Lesson 14

Text of conversation

Peter: Mum.

Nora: Yes, Peter?

Peter: I wish I didn’t have to do homework.

Nora: Well you do have to, so you’d better get on with it.

Peter: Oh, I’ve finished for tonight.

Nora: What are you doing now?

Peter: Nothing. Can I go out and play?

Nora: No, it’s too late – it’s quite dark.

Peter: I wish it was summer, so that I could go after I’ve finished my homework.

Nora: It will be summer all in good time.

/ Peter starts to kick his heels against the chair /

Harry: Peter, I wish you’d find something to do, instead of sitting there kicking your heels against the chair.

Peter: Well, I wish I know what to do.

Harry: It’s a pity you don’t still collect stamps.

Peter: I got fired of sticking bits of paper in album.

Harry: I’m sorry I ever gave you that album now. I wish I hadn’t bought it – but you kept asking for it.

Peter: I know I did, but I’m older now.

Nora: Why don’t you join the Boy Scouts?

Peter: I wish I could.

Harry: Well, of course you can. See the Scout-master about it tomorrow.

Peter: Oh, Dad, can I really?

Harry: I don’t see why you shouldn’t. In fact, I wish we had thought of it before. It’ll give you something to do in the evenings.

Peter: Harry! Mum, can I go round and tell my friend Michael?

Nora: No, Peter, not tonight. Tell him at school tomorrow. It’s too late now; you must go to bed in a minute.

Peter: I wish I didn’t have to go to bed at half past eight!

Lesson 15

Text of conversation

Nora: Harry, do you know that three people in the family have birthday next month? We must think of presents for them.

Harry: All right, who is first on the list?

Nora: Peter, I can’t think what to give him.

Harry: Oh, Peter’s easy. We can give him a football.

Nora: But hasn’t he already got one?

Harry: Yes, But it’s worn out. Besides, it’s a very small one, and he is old enough now to want a full-sized one.

Nora: Good, then he shall have a football. Then there’s your nephew Charlie; what about him?

Harry: Let me think. We gave him a clock-work motor car last year.

Nora: And some coloured pencils the years before that.

Harry: Well, has he got any toy soldiers?

Nora: I don’t think he has any. But perhaps he doesn’t like toy soldiers?

Harry: Any boy of seven likes them. Yes, I think he would like some toy soldiers for his present.

Nora: Good, then we’ll give him some toy soldiers. Just let me make a note of that. /Writing/ Toy … soldiers.

Harry: Hasn’t my Aunt Dorothy got a birthday next month too?

Nora: Yes, she’s the third on my list. She wants some writing paper but that seems such an ordinary present. So I thought we might give her some green hand towels.

Harry: /Laughing/: Why green ones? Does it matter what colour they are?

Nora: Yes – haven’t you noticed? At her she always has green hand towels. But the ones she’s using now are wearing rather thin, and I don’t think she has any new ones.

Harry: Right you are, then. I don’t know whether her hands are drier or her face cleaner with green towels, but if that’s what she wants then she shall have some that are as green as grass.