%h detail3 u*3. 'atalie told her/

@So3//// er /// how %an we help3 sir;. 'atalie.s )ather ased/

@#ell3 a%tuall-3 I need to tal to 'atalie /// aout so*ething o) national i*portan%e/5

@Right3 -es o) %ourse3. said 'atalie.s )ather3 looing at his wat%h/ @Perhaps -ou %ould %o*e along later3 att- er3

'atalie/.@'o I don.t want -ou to *iss the %on%ert3. the Pri*e inister said to 'atalie/

@It doesn.t *atter3. said 'atalie/

@8eith will e reall- upset/5 her *other said/

@'o3 reall- it doesn.t *atter3. 'atalie repeated/

@It hasn.t een eas- *aing hi* loo lie a reall- good loster/ Losters are su%h a di))i%ult %olour3 aren.t the-;.

her *other said to the Pri*e inister/

@#h- don.t I drive -ou3 'atalie; #e %an tal aout //// this usiness in the %ar/5

@E83. 'atalie s*iled/

@Lovel-3. her parents agreed/

@!ow )ar is this pla%e;. the Pri*e inister ased3 when 'atalie and her rother 8eith were in the %ar with his

driver and the od-guard/ "he rest o) the )a*il- had %rowded into the poli%e %ar/.6ust round the %orner3. 'atalie said/

@Right3. said the Pri*e inister/ @#ell3 I :ust wanted to sa- than -ou )or the Christ*as %ard/5

@ou.re wel%o*e3. said 'atalie/ @Listen3 I.* so sorr- aout that da-/ I %a*e into the roo*3 and he %a*e towards

*e3 and he.s the President o) the United States and //// nothing happened3 I pro*ise/ I )elt su%h a )ool e%ause I

thin aout -ou all the ti*e3 and I thin -ou.re the *an I reall- ///5

1,


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@#e.re here3. 8eith said/

@Love3. 'atalie whispered/

"he Pri*e inister didn.t hear her/ @Ah3. he said as the %ar stopped/ @It reall- was round the %orner3 wasn.t it;

Listen3 I don.t thin I.ll %o*e in/ ?ver-od- should e wat%hing the %hildren3 not a hated politi%ian/5

@'o3 please %o*e/ It.ll e great/5

@'o3 I.d etter not/ (ut I will e ver- sorr- to drive awa- )ro* -ou/

.6ust give *e one se%ond ///. 'atalie said/

She opened the %ar door and ran out into the %ar par3 past 9aniel and Sa*3 who were :ust arriving/ Sa* was

%arr-ing dru*sti%s and 9aniel was tr-ing to )latten Sa*.s hair/'atalie was a% Hui%l-/ @Co*e on3. she said/ @#e %an wat%h )ro* ehind the stage/5

.E83. said the Pri*e inister/ And then3 to his driver3 @"err-3 I won.t e long/5

As the- got out o) the %ar with the od-guard3 he paused/ @"his has to e a ver- private visit3 E8;. he whispered/

@9on.t worr-3. 'atalie said/ @"his was *- s%hool/ I now the wa-/. She led hi* awa- )ro* the %rowd to a side

door/

8aren and her )a*il- arrived at the s%hool %on%ert soon a)terwards/ As the- hurried towards the ig hall3 the- *et

the Pri*e inister and 'atalie3 who were going the other wa-/

@9avidD. 8aren said/ She gave her rother a iss3 and he saw i**ediatel- that she was upset/

@!ow are -ou;. he ased3 waving at the %hildren/ @Are -ou all right;5

@#hat are -ou doing here;. 8aren ased/

@#ell ///5@I alwa-s tell -our se%retar-.s se%retar-.s se%retar- that these things are happening ut I didn.t thin -ou.d

a%tuall- %o*e/.

