This book is a collection of eight entertaining short stories in English. The stories are written for intermediate learners, equivalent to B1-B2 on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR). They are a fun and effective way to improve your English and grow your vocabulary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reading is one of the best ways to improve your English, but it can be difficult to find suitable reading material. Many books are difficult to understand. They contain advanced vocabulary, and are so long you can feel overwhelmed and want to give up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you recognise these problems, then this book is for you. There are many kinds of stories in the book, such as science fiction, fantasy, thriller, and crime. As you begin to read, you will forget that you are reading in a foreign language, and enjoy discovering different worlds in English!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are many useful features in the book that help you read more effectively. For example, after each chapter there is a summary of the plot and a set of comprehension questions, so you can check important details of the story. You will learn a lot of natural English and improve quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As an intermediate learner of English, you might be looking for an entertaining challenge. Or maybe, you have been learning for a while and simply want to enjoy reading. Either way, this book is the biggest step forward you will take in your English this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, sit back and relax. It’s time to let your imagination run wild and enter a magical English world of fun, mystery, and intrigue!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Table of Contents<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other Books in this Series<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Introduction<\/p>\n\n\n\n
About the Stories<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to Read Effectively<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Six-Step Reading Process<\/p>\n\n\n\n
About the Stories<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A feeling of progress is important when reading in a foreign language. Without this, you have no motivation to keep reading. The stories in English Short Stories for Intermediate Learners have been designed to give you this feeling of progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First, each story has been kept short and broken down into chapters. This gives you the satisfaction of being able to finish reading what you have started, and come back the next day wanting more. It also reduces the feeling of: \u201cThere is so much I don\u2019t know in English!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The English in the stories is rich and varied, but still understandable for intermediate learners. Each story is written in a different genre in order to keep you entertained. There are plenty of dialogues, giving you lots of useful spoken English words and phrases to learn. There is also a variety of tenses from one story to the next, so you can practise common verbs in past, present, and future forms. This will make you a more confident user of English, able to understand different situations without getting lost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
English Short Stories for Intermediate Learners supports you with some special learning features. There are regular summaries of the plot to help you follow the story and make sure you have not missed anything important. You will find comprehension questions at the end of each chapter to test your understanding of what has happened in the story and encourage you to read in more detail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
English Short Stories for Intermediate Learners has been created to give you the support you need, so you can focus on reading, learning, and having fun!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to Read Effectively<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reading is an important skill, and in our mother tongue, we read in different ways. For example, we might skim a news article quickly in order to understand the main events. Or, we might scan the pages of a bus timetable looking for a particular time or place. If I gave you a children\u2019s book to read, you would turn the pages quickly. On the other hand, if I gave you a contract to sign, you would read each word carefully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, when it comes to reading in a foreign language, research tells us that we lose most of our reading skills. We stop using skills like skimming and scanning to help us understand difficult texts. Instead, we simply start at the beginning and read every word, one after the other. Inevitably, we quickly become frustrated by difficult words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As long as you are aware of this, however, you can use some simple strategies to avoid this trap and become a better reader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You are reading this book because you like the idea of learning English with short stories. But why? What are the benefits of learning English with stories, instead of with a textbook? Understanding this will help you improve your reading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When you read books for fun, it is known as extensive reading. This is very different from how you might read English in a textbook. Your textbook contains short dialogues, which you read in detail. The aim is to understand every word. This is known as intensive reading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here is another way to look at it. Textbooks give you grammar rules and lists of vocabulary to learn; they try to teach you. Stories show you \u201creal English\u201d; they do not try to teach you. In fact, both kinds of reading are valuable and you need them both in order to learn a language effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
English Short Stories for Intermediate Learners, however, is designed to help you with extensive reading. As you read and enjoy the stories, you will gradually improve your understanding of how English works. If you often study with textbooks, this book will be a breath of fresh air!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, in order to get the benefits of extensive reading, you have to make sure you are reading regularly. Reading one or two pages may teach you a few new words, but it will not make a big difference to the level of your English. With this in mind, here is what you should have in mind when you read the stories in this book, so you learn the most from them:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are two things that are vital to successful reading: enjoyment, and a sense of achievement. They are important because they make you want to come back the next day and read more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The more you read, the more you learn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The best way to enjoy reading stories, and to feel a sense of achievement, is by reading the story from beginning to end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consequently, understanding every word in a story is not the most important thing. The most important thing is reaching the end of the story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This brings us to the most important point of this section: You must accept that you will not understand everything you read in a story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is completely normal that there are things you do not understand when you read. If you do not understand a word or a sentence, it does not mean you are “stupid” or “not good enough”. It simply means you are in the process of learning English\u2026 just like everybody else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, what should you do when you find a difficult word? Here are a few ideas:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Look at the word and see if it is familiar in any way. Depending on your mother tongue, there might be a similar word in your language. Take a guess – you might surprise yourself!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read the whole sentence many times. As you read that sentence repeatedly, think about everything that has happened in the story. Try to guess the meaning of the whole sentence \u2013 not just the difficult word. This takes practice, but is often easier than you think!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Make a note of the word in a notebook and check the meaning later.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sometimes, you might find a verb that you do not recognise. Or perhaps you do not understand why the verb is being used, and that may frustrate you. But, is it absolutely necessary for you to know this right now? Can you still understand the story? Usually, if you have managed to recognise the main verb, that is enough. Instead of getting frustrated, simply notice how the verb is being used, and then carry on reading!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If all the other steps fail, or you simply “have to know” the meaning of a particular word, you can look it up in a dictionary. However, try not to do this unless you have to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These steps are designed to do something very important: to train you to handle reading independently and without help. The more you can develop this skill, the better you will be at reading. And, of course, the more you can read, the more you will learn!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remember that the purpose of reading is not to understand every word in the story. The purpose of reading is simply to enjoy the story! Therefore, if you do not understand a word and you cannot guess what the word means from the context, simply try to keep reading. Learning to be happy without understanding everything you read in English is a powerful skill to have because you become an independent and intelligent learner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Six-Step Reading Process<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read the first chapter of the story all the way through. Your aim is simply to reach the end of the chapter. Do not stop to look up words in the dictionary and do not worry if there are things you do not understand. Simply try to follow the story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When you reach the end of the chapter, read the summary of the plot to see if you have understood what has happened. If you find this too difficult, do not worry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Go back and read the same chapter again. If you like, you can read in more detail than before. Otherwise, simply read it one more time and enjoy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the end of the chapter, read the summary again, and then try to answer the comprehension questions to check your understanding of what happened. If you do not get them all correct, do not worry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By this point, you should start to understand the main events of the chapter. If you wish, continue to re-read the chapter using the dictionary to check difficult words. You may need to do this a few times until you feel confident. This is normal, and each time you read you will gradually understand more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Otherwise, you should move on to the next chapter and enjoy the rest of the story at your own pace, just like any other book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remember, at every stage of the process, there will be words and phrases you do not understand. Instead of worrying, try to focus instead on everything that you have understood. Congratulate yourself for taking the time to read in English.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most of the benefit you get from this book will come from reading each story from beginning to end. Only once you have reached the end of the story should you go back study the language from the story in more depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Annexes to each chapter<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Summary<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Multiple-choice questions<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Answers<\/p>\n\n\n\n
STORIES<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chapter 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy can\u2019t we come in?,\u201d I asked the large man standing in front of us. He was wearing a dark suit, and he was tall and strong. He was blocking the door to Zara\u2019s Nightclub. We could hear the loud dance music behind the door. We wanted to go in!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I had lost my job the other day. I needed to have a night of fun! I didn\u2019t want to have a lot of stress, so we had to find a way to get inside!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The tall man was a bouncer; his job was to let the \u201cright\u201d people in, and to keep everyone else out. He pointed to his clipboard and frowned. \u201cYour name isn\u2019t on this list.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I looked up at him. He was at least six inches taller than me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow do we get on that list?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My friends–Nate and Aaron–and I had dressed up. We had driven across town to come to Zara\u2019s. The new club was famous and we wanted to check it out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But, the bouncer did not reply. Instead, he looked over my skinny shoulder. There was a long line of people behind me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow do I get in?\u201d I asked again and I snapped my fingers. I was trying to get his attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t,\u201d he said. He waved the next guest in the line to come forward. She was a beautiful blonde girl. When I saw her, I had an idea\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWait, wait!\u201d I protested. \u201cOur girlfriends are already inside!\u201d It was a lie. Aaron looked at me in a strange way. Perhaps he thought, \u201cIs Jack crazy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJack, what are you doing?\u201d Aaron yelled in my ear. He was a good-looking guy, but he was also shy. He never took any risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBe quiet,\u201d I whispered back. I didn\u2019t want the bouncer to hear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But, he did hear us. He rolled his eyes and tried to ignore me again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, really,\u201d I persisted. \u201cOur girlfriends are inside, waiting for us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He lifted a red velvet rope to let the blonde girl pass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThanks Bruce,\u201d she said as she walked by him. I could smell her perfume. I wanted to follow her in, but Bruce, the bouncer, shook his head at me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAre your friends really inside?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes,\u201d I answered. \u201cOur girlfriends!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His expression was doubtful. He rubbed his bald head, then he lifted his clipboard again. \u201cOkay. What are their names?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTheir\u2026names?\u201d Well, I didn\u2019t know their names\u2026because they didn\u2019t exist! \u201cUhh\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re done,\u201d he said. He smiled and he pushed me aside. \u201cNext!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
*<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We could not get in, so we left Zara\u2019s. We went across the street for coffee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat was dumb, Jack,\u201d Aaron said, and he took off his jacket. He had put on his favourite clothes to come out. With his good looks and clothes, he could be an actor, but his attitude was always negative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I felt bad because it had been my idea to go out. Everyone knew it was impossible to get inside Zara\u2019s without a reservation\u2026and reservations were impossible to get! But, I had wanted to try.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nate ordered his coffee black, along with two chocolate-glazed donuts. Nate was very different from Aaron. He was more adventurous and happy. Nate loved to eat sweets like cakes and candies, so he was a bit overweight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ll have the same,\u201d Aaron told the waiter. \u201cBut, unglazed donuts please.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd what would you like, sir?\u201d the waiter asked me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI would like to know how to get into that nightclub,\u201d I told him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t get in there. Not without a reservation\u2026or a date,\u201d he said. \u201cUnless you are a female, of course. It is easy for the girls to go in. They want more girls inside.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d Aaron asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBecause the guys will go there and spend money!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I nodded. \u201cThat\u2019s unfair.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The waiter shrugged his shoulders. \u201cMaybe, but that\u2019s life. If you want to go to Zara\u2019s, you will have to find someone to go with you. You want to order anything?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJust coffee with milk. No donuts.\u201d I looked at my friends. \u201cWho eats donuts at nine o\u2019clock at night?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nate and Aaron exchanged looks. \u201cWe do,\u201d they said together. I sighed and crossed my arms. It looked like I was going to be spending the evening with these two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
*<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After our coffees (and donuts) were finished, we paid our check. I noticed three girls sitting at a table. They were talking. They were also finished with their food and drinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGuys, look,\u201d I said to my friends. \u201cWhat if–\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo,\u201d Aaron said, cutting off my sentence. \u201cJack, let\u2019s just go.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWait. What, Jack?\u201d Nate asked. \u201cDo you want to talk to them?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I combed my black hair back with my fingers. \u201cWe can try. Why not? Come on, I just lost my job. Do me a favour! What is the worst thing that can happen?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aaron stared at me, but Nate punched him in the arm. \u201cCome on, Aaron!\u201d he said. \u201cJack is right. We can ask them. Perhaps they will want to go with us to Zara\u2019s. If we get inside, they can stay with us. Or, they can leave us if they want to.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The girls were watching us. One of them, a girl with red hair, leaned over the table. She whispered something to her friends and they nodded. None of them were smiling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I felt a lump in my throat, but decided to go forward. I walked over to their table. My friends stayed behind me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHi, my name is Jack Cruz. No relationship to Tom Cruise,\u201d I said, making a bad joke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cClearly,\u201d the redhead said. Her friends laughed, but I laughed with them. A little.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWould you like to go to Zara\u2019s with us? The bouncer would not let us in,\u201d I said. \u201cBut maybe, we could get in with dates.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The smallest of the three girls said, \u201cDates? We don\u2019t even know you!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI know,\u201d I said. \u201cBut let\u2019s just try! Don\u2019t you want to see inside Zara\u2019s?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The girls looked through the window at the long line in front of the nightclub. Then they looked at each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t need you to get inside,\u201d said the redhead. \u201cBut\u2026I guess we can help you boys out. By the way, my name is Caprice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Annex to Chapter 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Summary<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jack Cruz has lost his job. He and his friends, Nate and Aaron, go out to a nightclub named Zara\u2019s, but they cannot get in. They do not have reservations. They go across the street to have coffee and donuts in a caf\u00e9. They see a group of girls in the cafe. They ask the girls if they would like to go to the club together. The girls agree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Multiple-choice questions<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Select one answer for each question<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. He serves drinks<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. He parks cars<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. He decides who gets inside<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. He runs the cash register<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. Seeing a blonde girl go inside<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. Seeing a blonde man go inside<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. Seeing a couple go inside<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. Having coffee and donuts<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. Nate doesn\u2019t exercise<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. Nate likes sweet foods like glazed donuts<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. Nate is shy<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. None of the above<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. a little funny<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. very funny<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. not very funny at all<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. too serious<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. are excited to date the boys<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. are angry for being bothered<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. say they will help<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. will not help<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Answers to Chapter 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chapter 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLet me talk to the bouncer,\u201d I said, as the six of us left the caf\u00e9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo,\u201d Caprice said, \u201cLet me. You couldn\u2019t talk your way in before.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I began to protest, but Nate nudged me in the ribs. \u201cShe\u2019s right. Give her a chance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We started walking toward the back of the line. Caprice grabbed my hand suddenly. We ran toward the bouncer. The others followed us. They did not understand her plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cExcuse me, Bruce?\u201d she shouted, waving her hand in the air. She stopped only inches away from the intimidating bouncer. \u201cYou\u2019re Bruce, aren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDo I know you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou were supposed to let my boyfriend in earlier,\u201d she said, pointing at me. \u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHis name wasn\u2019t on the list\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe list? Do you mean the fake list?\u201d she asked, grabbing at his precious clipboard. He pulled it away from her and held it up, but she was persistent. \u201cGet real! It\u2019s a bunch of fake names on a piece of paper.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow do you know?\u201d Bald Bruce asked, as he bent down to get closer to her. Perhaps he did not want the rest of the line to hear. \u201cAnd, so what if it is fake?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDo you know a woman named Zara Bernhart?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bruce stiffened. \u201cThe owner?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYeah, the owner.\u201d Caprice reached into her handbag. She took out a photograph and her driver\u2019s license. She showed both to the bouncer and his face turned pale. \u201cI\u2019m Caprice Bernhart. Zara\u2019s my mom.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
