Hello and welcome to the English Like a Native podcast. My name is Anna and you're listening to week 20, day 5 of Your English Five A Day, the second season.
With this series, you are having a daily dunk into the English language so that slowly but surely, you are building your confidence and feeling more like yourself when using English.
Now, today is Friday.
So what we do on Friday is bring together all the vocabulary that we've covered in week 20 in one big story.
Remember, you can access all of the vocabulary from this week and every week of the Five a Day series through our vocabulary bank, which is free for you to access via the link in the show notes.
So, without further ado, sit back, relax and let me tell you a little story.
The Crossing The lorry screeched to a halt, mere centimetres from Susan's face.
Her shopping bags scattered scattered across the rain -slicked pavement, tins of beans rolling toward the gutter.
The driver leaned out of his window, face contorted with rage.
Watch where you're going, you daft pedestrian!
He bellowed before speeding off through the busy intersection, leaving Susan trembling on the curb.
Are you all right, love?
A woman with kind eyes and a walking frame approached slowly These drivers have the nerve to shout at us when they're the ones not paying attention Susan nodded, still shaking, her heart pounding in her chest Thank you, I'm fine, just a bit flummoxed You wouldn't be the first pedestrian nearly flattened at this intersection, the woman said, gesturing with her free hand The infrastructure in this neighbourhood is shocking for those of us with mobility issues I've been writing to the council for months Susan began gathering her scattered shopping ing.
I'm Susan, by the way.
Margaret, the woman replied, carefully bending to retrieve a tin that had rolled near her feet, her movements revealing her mobility issues.
Nasty business, this.
You're wearing your heart on your sleeve, dear.
I can see you're still shaking.
Susan couldn't deny it.
She'd never been good at hiding her emotions, especially fear.
Is it that obvious?
Nothing wrong with showing how you feel, Margaret said with a warm smile.
Now, let me help you with these bags.
Oh, I couldn't burden you, Susan protested, noting Margaret's walking frame.
Nonsense. I may have mobility issues, but I'm not helpless.
Besides, my flat's just over there.
Margaret pointed to a red brick building across the road.
Join me for a cuppa.
You look like you could use one.
Susan hesitated only briefly before nodding.
There was something charismatic about Margaret that made her impossible to refuse.
Twenty minutes later, Susan sat in Margaret's cosy living room, sipping tea from a delicate China cup.
The walls were lined with bookshelves and photographs of smiling faces covered every surface.
Your family? Susan asked, gesturing to the frames.
Some family, some friends, Margaret replied.
Former students mostly.
I taught English for forty years before retirement.
Susan eyed a particularly eye -catching photograph of a younger Margaret standing beside a distinguished -looking man.
Your husband? husband my late husband yes margaret said a hint of melancholy crossing her features five years gone now i'm sorry susan said genuinely able to empathize with the older woman's loss Margaret brushed off the sympathy with a gentle wave. Life goes on, dear.
Now tell me, what had you rushing across that dangerous intersection?
Something terribly important, I imagine.
Susan felt heat rising to her cheeks.
Actually, I was headed to the shopping centre.
There's a sale on at Henderson's.
She gestured to her bags Impulse buying, I'm afraid I'm terrible for it Ah, instant gratification Margaret nodded sagely We're all guilty of it sometimes More than sometimes for me, Susan admitted I really need to curb my spending My flat is bursting with things I don't need.
Margaret leaned forward. What were you buying today, if you don't mind my asking?
Susan reached into one of her bags and pulled out a wooden box.
This caught my eye.
It's for jewellery but I don't even wear much jewellery.
It was so beautiful I couldn't resist. It is quite eye -catching, Margaret agreed.
Sometimes a little self -reward is appropriate, especially after a difficult day.
But that's just it, Susan said.
Every day becomes an excuse for self -reward. It's becoming a problem.
Margaret considered this thoughtfully.
Have you ever wondered what you're really looking for when you shop?
Maybe it isn't about the items at all.
Susan felt oddly exposed, as if Margaret could see right through her carefully constructed defences.
Before she could respond, a loud crash from outside drew their attention to the window.
Not again, Margaret sighed, rising slowly with the aid of her walking frame.
Susan followed Margaret to the window.
