Lesson 21: Can You Come to the Party?

Conversation

Anna: Hi there! Washington, D.C. has some great coffee shops. My favorite is this one -- Busboys & Poets.

Anna: Actually it’s more than a coffee shop. It’s also a bookstore, a restaurant and a theater!

Anna: Marsha and I love coming here.

Marsha: Hey, Anna, my friend is having a party on Saturday. Can you come with me?

Anna: Sorry, I can’t come with you. I have to get my driver’s license.

Marsha: Will you be busy all day?

Anna: I don’t know. First, I have to take a test on the computer. Then I have to take a test in the car.

Marsha: But you have to take the test during the day, don't you?

Anna: Yes.

Marsha: The party is at night.

Anna: Oh. Then I can come with you to the party on Saturday night.

Marsha: Great! I have to help my friend with the party. Can you help me?

Anna: Sure. That sounds like fun.

Marsha: Everyone has to bring something or do something. You can bring food, or you can perform.

Anna: Really, I can perform?

Marsha: You can! Can you?

Anna: Yes! I can recite poetry. (Anna is in a club reciting a poem)

- A poem -

Light dark

Light dark

Darkness

Dark

Marsha: In this country, nobody recites poetry at parties. Um … can you do anything else?

Anna: Hmm, yes. I can do a card trick. (Anna is doing a card trick)

Your card is the 10 of diamonds! No?

Pick a card. Any card.

Here, just pick this one.

Great!

Marsha: Anna, maybe you can just bring food.

Anna: No, I can’t cook. And I really want to perform. You know, there is one thing I can do. (Anna plays a song on the ukulele and sings)

Trouble in mind. I’m blue...

But I won't be blue always

The sun's gonna shine in my back door some day.*

Marsha: That’s it! You can sing at the party. Now, I have to go shopping for food.

Anna: Can I help? I’m not busy right now.

Marsha: Sure, let’s go!

Anna: We have to go. I have to help Marsha shop. And I have to practice my song! Trouble in mind. I’m blue...

Anna: Until next time!

*The song Trouble in Mind was written by jazz pianist Richard M. Jones.

New Words

bookstore- n. a store that sells books
card - n. a small piece of stiff paper that is used for playing games

day - n. the part of the day when light from the sun can be seen

driver’s license- n. an official document or card which shows that you have the legal right to drive a vehicle

else - adv. used to refer to a different or additional person or thing

night - n. the time of darkness between one day and the next
perform - v. to entertain an audience by singing or acting
poetry - n. the writings of a poet
recite - v. to read (something) out loud or say (something) from memory
test - n. a set of questions or problems that are designed to measure a person's knowledge, skills, or abilities

trick - n. a clever and skillful action that someone performs to entertain or amuse people