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Areas of Impact – Mini Story

Hi and welcome to the mini story for this month’s lesson. Let’s get started.

Nicola is a woman. Her best friends are Chimmy the monkey and Heva the dog. Together they are treasure hunters. They have been best friends for a long time. They have only been treasure seekers for a fairly short time. Together they have founded a treasure seeking company. They have traveled to both Thailand and Hong Kong in search of famous treasures. And right now they are right. They have made $360,000 from their last job.

How much have they made?

Three hundred and sixty thousand dollars from their last job.

“Ooh, what should we do with all this money,” asks Chimmy the monkey? “I’m going to buy a lot of food,” says Heva the dog. Gonna means going to, future. “Think bigger Heva”, says Chimmy. Nicola says, “Let’s go back to Thailand and have a real vacation this time, spa’s, beaches, massages, nice hotels, and we’ll fly first class.” “Now you’re talking,” says Chimmy, “I’ll book the tickets now”.

Now you’re talking is an idiom, an expression and we say it when we are excited about something. When we agree with something someone said. So now you’re talking means yes, I agree. Yes, that’s a great idea. Now you have a good idea. Now you’re talking.

So what does Chimmy say?

He says, “Now you’re talking” .

Does he like Nicola’s idea?

He does he likes it. He says, “Now you’re talking.” He agrees with it, he likes it. Now you’re talking.

Who says now you’re talking?

Chimmy. Chimmy, they monkey says, “Now you’re talking.” He says, “I’ll book the tickets now”.

To book tickets means to make a reservation. It means to buy the tickets. It means to get a reservation, make a reservation and buy tickets. I’ll book the tickets. I’ll buy the tickets. I’ll make the reservation for the tickets.

Who books the tickets?

Chimmy. Chimmy books the tickets.

Does Nicola book the tickets or does Chimmy book the tickets?

Chimmy. Chimmy books the tickets.

What kind of tickets does he book?

First class tickets.

He books first class tickets to where?

Chimmy books first class tickets to Thailand.

Does he book tickets to Hong Kong, back to Hong Kong?

No, he doesn’t book tickets to Hong Kong. He books tickets for Thailand.

Chimmy opens his brand new laptop computer and starts typing.

Brand new means completely new, very new. It means you just got it. So if you say I have a brand new car. It means you just bought the car, maybe today or this week. It’s extremely new. It’s completely new.

Chimmy has a brand new computer, a very new computer.

Does he have a brand new car?

No, Chimmy doesn’t have a brand new car.

Does Chimmy have a brand new boat?

No, Chimmy doesn’t have a brand new boat.

What does he have?

Chimmy has a brand new computer.

What kind of computer?

A laptop computer. He has a brand new laptop computer.

So is it a little bit new or is it very new?

It’s very new. It’s brand new.

He opens his brand new computer and he starts to type, and then a month later the three are off to San Francisco Airport with their luggage.

Luggage means bags, the bags that you pack to take on a trip, luggage. You can also say baggage. Baggage or luggage they’re the same.

So they go to the airport with what?

With their luggage.

!Who goes to the airport with their luggage?

Nicola, Chimmy and Heva.

Nicola, Chimmy and Heva go to the airport with their luggage. Where do they go with their luggage?

They go to San Francisco Airport with their luggage.

How do they feel when they go to the airport with their luggage?

Well, they feel great. They are in a boisterous mood.

Boisterous means energetic and happy. A boisterous mood means an energetic and happy mood.

Are they in a sad, depressed mood?

No, they’re not in a sad depressed mood they’re in a boisterous mood.

Why are they in a boisterous mood?

They’re in a boisterous mood because they’re going on vacation. They’re in a boisterous mood because they’re going to fly first class to Thailand.

So are they in a boisterous mood or in a mellow mood?

Mellow means relaxed.

They’re in a boisterous mood, which is why they don’t notice a black limousine following their taxi.

The three check in, pass through security and board their flight to Bangkok, first class of course.

What did they do first?

They check in. First, they check in at the airline counter.

Do they check out or do they check in?

They check in. They give their information. They give their tickets and then they get their boarding pass. They check in for the flight.

What do they do second?

They pass through security.

Do they pass in security?

No, they don’t pass in security, we don’t say that. They pass through security. It means they go through security, the security area.

Who passes through security?

