The Greyhound
After H.Griffiths
CHAPTER 1
It was a Saturday morning. Jamie often went to the cinema on Saturday mornings. But he had already seen the film which was shown this Saturday. He didn’t have anything interesting to do, so he was bored.
His parents were at work. His sisters, Cora and Leah, were at home. Cora had to take care of Leah. She was only three years old. Cora often made Jamie play with their little sister while she cooked or did some housework. Leah adored playing with dolls. As for Jamie, it wasn’t interesting for him to play with his little sister, and he didn’t like playing with dolls at all. So he didn’t want to stay at home and went for a walk.
Jamie just stood there in the square and didn’t know what to do. He thought if only he had a dog! He liked dogs very much. He had been dreaming about his own dog for a long time. It would be his best friend. He could take much care of him. He would always have someone to play with.
Suddenly he saw a man with a big white dog not far from him. Jamie knew them. He often met the man with his dog there. The man was very old. He was thin, and always looked very tired. His clothes were old, too. His dog was a greyhound. He was light grey, almost white. One ear was black, and the other was brown. His eyes were almost yellow.
They came up to the place where Jamie stood. Jamie wanted to ask the dog’s name many times before but he couldn’t bring himself to do it. The old man had always an anxious look. Jamie thought that the man was constantly thinking about his problems and Jamie was afraid to interrupt him. The dog usually walked slowly after his master and didn’t notice anything or anyone around. But now the dog looked at Jamie with a great interest. Jamie was surprised and suddenly he asked: “What’s his name?”
“Eh! What have you said?” asked the man.
“What’s his name – the dog’s name, sir?” repeated Jamie.
“Silver,” answered the old man. “I named him Silver. But he has another name.”
“What! Another name?” asked the boy.
“His full name is – Silver Light of Falling Star,” said the man.
“How interesting!” said Jamie. But before he could say anything more the old man and Silver walked away. The dog walked slowly after the old man and didn’t notice anything around as he did before. Jamie was following Silver with his eyes, but the dog didn’t even look back at him.
“What a wonderful name: Silver Light of Falling Star!” thought Jamie. He was happy to know a dog with such an interesting name. “If only I had a dog! I could give it a beautiful name like this one!’
Now Jamie could only think about the greyhound. Jamie thought if Silver was his own dog, he would be very, very happy. He imagined how they could go for a walk in the park. How Silver would run and jump and play with other dogs. How Jamie could teach Silver to run in greyhound races. He was sure if Silver ran in a race, he would be a champion…
Every morning on his way to school, Jamie stopped near the square and waited for the old man and his dog. He was eager to see them again, but they didn’t come. He waited and waited for a long time, then slowly walked away. Why didn’t they come here where Jamie had seen them many times before? What happened to the old man and his wonderful dog?
Time passed. Jamie still wanted a dog. Oh, how he wanted to have a dog! Of course, he dreamed of his own dog, but he thought about Silver day and night. Soon he decided to buy a greyhound like Silver.
Jamie did all his homework and now he had nothing interesting to do. He opened a book but couldn’t read. The thought of a dog came back to him.
“A greyhound like Silver must cost a lot of money,” thought Jamie. “My parents can’t give me the money for a dog. Well, if I can’t buy a big dog, like Silver, I’ll buy a little puppy. I wonder how much it may cost. And where can I get the money?”
Then, a nice idea came to him. “If I don’t go to the cinema for two months, I think I’ll have enough money to buy a puppy. That’s a wonderful idea – to save money and buy a puppy! Soon I’ll have a friend!” thought Jamie. That made him so happy that he couldn’t help smiling.
Then Jamie tried to think of a name for his dog. It was difficult to decide what name to give, because he couldn’t forget that beautiful long name – Silver Light of Falling Star.
“I’ll buy a grey dog,” thought Jamie, “and I’ll give him the name of Silver.”
Then he thought: “What if my mother doesn’t want to have a dog in the house?” Jamie’s family had only two small rooms and there were five people in the family. “What if she says no?”
Jamie decided to ask his mother to let him have a dog. He was going to talk to her as soon as she came home. But he had to wait for two hours till his mother finished her work. How to spend those endless hours? He sat in the armchair with his eyes closed and began dreaming: “When I have my dog, I won’t be lonely. My dog will be always near me when I do my homework or read a book or have dinner. I will love him very much and take good care of him, and he will look at me with truly love in his eyes.” He was sitting in the armchair, dreaming about his dog and smiling when his mother came in.