@#ell3 it.s a long stor- and I didn.t want ever-one to see3 so I.* :ust going to hide *-sel) so*ewhere and wat%h/

>ood lu%3 9ais-D >ood lu%3 (ernieD5

@I.ve never een gladder to see *- stupid ig rother3. 8aren said/ @"han -ou )or %o*ingD.

@ou.re wel%o*e3. said the Pri*e inister/

@Aren.t -ou going to introdu%e *e;. 8aren ased3 nodding at 'atalie3 who was standing with the od-guard/

@"his is 'atalie3. the Pri*e inister said/ @She.s in %harge o) /// the )ood at 103 9owning StreetD .#ell3 *ae sure

he eeps his hands o)) -ou3. 8aren warned 'atalie/ @"went- -ears ago3 he reall- lied girls lie -ou/5

"he- all laughed/

@I.ll e %are)ul3. said 'atalie/ And then3 to the Pri*e inister3 @9on.t tr- an-thing3 sir3 :ust e%ause it.s Christ*as/5

8aren gave her rother a )inal iss as she and her )a*il- went to their seats/

@See -ou later/D

.es3 proal-/D

."han -ou3 Pri*e inister3. she said/

"he s%hool %on%ert was a ig su%%ess/ 6esus3 ar-3 6oseph3 the %ows3 sheep3 losters and other sea ani*als

per)or*ed well in the Christ*as pla-/ ?ven Spider*an appeared on stage3 although nood- was sure wh-/

'atalie and the Pri*e inister wat%hed together3 through a %urtain ehind the stage/

'ear the end o) the %on%ert3 one o) the tea%hers went up onto the stage/ @!iller S%hool would now lie to sing )or

-ou3. he said/ @"en-earold 6oanna Anderson will lead the singing/5

A s*all girl %a*e up onto the stage and started singing3 in a eauti)ul voi%e/ "ea%hers and other pupils :oined inthe ariah Care- song3 @All I #ant or Christ*as Is ou./ (ehind the*3 Sa* eat his dru*s enthusiasti%all-/

As3 ehind the stage3 the Pri*e inister and 'atalie *oved %loser to ea%h other3 the parents in )ront o) the stage

stood up/

6oanna sang the title line )or the last ti*e/ En the word @-ou.3 she pointed at Sa*/ Sa* gave a s*ile o) pleasure3

whi%h disappeared as 6oanna turned again to the )ront/

At the end o) the song3 paper snow poured down onto the stage/

"hen the a% %urtain opened to show a painted Christ*as s%ene and the Pri*e inister and 'atalie issing/

?ver- parent in the s%hool li)ted their %a*era/

@AhD. the Pri*e inister whispered to 'atalie/ @"his is not Huite as private as we.d hopedD .#hat do we do now;.

'atalie whispered/

@S*ile/. "he- s*iled at the eF%ited parents/ @And wave. "he- waved/ "hen the- le)t the stage/

Chapter . Love Actua/ Is A Around

At the end o) the s%hool %on%ert3 8aren said good-e to so*e other parents while !arr- waited )or her/ "hen she

turned to her husand/

20


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@"ell *e3. she said/ @#hat would -ou do3 in *- situation;. @#hat situation is that;5

@I*agine -our husand ought a ne%la%e with a gold heart on it at Christ*as and gave it to so*eod- else/D

.Eh3 8aren/5

@#ould -ou wait to )ind out i) it.s :ust a ne%la%e or i) it.s seF and a ne%la%e or3 worst o) all3 i) it.s a ne%la%e

and love; #ould -ou sta-3 nowing that li)e will alwa-s e a it worse now; Er would -ou get out;5

@Eh >od3 I.ve een su%h a %o*plete )ool/5

@es3 ut -ou.ve also *ade a )ool o) *e and *ade *- li)e )oolish too/5

9ais- and (ernie ran up to the*3 pleased with the*selves a)ter the su%%ess o) the %on%ert3 and 8aren e%a*e a