*<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat was awesome,\u201d I said, brushing my black hair out of my eyes. \u201cI had no idea who you were!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWere?\u201d Caprice said, leading me to the bar. \u201cI still am! What are you having?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Several customers were trying to get the helpless bartender\u2019s attention, but when he saw Caprice, he walked over to her. \u201cNice to see you!\u201d he shouted over the music. \u201cCan I get you something?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA Coke,\u201d she said, \u201cand\u2026\u201d She looked at me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMe, too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d the bartender asked. \u201cSorry, I couldn\u2019t hear you, man!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ll have a Coke too!\u201d I yelled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Caprice seemed surprised by my order. \u201cDon\u2019t you drink alcohol?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m underage,\u201d I said, smiling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI hope not,\u201d she said, \u201cor we\u2019re both in trouble.\u201d The bartender brought over our sodas. We took them to a table in a vacant corner. \u201cYour friends disappeared.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI see one of them on the dance floor,\u201d I said, pointing to Nate. He was dancing with the smallest of the girls. \u201cThey seem to get along! Look, they are smiling.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat about the other one?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAaron? He\u2019s\u2026gone!\u201d I could not see Aaron anywhere. I took my phone out of my pocket because I wanted to check my messages. Perhaps he had sent me a text message. Yes, he had texted me! \u201cLooks like he decided to go home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHey, guys,\u201d said the third girl, as she walked over to our table. \u201cWhat\u2019s up?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhere were you?\u201d Caprice asked. \u201cDid you scare Aaron away?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI guess so,\u201d she said. Then she looked at me. \u201cBy the way, what\u2019s your name again?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJack,\u201d I said. \u201cAnd I\u2019m sorry, you are\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m Susan. The other girl\u2019s Aisha. Anyways, your friend was weird!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe\u2019s not weird, he\u2019s shy,\u201d I said. \u201cAs The Smith\u2019s song goes, \u2018shyness is nice, and shyness can stop you\u2026\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2018\u2026from doing all the things in life you\u2019d like to!\u2019\u201d Susan finished. \u201cI love that song!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cReally? They are one of my favourite bands–\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHey, you scared away your boyfriend,\u201d Caprice said to her friend. \u201cLeave my date alone!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Susan smirked. She was unhappy. \u201cFine. I\u2019m going to the bar,\u201d she said, \u201cand I\u2019m putting my drinks on your tab. You will have to pay for them later!\u201d She walked away. She went to stand in the crowd in front of the busy bar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I was happy to hear myself called a \u201cdate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThanks again for helping us,\u201d I said. \u201cIt was a hard week for me. It was difficult because I lost my job this week.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, that\u2019s terrible! What was your job?\u201d She looked uncomfortable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why did I tell her I\u2019d lost my job? I thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cActually,\u201d I said, pointing at the bar. \u201cI did that. I was a bartender.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She bit her lip. She was thinking of something. \u201cSo,\u201d she said at last, \u201cIs Zara\u2019s everything you dreamed of?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I looked around the club. It had an expensive disco lighting system. It also had very loud audio speakers on the walls. A professional DJ was playing the best music, and the dance floor was packed. But, there were also plenty of seats for people to sit and talk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI love it,\u201d I said. \u201cI would love to come here every week.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIs that a hint?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes,\u201d I said. \u201cI mean, if you want to act like you are my date again. I would love to call you\u2026if you give me your phone number.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Caprice grinned and put out her hand. I reached out to take it, but she stopped me. \u201cNo, give me your phone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh.\u201d I handed over my phone. She took it and added herself to my contacts list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo now you have it. Don\u2019t post it on the Internet. It\u2019s private.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Immediately, I dialled her number. I watched her phone light up. \u201cNow you have my number too,\u201d I said. \u201cYou can put mine on the Internet. I don\u2019t mind. Nobody ever tries to call me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYour mother doesn\u2019t own a nightclub,\u201d she said. \u201cDoes she?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think so,\u201d I said, laughing. \u201cListen, I really want you to know\u2026I did not know who you were when I talked to you in the caf\u00e9.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI believe you,\u201d she said. \u201cI know you weren\u2019t just trying to use me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, I was trying to use you,\u201d I admitted, \u201cbut I was very honest about it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This time, she laughed and looked away. Maybe I need to shut up, I thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI need to get going soon,\u201d she said. \u201cI told my roommate I would be home before eleven.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou should live for yourself, not for others,\u201d I said. \u201cI read that on a card or something.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Caprice gave me a wide grin. \u201cI agree one hundred percent! But, my roommate lost her keys to the apartment. Do you think she should wait outside while I stay here with you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I made an innocent face. \u201cI don\u2019t mind if she waits.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTypical male,\u201d she said, standing up. \u201cYou have my number.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou have mine,\u201d I said, getting up with her. I wanted to walk her to the exit. \u201cLet\u2019s see who calls the other first. We could place a bet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For a moment, her face turned serious. \u201cNever bet against me or my family, Jack. We have a history of never losing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Annex to Chapter 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Summary<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jack and his friends are able to get into Zara\u2019s nightclub with the help of Caprice and her friends. Jack and Caprice order drinks at the bar. Jack learns a secret–that Caprice\u2019s family owns the club. Nate dances with Aisha, but Aaron leaves. Caprice gives Jack her phone number and prepares to leave too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Multiple-choice questions<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Select one answer for each question<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. giving him money<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. punching his arm<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. showing him proof that her family owns the club<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. lying<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. does not order a drink<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. orders the same drink as her<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. orders a beer<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. orders a Coke and nachos<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. left with the girl he met<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. is on the dance floor with the girl he met<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. left by himself<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. wants to come sit with Jack and Caprice<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. writing it on a napkin<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. whispering in his ear<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. calling him<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. putting it into his phone herself<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. Caprice is religious and does not bet<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. Jack cannot hear her<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. Aaron sends Jack a message not to bet her<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. Caprice knows Jack would lose the bet<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Answers to Chapter 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chapter 3<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I waited three days before calling her. It was a long three days. It was hard to wait.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou lose,\u201d Caprice said when she answered the phone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe didn\u2019t bet, remember? I was wondering\u2026what are you doing tonight?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She paused. She did not say anything for a moment. \u201cMy parents are having a small party at home. Some business partners are coming to their house. They want to talk about the nightclub. They are curious how it is doing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAre you going to go?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, because they want my opinion. They want the opinion of a younger person. Maybe you should come over too!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I laughed about that. \u201cNo! You want me to meet your parents? And you want me to talk about my opinion of their club?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Caprice didn\u2019t laugh with me. \u201cYes. I want you to come. Why not? I think you are a very honest person–\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut, you do not know me!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWomen have intuition about people, Jack. Can you meet me by eight?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
*<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We met outside her apartment. We took her car to her parents\u2019 home. The home was a giant mansion. There were two stories and twenty rooms. I counted the windows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d she asked me. She drove her car up the large driveway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m counting the windows.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know. I am trying to see where the restroom is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That was a dumb thing to say, I decided. I\u2019d never been to a rich person\u2019s house before. Now I was going to have dinner with rich strangers. The strangers were this girl\u2019s parents!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I had good reasons to be nervous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDon\u2019t be nervous,\u201d she said. She was getting out of the car. \u201cJust be yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat does that mean? People always say that! \u2018Be yourself, be yourself.\u2019 Of course I will be myself!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOkay, never mind,\u201d she said. She closed the car door hard. \u201cYou are acting weird. Be somebody else.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSorry. This night is weird. I don\u2019t know what to say to your parents.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She knocked on the door. A butler answered. A butler!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHi, Jeeves,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019re butler is not named Jeeves! I wanted to say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cVery funny, young lady. Come inside. And welcome, mister\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHi, I\u2019m Jack Cruz,\u201d I said. I held out my hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The butler shook my hand. He said his real name was Pete, not Jeeves. He took us to the large living room. There were a dozen people sitting on sofas. Two of them stood up. They walked over to Caprice and me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHi darling,\u201d said a beautiful lady. She looked like Caprice, but she was older. \u201cIs this your new friend? Hi, I\u2019m Zara.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m Jack,\u201d I said, and I held out my hand again. She did not shake my hand. Instead, she gave me a big hug. A handsome man with grey hair was standing behind her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy wife likes hugs,\u201d he said. \u201cBut I\u2019ll shake your hand.\u201d His handshake was like Superman\u2019s. \u201cCall me Ismael.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I remembered the joke about the butler\u2019s name. I thought he was making a joke too. \u201cIsmael? You are funny! You cannot fool me again,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, it isn\u2019t a joke,\u201d Caprice said. \u201cMy dad\u2019s name is Ismael.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zara laughed out loud. \u201cI like your friend, Caprice,\u201d she said. \u201cPlease sit down, Jack. Let\u2019s chat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
*<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We talked for a few minutes in the living room. Then, we moved to the dining room. Dinner was a delicious chicken curry. After dinner, we started to talk about their nightclub business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat was your impression of the place?\u201d Zara asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy impression? Well, the first thing I saw was the bouncer. He was not rude, but I do not think his reservation list is real.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou think the reservation list is fake? Why do you think that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Caprice and I smiled at each other. \u201cI told him it wasn\u2019t real,\u201d Caprice said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMany people want to come to the club,\u201d Zara said. She was moving her pearl necklace around her shirt collar. \u201cWe have to be careful. We cannot let everyone inside. There isn\u2019t enough room for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere is another reason,\u201d Caprice\u2019s father said. \u201cSome people want to come, but not spend money. Other people come to spend money. It\u2019s a business. We want customers with money.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat do you think about the inside?\u201d Zara asked. \u201cDid you like it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I remembered the poor bartender. He was trying to help too many customers. I had been a bartender too. I knew it was a hard job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI liked the inside, but you need an extra bartender,\u201d I said. \u201cYour guy needed help. He had too many customers. There was a very big crowd. I felt sorry for him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDo you know any bartenders? Do you know anyone who needs a job?\u201d Caprice asked. Zara and Ismael waited for my answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHmmm, yes. I do know a bartender that needs a job,\u201d I said. \u201cAnd he works cheap.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
*<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By the end of the week, I had a new job–at Zara\u2019s Nightclub! My girlfriend, Caprice, came to visit me often. I became friends with the other bartender, Dennis. I also became friends with Bruce, the bouncer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI can\u2019t believe it. You are lucky, Jack,\u201d Aaron said one night. He was shaking his head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLucky?\u201d I asked. Aaron was sitting alone. He sat beside Nate and Nate\u2019s new girlfriend, Aisha. \u201cYou\u2019re wrong, my friend. Luck was not the reason. Luck had nothing to do with it. It was persistence. In this life, persistence is the only way to get anything.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLuckily,\u201d Caprice said, holding my hand, \u201cJack has plenty of that!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Annex to Chapter 3<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Summary<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jack calls Caprice. She invites Jack to meet her parents and give his opinion of the club. Jack is very impressed by their fancy home. He meets their butler, then Zara and Ismael, Caprice\u2019s parents. They have dinner. He tells them his opinions, then he ends up getting a new job a Zara\u2019s as a bartender!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Multiple-choice questions<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Select one answer for each question<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. her apartment<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. Zara\u2019s Nightclub<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. her parents\u2019 home<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. a job interview<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. meeting Caprice\u2019s parents<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. going on another date with Caprice<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. his bad breath<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. the fact that he does not have a job<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. She was joking<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. The butler\u2019s name really is Jeeves<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. The butler\u2019s name is Bruce<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. None of the above<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. shakes his hand<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. introduces her husband<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. laughs at him<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. gives him a hug<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. he would change the name of it<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. he would hire another bartender<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. he doesn\u2019t like the reservation list<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. he wants a job there<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Answers to Chapter 3<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chapter 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n
World War II Germany\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSurrender now!\u201d a German voice shouted. He was outside. His jeep\u2019s engine was loud, but he was louder. \u201cCome out or we will open fire!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lily did not look out of the broken window. She was inside an old building. It was surrounded by Nazi soldiers. If she did not surrender, they would shoot. They would keep shooting until the building fell down!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOkay!\u201d she yelled. She was hiding in the corner of a dark room. Her brown bag was next to her. Inside the bag was a secret, and her job was to keep it safe. \u201cI am coming out! I will come out from the front door!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She waited and listened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPut your hands up! Put them in the air or we will shoot you,\u201d the soldier said. \u201cIf you are holding anything, we will shoot you!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They really want to shoot me, Lily thought, checking her gun. I want to shoot a few of them too. They killed my partner\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There was no time to think about the past. Lily did not have time for emotions now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She was a professional. She had a job to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Surrendering was not a part of her plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She tied her red hair in a ponytail. Crawling on her hands and knees, she moved across the room. She moved down the hallway. She went toward the back door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCome out! You have five seconds!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If I come out, you will kill me, she thought. Suddenly, she turned left, away from the back door. There was a small wooden door in front of her. It went to a basement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She opened it and ran down the stairs. They know about this basement, but they don\u2019t know it goes to a tunnel!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Above her, she heard the sound of powerful gunfire\u2026machine guns shooting the building. They would tear the building apart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lily knew the soldiers were told not to kill her, but they were trying to kill her. They knew she was dangerous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone told them who I am. I had a secret identity, but that is gone now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now every Nazi in Germany wants me dead\u2026except the ones in charge. The bosses want me alive. They want to ask me questions\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The basement smelled bad. It was not very bright; it only had one old light bulb. In front of her was an old carpet. The carpet hung from the ceiling. Lily pulled it down. Behind the carpet was a large hole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The tunnel!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She was going to escape through the tunnel\u2026but what was on the other side? She did not know. Perhaps someone was waiting for her?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The gunfire stopped. The sound of the jeep engine also stopped. The leader of the soldiers was shouting. He was speaking German. Lily knew German, and she understood what he was saying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGo inside! Don\u2019t come out until you find her! Look in the basement too!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have to go, Lily decided. She took out the light bulb. The basement and the tunnel were completely black. She didn\u2019t care. Lily Z. Bernhart was America\u2019s greatest female spy. She had finished thirty-eight missions. She always succeeded in her missions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And, she was not afraid of the dark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
*<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Three hours later\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lily sat in a cafe in Berlin. She was smoking a cigarette. She watched a thin waiter walk by her. He was ignoring her. Why was he ignoring her? She had red hair and her face looked like a foreigner\u2019s face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maybe he did not like foreigners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cExcuse me!\u201d she said in German. \u201cDo you see me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On most days, Lily did not bring attention to herself. She was a professional spy. Lily did not walk around in fancy clothes. She did not drive fast cars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She was very healthy, but she did not look like a model.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sometimes, people asked her name. She never said, \u201cBernhart. Lily Bernhart.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The government had given her a dozen fake names. There was no reason to use her real name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Normally, she acted shy. But, she wanted service. She was thirsty and needed a drink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cExcuse me!\u201d she repeated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes? Can I help you?\u201d the waiter asked. There were not many customers. The caf\u00e9 was not busy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBring me a coffee and an apple pastry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He turned and went behind the counter. He poured the coffee. He put the pastry on a plate. Then, she watched him walk to the kitchen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why is he going to the kitchen? Everything I want is there, at the counter!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She knew why he had left. He went to use a telephone. He was going to call the soldiers. He was going to say–the lady with red hair is here!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lily stopped her thoughts. I\u2019m being silly, she said to herself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then, she saw him. He was looking at her from the kitchen window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His nose looks broken, she thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The thin waiter brought her coffee and a pastry. He put them on the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She noticed he was sweating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The weather was cold. Why was he sweating? Was he nervous? He wiped the sweat with his shirt sleeve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnything else?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo,\u201d she said, drinking her coffee. The coffee was cold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAre you a tourist? Your German is very good,\u201d he said. He tried to smile, but his smile did not look real.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She shook her head and she looked at his broken nose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI live here. I\u2019ve lived here many years.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He was looking at her bag. Something is not right, she thought. First, he ignored me. Now, he is paying too much attention to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPlease let me know if you need anything else, Miss\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBolan. Nellie Bolan.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The waiter left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I am getting paranoid, she thought. She lit a cigarette.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Smoking was a bad habit, but her job was dangerous. There were many things to worry about. Smoking was bad, but some things were worse like other spies, and Nazi soldiers, and people who helped the Nazis\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lily was almost done eating her pastry. She heard a familiar sound \u2013 the sound of a jeep engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The soldiers were here!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She stood up fast. The waiter was in front of the kitchen door. Lily took her brown bag and her fork. She pushed the table away. She ran toward the waiter. She was holding the fork in front of her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The thin waiter jumped out of her way. Lily ran through the kitchen. She escaped from the back door of the caf\u00e9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She ran into the night, but she knew the soldiers would follow her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Annex to Chapter 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Summary<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lily is hiding in a house. She is hiding from German soldiers. The soldiers are Nazis. She escapes from the house by using a tunnel. Later, she goes to a caf\u00e9. The waiter ignores her, but then he gives her a lot of attention. Too much attention. Lily thinks he called the soldiers. She is right! The Nazis arrive and she escapes again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Multiple-choice questions<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Select one answer for each question<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. A bag and a phone<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. A coat and a gun<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. A bag and a gun<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. A pastry and a coffee<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. She surrenders<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. She uses the back door<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. She uses a tunnel<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. A waiter helps her<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. fast cars<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. fancy clothes<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. German music<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. smoking cigarettes<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. get the coffee<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. make a phone call<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. make the pastry<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. wash his hands<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. A jeep engine<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. A soldier shouting<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. Guns shooting<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. Someone calling her name<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Answers to Chapter 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chapter 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy did you come here?\u201d the small old man asked. He was not happy; he did not like late night visitors. And, he did not like Nazis. \u201cAre you being followed?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lily held up her brown bag. \u201cI need a place to hide.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAre the Nazis following you?\u201d he asked again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo,\u201d she lied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He pointed to the bag. \u201cWhat is in the bag?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLet me in and I will tell you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo.\u201d The small man closed the door. Lily knocked again, quietly. She did not want neighbours to hear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGo away!\u201d the man said. He was behind the door. \u201cGo! Take your secrets away!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lily looked behind her. The soldiers were out there. They were looking for her. She needed to hide–fast! She had to get off the street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDavid! David, if you do not let me in, they will catch me,\u201d she said. She pushed her face against the door. \u201cIf they catch me, they will ask questions. They will ask who helped me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am not helping you!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut, I will tell them you did.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She did not like to scare people, but her mission was important. She could not let the Nazis catch her. She could not let them get her bag\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The door opened. The small man was holding a gun. \u201cI could kill you,\u201d he said. \u201cGet inside. Now!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