Nicola, Chimmy and Heva pass through security.

After they pass through security what do they finally do?

They board their flight.

To board an airplane or to board a flight means to get onto it.

Do they get onto the airplane?

Yes they do, they get onto the airplane. They board their flight.

They board their flight to where?

To Bangkok. They board a flight to Bangkok. They board their flight to Bangkok.

What class do they fly?

First class. They fly first class.

Do they fly business class?

No, they don’t fly business class. That’s still very nice, but they fly first class, not business class.

Do they fly economy?

No they don’t fly economy class, they fly first class.

Now, of course, the service in first class is wonderful and so is the food. Chimmy says, “Now aren’t you glad you listened to me and became a treasure hunter?” Nicola says, “Well, I have to admit this is pretty nice. I could get used to this.” “And the food is great,” says Heva. “Well get used to it both of you, we’re treasure seekers now and it’s a life of riches and adventure from now on,” says Chimmy. Back in coach, a pair of beady eyes glare at the three of them, but they don’t notice.

Back where?

In coach.

In coach is another way to say in the economy class section. Sometimes it’s called coach. Some people say economy or economy class. Other people say coach or coach class.

So where are the eyes?

The eyes are back in coach, back in the economy class.

What are the eyes doing?

Glaring.

We’ve had this word before. To glare means to look at in an angry way. To stare at in an angry way.

What kind of eyes are glaring at the three of them?

Beady eyes.

Beady eyes are little small dark eyes.

Are they beady eyes or are they big blue eyes?

They’re beady. They’re little tiny small eyes.

What are the beady eyes doing?

They’re glaring at the three. Glaring at Nicola, Chimmy and Heva. The beady eyes are glaring at the three of them.

Do they notice the beady eyes glaring at them?

No they don’t notice. They don’t notice anyone glaring at them.

So back in coach a pair of beady eyes glare at the three, but they don’t notice. They arrive in Bangkok and take a taxi to the Oriental Hotel, which is right next to the river. Nicola immediately books a spa day.

There’s our word book again, to book, means to reserve. To pay for and reserve.

What does Nicola book?

She books a spa day, a day in the spa.

Who books a spa day, Heva?

No, Heva doesn’t book a spa day and Chimmy doesn’t book a spa day either.

So, who books a spa day?

Nicola books a spa day.

Does she wait a while to book a spa day?

No. She reserves it, she buys it immediately. She goes to the spa immediately. Heva and Chimmy swim and relax by the pool. Later they meet in the hotel restaurant for dinner and after dinner they return to their room, feeling full, refreshed and relaxed. But, as they enter their room they gasp!

To gasp, means to make a surprise sound like ah, ooh. We can use it as a verb – to gasp- or it’s also a noun – a gasp.

So what do they do?

They gasp.

Do they yell?

No they don’t yell or scream.

Do they whisper?

No, they don’t whisper.

What do they do?

They gasp, ah.

Who gasps?

Nicola, Chimmy and Heva gasp.

When do they gasp?

They gasp as they enter their room. When they enter their room.

Why do they gasp?

They gasp because, waiting in their room are six tough looking gangsters.

Sitting on their bed is their old rival, the giant rat named Geddy.

Is Geddy their old friend?

No. Geddy is not their friend, Geddy is their rival.

A rival is a competitor, someone who competes against you. Not a friend.

Is Geddy a rival or a buddy?

A buddy is a friend.

Is Geddy a rival or a buddy?

Geddy is a rival.

Geddy is the rival of?

Nicola, Chimmy and Heva. He is their rival, their competitor. He’s also a treasure seeker.

Geddy says, “Well, well, well, you three seem to be enjoying yourselves.” “Geddy!” They say together, surprised.

Are they surprised to see Geddy or were they expecting him?

No, they weren’t expecting him. They were not expecting Geddy. They are surprised to see Geddy.

Geddy says, “That’s right it’s me, the one you left behind. The one you left to be caught. The one you betrayed”.

That is the end of our mini story for this month. As always, listen to this mini story everyday, at least once, more is better. Pause and answer the questions. Answer with energy and excitement, loudly when you can. When you’re out in public you can do it quietly. It’s also good to go for a walk to keep your energy high as you listen to the story, as you listen to all of the audios, keep your energy high.

See you in the next lesson, bye for now.