*other again/@(ernie3 darling3 -ou were wonder)ul3. she told her son/ And then3 to 9ais-3 @And *- little loster3 -ou were so ///

orange/ Let.s go ho*e/5

@"here/5

B

9aniel )ound Sa*/ @Sa*D >reat show/ ou were wonder)ul on dru*s3 son/5

@"hans3. said Sa*/ @"he plan didn.t wor3 though/5

@So tell her3. said 9aniel/

@"ell her what;5

@"ell her -ou love her/5

@'oD. said Sa*/ @And the- )l- ho*e tonight/5

@?ven etter3. said his step)ather/ @ou.ve got nothing to lose/ I never told -our u* enough that I loved her/ 'otever- da-3 and she was per)e%t ever- da-/ ou.ve seen the )il*s/ "here.s alwa-s a %han%e at the last *o*ent/5

Sa* thought )or a *o*ent/ @E8 let.s do it3 9ad/ 6ust give *e one se%ond/5

!e ran o))/ A *other and her son waled into 9aniel/

@Sorr-3. said the *other3 who looed eFa%tl- lie Claudia S%hi))er/

@"hat.s E8/ - )ault3. said 9aniel/

@'o3 reall-3 it wasn.t/ou.re Sa*.s dad3 aren.t -ou;5

@es/ #ell3 I.* his step)ather/ 9aniel/5

@I.* Carol/5

"he- looed at ea%h other/

.E83 I.* a%3. Sa* said/ @Let.s go/5

@es /// er /// I hope we *eet again3 8aren/5

@Carol/ I.ll *ae sure we do/5

@es3 good/5

As the- waled awa-3 Sa* said3 @"ell her/5

@"ell her what;5

@ou now. !e *ade a issing noise/

@9on.t e so sill-3. 9aniel told hi*/

Eutside in the s%hool %ar par3 the- looed around the*/

@"here she is3. Sa* said/

@#here;5

6oanna was getting into a ig %ar3 whi%h then drove awa-/@Eh no3. Sa* said/

@9on.t worr-3. said 9aniel/ @#e %an get to the airport e)ore the*/ I now a wa-/5

"he- ran to 9aniel.s %ar and drove o)) )ast/

#hen the- )inall- arrived at !eathrow Airport3 9aniel and Sa* ran inside and looed up at the oard/

@'ew or >ate & last %all3. it said/

@Eh3 noD. Sa* %ried/

"he- ran to the entran%e to the departure area/ @#e.re not a%tuall- )l-ing3. 9aniel eFplained to the airport o))i%ial/

@ou %an.t %o*e through here without a oarding pass3. the *an told the*/

@'ot even )or the o- to sa- good-e to the love o) his li)e;5

@'o/5

@I.* sorr-3 Sa*3. 9aniel said sadl-/A passenger appeared eside the*/

@(oarding pass3 sir3. the o))i%ial said/

"he passenger started looing )or his pass/ 6ust a *inute/ I now it.s here so*ewhere/ Could -ou hold *- %oat

and ag; "han -ou/

'ow perhaps ///5

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@9o -ou want to tr-;. 9aniel whispered to Sa*/ @Should I;. Sa* whispered a%/

"he airport o))i%ial was wat%hing the passenger now3 and his hands were )ull/ Sa* ran past hi* unnoti%ed/

@I.* sorr-3. the passenger was eFplaining/ @Perhaps I le)t it in the %o))ee shop/5

Sa* ran past the *a%hines where passengers. ags were %he%ed and :u*ped over another o))i%ial3 who was

eFa*ining the otto* o) a *an.s trousers/ A guard tried to stop hi*3 ut )ailed/ Sa* ran past the shops/

At >ate &3 6oanna was :ust preparing to oard the plane/ "here were guards etween Sa* and her3 ut their e-es

were on a television s%reen/ En it3 (ill- a% was singing @Christ*as Is All Around. while taing all his %lothes

o))/Sa* ran past the guards/

"he guards turned and ran a)ter hi*/

6oannaD. Sa* %alled/

@Sa*;. said 6oanna/

@I thought -ou didn.t now *- na*e3. Sa* said/

@E) %ourse I do/5

"he guards had arrived/

@I.ve got to run3. Sa* told her/

"he guards led hi* out o) the departure area towards 9aniel3 who was waiting anFiousl-/