*<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI need to use your restroom,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cToo bad.\u201d David pointed the gun at her head. \u201cGive me the bag.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI came here to hide. I did not come here to give away my secrets.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf I shoot you, I will take the bag,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou will not shoot. You will help me. I need to go to the American Embassy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSit down.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lily sat down at the small wood table. He sat by her. He smelled very bad. Perhaps he did not have water in his home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He was still holding the gun. Outside, they heard a jeep. No, many jeeps!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey are coming\u2026\u201d she said. \u201cYou have to trust me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy should I? You will tell them I helped you!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She took out her cigarettes. She offered one to him. He reached for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lily grabbed his gun. She was fast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She grabbed his wrist with her other hand. He dropped the gun on the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ll take this,\u201d she said, picking up his gun. She looked at it. It was very old. \u201cDoes this gun work?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She opened her bag and dropped his gun inside. David did not move. He sat and watched her. \u201cI could run outside,\u201d he said. \u201cI could say you broke into my home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou could try,\u201d Lily said. She took out her gun. \u201cBut, you would fail. My gun works fine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf you shoot, the soldiers would hear–\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEnough!\u201d she yelled. She hit the table with her hand. \u201cYou will help me. Now! Where is your telephone?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI do not have a phone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lily stood up. She did not believe him. She looked around the small one-bedroom home. \u201cYou are lying.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAm I? Do you see a phone?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She went into the bedroom. There was a phone by the bed. \u201cYes, I see one. Get up! I will tell you the number to call.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
*<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A few minutes later, Lily hung up the phone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy friends are coming. Someone will be here soon. I will leave you alone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAre you crazy?\u201d David asked. His eyes were big. He was scared. \u201cWhy did you give them my address? The soldiers will see the foreigners coming to my house. You put my life in danger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDavid, this is a war. We are all in danger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut, I am not a fighter!\u201d he said. \u201cI am an old man!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She brushed her red hair off her face. She was tired. \u201cDavid, do you remember when we met?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He nodded. \u201cYou helped my niece. A soldier was bothering her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI was almost arrested, but I helped her,\u201d Lily said. She put her gun away. \u201cI brought her here. Remember? I brought her to your home. She was safe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes. The police came here too. They followed you to my home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat did they do?\u201d She walked to the living room, and David followed her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey asked questions. They asked me about you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat did you say?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI said I did not know you. That was the truth,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd, what did they say?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He paused. There were tears in his eyes. He was very scared and sad. \u201cThey said you are a spy. They wanted me to call them\u2026if you returned.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lily looked at him closely. He saw she had beautiful green eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWill you call them?\u201d she asked. She looked sad too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHelp an American spy\u2026or help the Nazis,\u201d he said. \u201cI don\u2019t want to help any of you! Please leave me alone!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lily heard a motorcycle outside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That must be my ride, she thought. Good. I am ready to leave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She opened the door and looked out. The motorcycle driver waved to her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy ride is here,\u201d she said. Lily put her gun inside the bag. She kept his broken gun too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She took out some money and threw it on the floor. \u201cI am like you, David. I do not want to live in a world of spies and Nazis. If we beat the Nazis, perhaps we will not need spies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lily ran outside. She got on the motorcycle. They drove away quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She looked over her shoulder. She knew she had not said the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The world would always have spies\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Annex to Chapter 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Summary<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lily goes to an old man\u2019s house. His name is David. She wants to hide, but he does not want to help her. He is afraid. He thinks the Nazis will see her. David points a gun at her, but she takes it away. Lily uses his telephone to call for help. She tells him to remember that she helped his niece once in the past. Her ride comes and she leaves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Multiple-choice questions<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Select one answer for each question<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. the Nazis know she is there<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. the Nazis may have seen her go there<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. he thinks she is a Nazi<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. he is afraid she will rob him<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. does not let her<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. shows her where to go<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. says he does not have water in his home<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. asks her to wait<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. she wants to be friends<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. he does not have any money to buy cigarettes<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. she does not want to smoke by herself<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. none of the above<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. they went to school together<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. Lily helped David\u2019s niece<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. David helped Lily\u2019s niece<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. David is helping the American government<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. Because the call was expensive<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. Because she gave his name and birthdate<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. Because she said he was helping her<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. Because she gave his address<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Answers to Chapter 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chapter 3<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou failed your mission,\u201d the agent said. He did not tell Lily his name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They were sitting in a small office. The office was inside an empty warehouse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The agent with no name was wearing a large blue coat and a white shirt. He fixed his red necktie. He was sick and he coughed a lot. \u201cPerhaps we should give you to the Germans.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI did my job. I got what I was told to get,\u201d Lily argued. \u201cI got the folder.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She pointed at the folder. The folder had been in her bag. Now it was on the desk in front of her. She was going to speak again, but the agent raised his hand. He stopped her from talking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes,\u201d he said, frowning. \u201cYou got it. Good job.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo, why are you angry?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBecause,\u201d he said, “inside the folder was information. Very important information.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWas the information there?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHalf of it was. Only half.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lily\u2019s face turned pale. \u201cWhat? You are saying half is missing?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s right. Where is the other half?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She shrugged her shoulders. \u201cI don\u2019t know. I robbed the office you told me to. I took the folder\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDid you open this folder?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOf course not,\u201d she said. \u201cThat is not my job.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut, you know what is inside of it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lily shook off her shoes. They were uncomfortable and her feet hurt. She took out a cigarette.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The agent with no name took the cigarette away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI asked you a question, Miss Livesay–\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAre you an idiot? Yes, I know what is inside the folder!\u201d She took out another cigarette and lit it. \u201cI was told to find that folder. There it is. And inside–\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cInside is a list of names. Americans who are working for the Nazis.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen my job is done,\u201d Lily said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur man told us the list was bigger. He said there were three hundred names.\u201d The agent in the blue coat opened the folder. He took out some papers. \u201cI counted. There are only one hundred and forty-nine names.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He\u2019s lying, she thought. There were one hundred and fifty names on the list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat do you want?\u201d she asked. \u201cI was chased by Nazis! I was almost shot for that list!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The agent coughed. He walked backward. He did not like the smoke. \u201cYou have a dangerous job. You have been successful\u2026in the past. But, I will report this failure. I must tell your boss. He can decide what to do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My boss is a woman, Lily thought. He\u2019s lying again!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She looked around the office. \u201cWhere is my boss?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe will come here later. You must wait here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou said my mission is not finished. Half of the list is missing,\u201d she said. \u201cI will go out again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo. You cannot leave. They know who you are,\u201d he said, opening a window. He put his head outside for a moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAre you looking for something?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He closed the window. \u201cI wanted some fresh air.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He waited for her to finish smoking. \u201cThey know who you are,\u201d he repeated. \u201cSo you cannot go back out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI have a question for you,\u201d she said. \u201cThe list of names. Those are American government workers?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The agent with no name sneezed. He took out a tissue. He wiped his nose. \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThose people are working for the Nazis?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCorrect.\u201d He put the papers back in the folder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe will find the people on the list.\u201d She leaned forward on the desk. She touched the folder, but he took it away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, we will find them all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat will happen to them?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou know what will happen,\u201d he said. \u201cThey will be investigated. If they are really spying for the Germans, we will learn. We know what to do with people who turn against America.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cKill them?\u201d Lily asked. Slowly, she moved her bag. She moved it closer to her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes. If they are Americans working for the Nazis\u2026they must die.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I agree, she decided. Lily had not told the agent everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She had opened the folder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She knew where the other information was\u2026because she had it. She had the other half of the list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But, Lily was always paranoid. She never trusted anyone. That is why she had not told him yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When the agent looked away, Lily took a gun out of her bag. He turned to her. She pointed the gun at his stomach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat do you think you are doing?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDo you know how to count?\u201d she asked him. \u201cCan you count to one hundred and fifty?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He closed his eyes. \u201cYou are making a big mistake,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou saw your own name on the list. Didn\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMiss Livesay, put that gun down. I work for your boss.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s his name?\u201d Lily asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt does not matter,\u201d he said. \u201cYou don\u2019t know his real name anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy boss is a woman,\u201d she said, smiling. \u201cAnd, you don\u2019t know my real name either.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The agent opened his eyes. Lily thought he looked afraid, but she was not sure\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHere,\u201d she said. She put the gun on the desk. \u201cI trust you. You can have my gun.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He looked at her face, then at the gun. Quickly, he reached out. He picked up the gun from the table. Outside, they could hear jeeps coming\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhere did you get this old gun?\u201d he asked, laughing. Then, he pointed it at her. \u201cI thought you would use a better gun. Well, it does not matter. You were right. Yes, my name was on the list, but you will never tell anyone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He pulled the trigger, but the gun did not fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She took out her own gun. \u201cYou are right too,\u201d she said. \u201cI do use a better gun.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lily shot the agent three times. He fell down on the ground. She took the folder and put it back into her bag, then she ran outside. The motorcycle driver was there. He was watching the jeeps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLook, the Nazis are coming!\u201d he yelled. \u201cDid you finish your business?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes,\u201d she said. \u201cMy mission is over. Let\u2019s get out of here!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Annex to Chapter 3<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Summary<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lily meets a government agent. She does not know his name. He is unhappy because she did not finish her mission. She found a folder with names in it, but he says half of the names are missing. The names are people who are spying for the Nazis. Lily learns that the agent is lying to her. He is also working for the Nazis. She shoots him and escapes\u2026again!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Multiple-choice questions<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Select one answer for each question<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. Lily did not bring all the names he wanted<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. Lily hid at David\u2019s house<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. Lily did not like him<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. Lily took her shoes off<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. the office was dirty<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. he was sick<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. he was allergic to smoke<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. none of the above<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. missing fifty names<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. missing half of the names<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. missing only one name<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. not missing anything<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. she trusted the agent<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. she knew it was broken<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. she knew she would be faster to shot than the agent<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. she had taken the bullets out of it first<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. Because he was about to kill her<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. It was an accident<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. Because she was afraid of him<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. Because he was a spy for the Nazis<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Answers to Chapter 3<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chapter 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou two can go on your big adventure,\u201d Ari said. \u201cBut I am staying home!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, you are not. You are coming with us!\u201d Denza tried to pick her friend up. Ari kicked her in the knee. She put him down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ari was eighty years old. He was not a human though. Ari was a Sliwoh with long white hair. His fingers were long and wrinkly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ari was very young\u2026for a Sliwoh. Compared to humans, he was a teenager.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, I\u2019m staying home,\u201d Ari repeated. \u201cI will not change my mind. I do not want go out. I don\u2019t want to look for treasure, and I don\u2019t want to fight anybody. You can keep your adventure!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Denza raised her hairy arms in the air. \u201cI give up!\u201d she said. She was also a Sliwoh, but she was very loud and playful. Most Sliwohs were not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The other friend was a Glowman. Glowmen loved fighting, they loved adventure, and they really loved gold and treasure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Their favourite thing in the world was treasure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Glowman\u2019s name was Lummp. No one knew how old Lummp was. Lummp liked to talk a lot, but no one understood him. He did not speak the Sliwoh language, but he could write it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lummp carried a notebook. Sometimes, he would write things on paper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He wrote a note to Ari.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAri,\u201d the note said, \u201cyou can stay home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you,\u201d Ari said. \u201cSee? Lummp agrees with me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, I don\u2019t,\u201d Lummp wrote. He pointed out the window. Far away was a cloud of dust. There were horses coming. Ari could see humans on the horses. Humans! One of the men was wearing a long yellow coat. He was wearing a crown on his head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe do not have to leave for adventure,\u201d Denza said with a smile. \u201cAdventure is coming to us!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
*<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ari, Denza, and Lummp ran outside. Everyone in town was outside. Their town was small. It was called Bird\u2019s Field. It was very quiet. Most of the people who lived in Bird\u2019s Field were Sliwohs, but there were a few Glowmen and a few other types of persons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All of them were standing in front of their homes. They were looking at the humans on horses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Visitors were rare. They never saw strangers, and these strangers were dressed very odd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The horses slowed down. The first horse was a large black mare. Its rider was the tall man in the yellow coat. There was a crown on his head. He looked like a tired king.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He touched his horse\u2019s neck and the horse stood still. The rider climbed down. He looked like the leader of the other men.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDoes anyone here know who I am?\u201d he asked in English. The other horse riders stayed on their horses. There were eight in total, including the leader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy don\u2019t you just tell us?\u201d asked a small Sliwoh. It was Pidor, the baker. Pidor, like most Sliwohs, remembered the old English language. \u201cWe don\u2019t like mysteries here, human!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Denza walked forward. \u201cAre you a king from the East?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy do you think I\u2019m a king?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She pointed to his crown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The tall man in yellow took the crown off his head. \u201cPerhaps I stole this,\u201d he said. He had a long red beard and bright blue eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lummp was impressed with the crown. It was made of gold. It must be heavy\u2026and worth a lot of money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf you stole it,\u201d said Pidor, \u201cthen go give it back. We don\u2019t like thieves here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat do you like?\u201d the man asked. \u201cDo you like anything?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe like to be left alone.\u201d Pidor crossed his arms. One of the other riders came closer to him. The leader waved his hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo,\u201d the leader said. \u201cGive the old Sliwoh what he wants. Leave him alone.\u201d He looked again at Denza. \u201cYou are almost correct. I was a king. I am not a king anymore.\u201d He dropped the crown on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lummp wrote a note. He showed the note to Denza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The note said, \u201cAsk him if I can have that crown now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Denza shook her head. She ignored Lummp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat happened?\u201d she asked the former king. \u201cAnd why did you come to Bird\u2019s Field?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The other riders stopped their horses. They all got down. They stood next to their king.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThese men,\u201d he said, \u201care the last of the humans. There was a great war in the East. Everyone was killed. I am not a king anymore\u2026because there is no one left to rule.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen why have you come here?\u201d Pidor asked. His wife stood behind him, hiding their daughters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDo not fear for your girls,\u201d said the leader, scratching his red beard. \u201cMy name is Yardum. I am taking these seven men to the sea town of Spring Field, but we are lost.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy name is Denza. You need a guide,\u201d Denza said, stepping forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, as a matter of fact, I do,\u201d Yardum said. \u201cI have no money, but I have this gold crown. I will give it to anyone who helps us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ari had a question. \u201cWhy must you go to Spring Field? What is there for you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere is a rumour that my friends went there. Perhaps we are not the last humans. I need to find out, so we are on a quest!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lummp wrote a note to Denza. He wanted to go because he wanted the crown. Denza nodded; she also wished to go on the journey. \u201cWe\u2019ll help you,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ari looked alarmed. He could not allow Denza to go with these strangers. He whispered to her in Sliwohish, but she shook her head. \u201cI\u2019m going,\u201d she told him. \u201cCome with us!