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EASYSTARTS – 200 HEADWORDS

Dino’s Day in London

Tommy Grant is a taxi driver in London. He works for TOP TAXIS.

One day Tommy's boss, Sam, telephones him. It is very early in the

morning.

"Tommy," says Sam. "Can you be at The Ritz hotel at 9.00 o'clock?"

"Yes," says Tommy, "but why?"

Sam and his wife are having breakfast with their children, Billy and

Katy. "Gloria Brash is in London," says Sam.

"Gloria Brash!" says Tommy. "The film star! Where do you want me to

drive her?"

"Not her," says Sam. "Him. Her 12 year-old son Dino wants to see

London today. His mother's working."

"There's a letter for you at The Ritz. There's £50, too. That's for

Dino."

"£50 for one day in London!" says Tommy. "That's a lot of money."

"I know," says Sam. "Be very nice to the boy, Tommy, and don't be

late."

"You know me," says Tommy. "I'm always early."

It is 8.45. Tommy is at The Ritz fifteen minutes early. He goes to the

desk.

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 "I'm from TOP TAXIS," he says. The woman behind the desk gives him

the letter and the money. The letter says, 'It's Dino's first time in London.

Please take him to all these places (1) Buckingham Palace (2) Harrods (3)

the British Museum.'

"OK," thinks Tommy. "Now, is Dino here? I know I’m early, but..." He

sees a boy in a chair.

"Hello," he says. "Are you Dino?"

"That's me," says the boy. "Are you the driver from TOP TAXIS?"

"Yes," answers Tommy. The boy stands up. "OK," he says. "Let's go."

First, Tommy drives to Buckingham Palace - the home of the Queen.

He stops the taxi. "What are you doing?" asks Dino. "I don't want to see

this old place."

Tommy looks at him. "But I..." Then he remembers Sam's words: 'Be

very nice to the boy.'

"OK, Dino," he says. "Where do you want to go?"

Five minutes later Tommy stops the taxi again. "Is this the place?" he

asks. "That's right," answers Dino. "Can I have £20, please."

"But I don't think your mother..."

"I want £20. Now!"

Tommy gives Dino the money. Then he sits in the car and waits. Three

hours later, Dino comes back.

"Now, are you hungry?" asks Tommy.

"Yes, I am," answers Dino. "Very hungry."

Tommy drives to Harrods. "There's a very good restaurant in this

shop," he says.

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 "I don't want to eat here!" says Dino. "I want to have lunch there."

"Where?" asks Tommy. He looks across the road.

Dino goes into the Big Burger Bar with another £20. He eats a

mountain of food and drinks four milkshakes. Tommy eats his lunch in the

taxi.

"£20 for lunch!" he thinks. "I can buy a week's food with £20." He

looks out of the window and eats another sandwich.

An hour later Dino comes out of the restaurant.

"Be very nice to the boy," thinks Tommy. "Do you want to go to the

British Museum now?" he asks. "OK," answers Dino.

Tommy looks at him. "Yes?!" Tommy is very happy. He drives to the

British Museum and gives Dino £10. "Thanks," says Dino. "Wait here." Then

he goes into a cinema across the road from the museum.

At 4.15 Dino comes out of the cinema. Tommy is sitting in the cab. He

is very angry.

"Where – do - you - want - to - go - now?" he asks.

"Oh, back to The Ritz, I think," says Dino. "I'm tired and I want to

have a bath before dinner."

"Good," thinks Tommy.

Tommy starts the car again.

At 4.30 Tommy stops in front of the hotel. "Here we are," he says. He

opens the door for Dino. Then he sees a beautiful woman in a very

expensive coat. She is walking out of The Ritz and she is looking at him.

"I know that woman," thinks Tommy. Then he remembers. "Of course,

it's Gloria Brash!"

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 "Are you the man from TOP TAXIS?" asks Gloria. "Yes," says Tommy.

"Come with me," says the film star. She walks back into the hotel. There,

Tommy sees a boy sitting in a chair. He looks very sad.

"This is Dino," she says.

"But, but..." Tommy can't speak.

"I am very angry," says Gloria.

Tommy looks at the boy, at the film star, and at the young boy again.

"But this can't be Dino!" he says.

"Young man, I know my son!" answers Gloria. "Now, where is my £50?"

Tommy's face goes white. He looks out of the window. His taxi is

there, but 'Dino' is not.

It is 5.00 o'clock in the afternoon. Tommy's boss, Sam, is at home.

He and his wife are having a cup of tea. The door opens and their son, Billy,

walks in. "Hello, Billy," says Sam. "Good day at school?" Billy looks very

happy. "Yes, thanks," he says. "Very good."

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 Tommy Grant es taxista en Londres. Él trabaja para TOP TAXIS.

Un día, el jefe de Tommy, Sam, le telefonea. Es muy temprano en la

mañana.

-Tommy -dijo Sam-. "¿Puedes estar en el hotel Ritz a las 9:00?"

-Sí -dice Tommy-, ¿pero por qué?

Sam y su esposa están desayunando con sus hijos, Billy y Katy. "Gloria

Brash está en Londres", dice Sam.