As Sa* waved at 9aniel3 he )elt a hand on his shoulder and turned/ 6oanna issed hi* on the %hee and then ran

a% to her plane/Sa* went happil- to 9aniel3 who li)ted hi* high into the air/

B

In a poor part o) arseille3 in the south o) ran%e3 6a*ie.s taFi stopped in a narrow3 dirt- street/ !e got out and

no%ed on a door/ A ig *an o) aout siFt- opened it/

@>ood evening3 r (arros3. 6a*ie said3 in Portuguese/ @I would lie to *arr- -our daughter/ I hope that -ou will

give *e -our per*ission/5

@ou wish to *arr- *- daughter;5

@es/5

r (arros %alled a%3 into the house/ @Co*e here Hui%l-D "here is a *an at the door/5

A ver- large Portuguese girl %a*e through a plasti% %urtain )ro* the neFt roo*/

@!e wants to *arr- -ou3 Sophia3. r (arros told his daughter/

@(ut I.ve never *et hi* e)ore3. Sophia replied/

@"hat doesn.t *atter3. her )ather said/

@ou.re going to sell *e to a %o*plete stranger;.

@Sell; #ho said JsellJ; I.ll pa- hi* to tae -ou/.

A neighour3 an old lad-3 appeared on the stairs to listen/

@Ah3 eF%use *e3. said 6a*ie3 still in Portuguese3 ut *aing *istaes now/

@I *ean -our other daughter3 Aurelia/.

@Aurelia is not here3. r (arros told 6a*ie/ @She.s at wor/ I.ll tae -ou/.

!e turned to Sophia/ @ouD Sta- hereD.

@'oD. said Sophia/All )our o) the*3 in%luding the old lad-3 started waling down the street/ "he- passed a s*all restaurant where a

)a*il- was having dinner/

@ather is going to sell Aurelia to this ?nglish*an3. Sophia in)or*ed the )a*il-/ "he )a*il- le)t their dinner and

)ollowed/ "he- didn.t want to *iss this/ ore and *ore people :oined the*3 as the stor- o) 6a*ie and Aurelia

grew and %hanged/

@"he- sa- he is going to ill Aurelia3. one %hild told another/

Aout )ort- people were now waling through the streets o) arseille/

@>reatD. the se%ond %hild said happil-/

A )ruitseller at the side o) the road stopped selling )ruit and :oined the*/ inall-3 the whole %rowd )ollowed r

(arros into a s*all Portuguese restaurant/

r (arros spoe to the owner/ @#here is Aurelia;.@#h- should I tell -ou;5

@"his *an wants to *arr- her/5

@!e %an.t do that3. said the owner/ @She.s our est waitress/.

At that *o*ent Aurelia appeared3 holding plates o) )ood/ She saw 6a*ie and her e-es widened/ She put the plates

down/

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@>ood evening3 Aurelia3. 6a*ie said3 in Portuguese/

@>ood evening3 6a*ie3. she replied/

"here was silen%e/ "he whole restaurant was listening now/

@(eauti)ul Aurelia3. 6a*ie egan in slow3 %are)ul Portuguese/ @I have %o*e here to as -ou to e *- wi)e/ I now

I see* *ad e%ause I don.t reall- now -ou3 ut ever-thing is %lear to *e/ #e %an live here or -ou %an live with

*e in ?ngland/5

@Choose ?ngland3. Sophia advised/ @ou *ight *eet Prin%e #illia*3 and then -ou %an *arr- hi* instead/5

@SssshD. r (arros told her %rossl-/

Aurelia said nothing/@E) %ourse I don.t eFpe%t -ou to sa- -es3. 6a*ie %ontinued/ @(ut it.s Christ*as and I wanted to /// %he%/5