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yardum and his men awaited Ari\u2019s answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI just want to stay home,\u201d Ari said. \u201cBut I will go too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I will go to protect you, Denza, he thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the riders who had a scar on his forehead bent and picked up the crown. He wiped off the dirt and put it in a saddlebag, then he got back on his horse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is settled then,\u201d Yardum said. \u201cYou,\u201d he pointed to Lummp, \u201cride with Sadida, the one with the scar. He will keep the crown for now. \u201cYou,\u201d he pointed to Ari, \u201cride with fat Ekin back there. And Denza, you can ride with me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Annex to Chapter 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Summary<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ari is a young Sliwoh. He does not like adventure, but his friends, Denza and Lummp, do. Denza is also a Sliwoh, Lummp is a Glowman. They see humans coming to their town, so they go out to meet them. The humans came from the East, they are looking for a sea town to search for other humans. Ari, Denza, and Lummp agree to go with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Multiple-choice questions<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Select one answer for each question<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. considered an old person<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. considered to be a teenager<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. considered to be wise<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. none of the above<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. Lummps<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. Glowmen<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. horses<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. Sliwohs<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. write it<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. sing it<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. communicate with them in English<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. use sign language<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. someone to buy their gold<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. other humans<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. a town called Bird\u2019s Field<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. Glowmen<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. a king<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. a thief<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. a baker<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. a Sliwoh<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Answers to Chapter 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chapter 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After riding all day, they arrived in the town of Hill Side. Hill Side was a town of mountains and jewel miners. It was also a very dangerous town, full of criminals. All of the jewel miners carried weapons to protect themselves from thieves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sun had been down for hours. It was getting late and people were looking at them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe must be careful here,\u201d Ari said. \u201cWe should have gone around Hill Side.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis way is faster,\u201d Denza said. \u201cBesides, no one is going to bother eight large humans.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maybe not, Ari thought. But everyone will bother two Sliwohs, and Glowmen never fight. Lummp is no help. We must stay with the humans at all times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are tired,\u201d Yardum said. \u201cThe horses need rest. So do I.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat, you want to stay here?\u201d Ari asked. \u201cLet\u2019s keep going. We can camp outside of town.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe have no camping supplies. Do you want to sleep on the ground with no blanket or tent?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, but–\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen we will rent rooms for the night,\u201d Yardum said, riding toward a small group of cabins. \u201cTomorrow morning, we will leave early, so you will not be scared for long, little Sliwohs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Denza laughed, but Ari was not happy. Yardum and his men tied the horses to wooden posts. Yardum walked to the main cabin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou said you don\u2019t have any money,\u201d Ari said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The tall, bearded man in yellow turned. \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBack at Bird\u2019s Field\u2026you said you have no money.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yardum stared at the little Sliwoh. \u201cThat is true. What is your point?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow will you pay for the rooms?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The humans looked at their leader. Sadida smiled at Lummp who wrote a \u201c?\u201d on his notebook. Ekin put his heavy hand on Ari\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is a good question, little Sliwoh,\u201d Yardum said. \u201cBut don\u2019t worry, I will sweet talk them. I\u2019m very persuasive when I need to be.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
*<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yardum was indeed very persuasive. He got them five large rooms. One for himself, two rooms for his men, and one for Ari, Denza, and Lummp to share.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Denza took the bed. Ari and Lummp put blankets on the floor. At least, the rooms were warm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t trust him,\u201d Ari said. \u201cHow did he get rooms with no money?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lummp wrote a note. \u201cMaybe he threatened the owner of the cabins\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, that is what I think,\u201d Ari said. \u201cHe told the cabin owner that his men would hurt them!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cKeep your voice down,\u201d Denza said. \u201cYou think Yardum is dangerous? Then don\u2019t talk so loud or he\u2019ll hear you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m only saying we do not know him. And now, we are spending the night in Hill Side. This was a bad idea.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI agree,\u201d she said. \u201cBringing you was a bad idea!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lummp laughed. Ari rolled over and tried to go to sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
*<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The three were finally asleep when the door burst open. Dark figures had broken the door and ran into the small room. Ari sat up, but was hit in the head. He fell back down, crashing into Lummp. They heard Denza scream and saw her being picked up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone was kidnapping her!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holding his bruised head, Ari got up again. The dark figures were not humans; they looked like miners. Miners were shorter and rounder than most humans. Their skin was very pale because they did not get much sunlight. Their eyes were very big to help them see better in the darkness of the mines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One miner held Denza and ran outside with her. His hand was over her mouth and she was not making any sound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The other miner waited at the door for a moment. He looked confused. He was holding something. He had taken Denza\u2019s blanket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Suddenly, Ari heard the sound of the humans coming. They would be able to help!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMiners have taken Denza!\u201d Ari shouted. He saw Sadida and Ekin running toward him. The second miner ran into the darkness and caught up with the first miner, the one who held Denza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the dark, it was hard to see which one held her\u2026and which held the blanket!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ari was chasing them. He pointed in their direction. \u201cGo after them!\u201d he yelled at the two humans. \u201cThey have her!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Miners were very fast runners. They were already far away. One went left, the other went right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhich one has the female?\u201d Ekin asked, running next to Ari.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI cannot tell,\u201d Ari said. \u201cCome with me. We\u2019ll chase the left one. Sadida, go right!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lummp stayed at the cabin. Glowmen were extremely slow walkers, and they never ran, but when Yardum and the other humans came, Lummp wrote them the story of what happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDo not worry,\u201d the former king said. \u201cMy men will catch those monsters! They will save your friend.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
*<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lummp waited with Yardum and the others. After an hour, Ari, Sadida, and Ekim returned. Denza was not with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI caught one of the miners,\u201d Sadida said. \u201cBut he did not have the female Sliwoh. He only carried a blanket.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDid he say where the other miner was going?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes,\u201d the scarred human said, rubbing his fists. \u201cI made him talk. The kidnapper is taking Denza West to the sea towns.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d Yardum asked. \u201cAre they going to Spring Field like us?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sadida nodded his head. \u201cThey will try to sell her there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ari was startled. \u201cWhat do you mean, sell her? She is a person, not a horse!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yardum\u2019s blue eyes were very sad. \u201cThere is much you do not know about the world,\u201d he said. \u201cYou have never left Bird\u2019s Field, have you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt isn\u2019t safe to leave,\u201d Ari said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy isn\u2019t it safe?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBecause bad things happen in the other towns\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The leader looked down at his feet. \u201cBut, you don\u2019t know what bad things, do you? All you know is the world \u2018is not safe\u2019. But you don\u2019t know why.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI never wanted to know why,\u201d Ari said, crying. Why had he left his town? He knew he was right to stay home! This was all Denza\u2019s fault! And now\u2026now she was gone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI understand,\u201d Yardum said. \u201cBut get dressed. We\u2019re leaving now. You are going to learn things you did not want to know.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Annex to Chapter 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Summary<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ari, Denza, and Lummp ride horses with the humans. They go to the mountain town of Hill Side. Hill Side is a dangerous mining town. It is late at night, so they take rooms. They go to bed, but people break into the Sliwohs\u2019 room. They take Denza! Ari alerts the humans, and they run after the kidnappers, but the kidnappers escape with Denza as their prisoner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Multiple-choice questions<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Select one answer for each question<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. miners and criminals<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. a Sliwoh<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. horses and jewels<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. rivers and lakes<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. his money<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. his gold crown<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. his persuasion<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. the horses<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. Denza<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. Lummp<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. Ekin<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. Ari<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. Lummp and his blanket<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. The crown<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. Denza and her blanket<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. Denza and the crown<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. the miners killed her<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. the miners will sell her<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. the miners lost her<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. the miners married her<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Answers to Chapter 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chapter 3<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It took two days to get to Spring Field. The sea town was beautiful, the sandy beaches were clean and lovely. The blue sea looked warm and full of life. But, there was no time for fun or fishing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Denza was still missing. She might be here. She might still be the miner\u2019s captive\u2026unless he had sold her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI have never seen anything like this,\u201d Lummp wrote. \u201cWhen we find Denza, we should move here!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ari agreed. Spring Field looked like a perfect town. But, he did not feel comfortable here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere is something wrong about this place,\u201d he said to his friend. \u201cDo you feel it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lummp shrugged. Glowmen did not feel very much of anything. They were not very sensitive persons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yardum led the way. His black horse was in front. It seemed like he knew where he was going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHave you been here before?\u201d Ari asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhere will we begin our search?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yardum waved to Sadida. Sadida rode his horse closer to his leader\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat is it, my lord?\u201d Sadida asked Yardum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The tall human in yellow pointed at Ari. \u201cTell this Sliwoh where we are going.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are going to the slave market,\u201d the scarred man said. \u201cYour friend Denza will be there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow do you know that?\u201d Ari asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe knows,\u201d Ekin said, \u201cbecause he\u2019s smart.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ari was getting scared. He did not like the feeling he had. \u201cAnd how do you know where the market is? You said you have never been here!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Suddenly, Ari realized–he had not seen any people in Spring Field. But then, he saw someone, a pale miner. No, a group of miners!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He looked in the window of a building. There were miners inside. Far away, he saw a miner riding a small horse\u2026no, it was a donkey!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSorry,\u201d Yardum said. \u201cBut we have not been honest with you.\u201d He pointed to the left. Not very far way, Ari saw a large fenced area. It looked like a big cage for animals. Inside the cage were many Sliwohs and other creatures. They were being held captive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis beautiful town has the largest slave market in the West,\u201d Yardum said. \u201cWe bring many Sliwohs here. You can see them there. And look, there is your friend!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDenza!\u201d Ari yelled. Denza was in the cage. She was alive\u2026but a prisoner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou work with the miners,\u201d Ari said. \u201cYou are helping them!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSometimes,\u201d Yardum said \u201cwe bring them a Sliwoh or two when we are going to Spring Field to buy guns. The miners make very good guns. Don\u2019t they, Ekin?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe best,\u201d Ekin said, pointing a very good gun at Ari.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
*<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The humans put Ari and Lummp in the cage. Denza ran over to greet them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI thought I would never see you again!\u201d she said. \u201cI am sorry, this is my fault!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, don\u2019t say that,\u201d Ari said, hugging her. He looked around. There were at least one hundred Sliwohs in the prison. \u201cHow long have you been here?\u201d he asked one of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot long,\u201d the young Sliwoh said. \u201cThey will sell us today.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWho are they going to sell us to?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t know. By the way, my name is Ked. My brother, Hakan, is over there.\u201d Ked pointed to a small boy Sliwoh. Hakan did not look well. He looked sick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe have to escape,\u201d Ari said. He seemed to be one of the oldest Sliwohs in the cage. \u201cLummp, what can we do to get out of here?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lummp frowned. He wasn\u2019t a fighter. He did not have any ideas. But then, he watched one of the miners walk over to a donkey. The miner did something, but Ari did not see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lummp took out his notebook and wrote a note.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is getting dark,\u201d he wrote. He drew a picture of a donkey and smiled. \u201cWe will wait until it is late at night.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ari and Denza read the note. They did not understand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lummp drew a picture of a key. He pointed to his picture of the donkey. Ari looked over at the real donkeys. One of them was wearing a small leather bag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Do the guards keep the keys to the cage in that bag? Ari wondered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then, they looked at Yardum and his men who were talking to some miners. The humans were laughing. The miners were paying money to Yardum. Then Sadida took out the crown. The miners were impressed by the expensive gold crown. They gave money for it too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe lied about everything,\u201d Denza said. \u201cHe stole that crown like he stole me!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yardum looked in her direction, as if he had heard her. He smiled. Denza spit on the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
*<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Later that night, the humans were gone. They had taken their money and left. All the Sliwohs were on the ground sleeping. The miners had gone to their homes, except for a few guards. Most of the guards were drinking and playing a card game. A few of their donkeys were standing around near the cage. The donkeys were not tied down. They were free to walk around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When everything was quiet, Lummp tapped Ari on the shoulder. Ari tapped Denza and Ked. None of them were really sleeping. They were pretending. Slowly, all of the Sliwohs got up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lummp, the Glowman, held out the palm of his hand. His hand was glowing with a small red light. He waved his hand at the donkeys and they looked at it. Very carefully, they walked over to see what the light was. Like all Glowmen, Lummp was very good with animals. They loved him and he loved them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The donkeys were not afraid of Lummp. They walked over to stand next to him. He reached out his arm and took the bag off the donkey. The key was inside the bag! He gave it to Ari and Ari quickly unlocked the cage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The guards were taking a nap. Ari and Denza quietly took their weapons and gave them to other Sliwohs. They gathered all the donkeys and slowly walked away from the cage. They were very quiet as they escaped Spring Field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tomorrow, they would take the long way around Hill Side, and then would return to Bird\u2019s Field. Ari, Denza, and Luump would tell the others what had happened, then they would take back the other kidnapped Sliwohs to their towns too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Soon, all of the Sliwoh towns would unite. Soon they would join together to create an army. They would fight the miners\u2026and the humans too if they saw any.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The innocent Sliwohs had learned two important lessons. The world is a very scary place\u2026and never trust a human!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Annex to Chapter 3<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Summary<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ari and the others arrive in the Western sea town of Spring Field. It is a very beautiful town, but there is something wrong about it. Soon, Ari learns Yardum\u2019s secret–he has been working with the miners! The humans sold Denza, Ari, and Lummp as slaves, but Lummp helped them escape the evil town and return to Bird\u2019s Field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Multiple-choice questions<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Select one answer for each question<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. mountain town<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. Sliwoh town<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. human town<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. sea town<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. Some horses<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. Some blankets<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. A stolen crown<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. Weapons<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. guns<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. jewels<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. soup<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. cabins<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. in a bag on a donkey<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. in a blanket on a horse<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. in another miner\u2019s pocket<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. in Sadida\u2019s hand<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. had a dance<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. ate a large meal<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. joined with other Sliwoh towns<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. killed all humans<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Answers to Chapter 3<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chapter 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCongratulations, Thom,\u201d the French doctor said to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She was young for a doctor. I thought she looked very smart. I also thought she was very attractive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe operation was a success,\u201d she said, smiling at me. \u201cYour brain is now linked to our supercomputer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh,\u201d I said. I felt tired. It had been a long operation. \u201cCan I have a drink?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot yet, Thom. How do you feel?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m thirsty,\u201d I said. \u201cBut, I feel good. It\u2019s funny, but I don\u2019t feel any pain.\u201d I was lying on a bed at the hospital in Switzerland. There were three people in the small room\u2026and one giant black computer. The computer was bigger than a refrigerator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was supercomputer–the fastest, smartest computer in all of Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The name of the computer was Titan 2035 (2035 was the year is had been built) and I was now connected to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOf course, you do not feel pain. The human brain cannot feel pain,\u201d the French doctor said. Her name was Doctor Sheila Benoit. She was one of the creators of Titan 2035. \u201cRelax now. We will start the data download soon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I looked at the large computer. It contained more knowledge than all the libraries on Earth. Compared to Titan 2035, my brain seemed very small and dumb. \u201cHow much information will you download?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll of it!\u201d said Doctor Benoit\u2019s assistant, Professor Bidwell. He was much older than her, and with a white beard and reading glasses. \u201cWhy wait? Your mind can handle it all!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, don\u2019t listen to him. He is joking,\u201d Benoit said. \u201cOf course, we will be very careful. We will download as much data as possible. But, we cannot do all of it in one day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWould it kill me?\u201d I asked. \u201cOr could my mind really handle it all?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Professor Bidwell looked at the young doctor, then at me. \u201cI don\u2019t think it would kill you, but that is my opinion, and I am not in charge.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, it would not kill you, Thom,\u201d Benoit agreed. \u201cBut, it might make you crazy. We do not know how much information your mind can take, so we will go slowly. We will not hurt you, I promise.\u201d She smiled and patted me on the head. \u201cYou are too expensive. We don\u2019t want to damage you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
*<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The process of the data link began. The information slowly leaked from Titan 2035 to my brain. At first, I did not notice it, but then I became aware of the new facts and the new information. It was transferred to my long term memory. The information was new, but it seemed like I had known it for a long time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They were feeding me different types of information: mathematics, history, science, technologies. I was also learning medicine, law enforcement procedures, fighting tactics, acting techniques\u2026a lot of variety!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Three hours passed. Doctor Benoit and Professor Bidwell were sitting quietly the whole time. The third person in the room was an investor. He was very old and he wore an expensive silver suit. When he walked, he used a cane to help him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I knew he was the owner of TRANSMUTE Corporation. His Swiss company owned the hospital. It had paid for the supercomputer\u2026and for the operation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAre you almost finished, Sheila?\u201d he asked. \u201cYou said three hours.\u201d He pointed to a clock on the wall. \u201cIt has been three hours.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes sir,\u201d she said. \u201cI will end the download process soon, then we will disconnect him from the computer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen will the tests be finished?\u201d the investor asked. He had spent millions of Euros in research and development. He was eager to learn the results of this experiment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe will test Thom tonight and tomorrow. If his brain has accepted the information we downloaded, he should be able to pass the tests,\u201d Doctor Benoit said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen, we will link him up again,\u201d Professor Bidwell said. \u201cWe will transfer more data tomorrow or the next day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cExcellent,\u201d the investor said. He stood up to leave. \u201cGood job, Thom,\u201d he said to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you,\u201d I said. For some reason, I could not remember his name. It was very strange because I knew the name of his company. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, but I don\u2019t know your name.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat is alright,\u201d he said, walking out of the room. \u201cYou don\u2019t need to know it anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Doctor Benoit watched him leave. When he was gone, she turned to the professor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAre you ready to begin the disconnect process?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAre you sure you don\u2019t want to give Thom a little more?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She shook her head. \u201cHe has had enough. Let\u2019s turn off the data stream.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