"Gloria Brash!" dice Tommy. "¿La estrella del cine, dónde quieres que

la lleve?"

"No ella," dice Sam. Su hijo de 12 años, Dino, quiere ver Londres hoy,

su madre está trabajando.

Hay una carta para ti en The Ritz, también hay 50. Eso es para Dino.

"£ 50 por un día en Londres!" dice Tommy. "Eso es mucho dinero."

"Lo sé", dice Sam. "Sé muy amable con el chico, Tommy, y no llegue

tarde."

-Tú me conoces -dice Tommy. Siempre llego temprano.

Son las 8.45. Tommy está en el Ritz quince minutos antes. Él va a la

mesa.

"Soy de TOP TAXIS", dice. La mujer detrás de la mesa le da la carta

y el dinero. La carta dice, "Es la primera vez que Dino en Londres. Por favor

llevarlo a todos estos lugares (1) Palacio de Buckingham (2) Harrods (3) el

Museo Británico.

"Está bien," piensa Tommy. "Ahora, ¿está Dino aquí? Sé que soy

temprano, pero ..." Ve a un niño en una silla.

"Hola", dice. "¿Eres Dino?"

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 "Ese soy yo", dice el muchacho. "¿Eres el conductor de TOP TAXIS?"

-Sí -responde Tommy-. El muchacho se levanta. "Está bien", dice.

"Vamonos."

Primero, Tommy conduce al palacio de Buckingham - el hogar de la

reina. Detiene el taxi. "¿Qué estás haciendo?" -pregunta Dino. No quiero

ver este viejo lugar.

Tommy lo mira. "Pero yo ..." Luego recuerda las palabras de Sam: "Sé

muy amable con el chico."

"Está bien, Dino", dice. "¿A donde quieres ir?"

Cinco minutos después Tommy detiene el taxi de nuevo. -¿Es éste el

lugar? él pide. "Eso es correcto", responde Dino. -¿Puedo tener 20 libras,

por favor?

"Pero no creo que tu madre ..."

"Quiero £ 20. Ahora!"

Tommy le da a Dino el dinero. Luego se sienta en el coche y espera.

Tres horas más tarde, Dino regresa.

"Ahora, ¿tienes hambre?" -pregunta Tommy.

"Sí, lo estoy", responde Dino. "Muy hambriento."

Tommy conduce a Harrods. "Hay un restaurante muy bueno en esta

tienda", dice.

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 "No quiero comer aquí!" dice Dino. Quiero almorzar allí.

"¿Dónde?" -pregunta Tommy. Mira por el camino.

Dino entra en el Big Burger Bar con otro £ 20. Come una montaña de

comida y bebe cuatro milkshakes. Tommy come su almuerzo en el taxi.

"£ 20 para el almuerzo!" él piensa. "Puedo comprar la comida de una

semana con 20 libras." Mira por la ventana y come otro sándwich.

Una hora más tarde, Dino sale del restaurante.

"Sé muy amable con el chico", piensa Tommy. -¿Quieres ir al Museo

Británico ahora? él pide. "OK," responde Dino.

Tommy lo mira. "¡¿Sí?!" Tommy está muy contento. Él conduce al museo

británico y da Dino £ 10. "Gracias", dice Dino. "Espera aquí." Luego entra en

un cine al otro lado del camino desde el museo.

A las 4,15 Dino sale del cine. Tommy está sentado en el taxi. Él está

muy molesto.

"¿A dónde quieres ir ahora?" él pide.

"Oh, de vuelta al Ritz, creo", dice Dino. "Estoy cansado y quiero tomar

un baño antes de la cena."

"Bien", piensa Tommy.

Tommy vuelve a encender el coche.

A las 4.30 Tommy se detiene frente al hotel. "Aquí estamos", dice.

Abre la puerta para Dino. Entonces ve una mujer hermosa con un abrigo muy

caro. Ella está saliendo del Ritz y ella lo está mirando.

"Conozco a esa mujer", piensa Tommy. Entonces recuerda. -¡Por

supuesto, es Gloria Brash!

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 "¿Eres el hombre de TOP TAXIS?" -pregunta Gloria. -Sí -dice

Tommy-. "Ven conmigo", dice la estrella de cine. Ella regresa al hotel. Allí,

Tommy ve a un niño sentado en una silla. Se ve muy triste.

"Este es Dino", dice.

"Pero, pero ..." Tommy no puede hablar.

"Estoy muy enojado", dice Gloria.

Tommy mira al muchacho, a la estrella de cine, y al niño otra vez.

-¡Pero esto no puede ser Dino! él dice.

¡Joven, conozco a mi hijo! responde Gloria. "Ahora, ¿dónde están mis £

50?"

La cara de Tommy se pone blanca. Mira por la ventana. Su taxi está

allí, pero Dino no.

Son las 5.00 de la tarde. El jefe de Tommy, Sam, está en casa. Él y su

esposa están tomando una taza de té. La puerta se abre y su hijo, Billy,

entra. "Hola, Billy," dice Sam. -¿Buen día en la escuela? Billy se ve muy feliz.

"Sí, gracias", dice. "Muy bien."