@Sa- -es3 -ou undersiGed )ool3. said Sophia/

@"han -ou3. Aurelia said3 ver- slowl-3 in ?nglish/ @"hat will e ni%e/ JesJ is *- answer/ ?as- Huestion/5

@#hat did -ou sa-;. r (arros ased his daughter/

@es3 o) %ourse3. Aurelia replied in Portuguese/

@ou learnt ?nglish;. 6a*ie ased/

@I thought /// *a-e ///5

"he- issed/ "hen Sophia pulled 6a*ie awa- )ro* her sister and issed hi* loudl- on the *outh/ "heir )ather did

the sa*e/

B

A *onth later3 at !eathrow Airport3 a lot o) people were leaving the Arrivals !all/As (ill- %a*e through the gate with a eauti)ul3 tall girl3 6oe stepped out o) the waiting %rowd to *eet hi*/

@!ello3 9ais-3. he said/

@"his one.s >reta3. (ill- told hi*/

@!ello3 >reta/5

6a*ie arrived neFt3 with Aurelia/ !e introdu%ed her to Peter and 6uliet/ @Eh3 and arD. he said/ @!iD I didn.t see

-ou/5

ar was looing at the )loor/ @es /// I thought I.d %o*e too/.

@6a*ie.s )riends are so goodlooing3. Aurelia said3 in ?nglish/ .!e didn5t tell *e this/ I thin now *a-e I have

*ade the wrong %hoi%e %hosen the wrong ?nglish*an/5

@She %an.t spea ?nglish ver- well/ She doesn.t now what she.s sa-ing3. 6a*ie said/

"he- all laughed and waled awa-/

!arr- %a*e out and looed around/ es3 8aren was there3 with 9ais- and (ernie/ "he %hildren held a ig sign

with @#el%o*e !o*e 9ad. on it/

!arr- looed sh-l- at 8aren/ "hen he issed her/ .!ow are -ou;5 he ased/

@I.* )ine3 I.* )ine3. she said/ @>ood to have -ou a%3. she said )or*all-/ She turned to the %hildren/ @Co*e on

ho*e3. she said/

6oanna arrived3 with her )a*il-/

@"here she isD. Sa* %ried/ !e ran up to her3 then stopped and shoo her hand/

@!i3. 6oanna said/

@!ello5

@#h- doesn.t he iss her;. 9aniel whispered to Carol3 who was standing eside hi*/@"he-.ve got ti*e3. Carol re*inded hi*/

Suddenl-3 there were :ournalists and %a*eras ever-where/ "he Pri*e inister %a*e through the gate3 surrounded

- od-guards/ 'atalie ran through the %rowd3 put her ar*s round hi* and held hi* tightl-/ "hen she :u*ped up

into his ar*s and put her legs round his waist/

@ou.re so heav-D. the Pri*e inister told 'atalie/

@Eh3 shut -our *outhD5

"he- waled happil- awa-/ And all around the*3 people were s*iling and issing their )riends and relatives/

Love3 a%tuall-3 was all around/

2


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ACTIVITIES

Chapters 10! *e+ore /ou read

1 !ave -ou seen or heard aout the )il* Love A%tuall-; #hat do -ou now aout it; or eFa*ple3 whi%h

stars are in it; At what ti*e o) the -ear does the stor- tae pla%e; I) -ou don.t now3 -ou will )ind this in)or*ation

in theIntrodu%tion/

2 Loo at the #ord List at the a% o) this oo/ ind )our words )or :os/

#hile -ou read #rite the na*es o) these people/

a !e is an ageing ro% star/ / / // / / / /

!is wi)e has :ust died/ // / // / / // / / / //% It is her wedding da-/ / / // / / // / / /

