Reading aloud: Sand and Stone, A story tells that two friends were walking through the desert

English as a Second Language Listening, speaking, pronunciation and accent
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1

Sand and Stone

A story tells that two friends were walking through the desert. During some point of the journey they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other one in the face. The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand: “TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE.”

They kept on walking until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath. The one, who had been slapped, got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but the friend saved him. After the friend recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone: “TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE.”

The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, “After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone, why?”
The other friend replied: “When someone hurts us, we should write it down in sand where winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But, when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it.”

2

Daily exercise helps keep the sniffles away
Regular exercise can improve your mood, help you lose weight, and add years to your life. Still need another reason to hit the gym? A new study suggests that working out regularly helps ward off colds and flu.
In the study, researchers followed a group of about 1,000 adults of all ages for 12 weeks during the winter and fall of 2008. During that time, people who logged at least 20 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise—such as jogging, biking, or swimming—on five or more days per week were sick with cold or flu symptoms for just five days, on average, compared with about 9 days among people who exercised one day per week or less.

3

Two frogs

A group of frogs were traveling through the woods, and two of them fell into a deep pit. When the other frogs saw how deep the pit was, they told the two frogs that they were as good as dead.

The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of the pit with all their might. The other frogs kept telling them to stop, that they were as good as dead. Finally, one of the frogs took heed to what the other frogs were saying and gave up. He fell down and died.

The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made it out. When he got out, the other frogs asked, “Did you not hear us?” The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time.

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Yep, better dumb and deaf as trendy and dead!

à tout à l’heure

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A Family Affair by Suprina Frazier
Part 1

“Mama, what do you mean my uncle is really my father?!” Kendra Flannigan shrieked in the hospital waiting room. Her hazel eyes were wide with shock. Her loud voice could be heard echoing in the quiet corridors nearby. Her fair cheeks were bright red with emotion.

“Keep your voice down,” Reeka Flannigan hissed through clenched teeth, showing that feisty side of her that most people only saw in the courtroom. The esteemed New York lawyer looked anxiously at the door, hoping that all of their other relatives were long gone by now.

The hospital had been overwhelmed by Flannigan family and friends all week. They’d come to say tearful goodbyes to Kenneth ‘Kenny’ Flannigan, who was not expected to make it into next week after a bad skiing accident last Sunday. Not only did the adventuresome real estate mogul break too many bones to count, he had yet to wake up from a coma and was currently breathing with the help of a machine.

“Did you sleep with your own brother, Mama?” Kendra asked in a lower tone. She looked horrified by her own question. She was.

“Stepbrother,” Reeka amended, moving to close the waiting room door, which was something that she should have done before she began to pull skeletons out of her closet. “And we didn’t know we were about to be kin at the time you were conceived.”

Kendra touched her right hand to her forehead, as if checking for a fever. “I think I need to sit down for this.”

“You are sitting down, baby,” Reeka replied gently, turning the lock on the door for good measure. She didn’t want anyone else to hear this long overdue conversation.

Kendra looked down at herself and frowned. “I am sitting down, aren’t I? I must be losing my mind then.” She raked trembling hands through her long sandy-colored silky locks.

“You’re not losing your mind, baby. You’re just in shock, that’s all.” Reeka returned to her seat beside her twenty-one-year-old daughter, the only child she’d ever had by the only man she’d ever loved romantically.

“You better believe I’m in shock. Who wouldn’t be if they just found out that their favorite uncle was actually their father, not just the father figure they’ve known and loved all their lives,” Kendra replied, unable to remove the look of horror from her eyes. The whole thing just seemed so unreal.
“I completely understand.” Reeka patted her on the back in comfort. “Take deep breaths in, baby, to keep yourself calm while I explain everything.”

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A Family Affair
Part 2

Kendra did as she was told as her mother shared how she and Kenny met during one fateful spring break in Florida. At the time, they were both seniors at different colleges, had both lost a parent within the previous five years, and both dreaded going home on holidays and school breaks. Especially since both of their surviving parents were stuck in perpetual grief that neither seemed willing to leave any time soon.

“Kenny and I didn’t know that while we were falling in love in Florida, our parents were falling in love in New York. As everyone in the family knows, Kenny’s father met my mother when she moved into one of his apartment buildings,” Reeka continued, clasping her hands together in her lap now.

Kendra nodded. She recalled the story well about how her white grandfather was instantly smitten with her black grandmother when the feisty woman stormed into his corporate real estate office one day with a petition in one hand and a bright red sleeping bag in the other. The fully signed petition was a demand for him to fix the heat in her building. The sleeping bag was for her to sleep in his warm office until he did. So impressed with her, he called the repairman that very day and invited her to dinner the next. The rest was history.