“Well, well, Jamie,” said Mrs. Vincent. “Why are you smiling? You are happy today. I can see it from your face. Is it a secret?”
Jamie stopped smiling. He suddenly understood how important it all was for him.
“You want to tell me something. What is it? What is it, Jamie?” asked Mrs. Vincent.
“I must think how best to tell her,” thought Jamie. “If I say that I want a dog, she will say I can’t have a dog. And … if I say, “May I have a dog?” – she will say no, I’m sure. She must understand how wonderful it is to have a dog. I must to prove it.”
“Mum,” he said at last, “do you know anything about greyhounds?”
“Greyhounds! Why are you asking me about them?”
“Mum … If I go to the shop for you and help Cora to take care of Leah and clean my shoes and my clothes …, may I have something?”
“Well … What do you want to have?
Jamie couldn’t speak for a minute. It was not easy to say what he wanted to have.
“Mum! May I have a dog, please?” he said at last.
He didn’t wait for her answer; he saw it in her eyes.
“Just a very little dog, a puppy, very, very small …,” he couldn’t finish what he wanted to say.
“Jamie, where can we put a dog?” said his mother.
“He will be very small. He can sleep on my bed,” said Jamie.
“Time passes and little dogs become big dogs. Our rooms are too small, Jamie. And don’t forget that dogs eat. A dog eats as much as you do, Jamie.”
“I’ll eat less. Please, don’t say no, Mum! Please! Please! Please!”
His face became red and there were tears in his eyes.
“What? Are you going to cry, Jamie?” said his mother. “You are too big for that. You must understand we can’t have a dog. We don’t have enough money and our rooms are too small. That’s all I can say.”
Jamie said nothing. He felt very unhappy. He wanted a dog so much but he couldn’t have even a puppy. Their rooms were too small. They didn’t have enough money to keep a dog. His mother said no. She didn’t want to understand that he was lonely and had no friends. She didn’t love him, he thought and suddenly he was angry with his mother. “That’s all! That’s the end of it!” he said sadly. Tears just rolled down his face.
he couldn’t bring himself to do it …он не решался этого сделать
ACTIVITIES AND EXERCISES
I. Comprehension questions
1. Why didn’t Jamie go to the cinema that Saturday?
2. Why didn’t Jamie stay at home with his sisters?
3. Did Jamie meet an old man with his dog for the first time?
4. What was the dog’s full name?
5. Did Jamie not like the dog’s name?
6. What did Jamie want to ask his mother about?
7. Was their flat big enough to keep a dog there?
8. Why did Jamie want to have his own dog?
9. Did Jamie’s mother let him keep a puppy?
10. Did Mrs. Vincent understand Jamie’s feelings?
II. Grammar
One sentence has a mistake. Choose the correct sentence.
1. a. Jamie often went to the cinema at Saturday mornings.
b. Jamie often went to the cinema on Saturday mornings.
2. a. Jamie did all his homework and now he had nothing interesting to do.
b. Jamie did all his homeworks and now he had nothing interesting to do.
3. a. Then Jamie tried think of a name for his dog.
b. Then Jamie tried to think of a name for his dog.
4. a. That was a wonderful idea – to save money and buy a puppy!
b. That was wonderful idea – to save money and buy a puppy!
5. a. Jamie couldn’t to speak for a minute.
b. Jamie couldn’t speak for a minute.
Answers:1. b (on Saturday mornings); 2. a (homework); 3. b (to think); 4. a (a wonderful idea); 5. b (couldn’t speak)
III. Pronunciation task. “th” – 
or 
Put the words below in the correct column.
mother, that, anything, three, with, there, thought, thin, other, they, another, nothing, then, month, something
|
|
__________ |
__________ |
__________ |
__________ |
__________ |
__________ |
__________ |
__________ |
__________ |
__________ |
__________ |
__________ |
__________ |
__________ |
__________ |
__________ |
Practice saying these words.