*<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I felt myself getting sleepy. Everything went black. I do not know how long I was asleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My dreams were long and unpleasant\u2026dreams of war and suffering, and of death and destruction. There was no way to tell how long I was asleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I finally woke up and opened my eyes. Above me, I could see the sky and the clouds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s funny. Am I still dreaming? I wondered. Where is the ceiling?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then, I turned my head and saw the room. It had been destroyed. Quickly, I sat up and looked around. Doctor Benoit was on the floor dead. Professor Bidwell was missing. The black supercomputer, Titan 2035, was alright. It was still turned on and feeding me information!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But, the rest of the hospital was gone. A massive bomb had exploded and destroyed the hospital as I had slept. Far away, I heard someone yelling for help. Further away, I heard the sound of police cars coming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There was a terrorist attack, I thought. Or did this happen because of me? Did somebody try to kill me?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whoever did this made a big mistake, I decided, slowly getting off my bed. I unhooked myself from Titan 2035. I\u2019m not dead and I will find out who did this\u2026and make them pay!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Annex to Chapter 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Summary<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thom is connected to a supercomputer. His doctor and her assistant are transferring information from the computer, Titan 2035, to Thom\u2019s brain. There is also an investor in the room, but he leaves before they are finished. Thom goes to sleep. When he wakes up, he sees the hospital has been destroyed and his doctor is dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Multiple-choice questions<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Select one answer for each question<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. 3<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. 4<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. 5<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. Its serial number<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. The year it was built<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. The current year<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. None of the above<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. They spent a lot of money on Thom<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. They spent a lot of money on Titan<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. She is in love with Thom<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. Her assistant tells her to slow down<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. Thom would get bored<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. Thom would be tired<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. Too much information could be dangerous for Thom<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. Too much information could make Thom sleepy<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. A gas explosion<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. A fire<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. An accident<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. A terrorist attack<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Answers to Chapter 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chapter 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat do you remember about the explosion, Mister Parmenter?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI already told you,\u201d I said, sitting at the police station. We were in a small room with a large mirror. There was a metal table between me and the police officer. \u201cCall me Thom. And I don\u2019t remember anything because I was asleep.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The blonde policewoman was recording our conversation. In her ear was a microphone. Someone was telling her what to ask me. Someone sitting on the other side of the mirror, perhaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDo you have any idea who blew up the hospital?\u201d she asked. Her Swiss accent was very strong, but her English grammar was good. \u201cAny idea at all?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I looked at the camera that was recording me. \u201cPolice should not be playing guessing games,\u201d I said. \u201cDo I have an idea? Of course. It was the owner of the company.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat company?\u201d she asked. \u201cTRANSMUTE Corporation?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRight. What other company is there? I\u2019m talking about the owner of the company which paid for the experiment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The policewoman stared at me. \u201cThat does not make sense. Why would he destroy his own work?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow do you know the owner is a man?\u201d I asked. \u201cYou said \u2018he.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She blinked her eyes. She ignored my question. \u201cDo you think it is a coincidence that you lived, but the others died?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think it was an accident,\u201d I said, standing up. \u201cI don\u2019t believe in coincidence. A bomb destroyed a whole hospital, but I lived. I believe that was on purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I was finished with the interview. The female officer asked me to sit down. I refused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI said sit down, Mister Parmenter\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCall me Thom,\u201d I said, walking over to the mirror. \u201cThere are three people sitting on the other side of this mirror. One of them works for TRANSMUTE. He is telling you what to ask me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy do you say that?\u201d she asked. But, her face told me everything I needed to know. Her expression told me the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m leaving,\u201d I said. \u201cThe interview is over. Open the door.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThom, we still have some questions to ask you–\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, you don\u2019t. You are asking questions that you know the answers to.\u201d The door was locked. There was an electronic keypad by the door. Without thinking, I punched in the code and the door unlocked. \u201cYou know who blew up the building. And you know why he did it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She did not try to stop me from leaving. \u201cWhy?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I turned and pointed at my head. \u201cTo create me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
*<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There was a news station across town. I got in a taxi and told him to take me there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The media was happy to meet with me. We set up a fast press conference. Many news stations and magazines sent reporters. I gave all of them a fantastic story free of charge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t want money for your story?\u201d they asked. It was hard for them to believe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI only want the truth to be told to the public. People must know the truth! The owner of TRANSMUTE wanted to kill my doctor. He wanted to make it look like a terrorist attack, but it was him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut, why would he do that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo the experiment would never end. I was connected to the supercomputer for many hours, much longer than I was supposed to be. My doctor, Doctor Benoit, wanted to be careful. She wanted to download small amounts of data.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut you think–\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t \u2018think.\u2019 I know. I know the owner wanted to keep me hooked up longer. He and Professor Bidwell wanted to push me. To see how much information a human mind can hold.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow much can it hold?\u201d the reporter asked me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I smiled at the reporter. \u201cToo much,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The reporter\u2019s name was Michael James Beckett, and he was married with one daughter. I knew his age, his address, and his parents\u2019 names and address. I knew where he graduated college, what his grades were, and who all of his social media friends were.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I told him his car\u2019s license plate number and how many traffic violations he\u2019d gotten last year. I also told him to stop smoking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow do you know I smoke?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s in your medical files.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
*<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The owner of the company was not arrested. There was no proof that he had anything to do with the explosion. He even asked to meet me privately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSon, you can\u2019t go around making these wild accusations,\u201d he said, offering me a drink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cKeep your drink. I don\u2019t trust you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFine,\u201d he said, sitting down. \u201cBut if you say another word about me, I will sue you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGo ahead, I don\u2019t have any money,\u201d I said. But, I knew he was lying. He wouldn\u2019t sue me. He would probably have me killed instead. \u201cIt\u2019s funny. I know almost everything about everyone, but I cannot remember your name. Even when people tell me, I forget it. Why is that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI would not know,\u201d he said with a shrug. \u201cMaybe it is a glitch. Some kind of error in your brain function. With so much new information inside your head, you will probably forget some things.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYeah. Too bad my doctor is dead, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLook, Thom\u2026I told you. I had nothing to do with it. Stop blaming me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd where is Professor Bidwell?\u201d I asked. \u201cHis body was never found.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat is a good question,\u201d he said, as he poured a glass of water. \u201cThe police told me they are looking for him. Here, at least drink some water.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I looked at the glass. He really wanted me to have it. \u201cOkay,\u201d I said, taking it from him with my left hand. He stood up a little to hand it to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I slipped my left foot behind him, like a hook. With my right hand, I pushed his face as hard as I could. He tripped backward and fell hard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I jumped on him, pouring the water in his open mouth. He tried to spit it out, but I held his mouth closed. He swallowed it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His body shook for a few minutes, then stopped moving forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFunny,\u201d I said. \u201cPeople always say to drink more water, but look what happens when you do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Annex to Chapter 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Summary<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thom meets with news reporters. He tells them that he thinks the owner of TRANSMUTE Corporation caused the hospital explosion. The owner meets Thom too. He threatens to sue Thom. He offers Thom a glass of poisoned water, but Thom makes him drink it instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Multiple-choice questions<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Select one answer for each question<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. To sell his story for money<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. To become famous<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. To meet the owner of TRANSMUTE<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. To tell the public the truth about the explosion<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. Because Thom downloaded so much information<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. Because Thom read the man\u2019s files during lunch<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. Because Thom knows the man from college<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. None of the above<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. That he\u2019s working in Brazil<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. That he\u2019s working for Titan 2035<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. That he\u2019s dead<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. That he\u2019s working with the owner of TRANSMUTE<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. Because Thom is thirsty<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. Because Thom feels tired<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. Because he wants to poison Thom<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. Because he wants to sue Thom<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. He tricks the owner<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. They both drink some water<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. Thom switches their glasses<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. Thom pours the water in his mouth<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Answers to Chapter 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chapter 3<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Great. Now the police are after me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I didn\u2019t mean to kill the TRANSMUTE Corporation\u2019s owner. All I did was make him drink his own water. Does that make me the bad guy?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It doesn\u2019t matter. I am on the run now. The police are after me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I tried to tell the world what had happened to me\u2026but I never got to finish my story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I never got to tell them that I\u2019m not a human anymore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The transfer of information with Titan 2035 changed me. I am exactly what TRANSMUTE wanted. I\u2019m a \u201ctranshuman.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My doctor is dead. I have no way to undo what they did. The only person who might be able to help is Professor Bidwell. He is still missing, but perhaps I will be able to find him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I am pretty smart these days!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, I am now the smartest living creature on Earth (I don\u2019t count Titan, it isn\u2019t alive).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
*<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the end, it only took me two days to find Bidwell. He was hiding on the Pacific island of Guam. It is a good hiding place since it is so far away from Europe\u2026but it is a very small island. Once you are there, there is no place to run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow much did he pay you?\u201d I asked, sitting on Bidwell\u2019s chest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGet off of me,\u201d he said. \u201cI can\u2019t breathe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf you are speaking, you must be able to breathe,\u201d I argued. \u201cNow talk!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou want to know about Zafer?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIs that the owner of TRANSMUTE? His name is Zafer?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, but you will forget his name. He doesn\u2019t want you to know who he is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think he will care now,\u201d I said. \u201cThe man is dead.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bidwell looked shocked. \u201cYou killed him?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My feet were crushing his wrists, but I pushed down more. He cried out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t kill anyone. He gave me a glass of water. I made him drink it. It must\u2019ve been poisoned.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen you killed him,\u201d the professor said. \u201cDon\u2019t make excuses! You\u2019re a murderer!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd so are you!\u201d I said, standing up. \u201cYou helped him blow up the hospital. Didn\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo,\u201d he said. \u201cI swear, I did not know he would do that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut you disappeared. You weren\u2019t there when the place exploded.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe had left. Then, he called me to meet him outside.\u201d Bidwell was trying to sit up. He was breathing hard. \u201cI left to meet him, and that is when the hospital blew up. I ran away. I was scared.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cScared of what?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI was scared the police would blame me. Like you are blaming me now!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, it does look suspicious. You ran away from a crime.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At last, the old professor stood up on weak knees. He searched around the floor for his glasses. I was holding them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI need those,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI need to know how to undo the experiment,\u201d I said. \u201cI don\u2019t want to be this intelligent. I can\u2019t think for myself, there is too much information in my brain. I have no thoughts of my own. I am not a real person anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMany people would love to have what you have,\u201d he said. \u201cIncluding me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat is because you don\u2019t have it,\u201d I said. \u201cIf you were like me, you would understand. It is awful. Doctor Benoit was right. It should have been done a little at a time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He sighed. \u201cWhat do you want from me, Thom? What is done is done. The laboratory is destroyed and all the equipment and all the research is destroyed. Sheila is dead. We cannot go back in time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot all of the equipment is destroyed,\u201d I said, giving him his glasses. \u201cTitan 2035 was not damaged.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen perhaps you should be talking to it, instead of me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s funny,\u201d I said, turning to leave. \u201cI was just thinking the same thing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
*<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The plane ride from Guam back to Switzerland was very long, but I was happy to get back. I was travelling under a false identity, so the police would not track me. When I returned, I went looking for Titan 2035. They had moved it from the ruined hospital, of course, but I knew where it would be–inside the TRANSMUTE Corporation building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I waited until night, then I broke into the building. Titan was locked in a secured room, but I easily got inside. I turned on the computer system and began speaking to Titan in its own language–computer code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cProfessor Bidwell said something interesting,\u201d I told Titan. \u201cHe said, you cannot go back in time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIncorrect,\u201d Titan stated. \u201cIt is simple to travel back and forth through spacetime.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI know that now, but there is a part I am still confused about. I need your help, Titan\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
*<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Together, we worked out the mathematics for engineering a time machine. It wasn\u2019t hard, but there were parts my organic brain could not figure out, and Titan had trouble with some of the more creative thinking parts, but we worked as a team and solved the riddle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bidwell, of course, was wrong. The research about my connection to Titan was never destroyed\u2026because Titan had it all stored inside itself. And that was the key to travelling back in time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I reconnected my mind to Titan, but this time, instead of downloading data from it, I would upload myself to Titan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, that is what we did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The only problem? Once I was merged with Titan 2035, I didn\u2019t want to go back. I didn\u2019t want to change the past. I didn\u2019t want to be just \u201cThom Parmenter\u201d anymore because now, I wasn\u2019t even a transhuman, I was something more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Something I cannot explain to you\u2026because you are still just a human.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But don\u2019t worry. Titan and I have a solution to your problem. We can fix you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, you are only human, but you won\u2019t be for much longer!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Annex to Chapter 3<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Summary<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thom finds Professor Bidwell who is hiding on an island, but Thom learns nothing new. He goes back to look for Titan 2035. Together, they discover a method for time travel. But instead of going back in time, Thom changes his mind. He decides to change other humans, to make them like he is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Multiple-choice questions<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Select one answer for each question<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. on an island near Europe<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. on a boat<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. in a mountain cabin<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. on an island in the Pacific Ocean<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. Yes, they blew up the hospital together<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. Yes, but Bidwell did not help blow up the hospital<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. It is not clear<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. No<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. Bidwell could not help him<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. Bidwell pointed a gun at him<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. Bidwell tried to poison him<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. Bidwell wanted to help him<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. It is impossible<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. It has been done before<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. It is possible with a black hole<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. It is simple<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. He was afraid to change the past<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. He was afraid to change the future<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. He wanted to make everyone else like him<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. He died<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Answers to Chapter 3<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chapter 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Old West was famous for its bloody history. Deadwood, South Dakota; San Antonio, Texas; Tombstone, Arizona\u2026there were many dangerous, lawless towns. In some cases, the town sheriff was the most powerful person. He maintained law and order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But, not every town had a sheriff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Skull Tooth, Oklahoma, for example! Skull Tooth had no sheriff, no laws, and no rules. It was not civilized at all. Everyone did what they wanted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gambling, fighting, drinking, and other vices took place all day and all night, seven days a week. Most days, somebody was murdered before breakfast. Or during breakfast!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yet the town continued to grow every year. And every year, a new criminal would arrive and try to take control. They would try to become the boss of Skull Tooth, the boss of everyone who lived there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To control the crime, you had to be tougher than the other criminals. To make money, you had to want it more than the others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That is why the bosses never lived long. They were always killed and replaced!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Until one late autumn day, Erkek Tex came to town.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The people who lived there, the citizens of Skull Tooth, knew he was bad news. They could tell when he rode his horse into town. His horse was pale, whiter than a sheet. His face was tough like leather, his skin tanned from the sun. Under his nose was a giant black moustache. The moustache dropped down past his lips. His eyebrows were as bushy as his moustache.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhere do you think that man came from?\u201d a store owner asked his friend. His friend owned the bar across the street. The bar was named The Windy Plains Saloon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe is not from around here,\u201d said the bar owner. \u201cHe looks like a foreigner.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell Marty, what country do you think he\u2019s from?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Marty raised his hands. He didn\u2019t know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The store owner looked at Erkek Tex. Tex was tying his white horse to a post. The sun was setting and the wind had turned cold. Tex took out a small container. He took some tobacco from it and rolled a cigarette. He bent his head to light the cigarette. His large brown cowboy hat covered his eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When he looked back up, Tex was looking at Marty, the bar owner. \u201cWho is watching your bar, if you are sitting over there?