“Imagine me and Kenny’s shock when we got calls from our parents on the last day of spring break telling us that they had eloped and with whom,” Reeka said, grimacing even now at that memory.

Kendra winced just imagining how painful that unexpected news must have been to her parents. “What did you and Unc…my father do after that?” she asked, still trying to wrap her mind around all this.

“We swore each other to secrecy and agreed to end our romance out of respect for our parents’ happiness,” Reeka replied. Her own hazel eyes filled with tears as her mocha cheeks deepened in color from the painful memories she had invoked. “That was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do in my life. But what else were we to do? Our parents were so happy and fulfilled together after years of loneliness and stark misery. Plus, Kenny and I figured that since we were so young, we would have plenty of other opportunities to find true love again.”

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Hello I like this story and so I also decised to read it alound to practice my Englsih. I think it is a kind of motivation for me to keep on working on Englsih.
Thanks.
Dong

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Good job Dong!

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A Family Affair by Suprina Frazier
Part 3

“But you never did, did you?” Kendra asked softly, unable to recall a single person that either parent had even thought to settle down with over the years. They had barely even dated anyone else. Now Kendra knew why.

“No, we didn’t. Some kinds of loves only come around once.” Reeka blinked back tears after a few deep breaths of her own. “Anyway, Kenny and I ended up having to tell our parents the truth eventually.”

“When you turned up pregnant with me?”

“No.” Reeka shook her head. “When you came out bearing too many Flannigan features. That sandy hair of yours was way too close to their blond locks and your coloring was way too fair to be the child of the fictional black man that I lied to everyone about. Yet it was your twelve toes that alerted your grandfather to your true paternity.”

“I was born with twelve toes?!” A wide-eyed Kendra looked down at her feet, staring intently even though they were fully enclosed in a pair of stylish black boots. Boots that her generous father gave her along with many other expensive gifts over the years.

“Yes. Along with changing my last name and yours after your birth to make us both legal Flannigans, your grandpa arranged to have your extra toes removed. That’s how you really got those scars on the sides of your feet. All blood-related Flannigans have had that same surgery, by the way.”

Kendra looked at her mother now. “All this time you had me thinking that those scars were from cyst removals. What else have you lied to me about, Mama?” She suddenly looked distrustful at her mother, whom she’d never had cause to doubt before in their extremely open and amicable relationship.
“Just things pertaining to your true paternity,” Reeka explained, looking truly remorseful. “Everything else I made sure to tell you the absolute truth about.”
“Why are you telling me all this now?” Kendra suddenly wanted to know. “Especially since this news was obviously supposed to be taken to the grave again as it was in Grandpa and Grandma’s case.”

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A Family Affair by Suprina Frazier
Part 4

“I decided to break my silence so that you can fulfill Kenny’s second greatest wish before he…d…died.” Reeka nearly choked on a sob at that grim reminder.
“Which is?” Kendra prompted with glossy eyes. The pain of losing a favorite uncle was one thing. But to suddenly be faced with losing a father was another.
“Your unc…father always said that no matter how many material possessions he acquires on this earth, there are only two things he ever really wanted. The first is to finally make me his wife. The second is to hear you call him Daddy just once.” Reeka’s eyes glistened with fresh emotion. “Since Kenny can never have the first thing, I thought you might give him the second thing before he dies.”

“Let’s go take care of that now,” Kendra said, springing to her feet. “I’ll call him Daddy a thousand times if I need to. Anything to soothe his soul.” She headed for the door with a determined stride.
Reeka smiled, stood up, and headed to the door as well. “Like father, like daughter,” she muttered to herself at that display of spontaneity that was so like Kenny.
“I decided to break my silence so that you can fulfill Kenny’s second greatest wish before he…d…died.” Reeka nearly choked on a sob at that grim reminder.

“Which is?” Kendra prompted with glossy eyes. The pain of losing a favorite uncle was one thing. But to suddenly be faced with losing a father was another.

“Your unc…father always said that no matter how many material possessions he acquires on this earth, there are only two things he ever really wanted. The first is to finally make me his wife. The second is to hear you call him Daddy just once.” Reeka’s eyes glistened with fresh emotion. “Since Kenny can never have the first thing, I thought you might give him the second thing before he dies.”

“Let’s go take care of that now,” Kendra said, springing to her feet. “I’ll call him Daddy a thousand times if I need to. Anything to soothe his soul.” She headed for the door with a determined stride.

Reeka smiled, stood up, and headed to the door as well. “Like father, like daughter,” she muttered to herself at that display of spontaneity that was so like Kenny.

In Kenny’s room, Kendra stood on one side of her father while Reeka stood on the other. He looked so frail and pale lying there. Not robust and tan as he usually was.