Answers:– mother, that, with, there, other, they, another, then
IV. Vocabulary. A noun or a verb?
One word can be a noun and a verb. Find the sentences with the words below in the text. Say what parts of speech they are (noun or verb). Translate the sentences.
dream, name, care, answer, interest, cost, walk, smile, work, look, love, face, finish, tear
V. Speaking
Answer the questions below and then ask your friend about a pet he (she) has or he (she) would like to have.
A.
1. Have you got a pet?
2. What does it look like?
3. How often do you feed your pet?
4. Who buys food for it?
5. What is its favorite food?
6. How often do you go for a walk with it?
7. Do you put warm clothes on your pet when you go for a walk in cold weather?
8. Do you teach your pet tricks?
9. Do you like to play with your pet?
10. Does it like to play with other animals?
B.
1. Would you like to have a pet?
2. Would you like a small or big pet?
3. How often do these animals eat?
4. Who will buy food for it?
5. What do these animals usually eat?
6. How often will you go walk it?
7. Is your room big enough to keep a pet in?
8. Will you train your pet?
9. What name will you give your pet?
10. Will your parents let you keep a pet?
CHAPTER 2
Jamie Vincent was twelve years old. His sister Cora was a thirteen-year-old girl, but Jamie and his elder sister were in the same form. Jamie was the youngest in the class and not a big boy. All the other boys were much taller than he was and they always humiliated Jamie. Many of the boys in his class didn’t want to learn. They only liked to make noise in the classroom and fight after school, so Jamie didn’t like those boys. Jamie liked studying. He always did his homework and he was good at many subjects. Though Jamie was a good pupil, he didn’t like to go to school.
He had no friends in his class and felt lonely. He wanted to have a friend. He needed a friend very much. So he thought of a dog. Though his mother was against any dog, he continued to dream about it.
“Dogs are good friends. People are not. I’ll have a dog. He’ll be my good friend. I’ll take care of him and we can love each other. I can be very, very happy! I will never be lonely,” thought Jamie as he was sitting in the schoolyard between lessons.
But the boys didn’t let him sit there as he wanted. There was one boy who was worse than all the others and Jamie sometimes had to fight him. One day Jamie gave him a black eye. The boy couldn’t forget it. He hated Jamie more and more for it. His name was Manny. He had many friends in the class who helped him in a fight. He and his gang were always ready to laugh at Jamie. They tried to make Jamie angry. There were too many of them, so Jamie couldn’t fight back, and he did his best not to show them that he was angry at or afraid of them.
As usual, Jamie was sitting alone in the schoolyard when Manny with the other boys came to him. Manny threw his schoolbag at Jamie. Manny was tall but not very strong and Jamie could easily win a fight with him. But Jamie knew that Manny would not fight with Jamie one-on-one. Jamie thought that it was not wise to fight alone with the whole gang. So Jamie ran away from them into the classroom. He was not a coward at all. He ran away from them because there was no one to help him. He was upset and was about to burst into tears.
There was another boy in the classroom. Jamie did not want the boy to see the tears in his eyes, but it was too late.
“Eh, kid,” said the boy. “What’s the matter with you? Why are you crying?”
“Nothing,” answered Jamie. “I’m not crying. There was something in my eyes.”
The boy laughed and said, “That boy will not leave you alone. But I know what you can do. He’ll never win a fight if his gang doesn’t help him. I’ll tell you how you can teach him a lesson.”
The boy’s name was Hilliard. He was not a good pupil but he sometimes helped the teachers to keep order in the classroom. Only he could do it. He himself was fond of quarreling and fighting and was a leader of his own gang. Most of the pupils did not like Hilliard. They were afraid of Hilliard and tried not to have any contact with him.
Jamie was a little afraid of Hilliard too but now he was glad that somebody was ready to help him.
“Manny doesn’t go home with his gang. Stop him on his way home after school. Then you can fight him and give him a black eye again,” said Hilliard. “Well, how do you like my idea?”
“The idea is not bad but it won’t help me,” said Jamie. “Manny will hate me much more after all and never leave me alone.”
“Don’t think about it. Don’t be afraid of him. If he does anything bad to you, come and tell me, I’ll show him,” said Hilliard.
“Thank you, Hilliard,” said Jamie.
“I’ll be glad to help you,” said Hilliard. “People must help each other. I’ll help you, and if I need your help, you will help me, I hope.”
“Of course, I’ll always be ready to help you,” said Jamie.
Jamie was happy. He remembered an old proverb, “A friend in need is a friend indeed”.
