Arakin 1 Unit 16 - Under the high tree, p. 234-235
текст песни

Under the high trees
It was six o'clock when Ben Smith, dreadfully tired, arrived home from the school where he was a teacher.
He had had a lot of work and trouble that day. He dreamed of a quiet evening at home. June, his wife, met him
at the door smiling radiantly. She asked Ben to be quick with his supper and change after that. She said she had
147
got everything arranged and they would go to the theatre.
Only then did Ben remember it was the very night that had been settled for their going out. So June was
realizing her dream. He envied his daughter Penny, a sixteen-year old girl, who said she would stay indoors
and watch television. But suddenly he was sorry for June who got too little entertainment even at week-ends.
It was already past seven when they started for the theatre. The weather was unusually nasty. Ben's nose
and feet were cold. After 20 minutes a number 64 bus stopped. They got on, but the seats were full.
Unfortunately the bus conductor told Ben to get off as only seven people could stand in the bus. Ben did so
forgetting that his wife had got the tickets.
It was pouring now. The road was wet and there was a hole in his shoe. Luckily he got on the next number
64 bus soon enough and found a seat. Ben shut his eyes. When he opened them again, the bus was past the
theatre. It was still raining as he walked back to it feeling unhappy. Over the doors were the words, "Under the
High Trees".
The man at the door said he could not let him in without a ticket. Ben was about to leave when a girl behind
the ticket-office window said: "Are you Mr. Smith? Your wife left your ticket with me."
Ben squeezed to his seat in the dark, stepping on people's feet. He asked June what the play was about. She
whispered she could not understand much as one actor, an old man, spoke very quietly, and the other, a young
man, spoke very quickly.
As soon as the play was over, they ran out. There were no buses and it was raining. They waited and waited
and their clothes got wetter. At last Ben lost his patience and shouted: "Taxi!"
A passing taxi stopped. Ben pushed his wife in.
"Two pounds," said the driver when they arrived.
"What?"
"After ten o'clock in the evening the fare is higher."
Unwillingly Ben paid the driver. Besides all the trouble it turned out to be too expensive for them.
"Did you watch television, Penny?" Ben asked his daughter.
"Yes," she said. "You can't imagine how brilliant the play was."
"What was the name of it?" asked Ben as he picked up his cup of coffee.
"Under the High Trees" was the answer. Ben Smith put his cup of coffee on the kitchen table and went
slowly upstairs to bed.