Bending down to his right ear, Kendra whispered, “I know all about you and Mama. I just want you to know that I’m so proud to be your daughter. Even more proud to call you Daddy. My only regret is that I didn’t know sooner. Then I could have called you Daddy after every bedtime story you read me, at every birthday party that you insisted on paying for, after you bought me my first car, and especially during last Christmas break when you came and bailed me out of jail.”

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A Family Affair by Suprina Frazier
Part 5

“Bailed you out of jail?!” Reeka exclaimed.
Kendra looked up at her mother and grimaced. “Oops. Did I just say that?” she said, revealing that Reeka wasn’t the only one who shared secrets with Kenny. The same Kenny that suddenly wasn’t looking quite so pale anymore.
“Yes, you did.” Reeka frowned, speaking in a much calmer tone now. “What were you in jail for?”
“DUI after partying too much in celebration of my 21st birthday. But don’t worry. Daddy scolded me enough for two parents that night. He made me promise never to drink and drive again. I took it a step further and decided to never touch another drink again. I haven’t since,” Kendra quickly explained.
“Thank God.” Reeka heaved a sigh of relief, so wrapped up in their current conversation that she didn’t see the small smile forming upon Kenny’s face.
The doctors and nurses didn’t see his smile either, but they certainly saw the signs to what would be the beginning of a miraculous recovery. Kenny’s brain activity had increased significantly when the two ladies entered his room. It was increasing in leaps and bounds with each second they lingered. His blood pressure had stabilized and he was starting to breathe on his own.
“What’s going on?” Reeka asked worriedly when she saw the throng of medical personnel suddenly invading the room.
“Nothing short of a miracle, Miss Flannigan,” one of the doctors replied. “It seems that your brother is about to come out of his coma after all. He’s definitely breathing on his own again.”
“Brother?” Kendra echoed. “The man on that bed is my father and her future husband,” she announced proudly, uncaring that everyone was now looking at her as if she really had lost her mind.

One year and a half later, Kenny and Reeka Flannigan attended Kendra’s college graduation ceremony together. Although they had gone to many of her school events together before, this was the first time they ever attended as husband and wife.
No more hiding longing looks at each other across the room. No more sitting with at least one person between them. No more going out of their way to avoid touching each other, lest they surrender to the inferno of love and passion that always smoldered just beneath the surface when they were in the same room. No more secrets, lies, and restrictions of any kind for Kenny and Reeka.
Finally they were free to just…love.

How did everyone else take this new Flannigan union?
With extreme shock, disbelief, and gradual acceptance. It was hard not to accept their marriage. After all, no one could deny the fact that Kenny, Reeka, and even Kendra were happier than they’ve ever been before.

12

A Quarter For Your Thoughts
By Madeline Mora-Summonte

I’ve been at work five minutes and already have butter on my pants.” Rona swiped at the spot with a napkin.
“Could be worse,” I said.
“How?”
“Hot bacon grease. On your arm.”
“Looking on the bright side all the time must hurt your eyes.”
“I’m only an optimist compared to you.”
The morning regulars trickled in–some coming off a night shift, others still slitty-eyed with sleep, all clutching fresh newspapers. They took their places while I moved among them, coffeepot in hand.
Some might call my life boring, but boring is how I keep myself from coming undone. The routine keeps everything tamped down. I don’t have joy and laughter, but I also don’t have weeping and heartache. Not anymore.
When the boy walked in, my flat little life rippled as if someone had dropped a quarter in a wishing fountain. But it wasn’t him. This boy was still a teenager, small and thin, shivering in a t-shirt and jeans.
“What’ll you have, kid?” Rona asked.
“I… I need a phone.” His voice quaked. Dirty fingernails clicked against the counter.
“Pay phone by the restrooms.”
“I… I don’t have any money.”
I touched Rona’s elbow. “Who do you want to call?”
His glance darted around the diner, green eyes wary of the danger he’d learned was out there, everywhere.
“Junkie,” Rona muttered.
“No,” I murmured back.
“I need to call my parents.”
“They local?” Rona asked.
“N-no. Pennsylvania.”
She threw her arms into the air, washing her hands of the whole mess. I nudged her aside. “Would they accept a collect call?” I spoke quietly, resisting the urge to clasp his hands, to warm them, to feel the fragile bones beneath the thin flesh.
“I’m not sure,” he whispered, his face flushing in shame.
I plunked some quarters in front of him. “In case they don’t.”
He stared at the coins before sliding them into his palm. He headed for the phone.
“You know he’s just calling his dealer,” Rona said.
“I don’t think so.”
“There’s that bright side again. One of these days, you’re gonna go blind.” Rona left me to pick up her orders.
I didn’t correct her. This time she was right.
He lifted the receiver.
I closed my eyes, praying the voice–his mother? his father?–on the other end would accept the call, would welcome home a wayward son, like I’d so hoped to do. Did they wonder, like I used to, what if he calls tomorrow or next Tuesday or a month from Friday? Or never?
I opened my eyes. The boy sagged against the wall, receiver to his ear.
One of the regulars whistled, held up his cup. Another called for more cream. I hurried over.
When I returned to the counter, the quarters were scattered by the register. I looked, but the boy was gone. Home?
I picked up the quarters. They were still warm.