Jamie thought: “If Hilliard wants to help me, then he can be my friend. It’s wonderful to have a friend!”
Jamie wanted to keep their friendship very much. Jamie was sure he would be glad to help Hilliard if Hilliard needed Jamie’s help.
was about to burst into tears. …был готов разрыдаться.
how you can teach him a lesson. …как ты можешь его проучить.
ACTIVITIES AND EXERCISES
I. Comprehension check
Are the sentences true (+) or false (-)?
1. Jamie and his younger sister were in the same form.
2. Jamie never did his homework and he was not good at many subjects.
3. Jamie had no friends in the class and felt lonely.
4. Manny was tall but not very strong and Jamie could easily win a fight with him.
5. Jamie ran away from the boys because he was a coward.
6. Hilliard was a good pupil and sometimes helped the teachers to keep order in the classroom.
7. Most of the pupils liked Hilliard very much and wanted to make friends with him.
8. Jamie was going to meet Manny on his way home after school and give him a black eye.
9. Hilliard was going to fight with Jamie one on one.
10. Jamie was glad to help Hilliard if need be.
Answers: 1. false (elder sister); 2. false (Jamie always did his homework and was good at many subjects); 3. true; 4. true; 5. false (Jamie was not a coward at all); 6. false (Hilliard was not a good pupil but he sometimes helped…); 7. false (Most of the pupils did not like Hilliard. They were afraid of Hilliard and tried not to have any contact with him.); 8. false (Jamie was not going to meet Manny on his way home and give him a black eye because he thought it would not help.); 9. false (Hilliard wanted to help Jamie.); 10. true
II. Grammar
Write questions: a) subject-questions, b) tail-questions.
1. Jamie was the youngest in the class and not a big boy.
2. Many of the boys in his class didn’t want to learn.
3. Jamie wanted to have a friend.
4. The boys tried to make Jamie angry.
5. Jamie was not a coward at all.
6. Jamie did not want the boy to see tears in his eyes.
7. Most of the pupils did not like Hilliard.
8. Manny will not leave Jamie alone.
9. People must help each other.
10. Jamie wanted to keep their friendship very much.
Answers:
1. a) Who was the youngest in the class and not a big boy?
b) Jamie was the youngest in the class and not a big boy, wasn’t he?
2. a) Who did not want to learn?
b) Many of the boys in his class didn’t want to learn, did they?
3. a) Who wanted to have a friend?
b) Jamie wanted to have a friend, didn’t he?
4. a) Who tried to make Jamie angry?
b) The boys tried to make Jamie angry, didn’t they?
5. a) Who was not a coward at all?
b) Jamie was not a coward at all, was he?
6. a) Who did not want the boy to see tears in his eyes?
b) Jamie did not want the boy to see tears in his eyes, did he?
7. a) Who did not like Hilliard?
b) Most of the pupils did not like Hilliard, did they?
8. a) Who will not leave Jamie alone?
b) Manny will not leave Jamie alone, will he?
9. a) Who must help each other?
b) People must help each other, must they not?
10. a) Who wanted to keep their friendship very much?
b) Jamie wanted to keep their friendship very much, didn’t he?
III. Pronunciation task. We form the regular plural by adding -s which sounds [s] or [z].
Put the words into the correct column. Find more nouns in the text; form the plurals of these words and put them into the correct column.
year, sister, girl, form, boy, subject, pupil, school, dog, lesson, teacher, fight, eye, tear, gang, yard, boy, coward, contact
[s] |
[z] |
_____________ |
_____________ |
_____________ |
_____________ |
_____________ |
_____________ |
_____________ |
_____________ |
_____________ |
_____________ |
_____________ |
_____________ |
Practice saying these words.
Answers: [s] – subjects, fights, contacts
IV. Vocabulary. Adjectives are used after some verbs, especially “be”.
Complete each sentence with an adjective below.
upset, glad, ready, good at, angry, unhappy, afraid, lonely, fond, sure
1. Jamie was _______ many subjects.
2. “I’ll be _______ to help you,” said Hilliard.
3. Jamie did his best not to show them that he was _______ at the boys.
4. Jamie was ____ and was about to burst into tears.
5. The children were _______ of Hilliard and tried not to have any contact with him.
6. Hilliard was _______ of quarreling and fighting.
7. Jamie was _______ at school.
8. If I have a dog, I will never be _______.
9. “Of course, I’ll always be _______ to help you,” said Jamie.
