Page 112 - Real English 2024 Book 8

REAL ENGLISH 8

seems to be working properly. Mary tells me the telephone is out
of order again.

ERNEST: It’s the weather, I expect.

FATHER: What do you mean? What’s the weather got to do with it?
ERNEST: I thought perhaps the snow –
FATHER: Well, don’t think. It’s probably due to carelessness or

laziness; and goodness knows, I get enough of that at the office.
Nobody seems to understand the meaning of the word ‘work’
nowadays. Which reminds me, shouldn’t you be doing your
homework?
You’ll discover that

for yourself some day. ERNEST: We’ve broken up, Dad.
Life isn’t all pleasure FATHER: What, already?
when you’ve left ERNEST: It’s only three days to Christmas.

school. FATHER: I should have thought Christmas Eve would have been soon
enough. I shall be at the office till then.

ERNEST: Yes, but business is different.
FATHER: So it seems. You’ll discover that for yourself some day. Life
isn’t all pleasure when you’ve left school.

ERNEST: Nor while you’re there.
FATHER: Nonsense, my boy, nonsense. Why, my schooldays were the

happiest time of my life?
ERNEST: Uncle Tom doesn’t say that. He says he had a rotten time. 1

FATHER: Oh, does he? He’s probably forgotten.
ERNEST: He hasn’t forgotten the beatings he used to get.

FATHER: I’ve no doubt he richly deserved them. If he’d done his
lessons properly and behaved himself he wouldn’t have been
punished. Everybody knows that. By the way, don’t you usually
bring home a report at the end of the term?

ERNEST: Yes, Dad.

FATHER: Then where is it? Why haven’t I seen it?
ERNEST: I was waiting till after supper to show it to you.

FATHER: Whatever for? No time like the present, my boy. Out with
it, and let’s see what your masters say about you this time.
If I remember rightly you were pretty low in your Form last
1. a bad time Summer.

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