d !e is the new Pri*e inister/ / / // / / // / / /

e She has a new :o at 103 9owning Street/ / / // / / / // / / / / /

) !is girl)riend pre)ers his rother/ / / / // / / / / // / //

g !e has lost his *other/ // / // / / / // /

h !e )il*s the wedding/ / / // / / / // / / / //

i She has loved 8arl )or -ears/ // // / / / /

: !e is (ill-.s *anager/ // / / / / / / / / /

A+ter /ou read

4 #ho is speaing; #ho or what are the- taling aout; a ."his is ruish3 isn.t it;5

.I.* the loster/. % .!ow in%onvenient/. d .'o3 no3 no is the answer/. e .It would e est )or all o) us3 I thin/. ).!as there een a worse song this %entur-;.

$ #or in pairs/ !ave this %onversation/

Student A ou are the new (ritish Pri*e inister/ As -our se%retar- Huestions aout li)e at 103 9owning Street/

"ell her what -ou want


25/30


1 9is%uss these state*ents/ !ow true are the-3 in -our opinion; a .I.* not sure politi%s and wo*en go together/5

.I) a )riend ullies us3 he stops eing our )riend/5

% ."here isn.t :ust one person )or ea%h o) us/5

d .Christ*as shopping never an eas- or a pleasant :o/.

14 (ritain is .a %ountr- o) Shaespeare3 Chur%hill3 the (eatles3 Sean Conner-3 !arr- Potter3 9avid (e%ha*.s

right )oot and 9avid (e%ha*.s le)t )oot/. #ho are3 or were3 these )a*ous (ritons; !ow would -ou des%rie

-our %ountr-3 with si*ilar hu*our;

Chapters (0.Before you read

1$ 9i s%uss how these people are )eeling at this point3 and wh-/the Pri*e inister 'atalie!arr- 8aren ia 6a*ie Aurelia ar 6uliet 9aniel Sa* (ill- 8arl Sarah

While you read1& Co*plete ea%h senten%e/

a !arr- gives 8aren a ////// / ///// / // //

(ill-.s re%ord rea%hes nu*er ///

% 6a*ie gives his )a*il- ////// //// ////

d ar uses ////// / //// / / to eFplain his )eelings to 6uliet/

e (ill- pre)ers to e in 6oe.s /// / //// / than ?lton 6ohn.s house/

) 'atalie taes the Pri*e inister to a s%hool /// / //// / / /

g #hile 6oanna sings3 Sa* pla-s the ////// / //// // / /

h At the airport3 6oanna gives hi* a ////// //// // ///// / /

i 6a*ie ass Aurelia to *arr- hi* in a Portuguese ////// / / //// // /After you read17 At the end o) the oo3 whi%h o) these people are arriving in (ritain; #ho is waiting )or

the*; #hi%h people are *eeting their )riends; #ho are the- *eeting; 6oe ar !arr- Sa* the Pri*e inister

1+ #or in pairs/ !ave this %onversation/

Student A ou are a radio 96/ Interview (ill- a% aout his su%%ess)ul re%ord and his plans )or the )uture/

Student ( ou are (ill- a%/ Answer the 96.s Huestions/

1, 9is%uss these Huestions/ >ive reasons )or -our answers/

a #ho has ehaved worst in this stor-; #ho has ehaved est;

Is 8aren right to sta- with !arr-; % #as 9aniel right to tae Sa*.s )eelings )or 6oanna seriousl-;

d 9o -ou thin 9aniel should tell Carol aout his interest in Claudia S%hi))er;

e #here should 6a*ie and Aurelia live; In his %ountr-3 her %ountr- or the %ountr- where the- *et;

) Can a pri*e *inister eep a new girl)riend happ- and do his :o;

Writing 20 I*agine that -ou are !arr- and -ou are awa- )ro* ho*e on a usiness trip/ #rite to 8aren and tell

her how sorr- -ou are )or hurting her/ "ell her wh- -our relationship with her is i*portant to -ou/

21 I*agine that -ou are Sa* or 6oanna


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Love Actually

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