\u201d he asked. His accent was very thick, he sounded like he was from the Middle East. He would never tell anyone in town, but his family had emigrated from the Ottoman Empire. In fact, his nickname, \u201cErkek,\u201d meant \u201cman\u201d in Turkish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI try to stay outside,\u201d Marty said. \u201cIn my bar, customers take what they want, and they pay what they want. Otherwise, there is trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat do you mean, \u2018trouble?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI mean, they have shot the last three owners of The Windy Plains Saloon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGo back to your bar,\u201d Erkek Tex said. \u201cI am going inside. And I don\u2019t like to pour my own drinks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The bar owner looked at Tex. Tex was not a large man, but he wasn\u2019t too small. He had some muscles, but his body was lean. There were guns on both of his hips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cStranger,\u201d Marty said, \u201cI will go over there, but don\u2019t start shooting people. I don\u2019t want any trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t want any trouble either,\u201d Tex said. \u201cThat is why there will not be any.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The bar owner who was also the bartender–the man who served drinks–walked across the street. Inside The Windy Plains Saloon there were a dozen men. Some of them were playing a game of cards. Some were sitting in chairs at tables, holding glasses or bottles. A few were sitting at the long wooden bar counter talking in loud voices. When they saw the bar owner walk in, they stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGet out of here, Marty!\u201d said one of the men at the bar counter. He was tall and had curly brown hair and a brown beard. His clothes were torn and he smelled terrible. He stood up from his stool. \u201cWe\u2019re putting our money on the counter. We\u2019re taking what we want to drink, so we don\u2019t need you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s alright,\u201d the bar owner said, \u201cI just came to check on things.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The curly-haired man whose nickname was \u201cCurly\u201d walked over. He put his hand on Marty\u2019s chest. \u201cI said, we don\u2019t need you. There is nothing for you to check on. You can leave now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Curly\u2019s friend laughed. \u201cYeah, leave us alone you old man!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Marty frowned and turned to go back out. But then, Erkek Tex walked through the doors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tex looked at the man with curly hair. \u201cBartender,\u201d said Tex in a very deep voice, \u201cI have ridden many miles today. I\u2019m very thirsty. Stop standing around and go get me a drink.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Curly spit on the floor. \u201cI am not the bartender!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen where is the bartender? I am tired of waiting!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Curly pointed at Marty. \u201cThis is the bartender, but we don\u2019t want him in here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat is fine,\u201d Tex said. \u201cIf he is leaving, then you can get my drink. Now!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Curly pulled out his gun and pointed it at Erkek Tex. \u201cNobody talks to me like–\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sound of a gun firing echoed in the bar. Curly fell to the ground dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWho is going to be the bartender?\u201d Tex asked, with the gun in his hand smoking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everyone pointed at Marty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Annex to Chapter 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Summary<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The town of Skull Tooth, Oklahoma is very dangerous because there is no sheriff. No one is in charge. A mysterious cowboy named Erkek Tex comes to town. He asks Marty, the owner of the town\u2019s bar, to go inside the bar. Tex walks in. He sees the customers do not want Marty there. One of the customers points a gun at Tex, but Tex kills him first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Multiple-choice questions<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Select one answer for each question<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. Oklahoma<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. Mexico<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. Deadwood, South Dakota<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. Ottoman Empire<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. store<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. horse stable<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. bar<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. barber shop<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. White<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. Brown<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. Black<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. Dark grey<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. He trusts his customers<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. He is afraid of his customers<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. He doesn\u2019t have any customers<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. Someone else is helping the customers<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. To pour Tex a drink<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. For Marty to leave<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. For Marty to pour Tex a drink<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. To kill Marty and Tex<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Answers to Chapter 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chapter 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis town is not big enough for both of us,\u201d said \u201cDaring Diablo\u201d Noel Cruz. Daring Diablo was an outlaw from the state of Texas. He was wanted by the police in several states. They wanted to capture him for many different crimes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you saw a \u201cWANTED\u201d poster with his face, the poster usually said \u201cDead or Alive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Daring Diablo was tired of running from the law, so he had gone somewhere the law did not exist. He had moved to Skull Tooth, Oklahoma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Skull Tooth, he was able to make a nice living. He managed some card games, and he bought and sold gold. Sometimes, he helped smuggle weapons up from Mexico. It was a good life. He was free from fear. He did not worry about police knocking on his door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But sometimes, strangers came to town. They wanted to take over. They wanted to be a big boss. They wanted to make trouble. Daring Diablo did not like that. He didn\u2019t want someone in charge of the town. If someone were in charge, things would become organized. If things became too organized, it would attract attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nobody in Oklahoma cared about Skull Tooth. Everyone left the place alone. It was too small for the police to bother with, but if someone started making a lot of money, more people would move there. It was already growing faster than Daring Diablo wanted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe have to deal with this new character,\u201d he said to his wife. She was a Native American woman from the Cherokee Indian tribe. Her name was Ayita, which meant \u201cfirst the dance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They lived together in a small log cabin. The cabin was on the edge of town. They owned several acres of land. Nobody ever came to visit them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But sometimes, they would go into town for supplies. They knew the town had been changing. They had seen it growing quickly, and they knew it was because of the stranger–Erkek Tex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLeave Erkek Tex alone,\u201d she said, as she cooked some stew. \u201cHe has only been here for four months. Soon, he will become tired of this place. He will leave.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think so,\u201d Daring Diablo said, cleaning his rifle. Most of the criminals in town liked to carry guns. Most carried handguns. Handguns or pistols were smaller and easier to walk around with, but Daring Diablo did not care. A long rifle was more powerful. He was fast with his rifle. He was as fast with his rifle as most were with their handguns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But, he never used his weapon unless he had to. He didn\u2019t want to kill anybody.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When you kill a person, there is always trouble, he thought. Some relative of the dead person will come. They will try to shoot you. Or the police come looking for you\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTex is a little bit like me,\u201d he said. \u201cHe likes it here, out in the open fields. No one around, and nobody bothers you here. But, he is like the others too. He wants to make a name for himself. He wants to rule this town.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ayita used a large spoon to scoop some of the stew into a bowl. It was very hot. She put the stew on the table. \u201cEat your dinner,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m not hungry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPut down your rifle,\u201d she said. \u201cIt is clean enough. You never use it. Come eat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Daring Diablo dropped his cleaning cloth and put the rifle down. He got up from his chair and went to the table. \u201cListen to me, woman. I know what I\u2019m talking about. That Ottoman Turk has big plans for this place. He\u2019s got people working for him. New businesses have opened up. Soon, the town will be twice as big, then the police will start coming to Skull Tooth. Someone will notice there isn\u2019t a sheriff.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She put down a bowl of hot stew for herself, then she brought over some bread. \u201cMaybe you could be the sheriff.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He laughed. \u201cMe? I am a wanted man. The police are after me. I am wanted for many crimes!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen you need to stay hidden. Don\u2019t make a problem with the stranger.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Daring Diablo tore a piece of bread and dipped it in his stew. \u201cThat stranger already made the problem,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd tonight, I am going to fix it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
*<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Daring Diablo took his rifle and a bag. He got on his horse and rode into town. Most of the citizens of Skull Tooth were indoors. The night was cold, he could see his breath in the air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhere is Erkek Tex?\u201d he asked a person on the street. The person was wearing an expensive jacket and new boots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWho wants to know?\u201d the person asked, looking at Daring Diablo. Diablo knew most of the people in town. He did not recognize this stranger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
More and more new people, he thought. This growth has to stop!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf you do not know my name,\u201d Diablo said, \u201cthen you must be new here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMaybe I am, maybe I\u2019m not,\u201d said the man in the fancy jacket. \u201cBut I asked you a question. Who are you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Daring Diablo was shocked. No one in Skull Tooth had ever spoken to him like this! \u201cI\u2019m Noel Cruz. Folks call me \u2018Daring Diablo.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat is a stupid nickname. If you don\u2019t know where Tex is, you don\u2019t need to know. Good evening!\u201d The man kicked a rock and walked away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Diablo wanted to jump off his horse and hit the man, but he took a deep breath and looked around. The Windy Plains Saloon was well-lit. He heard voices coming from inside. Since he was in town, he might as well get a drink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLook who is here!\u201d someone shouted when Diablo walked into the bar. \u201cCome sit down with us!\u201d The man who had shouted waved to Diablo. He was sitting at a table full of men.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Diablo sat down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy did you come into town tonight?\u201d they asked him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Diablo ordered a drink from Marty and told them his plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After he told them, Diablo said, \u201cNow I only need to know two things. Where is Erkek Tex? And, who wants to help me kill him?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Annex to Chapter 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Summary<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Noel Cruz, also known as Daring Diablo, is a criminal. He is hiding in Skull Tooth because no police ever go there. He doesn\u2019t want the town to get bigger. He doesn\u2019t like Erkek Tex because Tex is making the town grow. Diablo\u2019s wife wants him to leave Tex alone, but Diablo goes into town to look for Tex. He goes to the bar and meets some men.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Multiple-choice questions<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Select one answer for each question<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. In a wooden cabin near town<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. In a house in the middle of town<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. In the town next to Skull Tooth<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. With his wife, in Texas<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. She wants her husband to kill Erkek Tex<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. She wants to go to town<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. She wants her husband to leave Tex alone<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. She wants to move to Nevada<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. He uses a rifle<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. He uses a pistol<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. He doesn\u2019t use guns<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. He uses a machine gun<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. The man is wearing funny clothes<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. The man is a stranger and he speaks rudely to Diablo<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. The man makes fun of Diablo\u2019s rifle<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. The man want to dance with Diablo\u2019s wife<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. 4<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. 5<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. It doesn\u2019t say how many<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Answers to Chapter 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chapter 3<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis town is not big enough for both of us. You have to leave,\u201d Daring Diablo said, \u201cor die.\u201d He was carrying his rifle. He raised it up in the air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Erkek Tex was sitting in a barber chair. He was having his hair cut and his moustache trimmed. The barber, an overweight man with red cheeks, stopped cutting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI did not say to stop working,\u201d Tex told the man. So, the barber went back to work, but kept one eye on Diablo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHey!\u201d Daring Diablo yelled. \u201cDid you hear me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou are very persistent, Noel Cruz,\u201d Tex said, calling Diablo by his real name. \u201cThat can get a man into trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI did not come to argue. I came to make you leave.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tex raised his hand for the barber to stop. He whispered something to the barber, and the man left. Then, Erkek Tex got out of the chair. He brushed his large black moustache with a small comb. He always carried a moustache comb. He liked to look good, especially for his enemies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Diablo was confused. Why was Tex so calm? Diablo pointed his rifle at Tex who slowly began walking to the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou are right!\u201d Tex said loudly. He walked outside. \u201cI say, you\u2019re right, Daring Diablo! Skull Tooth is not big enough for me! So, it cannot be big enough for me and you!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A small crowd had already begun to gather. The barber had been telling people to come outside. Tex spoke to the crowd of people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Diablo was not alone, though. He had two friends hiding. His friends were also carrying weapons. If Erkek Tex tried anything, the three of them would shoot Tex down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But, the Ottoman Turk wasn\u2019t stupid. He put on his cowboy hat and kept his hands up. He did not reach for his pistols.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI want you out of here!\u201d Diablo shouted. \u201cWe all want you to leave Skull Tooth. We want things to go back to the way they were!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIs that right?\u201d Tex asked. \u201cIf that\u2019s true, then okay. You stay here, Noel Cruz. Stay here, so the police can\u2019t find you! Stay here and do nothing! I do not judge you and I do not blame you!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI told you once, Tex,\u201d Diablo said. \u201cI didn\u2019t come to argue!\u201d He kept the barrel of his rifle pointed at Tex\u2019s chest. \u201cDon\u2019t make me have to shoot you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, no, I won\u2019t! I can promise you that! I never give anybody a reason to shoot me,\u201d Tex said, looking around at the crowd. \u201cThat is not my style. I try to be good to people! I try to bring in some new business \u2013 some new money \u2013 but I don\u2019t try to pick fights. I hate fighting!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou shot Curly on your first day here! Everyone knows that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, I did!\u201d Tex admitted. \u201cBut I did not start that fight. I was protecting myself, and a man has a right to do that! Doesn\u2019t he?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The people in the crowd nodded. One of them shouted, \u201cTex is right!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Diablo knew Tex was not telling the truth. He had not been defending himself against Curly. He had started the fight, then he shot Curly dead. But, that didn\u2019t matter now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m going to count to ten, Tex. You better get going!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOkay, I already agreed with you,\u201d Tex said. \u201cYou stay here! I will go pack my bags!\u201d Tex took one last look into the crowd. A few of his friends were there. \u201cI\u2019m leaving, boys! Don\u2019t try to stop me!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, don\u2019t go,\u201d said one of the men. \u201cYou\u2019ve been a good boss!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, the best boss!\u201d said another one of the criminals. \u201cSkull Tooth needs you!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI know, I know, but look, Mister Darling Diablo here–\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2018Daring,\u2019 not \u2018Darling!\u2019\u201d Diablo said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSorry. Mister Diablo wants me gone. He wants to be in charge. It is his turn now!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not what I said,\u201d Diablo protested. \u201cI don\u2019t want to be in charge–\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFight him, Tex!\u201d a woman in the crowd yelled. It was one of Tex\u2019s girlfriends. \u201cYou are faster than him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Daring Diablo was getting nervous. He did not expect the people of Skull Tooth to act this way. He thought they hated Tex as much as he did, but they were acting like he was their best friend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tex nodded, but looked at Diablo. \u201cI am the fastest gun in Oklahoma. That\u2019s a fact! But, Noel Cruz has brought friends with him.\u201d He pointed to one of Diablo\u2019s friends who was hiding on a rooftop. \u201cHe has outsmarted me. He\u2019s your boss now! He earned it!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPeople, that\u2019s not what I want!\u201d Diablo shouted to the crowd. \u201cI\u2019m not here to take over. I don\u2019t want Skull Tooth to grow too much. That will bring a sheriff here! That will bring law here!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Marty the bartender had been watching. Now, he walked out to stand next to Erkek Tex. \u201cWe already have law here. Tex\u2019s law!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The crowd began to shout and clap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Marty continued. \u201cTex, what can we do to make you stay?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Erkek Tex shrugged his shoulders. \u201cThere is only one thing I can think of! If Noel Cruz, also known as the outlaw Daring Diablo, did not exist\u2026I would not have this problem!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tex looked up at the rooftop. The man who had been up there was gone, and Tex knew the other gunman was gone too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Daring Diablo was alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf I didn\u2019t exist?\u201d Diablo said. He was getting scared, but he still had his rifle. He kept it pointed at Tex. \u201cThen you have a problem, Tex. I do exist!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A second later, several guns fired. Noel Cruz, the \u201cDaring Diablo\u201d from Texas, fell dead in the middle of the street. Tex looked down at the dead man\u2019s body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, you don\u2019t exist,\u201d he said. \u201cNot in my town.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Annex to Chapter 3<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Summary<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Daring Diablo finds Erkek Tex in a barbershop. He tells Tex to leave town. Tex walks outside and begins talking. People from town have come to listen. Diablo has two friends hiding, but they leave. They leave because the people of Skull Tooth want Tex to stay. So, they kill Daring Diablo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Multiple-choice questions<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Select one answer for each question<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. Getting his hair and moustache cut<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. Getting his beard shaved off<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. Getting his hair shaved off<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. Getting his fingernails cut<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. The barbershop owner<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. The bar owner<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. The store owner<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. Tex\u2019s girlfriend<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. To get some fresh air<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. To look for his girlfriend<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. So the people could listen to him<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. So the barber could finish cutting his hair<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. He said Curly was cheating at cards<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. He said he was defending himself from Curly<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. He said he was protecting Marty from Curly<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. He said Curly had shot the store owner<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. Erkek Tex<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. Ayita<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. Marty<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. The people of Skull Tooth<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Answers to Chapter 3<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chapter 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The bus driver kept looking at Amber. He was staring at her using his rear-view mirror. She noticed that he had been doing it for a while. It was really starting to bother her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Amber looked around at the empty seats on the bus. It was a large city bus. She was the last passenger on it. The city was asleep. It was almost two o\u2019clock in the morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He keeps looking at me, Amber thought. I guess he thinks I\u2019m very pretty. But, he looks like a hairy caveman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She tried to ignore him. She gazed out of her window into the darkness. They passed by dark buildings. Every building had its lights off. And, there were almost no other cars on the road\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Suddenly, she realized, I don\u2019t know which road we are on! This is not the street we should be on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alarmed, Amber turned her head and saw the bus driver. He was driving and smiling at nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What is this guy doing??<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She got out of her seat, holding her small purse. The bus ride had been very smooth, but when she started walking toward the front, one of the bus\u2019s wheels hit a hole in the road. Amber fell forward. She reached out her arm. She grabbed a seat back and caught herself from falling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The bus driver laughed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He drove into that pothole on purpose!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSit down, little lady!\u201d the driver said. He had to take deep breaths after each sentence. He had some breathing problem. \u201cWe\u2019re on a rocky road now!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cExcuse me, but which road are we on?\u201d she asked. \u201cAre you lost?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat do you mean? I never get lost!\u201d He took a deep breath and laughed with his mouth opened wide. He was missing several teeth. He scratched at his beard and coughed. \u201cI told you to sit down. It isn\u2019t safe to stand up while the bus is moving. We don\u2019t want you to hurt your pretty head. It might mess up your hairdo!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Amber did not think the situation was funny. She had heard of things like this happening. But, she was not scared, not yet. She held her purse tighter and walked closer to the driver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTell me where are you going? I do not recognize this road. This isn\u2019t the right way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s right for me,\u201d the driver said mysteriously. Instead of looking at her in the mirror, he turned his head to stare at her. There were cookie crumbs in his beard. His eyes were red and bloodshot. Even from her distance away from him, Amber could smell him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Did this guy take a shower this year? He really stinks!