Below, at the same intersection where she'd nearly been hit, two cars had collided.
Pedestrians gathered around, some offering help, others simply gawking.
Third accident this month, Margaret said grimly.
The infrastructure here is completely inadequate.
That intersection needs proper signals.
Susan watched as a woman in a polished business suit brushed off a concerned pedestrian, insisting she was fine despite the visible cut on her forehead.
Shouldn't someone help her?
People today, Margaret tutted, too proud to accept help.
She turned to Susan.
Unlike you, you were sensible enough to come in for tea.
Susan smiled. It's the best decision I've made all day.
Now, Margaret said, returning to her chair, tell me more about this impulse buying of yours.
Over the next hour, Susan found herself sharing more than she'd intended.
Her loneliness since moving to London, her unfulfilling job, her habit of shopping to fill the emptiness in her life.
Margaret listened attentively, occasionally offering insights that were startlingly perceptive.
I think, Margaret said finally.
What you're really looking for isn't in those shopping bags.
It's connection. Susan felt tears welling up.
I've never been good at making friends.
Nonsense, Margaret replied firmly.
You're a lovely, charismatic young woman.
You just need to put yourself out there.
there. That's easier said than done, Susan sighed.
I'm not exactly outgoing.
Margaret reached for a notebook on the side table.
There's a community group that meets at the library on Saturdays.
We discuss books, share stories, sometimes just have an atta.
Nothing Nothing too formal or polished, but it's a nice way to meet people.
She scribbled down an address.
Come along this week.
Susan hesitated. I don't know.
Just think about it, Margaret said, pressing the paper into Susan's hand.
No pressure. As Susan prepared to leave, gathering her shopping bags, Margaret added, and perhaps consider taking a different route home.
That intersection isn't safe, especially with this weather turning.
Outside, the rain had stopped, but dark clouds threatened overhead.
Susan thanked Margaret and promised to think about the library group.
As she navigated the busy pavements, she found herself paying more attention to her surroundings.
The cracked concrete, the faded pedestrian crossings, the hurried people brushing past each other without a glance.
Had the infrastructure always been this poor or was she only noticing it now because of Margaret's comments?
A pedestrian with a cane struggled to cross a street where the kerb was too high and Susan found herself stepping forward to offer assistance.
distance. Thank you, dear, the elderly man said, his eyes crinkling with gratitude.
These pavements are a nightmare with mobility issues.
I was just thinking the same thing, Susan replied, surprised at her own boldness.
The rest of the week passed in a blur of work and routine, but Susan found found herself thinking often of Margaret.
She'd placed the wooden box on her bedside table but hadn't filled it with jewellery.
Instead she'd put the note with the library address inside.
Saturday arrived and Susan stood outside the library hesitating.
Through the window she could see a group of people gathered in a circle, Margaret among them, her walking frame parked parked beside her chair.
What if they weren't welcoming?
What if she made a fool of herself?
Just as she was about to lose her nerve and leave, the door opened and a man stepped out.
Are you coming in? he asked with a friendly smile.
It looks like it might rain again.
Susan glanced up at the threatening sky.
I... yes, yes I am.
The group welcomed her warmly and Susan found herself sharing stories and laughter with strangers who quickly began to feel like friends.
Margaret beamed at her from across the circle, a knowing twinkle in her eye.
As weeks passed, Susan found herself becoming a regular at the Saturday meetings.
She also found herself shopping less, the need for instant gratification fading as as genuine connections grew.
The eye -catching displays in shop windows still tempted her, but it became easier to curb the impulse to buy things she didn't need.
She and Margaret developed a close friendship, often meeting for tea between library sessions.
One rainy afternoon, as they watched pedestrians hurrying along the pavements below Margaret's window, Susan brought up a subject that had been on her mind.
I've been thinking about what you said about the infrastructure in this area, she began.
The dangerous intersection, the poorly maintained pavements.
It's especially hard for people with mobility issues.
Margaret nodded. It's been a concern of mine for years.
Well, Susan continued, feeling a flutter of excitement.
I work in marketing and I've been drafting a proposal.
campaign to raise awareness about pedestrian safety and accessibility.
Margaret's eyes lit up.
That sounds wonderful.
I was hoping you might help, Susan said.
Your perspective would be invaluable.
