B

Unit 14- B

Did I ever tell you about the time I bumped into my brother in New York? No? Well, it was really amazing! All this happened 25 years ago, actually.

Seems ages, doesn’t it? Yes, I’d, um, I’d just finished university and I decided to go to the States for three months in the summer. I really wanted to find out about American culture, get to know American people, and earn some money, as well as having a holiday.

In those days you could work for six weeks in the States and then travel for six weeks on a special visa. So I got a job looking after someone’s children in New York - that’s another story! Did that for a month and a half, then started on my travels.

The cheapest thing was to travel by Greyhound - you know, long-distance coaches.

From New York I went to Washington DC, and then down to Atlanta in Georgia - had some friends there. Then to New Orleans - that must be my absolutely favourite place - the food is simply wonderful, and so is the nightlife! Then over to Los Angeles, and the Grand Canyon. I walked all the way down and all the way up. Had to have a rest day after that!

I even went to Las Vegas to see the casinos, but I didn’t do any gambling - I was being very careful with my money by then. Then on to San Francisco, which is a lovely city, very hilly but beautiful. Rather strange and interesting people on the West Coast!

From there I headed inland via Kansas City - that’s in what’s called the Mid-West - miles of rolling dusty plains, with not much happening, but the nicest people. I stayed with a friend I’d met in Geneva the year before. And then to Chicago, a quick look at the Great Lakes, and back to New York for my flight home. This is where the funny thing happened.

I was walking down the corridor of this cheap little student hotel - I had to stay just one night in New York to catch my plane the next day - when guess who I saw walking towards me - my brother! I had no idea he was coming to the States, and he and I had picked the same hotel, just for one night, thousands of miles from home!

And guess what the first thing he said to me was? “Clare! Great to see you! Can you lend me $100?” Typical little brother! It was lucky for him that he’d met me and I had some spare cash, as he and his friends had almost nothing left.

He paid me back later, I think. Or did he? I’m not sure. Wasn’t it funny though, seeing him …? !