10. Jamie was _______ that he would be glad to help Hilliard if he needed Jamie’s help.
Find the sentences with these words in the text and check your answers.
Answers: 1. good at; 2. glad/ready; 3. angry; 4. upset; 5. afraid; 6. fond; 7. unhappy; 8. lonely; 9. ready/glad; 10. sure
V. Speaking
There is a proverb in the text: “A friend in need is a friend indeed”. Can you give an explanation of this proverb? What is its Russian equivalent?
1. Have you got a friend?
2. How long have you been friends?
3. Are you always ready to help your friend?
4. Have you ever helped your friend?
5. How did you help him/her?
6. Can you always rely on your friend for his/her support?
7. Has your friend ever helped you?
8. When did he/she help you and what did he/she do?
9. Do you think your friendship will last if your friend cannot help you?
10. Do you think a dog can be a good friend?
CHAPTER 3
Jamie couldn’t stop thinking about a puppy and about Silver. Every day he went to the square. He wanted to meet the old man and his dog. He waited for them for a long time, even when it rained.
“I have not seen them since I learned the dog’s name,” Jamie told himself. “How I like the dog’s name! It’s the best name I’ve ever heard. But where are they now?” he thought while he was waiting for the old man and his dog near the square. But it was in vain. They did not come.
One morning he, as usual, stood at the corner of the street near the square and waited for the man with the dog. He was going to run to school, but suddenly the old man and Silver appeared. Jamie’s heart almost stopped beating. They appeared so unexpectedly that Jamie couldn’t move. He only stood and looked at the dog. How wonderful the dog was! How beautiful!
As usual, Silver walked slowly after his master and wasn’t interested in anything around him. Jamie wanted to ask the old man why they had not come to the square those days, but he was a little afraid and didn’t know how to start a conversation. When they came to the place where Jamie stood, the old man nodded his head to greet the boy and suddenly asked, “Why aren’t you at school? What are you doing here?”
Jamie was surprised but very glad: the old man remembered him!
“I’ve come here to see Silver,” said Jamie. “I want to see him every day!”
“You mean that you go to the square every day to meet Silver, don’t you?” asked the man.
“Yes, I do. And I was worrying very much that you had not come to the square. What was the trouble?” said Jamie.
“I was terribly ill and had to stay in bed. My neighbour’s children took Silver for a walk but not far from our house. I’m a bit better now, so I came for a long walk with the dog,” answered the man.
“If you want someone to go for a walk with Silver, let me do it. I love dogs very much but I love Silver best of all! I’ll take him to the park and play with him. You needn’t worry about your dog. I’ll take good care of him! I’ll do my best!” said Jamie.
Jamie looked down at his shoes. He felt so embarrassed that wasn’t sure what to do. “He will say no,” he thought, “of course he will say no …”
“I see that you love dogs as much as I do. I’m sure there will be nothing to worry about. Take him to the park. I am still not well enough, and I am old …, old … and it isn’t easy for me to go there … and Silver will be glad to run in the park … Greyhounds should run a lot to be in good form, … and it’s so nice there in spring. When can you go there? Tomorrow?” said the old man.
Jamie looked up at him, full of hope. The old man said yes!
“Yes, tomorrow! Tomorrow morning!” answered Jamie.
The old man stood in deep thought and then said: “Well, I have to go now, young man. We’ll meet tomorrow.” He walked along the street and Silver slowly followed him.
Jamie was sorry for the old man. “I think he is lonely. He needs a friend, so he keeps a dog.” Jamie was following them with his eyes till the dog and his master turned round the corner.
He ran to school. During the lessons he often thought about Silver and smiled.
“Why are you smiling, Vincent? What makes you so happy?” asked the teacher at the arithmetic lesson. He knew that arithmetic couldn’t make a boy happy.
Jamie said nothing. It was his great secret and he didn’t want to tell the secret to anyone.
Jamie couldn’t sleep that night. He waited for the morning. His head was full of thoughts about the next day. He was lying on the bed with his eyes closed but he couldn’t stop smiling.
ACTIVITIES AND EXERCISES
I. Comprehension task
Match the sentence beginning with the correct ending.