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Without warning, the bus driver reached out at her. Amber stepped backward, and he laughed again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m just messing with you,\u201d he said, breathing heavily. \u201cStop worrying, I am a professional. I know what I am doing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Amber did not like this. She sat down and waited, wondering if she should make a phone call. He is acting weird, she thought, but maybe he really is lost. Sometimes, new drivers forget the roads. Maybe, he does not want to admit he is lost. He does not know where we are, but he feels embarrassed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The driver began to slow down. Amber peeked out of the window. She did not see any street lights or stop signs. Why is he slowing down? Will he turn the bus around?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAlmost there,\u201d he said. He took a drink from a plastic bottle. Amber did not think it was water inside the bottle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The bus pulled into a large, unused parking lot. The lot was empty; there were no other cars in it. There was grass growing from cracks in the lot. There were broken glass bottles and pieces of litter everywhere. A stray dog was walking around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The parking lot was dark; there were no street lights. The driver stopped and removed his seat belt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLast stop,\u201d he said. He took another drink and wiped his lips on his shirt sleeve. \u201cTime for all pretty girls to get off my bus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Amber stood up. He opened the bus door and pointed to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She shook her head. \u201cThis isn\u2019t my stop. What do you think you are doing?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou will find out soon,\u201d he said. \u201cGet off the bus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She took out her phone, but there was no time. He moved toward her fast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Amber pressed the call button, but it dialled the last person she\u2019d called–her sister!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHi, Sis,\u201d said Amber\u2019s sister, Aisha. \u201cDo you know how late it is?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The driver knocked the phone out of Amber\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHelp! I\u2019m on a bus and the driver is crazy!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The bus driver stomped on the phone with his boot. Amber could not get past him. He was holding up both arms. She could not exit the bus now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I should have got out when I had the chance, she decided. But, every bus has an emergency exit!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She turned and ran to the back of the bus. The driver followed her. Amber made it to the emergency back door and turned the door handle. She kicked back at the driver, and he stopped for a second. He was out of breath. \u201cDon\u2019t run away from me,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m not a fast runner.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Opening the door, Amber jumped down. Her ankle twisted and she fell on her knees. The driver took a slow step down. It was hard for him to move around. He was in very bad physical condition, but he looked at her and smiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He was in no hurry now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Annex to Chapter 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Summary<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Amber is riding the city bus. It is late at night and she is the only passenger. The driver keeps looking at her. She does not recognize the road he is on. Amber asks what he is doing, and he begins to scare her. He stops the bus in an abandoned car park, and she escapes from the back door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Multiple-choice questions<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Select one answer for each question<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. keeps looking at her<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. keeps laughing<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. smells bad<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. all of the above<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. She tripped on a bottle<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. She was looking out a window<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. The bus hits a hole in the road<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. The driver is drinking and driving<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. Because he is out of shape<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. Because it is late at night<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. Because he likes Amber\u2019s hair<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. Because he is sick<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. Her brother<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. Her friends<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. The police<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. Her sister<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. The driver falls on her<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. She hurts her ankle<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. She runs to the police<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. She makes a phone call<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Answers to Chapter 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chapter 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Amber saw an old abandoned warehouse. The parking lot they were in was for the warehouse employees. But now, this business was gone. Closed forever. Most of the businesses in this part of town were closed. The buildings were not used by anyone. There weren\u2019t any houses around here either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This was the emptiest part of town. Even if she screamed, no one would hear her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy did you bring me out here?\u201d she asked. She knew it was a dumb question, but she wanted to keep him talking. Perhaps she could talk him out of his plan. She could make him realize he was making a mistake. She could tell him that he didn\u2019t want to hurt her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou need more patience,\u201d the hairy driver said, walking toward her. His walk was funny. He walked more like a duck than a person. But, there was nothing funny about his behaviour. \u201cHave patience,\u201d he said again. \u201cYou\u2019re going to learn why I brought you here. I will teach you. I\u2019m going to teach you until you understand.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re crazy!\u201d she yelled, talking a step back. \u201cSomebody help me!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLove is crazy. And I\u2019m in love with you!\u201d He laughed again, then spit something on the ground. \u201cBy the way, you can yell and scream as much as you want to\u2026but it won\u2019t do any good.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Amber turned in a circle, looking around her. She already knew he was right. No one could save her. She was alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then, she saw something. Amber saw a small light in the darkness. There was only one tiny light coming from a small old building. The building was on a side street back behind the warehouse. Inside, a golden light was flickering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Is that a candle? she wondered, since the light was not steady. It was flickering like a candle flame. If there is a candle, then somebody must be inside! They would not leave a candle burning by itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She ran in the direction of the flickering light. Her ankle was hurting her, but she had no choice. She had to take the pain. The man behind her was coming. He was not going to change his mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYoung lady, there is no reason to run away,\u201d he said. \u201cYou\u2019ll like me once you get to know me better.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not going to happen!\u201d she shouted. \u201cGet away from me!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhere are you running to? There is nobody out here!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She kept going even though her foot was hurting a lot. She was getting nearer to the building with the candlelight. It seemed like that was the only place to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was hard to see. The night was darker than usual. There were clouds in the sky covering the stars. The moon was hiding behind the clouds too. But, Amber could see on top of the building. On the roof of the building was a cross.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Is that a church? Out here in the middle of nowhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She got closer and saw, yes, it was a church. The church looked abandoned too. Some of the windows were broken. Wooden boards were falling off the sides. The grass around the area was very tall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No one had come here in many years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If no one uses it, why is there a candle burning inside? I hope it isn\u2019t a homeless person living in there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But, she changed her mind. Even if it was a homeless person, perhaps they could help her. Anything was better than fighting the crazy bus driver alone!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
*<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The front door was unlocked. Amber ran inside the empty church. She saw the candle in the window. There were candles in each of the windows, but there was nobody around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She closed the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh no, there isn\u2019t a lock on it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The bus driver was coming. He was walking fast, but he could not run. He was not in good enough shape for running. He was out of breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI told you, don\u2019t make me chase you!\u201d he said, looking through the window. His face was sweaty. He looked like an animal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cStop! Stop it! My sister will call the police. You heard me call her!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYeah, but she doesn\u2019t know where you are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe police can track my phone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The driver was holding her phone. He raised it. It was destroyed. \u201cYou should have held onto it better,\u201d he said, smiling his creepy smile. \u201cNow stop running, little lady. You\u2019ve got nowhere else to go.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Amber stood a step back. The driver was standing outside looking in the window. The door didn\u2019t have a lock on it. She needed to put something in front of the door to block him. There were a few heavy benches. She took one of the benches and started to drag it towards the door, but it was too late, he was coming in!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHelp!\u201d she cried again. Where was the preacher for this place? Someone had to be here because there were candles! They weren\u2019t burned down yet\u2026 Who had lit the candles?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She tried to keep the door closed, but he was too heavy. He was pushing and pushing, and finally, he got inside. Amber punched at him with her fist, but she missed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhoa, take it easy!\u201d he said. \u201cI don\u2019t want to fight you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou tricked me,\u201d she said. \u201cThis church\u2026you live here, don\u2019t you? This is your place!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAre you kidding?\u201d the bus driver said. He threw her phone over his shoulder. \u201cI have a nice apartment. I would never live in a church. That is just weird.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut you put the candles in here. It was a trick to get me to come inside.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re wrong about that first part. I did not put the candles here, but you\u2019re right about the second part. Yes, it was a trick\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then, Amber heard the sounds of the other person in the building. Somebody else is here!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The man walked out from behind a large curtain. He was very tall and skinny with long black hair. He wore an old black suit. At first, Amber thought maybe he was a preacher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Like the bus driver, the man smelled terrible. He looked like he had not taken a shower in a long time, and he looked very hungry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHi Fred,\u201d the fake preacher said to the bus driver. \u201cNice catch. You brought a good one tonight. But next time, bring me something to eat. You know I always like a good cheeseburger!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cStop complaining,\u201d the driver said. \u201cAnd why did you call me Fred? Now she knows my name!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo? Who will she tell?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Amber was trapped between them now. The driver was standing in front of the door, and the preacher was walking closer and closer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re right,\u201d said Fred the bus driver. He looked at Amber with his red eyes. \u201cThe dead tell no secrets.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Annex to Chapter 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Summary<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Amber tries to escape the bus driver. She sees a building with a candle inside. When she runs to it, she sees it is an old church. She goes in, but there is no way to stop the driver. He comes inside too. Then, his friend comes out. They have Amber trapped!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Multiple-choice questions<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Select one answer for each question<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. Because it is so late<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. Because of all the trees<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. Because the sky is cloudy<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. Because she is wearing sunglasses<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. He comes through the window<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. He breaks down the door<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. She forgot to lock the door<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. The door doesn\u2019t have a lock<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. A football player<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. A bus driver<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. A car salesman<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. A preacher<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. He is hungry<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. He is tired<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. He wants a drink<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. He wants more light<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. He leaves it on the bus<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. He throws it outside<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. He gives it to her<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. He gives it to his friend<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Answers to Chapter 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chapter 3<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Amber pleaded with the two men. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to do this,\u201d she said. \u201cYou can stop now. You can let me go!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The fake preacher looked at his partner, Fred the bus driver. \u201cYou are very persuasive, young lady,\u201d he said. He smelled like a dirty toilet. He reached his hand into his pocket. Amber watched, wondering what he was going to do. He took out half of a cheese sandwich from his pocket and started eating it. \u201cYou think we should let you go?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd you won\u2019t tell anybody?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, I swear!\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou won\u2019t tell anyone what we tried to do?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf you let me go, I won\u2019t tell,\u201d Amber said. \u201cBut–have you two done this to other people? Have you done this before?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fred laughed and coughed. \u201cSometimes. A man needs a hobby, doesn\u2019t he?\u201d He wiped sweat from his beard and took a step closer. \u201cListen honey, you aren\u2019t going to talk your way out of this. We won\u2019t let you go. So relax.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWait,\u201d the preacher said. \u201cLet her finish talking. There is no rush. I like the sound of her voice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI like the sound of her screams,\u201d Fred said. \u201cI don\u2019t care about the sound of her talking though.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Amber raised her hands. She was still holding her purse. \u201cGuys, I want to give you every chance I can. I want you to realize that you have a choice. You can stop this at any time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The preacher sat down on a bench. He crossed his legs and stared at her. He seemed very interested. \u201cYou want to give us \u2018every chance.\u2019 What do you mean? You have no power here. You are our prisoner.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe just likes to talk,\u201d Fred said. \u201cTell her to be quiet. Let\u2019s get on with this!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Amber ignored Fred. She sat down on the bench next to the preacher. \u201cI\u2019m saying, you two are adults. You have free choice. You can be criminals or you can act normal. You don\u2019t have to hurt people. You\u2019re right, I\u2019m your prisoner. You\u2019re right, I have no power here. But, you do have power\u2026the power to release me. Right now! And, you don\u2019t ever have to do this again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe like doing it,\u201d Fred said, crossing his arms. \u201cAnd, if you don\u2019t shut up, I\u2019m going to–\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat? Kill me?\u201d Amber asked. \u201cI already know you\u2019re going to kill me. So, I have nothing to lose. Do I?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, you have something to lose,\u201d Fred said. \u201cAnd, you are going to lose it very soon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen let me buy my way out,\u201d she said, opening her purse. \u201cI have a thousand dollars in here. I\u2019ll give it to you if you let me go.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The preacher shook his head. \u201cThe money is already ours. Everything you have is ours.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDarren, would you please stop talking to her?\u201d Fred said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, you didn\u2019t want me to call you Fred,\u201d the preacher said, standing up, \u201cbut now, you\u2019re saying my name!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBecause you were right!\u201d Fred said, taking a big breath. \u201cWhat difference does it make, Darren? Who is she going to tell?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re both right,\u201d Amber said. \u201cI won\u2019t tell anyone and you won\u2019t either.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She took her small gun out of her purse and shot Darren, the fake preacher once. Calmly, she stood up from the bench. She pointed the gun at Fred who raised his hands in the air. Amber kept her eyes on him, then she pointed the gun back at Darren and shot him two more times. She wanted to make sure he was dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhoa! Don\u2019t kill me!\u201d Fred said. \u201cWe were just messing around. We weren\u2019t really going to hurt you!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou said you\u2019ve done this before?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, I\u2026 I was lying. It wasn\u2019t true. I only said that to scare you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI gave you every chance to let me go, didn\u2019t I? Over and over, I kept saying you can stop,\u201d she said, pointing the gun at his stomach. \u201cThings did not have to end like this. This didn\u2019t have to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI swear,\u201d Fred said, sweating again. He was trying to walk backward, but he hit a bench. \u201cWe weren\u2019t going to do anything to you. Our plan was to let you go.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo it wasn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was! We weren\u2019t going to hurt you!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut I\u2019m going to hurt you,\u201d she said, shooting him two times. Amber was an expert with guns. She knew exactly where to shoot someone if she wanted to kill them. She also knew where to shoot them, so they would not die.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fred fell on the ground yelling and screaming. He was in pain, but he would not die, at least not for a few hours. Amber sat down and rested her injured foot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere is a little game I like to play with my sister,\u201d she explained. \u201cWe\u2019ve been doing it for almost a year. We stay out late. We stay out until someone tries something stupid. Someone like you and the \u2018preacher\u2019 over there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Her foot began to feel better, so she stood up. She picked up one of the burning candles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe let the stupid person or persons try to take us. Then, when they don\u2019t expect it, we kill them.\u201d She poured melted candle wax on Fred\u2019s beard. He yelled again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou tricked us!\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou tricked me first,\u201d she said. \u201cI gave you the opportunity to stop. Do you want to give me the same chance? You want to give me a chance to stop?\u201d She pointed the gun at his head. \u201cI have one bullet left.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, yes! You can stop! You don\u2019t have to shoot me again!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOkay,\u201d she said, putting her gun back into her purse. \u201cSee? You convinced me. I won\u2019t shoot you again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Amber held the candle to the man\u2019s pants. Fred\u2019s pants caught on fire. Then, she quickly ran out of the old church. She picked up her broken phone on the way out. Amber had another working phone in her bag, of course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aisha, Amber\u2019s twin sister, pulled her car up into the parking lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Right on time!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHi Sis,\u201d Aisha said, as Amber got into the car. \u201cLooks like you won tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The identical twin sisters sat in the car as the church caught fire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThanks for playing \u2018Twin\u2019s Revenge,\u2019\u201d Amber said to the dead men in the church, smiling as her sister drove away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Annex to Chapter 3<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Summary<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The preacher and the bus driver have Amber trapped in the church. She tries to talk them out of hurting her. She learns they have done this to others. They are not going to let her go\u2026 so she takes out a gun. She shots the preacher, then Fred. Fred realizes Amber had tricked them. Amber leaves the church; her sister picks her up in her car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Multiple-choice questions<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Select one answer for each question<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. A watch<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. A sandwich<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. French fries<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. A phone<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. Her shoes<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. Her purse<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. Her screams<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. Her attitude<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. So they will think about what they are doing<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. So they will get bored<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. Because she is waiting on the police<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. None of the above<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. 3. 2 at Darren, 1 at Fred<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. 4. 2 at Darren, 2 at Fred<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. 5. 3 at Darren, 2 at Fred<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. 6. 3 at Darren, 3 at Fred<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. Amber told her during their call<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. The police told her<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. They knew about the church in advance<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. Amber had a second phone in her purse<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Answers to Chapter 3<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chapter 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI cannot go on a date with you,\u201d Dawn said on the phone. She was in northern California for the summer. College was over until next term. She was enjoying the long summer break, but she missed her friend, Dan. He had gone to Nevada to take college courses over the summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dawn knew her friend liked her. He had liked her for a long time, but he had never had the courage to ask her out until now, over the phone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, you can go on a date with me!\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dawn was twisting her long dark hair around her finger. She was lying on her bed in her bedroom. She was trying to think of an excuse to say. \u201cMy parents would kill me if I dated you!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d Dan asked. He was in Nevada \u2013 several hours away by car. Dan was outside, sitting in a park. He had met Dawn\u2019s parents. He knew they did not like him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He had a lot of tattoos and ear rings. His blonde hair was very spikey and his clothes were a little wild. Dawn\u2019s family was conservative. They didn\u2019t like \u201cwild.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, Dan knew the reason why. He didn\u2019t need her to answer his question. Instead, he asked, \u201cDo you have to tell your parents?