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13

Snowman by Shaun Simon

A snowman was murdered last night.
Tire tracks ran across the front lawn.
This murder wasn’t on the 10 o’clock news or on the front page of the paper this morning.
There wasn’t even a tiny blurb in the local paper.
Nobody cares about a snowman, right?
It’s just a bunch of snow rolled into balls with some sticks and rocks, probably made by a kid.
Maybe this kid had nothing better to do.
Or maybe he waited all year for the first snowfall.
Maybe his eyes lit up during math class when the first flakes fell.
Maybe he was the first outside waiting for his mom when the principal called an early dismissal.
A little boy rushing into his house and back out in less than a minute with his snowsuit on.
Spending the entire day gathering, shaping, and creating until it was perfect.
Too excited for dinner, he spent the time calling his grandparents and friends to tell them about his snowman, while he stared out his front window at it. They all came by this morning to see it.
When the little boy woke up at the crack of dawn in excitement, threw his boots and snowsuit on, and ran out the door… maybe he sat and cried.
A snowman was murdered last night.
Tire tracks ran across the front lawn.
This murder wasn’t on the 10 o’clock news or on the front page of the paper this morning.
There wasn’t even a tiny blurb in the local paper.
Nobody cares about a snowman, right?

14

Loss And Gain
by H. W. Longfellow

When I compare
What I have lost with what I have gained,
What I have missed with what attained,
Little room do I find for pride.

I am aware
How many days have been idly spent;
How like an arrow the good intent
Has fallen short or been turned aside.

But who shall dare
To measure loss and gain in this wise?
Defeat may be victory in disguise;
The lowest ebb is the turn of the tide.

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I was very astonished to see that you write your texts down.
I seldom go to the pain to write down all I’m going to read even if that would doubtless be a great help for all who may have misunderstand words or expressions in the recited text - due to incorrect pronounciation on my side perhaps…

You have got a very clear and good pronounciation, so I could easily follow your posts.

Now, I myself would like to stick to my old procedings and just read my text without writing it down.

Nevertheless, I would like to give you some clues what it’s all about, as it is a chapter out of a book I’m currently reading. The book is called “Alias Grace”, and Grace Marks was a notorious murderess who lived in Toronto in the 19.th century. Her death sentence had been commuted to livelong emprisonement…

So, now I wonder what you can do with the chapter I’m going to read.

Have a nice evening

Urs

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This is the second part of the chapter.
Urs

17

The very last part of my text hasn’t been posted, so here it comes…

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the curriculum

the last class of my old proffessor’s life took place once a week in his house, by a window in the study where he could watch a small hibiscus plant shed it’s pink leaves. the class met on Tuesdays. it began after breakfast. the subject was the meaning of life. it was taught from experience.
No grades were given, but there were oral exams each week. you were expected to respond to questions, and you were expected to pose questions of your own. you were also required to perform physical tasks now and then, such as lifting the professor’s head to a comfortable spot on the pillow or placing his glasses on the bridge of his nose. kissing him good-bye earned you extra credit.

No books were required, yet many topics were covered, including love, work, community, family, aging, forgiveness, and finally, death. the last lecturewas breif, only a few words.
A funeral was held in lieu of graduation.
Although no final exam was given, you were expected to produce one long paper on what was leardned. that paper is presented here.
Tha last class of my old professor’s life had only one student.
I WAS THE STUDENT.

from ( tuesdays with morrie)

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First successful saviour sibling treatment for UK
by Fergus Walsh, BBC News

A nine year old girl from Norfolk has had a life-saving transplant from a so-called saviour sibling.
Magan Matthews would have died but for tissue donated by her baby brother Max. It’s the first time that the entire treatment has been successfully conducted in the UK.
Magan was born with Fanconi Anaemia, a rare inherited condition which can cause bone marrow failure.
Her body could not make blood and she needed transfusions every few weeks.
She was also unable to fight infections.
A worldwide search for a suitable bone marrow donor failed.
Megan’s parents, Kate and Andy from King’s Lynn, said they always wanted another baby, but natural conception would have given then just a one in four chance of having a child that was perfect tissue match.
There was also a risk that the baby would have carried the same genetic disorder as Magan.

1 Like
20

Hi, i’ll try to read your text Zabi.