1. He waited for them for a long time…
2. It is the best name…
3. They appeared so unexpectedly that…
4. I love dogs very much but…
5. He walked along the street and…
6. During the lessons he often…
7. It was his great secret and…
8. He was lying on the bed with his eyes closed but…
9. Jamie wanted to ask the old man why…
10. He was going to run to school, but…
a. …I love Silver best of all!
b. …remembered Silver and smiled.
c. …he didn’t want to tell the secret to anyone.
d. …he couldn’t stop smiling.
e. …they had not come to the square those days.
g. …even when it rained.
f. …Jamie couldn’t move.
h. …Silver slowly followed him.
i. …suddenly the old man and Silver appeared.
j. …I’ve ever heard.
Answers: 1. g; 2. j; 3. f; 4. a; 5. h; 6. b; 7. c; 8. d; 9. e; 10. i
II Grammar
Put “a/an”, or “the”, or (–) into the gaps.
1. It’s ___ best name I’ve ever heard.
2. He was going to run to ___ school, but suddenly the old man and Silver appeared.
3. “I want to see him ___ every day!”
4. “If you want someone to go for ___ walk with Silver, let me do it.
5. “I see you love ___ dogs as much as I do.
6. Jamie couldn’t stop thinking about ___ puppy and about Silver.
7. He knew that ___ arithmetic couldn’t make a boy happy.
8. It was his great secret and he didn’t want to tell ___ secret to anyone.
9. How wonderful ___ dog was!
10. The old man stood in ___ deep thought.
Answers: 1. the; 2. –; 3. –; 4. a; 5. –; 6. a; 7. –; 8. the; 9. the; 10. –
III. Pronunciation task. Most verbs add -ed to form the past tense which sounds [d] or [t].
Put the verbs below into correct column.
asked, smiled, remembered, turned, followed, looked, answered, walked, rained, appeared, moved, stopped, surprised, loved, closed, hoped
[d] |
[t] |
_____________ |
_____________ |
_____________ |
_____________ |
_____________ |
_____________ |
_____________ |
_____________ |
_____________ |
_____________ |
_____________ |
_____________ |
_____________ |
_____________ |
_____________ |
_____________ |
Some verbs add -ed to form the past tense which sounds [id].
Find these verbs in the text, write them below.
[id]
_____________________
_____________________
_____________________
_____________________
Practice saying these words.
Answers:
[d] – smiled, remembered, turned, followed, answered, rained, surprised, loved, closed, appeared, moved
[t] – asked, looked, walked, stopped, hoped
[id] – waited, wanted, nodded, greeted
IV. Vocabulary
What’s the word? All the words are in chapter three. Word class is shown in brackets.
1. x, e, p, c, t, y, l, d, e, u, e, n (adv)
___________________
2. o, d, r, u, w, n, e, f, l (adj)
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3. e, u, i, u, l, f, t, a, b (adj)
___________________
4. n, o, v, c, r, s, e, a, i, t, o, n (n)
___________________
5. r, e, b, m, m, e, e, r (v)
___________________
6. p, u, s, r, i, e, r, s (v)
___________________
7. g, h, e, n, i, b, u, r, o (n)
___________________
8. h, o, u, g, e, r, y, n, d (n)
___________________
9. h, a, r, i, t, e, m, i, c, t (n)
___________________
10. r, i, r, t, e, b, y, l (adv)
___________________
Answers: 1. unexpectedly; 2. wonderful; 3. beautiful; 4. conversation; 5. remember; 6. surprise; 7. neighbour; 8. greyhound; 9. arithmetic; 10. terribly
V. Speaking
Retell chapter three. The following questions will help you.
1. Where did Jamie go every day?
2. What was he doing there?
3. Who did Jamie see while he was standing at the corner of the street near the square?
4. Silver was not interested in anything around him, was he?
5. Who started the conversation?
6. Did the old man remember Jamie?
7. Why did not the old man and the dog come to the square for a long time?
8. Who went for a walk with the dog when the old man was ill?
9. What did Jamie offer to do?
10. What was Jamie nervous about?
11. Did the old man say he would let Jamie take Silver for a walk to the park?
12. When were they going to the park?
13. What did Jamie think about during the lessons?
14. Do you think that arithmetic can make a boy happy?
15. Why could not Jamie sleep that night?