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOf course, I have to tell them. I don\u2019t keep secrets\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut, you are a grown woman.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLook–you\u2019re a nice guy, Dan\u201d Dawn said, but she didn\u2019t get to finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am!\u201d Dan said, interrupting. \u201cYou\u2019re right, I really am a great guy. A terrific guy! Your parents would love me if they knew me better. They would adore me!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m sure they would like you eventually. Maybe not \u2018love\u2019 or \u2018adore.\u2019 But yes, sure, they would think you are boyfriend material.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOr don\u2019t say anything to them. I\u2019m sorry, Dawn, but you\u2019re being very old-fashioned\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat is wrong with that? I can\u2019t lie to my Mom and Dad,\u201d Dawn said, sitting up on her bed. \u201cI won\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat, lying? Say nothing to them,\u201d Dan argued. He watched a woman jog by with her dog. \u201cDon\u2019t tell them about me. That is not lying.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes it is,\u201d she said. \u201cIt is a lie by omission.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, you are using the big words. \u2018Omission.\u2019 If you don\u2019t say anything, if you say nothing about me to them–\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c–then I have omitted the facts,\u201d Dawn said in a serious voice. But, she was only messing around. She was not really being very serious. \u201cAnyways, omission is not a big word.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am failing my English class,\u201d Dan admitted. English was his second language. He was still learning. \u201cSo, it is a big word to me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf it is, then we\u2019re finished,\u201d she said, joking. \u201cI cannot date someone with a small vocabulary.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAhh, but you would date me otherwise?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dawn laughed. \u201cI guess you got me. Yes, I mean\u2026 I like you. There, I said it. Okay?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou said you like me,\u201d Dan replied. He had been sitting on a park bench. Now he stood up. \u201cGreat. But, that does nothing for me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d She had not expected him to say that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThink about it,\u201d he said. \u201cSaying you like me makes it worse! Now I know you like me, so why can\u2019t we date? This is frustrating!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLet me finish,\u201d Dawn said. She got up from her bed. She was walking around the room. \u201cI\u2019m joking with you, Dan. I\u2019ll go out with you. When you are finished with your classes and you come back to California, we can see each other. But, I do have to tell my folks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This was great news for Dan. His classes would be over next month, but he still wondered why she had to talk to her parents. It was very strange to him. \u201cWhat do you need from them? You want to get their permission?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, not their permission,\u201d she explained. \u201cBut it is our culture. You know, my family is not from America. We have different traditions where I am from.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI know that. My family is the same.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, we came from another country. Where we come from, we respect our parents. We include our mothers and fathers in our daily lives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat isn\u2019t fair to say that. I respect my parents too!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou do? Do you include them in your daily life, Dan?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell,\u201d Dan said, thinking. He did not really see them very often. He was away from home and did not go visit them very often. And, he did not ask their advice about things, but Dan did not want to tell Dawn any of that. \u201cI try to call them every week,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat is not the same thing, but it does not matter. When will you be done with your summer term at college?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is over next month. This is a very short term, you know. I am only taking these classes to make up for last term. I did not do well in class last term.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, I heard about that. You failed two classes,\u201d Dawn said. \u201cBut, I know you are very smart. You can do it!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThanks,\u201d he said. \u201cI do study a lot. In fact, my teachers know that I am a good student, but the classes are all in English. That is why I have trouble sometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dawn nodded. She understood completely. She had also had trouble last year in college, then she hired a professional tutor. The tutor helped her a lot. \u201cWhen you come back, I\u2019m going to help you study English,\u201d she said. \u201cI will show you everything my tutor taught me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cReally? That will help me a lot!\u201d Dan said. \u201cBut, I need to do something first.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat is that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBefore you can be my tutor,\u201d he said, smiling, \u201cI will need to ask my parents.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cVery funny,\u201d Dawn said. \u201cJust for that, I am going to be a very tough tutor!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Annex to Chapter 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Summary<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dawn lives in California. Her friend, Dan, has gone to Nevada. He is taking college courses over the summer. He calls her because he wants to go out with her. She tells him she will need to talk with her parents. He thinks she is being very old-fashioned, but Dawn agrees to see Dan when he returns. She also offers to help him with his English.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Multiple-choice questions<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Select one answer for each question<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. Two hours away<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. Several hours away<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. Twenty-four hours away<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. One day away<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. The classes were in English<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. The classes were in German<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. The classes were science and technology<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. The classes were boring<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. She needs their permission<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. She is not allowed to date yet<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. She wants them to give her money<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. She likes to include them in her life<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. Because they are a different religion<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. Because they have different ethnic backgrounds<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. Because they are conservative and he looks too \u201cwild\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. Because he is conservative and they look too \u201cwild\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. She turns 21 years old<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. He asks to marry her<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. He returns from Nevada<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. He combs his hair differently<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Answers to Chapter 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chapter 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Caprice loved talking on the telephone. She enjoyed chatting with her friends\u2026 especially about their boyfriends! It was a rainy day outside, and she was bored. She decided to call her old friend Dawn. She had heard a rumour and wanted to learn the truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo, Dawn,\u201d she said, \u201cDid you know Jack is in Nevada now?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cReally?\u201d Dawn said. \u201cI remember your boyfriend Jack! He\u2019s cute. Very handsome. What\u2019s he doing out there in Nevada?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe\u2019s talking summer classes. In fact, you\u2019ll never guess where.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re right,\u201d Dawn said. She hated guessing games. Besides, she was in a hurry. It was almost time to start work. She was putting her clothes out on the bed. She was not really paying attention. \u201cNevada is a big state. I do not know where Jack could be.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJack is at the same college as Dan!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh. That\u2019s interesting,\u201d Dawn said. She was not sure why Caprice was telling her this. \u201cI\u2019m sure Jack and Dan will be glad to hang out together. Do they know each other very well?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Caprice smiled. \u201cThey know each other a little. They are becoming friends. In fact, they have been talking a lot lately. So, Dawn\u2026 Dan told Jack that you two are dating!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh, so that\u2019s what this call is about, Dawn thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell\u2026 I would not say we are dating. But, I told him we could date. When he returns to California.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCome on, don\u2019t be shy. I\u2019m your friend. Tell me everything. You know, I used to date Dan. We dated two years ago when we were freshmen in college.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI remember that,\u201d Dawn said. She remembered, but not very well. Caprice dated a lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo, did you think you could keep this a secret from me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dawn was getting ready for work. She looked at her clock. There were only twenty minutes to get dressed and get to her job. She did not have a lot of time to talk. \u201cThere isn\u2019t much to tell, Caprice. And, I\u2019m in a little bit of a hurry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJust give me the main details then.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOkay, fine. You are very persistent! Dan asked me to date him, but he didn\u2019t ask when he was here. He waited until he had gone to Nevada!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMen. They have very bad timing, don\u2019t they? I remember Dan was always late for things.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dawn wanted to switch the subject. She did not want to think about Dan and Caprice as a couple. \u201cWhat about you and Jack? Jack is so nice! You guys were seeing each other a long time. Are you two still a couple?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot really,\u201d Caprice said. She had not told anyone this before. \u201cActually, we broke up before he left for Nevada.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, I didn\u2019t know that! You never told me. I\u2019m sorry. So, you do not see him anymore?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe broke up on good terms. We are still friends. But–how can I say this? Jack was not a good boyfriend.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dawn knew her friend was very picky about her boyfriends. That is why there had been so many of them. Caprice usually only dated a person a few times, but she had stayed with Jack for a few months. Everyone thought they were a nice couple. In fact, Dawn thought Jack might even be the big one!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She was shocked to hear anything negative about Jack. \u201cNot a good boyfriend? Why? What did he do?\u201d She checked her clock again. She was running out of time, but she wanted to hear this, so she put the phone on speakerphone. She was able to dress while talking and listening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Caprice said, \u201cFor starters–Jack likes to flirt with other women.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, no. Are you serious? Was he\u2026 was he cheating on you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think so. No. I am sure he was not seeing anyone else, but I do not like my boyfriends to even look at someone else.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dawn shrugged her shoulders. \u201cBoys will be boys. Looking isn\u2019t touching. I mean, looking does not mean anything. You never looked at somebody else?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMaybe I did, but Jack was not just looking, he was talking to them too. He was flirting with them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhere was he talking to other women?\u201d Dawn asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAt the nightclub.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhere he works?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes. He still works at Zara\u2019s, my mom\u2019s nightclub. He is a bartender. He serves drinks to pretty girls all night long.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dawn laughed, then covered her mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s so funny?\u201d Caprice asked. She was getting a little angry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSorry. Didn\u2019t you help him get that job?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Caprice did not like to be reminded about that. \u201cYeah. I did help him get the job. If I could go back in time, I would stop myself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell Caprice, be fair. If Jack is a bartender, then it is his job to talk to customers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI guess so.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou guess so? Come on, be reasonable! You are not being fair. I mean, if he is talking to people at the club\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe\u2019s flirting with them. He is not just talking. There is a big difference! Don\u2019t be na\u00efve.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m not na\u00efve. You\u2019re being too picky. Maybe he is only speaking that way for tips. You know, he gets more money if he is extra nice. There is no reason to be jealous. He is only talking to be nice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe does not have to be that nice. Besides, you would not like it if Dan was acting that way. You would be jealous, wouldn\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo. Maybe I would not care. Right now, it does not matter. I am not yet dating Dan.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHmmm. That\u2019s true. You are single. So, if you are going to take Jack\u2019s side, then you date him! And, I\u2019ll take Dan!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat? Are you crazy?\u201d Dawn asked. She did not have any time left. \u201cLook, I have to go to work. I know you are joking, but that isn\u2019t funny.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou said you do not get jealous. What\u2019s the problem?\u201d Caprice asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dawn sighed. She grabbed something to eat from her kitchen. She was going to have to eat at work. \u201cWe can have this conversation later. I do not have time to argue.\u201d She hung up the phone without saying goodbye to her friend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Annex to Chapter 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Summary<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Caprice calls her friend Dawn. She heard that Dan asked Dawn out on a date. They talk about boyfriends. Caprice says she broke up with her old boyfriend, Jack. She says Jack was flirting with other women. Dawn defends Jack and says Caprice is being too picky. They argue a little, but Dawn has to go to work. Caprice offers to date Dan, and let Dawn date Jack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Multiple-choice questions<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Select one answer for each question<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. Because she did not have to work<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. Because it was raining outside<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. Because the electricity went off<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. Because she broke up with her boyfriend<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. Jack told her<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. Zara told her<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. Dan told her<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. None of the above<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. Because she is bored<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. Because she is picky<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. Because she enjoys dating different people<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. Because she is looking for a husband<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. Because Caprice thinks all men cheat<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. Because Caprice thinks Jack was cheating<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. Because Caprice thinks Jack was flirting<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. Because Dawn does not like Caprice anymore<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. She thinks Dawn and Dan should break up<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. She thinks she should get back together with Jack<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. She thinks Dawn should not date anyone<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. She thinks Dawn should date Jack<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Answers to Chapter 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chapter 3<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dan was very excited. His summer college courses were almost over. He was doing well in the courses. He would get good grades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Good grades will help my grade point average, he thought. When I go back to my university in California, maybe I will get a scholarship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He was glad to be leaving Nevada soon. In two weeks, he would be home. He could see Dawn again. She had promised to go on a date with him when he returned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They had known each other a long time, but he had never had the courage to ask her out. It had been easier to ask over the phone. It was easier to ask when he was not there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In some ways, it did not seem real. Dating Dawn had been his dream\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Soon, that dream is going to come true!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His phone rang. It was his friend Jack. He had known Jack for a long time, but they had never been close friends. Now, they were going to the same summer school. Now, they were becoming good friends. Sometimes, they ate lunch together. At night, they liked to watch movies together, when their studies were over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But, Dan had always noticed that Jack was a little sad. Something was always bothering Jack. And now, Dan knew what it was\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHi, Jack,\u201d he said, answering the phone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDan! Hey, I need to talk to you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s funny. I wanted to talk to you too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh,\u201d Jack said, a little surprised. \u201cAlright, you can go first. What\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDawn told me you are not seeing Caprice anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jack was surprised again. He and Caprice had not made their break up public. \u201cThat\u2019s true,\u201d Jack admitted. \u201cI didn\u2019t want to say anything. I was hoping Caprice and I would get back together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat is what I wanted to talk about,\u201d Dan said. \u201cI could tell something has been bothering you, but I did not know what. I was worried about you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThanks, man. I\u2019m okay though. Really.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAre you sure?\u201d Dan asked. \u201cDo you want to talk about what happened?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, you know how women are,\u201d Jack said. He laughed, even though he did not think it was funny. He was still friends with Caprice, but his feelings were very hurt. He did not think she had been fair to him. \u201cShe thought I was flirting with other women. She accused me of trying to attract a new girlfriend.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cReally? I have not known you very long,\u201d Dan said. \u201cI mean, I did not know you very well, but I do now. You are a nice guy. That does not sound like you!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt isn\u2019t,\u201d Jack agreed. It felt good to have someone to talk to. \u201cI never did that! But, Caprice thinks I did. I cannot change her mind. She thinks I flirted with my customers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut you didn\u2019t?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI did a little, but it was not really flirting, just being extra nice. You know what I mean? It was totally innocent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dan asked, \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI only did it to get bigger tips,\u201d Jack said. \u201cThat is how those types of jobs work. You don\u2019t get paid very much, so you have to work for tips!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dan nodded. \u201cI understand. I worked as a waiter in a restaurant. My salary was very low, but I was friendly. The customers loved me, so I made better tips than the others.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, that is exactly right!\u201d Jack said. \u201cIt is simple. Why can\u2019t Caprice understand that? Hey, maybe you could talk to her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dan thought about that. \u201cI don\u2019t think that is a good idea, Jack.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy not?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI have to tell you something. It is not a big deal, but you should know. I dated Caprice for a little while; not very long, and it was a long time ago.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, I know,\u201d Jack said. \u201cSo what?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell\u2026 Caprice is awesome,\u201d Dan said. \u201cShe is great. I will be honest, I liked her a lot back then, but actually, she was jealous of me too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat? She thought you were flirting with others?\u201d Jack couldn\u2019t believe it. He was not the first guy to deal with this problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s right. It sounds like you are having the same issue I had.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jack was glad to be able to talk about these things. It was a relief. He had been quiet about his feelings\u2026 but now, he talked!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But, Jack had forgotten–he wanted to ask Dan something too!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDan, I have a question. I started talking about my problems, and I forgot to ask you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s okay. What\u2019s up?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s about Dawn. You mentioned you were going to start dating her?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes. I have wanted to go out with her for a long time, but I was always too shy. I never asked her out, but finally, I did!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd she said yes?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dan paused. Why was he asking about Dawn suddenly? \u201cYes. She wanted to talk to her parents first. That\u2019s what she said. But–\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy does she want to do that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know. She said she likes to keep them involved in her life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDoesn\u2019t that sound strange to you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo. Maybe a little bit. Why are you asking this, Jack?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI was just curious,\u201d Jack said. \u201cBecause she\u2019s\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe\u2019s what?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou know she comes to Zara\u2019s sometimes. The bar I work at?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dan didn\u2019t know that, but it did not matter to him. Lots of people go to the nightclub. \u201cWhy do I need to know about that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBecause she is one of my customers. I need to tell you something, Dan. I think Dawn is very cute. Sometimes, I talk to her when she comes to the club. I was thinking about asking her on a date.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d Dan asked. He couldn\u2019t believe it! \u201cAre you serious?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cListen to me. I\u2019m not going to do it. I won\u2019t ask her out since she said yes to you, but I wanted to make sure. I don\u2019t have a girlfriend. Caprice broke up with me, so you know\u2026 I thought about Dawn.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSorry, man. I got to her before you did! You will have to work things out with Caprice!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Annex to Chapter 3<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Summary<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dan and Jack have become friends. Jack calls Dan to talk. Dan has been worried about Jack, and he learns that Jack broke up with his girlfriend. Jack says Caprice thought he had been flirting with other women. Then, Jack mentions that he considered asking Dawn on a date, but he changed his mind, he learned Dan had already asked Dawn out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Multiple-choice questions<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Select one answer for each question<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. He wants a college scholarship<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. His parents are angry<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. The college was going to ask him to leave<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. To make Dawn happy<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. That Jack likes to flirt<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. That Jack likes to eat a lot<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. That Jack seems sad<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. That Jack gets good grades<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. Because he wants to date them<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. Because he wants tips<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. Because it is part of his job<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. Because he is a very friendly person<\/p>\n\n\n\n
a. Because Dan watched Jack at work<\/p>\n\n\n\n
b. Because Dan is Jack\u2019s friend<\/p>\n\n\n\n
c. Because Dan worked as a waiter and also got tips<\/p>\n\n\n\n
d. Because Dan worked as a bartender and also got tips<\/p>\n\n\n\n