Gender Readings. Top Ten. Ренц Т.Г - 52 стр.

      When I finished, Mr Parker grabbed me by the shoulders.
“That’s perfect! Really perfect!” he said. “A real breakthrough. These
are the times that make teachers glad they teach.”
      We had lemonade and cookies and listened to some Palestrina
motets. When I left, it was overcast, and the light was murky and green.
      I walked home slowly, divided by dread and joy in equal parts. I
had performed like an adult, and had been congratulated by an adult,
but something had been closed off, I sat under a tree and cried like a
baby. He had touched me after all.

THE AUTHOR
      Laurie Colwin lives in New York. Her novels include Shine on
Bright and Dangerous Object (1976) and Happy All Time (1979). This
story is taken from Dangerous French Mistress and Other Stories.
Young people can sometimes find grown-ups’ ideas rather difficult to
accept or understand. In “Mr Parker”, the author shows how a young
girl can be put in a situation in which she has conflicting loyalties.

READING NOTES
     securities analyst: person who investigates bonds, stocks and
shares.
     Juilliard: famous college of music in New York City.
     cream puff: light flaky pastry filled with jam and cream.
     strudel: type of German or Austrian cake made with thin leaves
of pastry and filled with apple.
     wispy: a little untidy, with bits of hair sticking out where they
shouldn’t.
     petal marks: marks where flowers had been pressed.
     condolence call: visit to tell Mr Parker how sorry they were
about his wife’s death.
     Indian summer: period of calm, dry weather in late autumn.
     grievous bodily harm: phrase used in law to mean hurting some-
one very badly.
     the stock market: (the state of) the financial market.
     the friction of living: the damaging effects of everyday life.
     stomp: walk stiffly.
     sweat sock: thick sock used in running, gymnastics, etc.
     “Little Classics for Children”: collection of simple piano music.

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