Things change quickly. One morning in September a girl
came into our class. The teacher said “Good morning everyone. I
want to introduce you to to Keira. She has just arrived from
Vancouver, Canada.”
She was tall with big glasses and was carrying many books.
She also wore a funny-looking dress. After the classes we talked
to our teacher. We were not happy as we already had more girls
in our class than boys.
The next day, she walked toward me and I met her with a cold look. She sat by me. (Why me again?!) She said, “Hello.
My name is Keira. What's your name?” I already knew her name.
I told her mine. She smiled at me.
One week later, things had already changed. We could tell
that Keira was very smart! She was the most intelligent girl in
our class! Because she was very shy, she didn’t talk to my
classmates; it’s only our teachers and sometimes me who were in
touch with her. She sat next to me and helped me a lot.
Two weeks later, more changes. My classmate Tom came to
me and said that I shouldn’t be friends with Keira. I asked why.
He said: “Because you are a boy! You can’t be friends with some
stupid foreign girl!”
I answered: “Then it is my problem, not yours! Why should
I listen to you at all?” I think that Tom didn’t like my answer,
because we had a fight.
The next day I came to school and sat next to Keira again.
She knew what happened the day before. She said, “Maybe we
should no longer be friends” and she moved to another desk.
I followed her and said, “Don’t pay attention to those
stupid boys. We are still friends, right?!” She smiled and nodded. I hope that our friendship will never end!
Exercises
I. Understanding the Story
With a partner, discuss what you think is the main idea.
II. Vocabulary
Complete the sentence with the word/s closest in meaning to the
word in bold.
1. introduce She __________ her to us. a) told b) presented c)
helped
2. nodded to Keira _________ Sofa. a) refused b) thought c)
agreed with
3. pay attention to They _________ her. a) watch b)hurt c) take
4. foreign Keira was _________ . a) rude b) lovely c) unknown
5. cold look We gave her a _________ . a) bad reception b) prize
c) sweet
III. Now you Talk
1. Why is a friendship between a boy and girl unusual?
2. What is Tom's problem with the writer's friendship with
Keira?
3. What would you have done if you had been the writer or
Keira?
4. Describe the three characters: the writer, Keira, Tom.
IV. Now you Write
1. Write a letter or an email from Keira to a friend in Canada.
2. Write a summary of the story.
3. Write an interview with Keira by a reporter from the school
paper.
V. Role Play
1. Keira and the writer: She is helping him with his English
homework.
2. Keira and her sister: Keira tells about her first week in the new
school.
3. Tom and the writer: They argue about his friendship with Keira.
4. Keira and the writer: She tries to break off the friendship.
5. The writer and his father: The writer tells him about Keira. |
