Vocabulary

hug	approach	been up to
finger	divorced	graduation
trim	diamond	oh my god
novel	publish	long time
rent	ring (2)	mansion
hedge	decorate	Victorian
silver	darling	furniture
saucer	antique	sculpture
tray	storey	ceramics
spoon	suppose	porcelain
pour	orphan	carefully
offer	strongly	object (2)
semi	casual	executive
pearl	necklace	Aston Martin
judge	earring	drive around
greet	bracelet	at that point
glance	run into	ambassador
attire	admiral	mahogany

 
 
 
 
 

At the Park

“Oh my god, I can’t believe it! it’s Veronica!” said Ann out loud.
It had been over twenty years since the former classmates had last seen each other. They approached and hugged each other. The two then walked together in the park.
 

Marriage

“So what have you been up to since graduation?” asked Veronica.
“I got married . . . but . . . we got divorced,” said Ann. “Now I teach at our old high school. What about you?”
“Well . . . ” said Veronica, then showed Ann a gold ring with a diamond on her finger. “I was a secretary for a long time . . . but now I write novels. I’ve published a couple of books — oh, excuse me for just a moment.”

Veronica then walked towards a man standing about 100 meters away. Ann looked away.

After about ten minutes, Ann glanced towards them. She saw Veronica take something out of her purse and give it to the man.
 

Return

Five minutes later, Veronica returned. “Sorry about that,” she explained. “That was an old friend. Say, why don’t we go to my place for some tea?”
 

The Mansion

Veronica brought Ann over to a two-storied mansion with a large garden. A man was trimming the hedge. They entered the living room, decorated with Victorian furniture and antiques, such as a mahogany bookshelf with old books. Ceramics and sculptures rested on 19th century tables and stands.
 

Tea

They sat down on an old, French sofa.
“Would you like black, green, grey, camellia, chamomile, or mint tea.”
“Oh, chamomile, I suppose,” answered Ann.
“Linda. Linda!” called Veronica. A young woman entered the living room.
“Two chamomiles, please.”

The young woman went into the kitchen, and later returned with a silver tray containing a white-blue porcelain teapot, sugar bowl, two teacups, saucers, with silver spoons. She carefully poured tea into both their cups.
 

At University

“Well at university there were these two boys who both said they loved me,” explained Veronica.

One was an art student. He was an orphan. They would mostly go for walks in the park. Occasionally they went to cafes or the cinema.

“Usually, I offered to pay,” said Veronica. “Then one day, he asked me to marry him…but my parents strongly objected.”
 

The Second Lover

Veronica described her second lover. His father was an oil executive and his mother a judge. He would always take Veronica to French restaurants and drive her around in his Aston Martin.

He also bought her a ring, pearl necklace, bracelets and earrings. He spent hours talking about his travels to South America and the Far East . . .
 

Introduction

At that point a man wearing semi-formal attire came in through the front door.
“Oh, Ann this is my husband, Glen.”
They greeted each other.

“So how was your day, darling?” Glen asked Veronica.
“Oh, nothing special, honey. I did some writing and went for a walk in the park, where I ran into Ann,” replied Veronica. “And you?”
“Well, today I finished the portrait of Admiral Horatio Winchester; tomorrow I will being one for the wife of the ambassador of Colombia.”
 

 

Questions

Painting. Who are Ann and Veronica? What happened in the park?

Drawing, Sketching. While they were walking and talking in the park,

3. The man trimming the hedge and Linda, the young woman, were probably Veronica’s son and daughter. Yes or no?

4. Veronica and her husband were middle-class. True or false?

5. What happened at the university?

6. Veronica must have married the son of the banker and doctor. What do you think?

7. Who was the man in the park?
 
 
A. Do you know similar stories like this (among your friends)?

B. Do you know of any artists? What are they doing?

C. I know many success stories of different people. Yes or no?

D. What are some ways people can succeed (become wealthy)?

E. Women prefer to marry rich, successful men. What do you think?