Oh, I'd be delighted, Margaret replied, reaching for Susan's hand.
It's about time someone did something!
The campaign began small – posters in local shops, a piece in the neighbourhood newsletter – but it quickly gained traction.
Susan's polished marketing skills, combined with Margaret's passionate advocacy, caught the attention of local media.
Soon, they were invited to speak at community meetings, and even had had a meeting scheduled with a council representative.
Six months after their first encounter at the dangerous intersection, Susan and Margaret stood together at that very spot, watching as workers installed new pedestrian signals.
I can hardly believe it, Margaret said, leaning on her walking frame.
After all these years of writing letters, All it took was a near miss, a cup of tea and finding the right person to help.
Susan smiled. I think we make a good team.
Indeed we do, Margaret agreed.
You know, when I first saw you that day, you looked completely flummoxed by that lorry.
But there was something else there too.
two. Determination.
I could see it. You weren't going to be someone who just brushed off the experience and carried on regardless.
Susan laughed. I was terrified, but you're right.
It did make me think about what's important.
She glanced down at her handbag, her one luxury purchase in months.
Inside was not the usual hall of impulse buys, but the notebook where she and Margaret had planned their campaign, filled with ideas for improving pedestrian safety throughout the neighbourhood.
The next phase is getting proper dropped curbs installed for people with mobility issues, Susan said, watching as an elderly man with a cane carefully navigated the uneven even pavement across the street.
And then we tackle the state of these pavements.
One step at a time, Margaret said with a smile.
Rome wasn't built in a day.
A light rain began to fall, and pedestrians around them opened umbrellas, or hurried to find shelter.
Susan opened her large umbrella, holding it over both of them.
Shall we celebrate our victory with a a cup of tea she suggested perfect margaret agreed and perhaps a small cake i think a self -reward is appropriate after all our hard work as they carefully crossed the intersection now with proper signals susan reflected on how much had changed in six months she'd gone from a lonely impulse impulse shopper seeking instant gratification to someone with purpose, connection and a true friend.
Penny for your thoughts, Margaret asked as they reached the other side.
I was just thinking, Susan replied, that sometimes the most eye -catching things in life aren't in shop windows.
They're the changes we make and the connections we build.
Margaret squeezed her arm.
That's rather profound for a Thursday afternoon.
I've learnt from the best, Susan said, helping Margaret navigate the curb.
A very wise English teacher once helped a flummoxed pedestrian pick up her shopping and changed her life in the process.
Nonsense, Margaret said, but her eyes shone with pleasure.
You were ready for change.
You just needed a little push in the right direction.
Well, I am grateful for that push, Susan says sincerely, and for everything since.
As they made their way slowly down the pavement towards Margaret's flat, Susan felt a deep sense of contentment.
The dangerous intersection behind them now had proper signals.
The campaign for better pedestrian infrastructure was gaining momentum and she had found something that no amount of impulse buying could ever provide.
Genuine connection and purpose.
The wooden box still sat on her bedside table but now it contained something more precious than jewellery.
The beginnings of a memoir, she was writing.
encouraged by Margaret and the library group.
It was appropriately titled The Crossing.
She no longer needed to wear her heart on her sleeve to feel seen, no longer sought instant gratification in shop windows, no longer felt that overwhelming melancholy that had driven her to fill her emptiness with things.
Instead, she had found a way to empathise with others' struggles and turn that empathy into action.
You know, Margaret said as they reached her building, I've been thinking about expanding our campaign beyond this neighbourhood.
There are pedestrians with mobility issues all over London who face the same challenges.
Susan grinned. I was hoping you'd say that.
I've already started drafting some ideas.
ears. Margaret laughed.
Of course you have. You're becoming quite the activist, my dear.
I learned from the best, Susan replied, helping Margaret up the steps.
Now, about that celebratory tea.
As they entered the warm building, leaving the rain -soaked pavements behind, Susan knew that her days of aimless wandering, both literally as a distracted pedestrian and figuratively in her life, were behind her.
Ahead lay purpose, friendship and the satisfaction of making real change in the world, one intersection at a time.
And that brings us to the end of week 20.
I do hope you found it useful and entertaining.
Attaining. Until next time, take very good care and goodbye.
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