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Streamline Graded Readers

Level 2

The Picture
Jenny Pearson
Series Editors:
Bernard Hartley and Peter Viney

OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS


Oxford University Press
Walton Street, Oxford OX2 6DP

OXFORD and OXFORD ENGLISH are


trade marks of Oxford University Press

ISBN 0 19 421905 4
© Oxford University Press 1988

First published 1988


Sixth impression 1994
The picture was always a part of my life. When I was a little
boy, more than fifty years ago, I visited my grandmother on
Sundays. Her house was very near the sea. We lived in an old
fishing village in Cornwall, in the south-west of England, and
the sound of the sea was all round us.
While my grandmother and my mother were talking, I
always walked round the little sitting room, and looked at all
the things there. The room was small and dark, with a square
window. The window looked out onto the garden. My
grandmother wasn't rich, but the room was clean and warm.
A fire burned in the fireplace in winter, and I loved the moving
flames.
Illustrated by: Lynne Willey
Above the fireplace there was a shelf. My grandmother put
her special things there, a big clock, a silver mirror, a bright
blue teapot and two brown and white china dogs. The dogs
looked down at me kindly.

Printed in Hong Kong 3


But my favourite thing in the room was the picture. It was didn't often ask them to come to my house because we lived
on the wall in a corner near the fireplace. It was very dark there outside the village. Most of the time I was alone.
and I had to stand very near the picture, before I could see it But I wasn't unhappy. I liked reading, and sometimes I
clearly. It was like the room, small and square and brown, and listened to the big brown radio on the kitchen table. Then I
I thought it was very old, like my grandmother. It was a picture could escape in my imagination from my boring, quiet life and
of an old lady. She was wearing an old-fashioned red dress. travel round the world. I could climb mountains, visit
She had a round, kind face, and she was wearing a little white Australia, and live with the Eskimos in Canada. 'When I leave
hat on her head. In my imagination she was saying, 'Don't school,' I told my grandmother, 'I'm going to sail round the
worry, Peter, I'm your friend, and I understand you.' When I world and make a lot of money. Then you and mother can
was very small, I was happy when I saw the old lady's face. have a good holiday.' Grandmother always smiled at these
When I was older, about ten or eleven, I often visited my dreams.
grandmother. Our house was quiet. My father was dead, and
my mother had a little shop. She had to work there all day. She
had to earn money for us both. I loved my grandmother and
often talked to her about her life when she was young. One
day I asked her about the picture, 'Granny, who is the lady in
the picture? Was she in your family? She looks like you.'
Grandmother smiled. 'No, Peter,' she said, 'I don't know
her. The picture was your grandfather's and he got it from his
father. Nobody knows anything about it. I don't think it's a
very special picture, but I like it. I never feel alone, because the
old lady is my friend. I talk to her sometimes—but don't tell
anybody!'
Those times with my grandmother were happy ones for me.
We talked all the time, and I ate some of her special chocolate
cakes.
My motherland I didn't have much time together. She
worked very hard. In the morning when I got up, I found my
breakfast on the table. My mother was already working in the
shop. In the evening, when I came home from school, we had
our evening meal together. We talked a little about our day.
After the meal I had to do my homework, and we both went
to bed early. I was an only child. I had friends at school, but I

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When I was seventeen, my grandmother died. Suddenly
there was nobody to talk to, nobody to listen to my exciting
plans. I missed my best friend. For a long time my life was
empty, and my mother missed her badly, too.
We had to sell my grandmother's things. Two men came
and took everything away. Just before they came, my mother
said to me, 'Peter, you can take one thing from Granny's
house. You can choose anything.'
I went to the dark house, and looked round the little room.
The dogs watched me from the shelf above the fireplace. Were
they saying, 'Take us'? I loved the clock, and the beautiful blue
teapot. But I had to take the little picture of the old lady,
because when I looked at her, I thought of my grandmother.
I took the picture carefully from the wall. It was small, but
heavy, and the frame was made of wood, with old bits of gold
on it.
I carried the picture home and put it up on my wall. The old
lady smiled down at me, and I felt she was happy with me. I
didn't tell anybody but I felt that my grandmother was
there and sometimes I talked to her about my problems and
my plans.

The years after that went quickly. I left school and got a job
in an office. It wasn't very interesting, but I was happy. Now I
could give my mother some money.
Then, suddenly, it was that terrible summer of 1939. The
war began, and everywhere people had worried faces. One
day I got a letter. I had to go to the Navy office the next day.
That evening Mother and I sat quietly in the sitting room. She
smiled at me. 'Be careful, Peter,' she said, 'and come back
soon.' I put my hand on hers for a moment. 'Don't worry,
Mother,' I said. 'I'm going to send you postcards from a lot of
exciting places! But what about you? Don't work too hard!'
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Early the next morning she kissed me before she went to the
shop. I didn't see her again for months.
I liked my life in the Navy. After a few months I got a job as
an officer on a big ship. Sometimes it was dangerous work, but
it was also very exciting. The most interesting thing for me was
travel. We travelled all over the world. We visited islands,
cities and new countries, and the world got bigger and more
exciting all the time. I often wrote letters and postcards to my
mother. When we stopped at a port, I usually found a letter
from her. 'Life here is hard for everybody,' she wrote, 'and I'm
in the shop from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. But we're lucky here. It's
worse for the people in the cities. I often think about you, my
dear Peter. I hope you're all right.'
On the ship I had a very good friend, Frank. He came from
Malta, and he often talked to me about his parents, his
brothers, and all his cousins. He was a big, happy man. He
often sang songs and played the guitar. Sometimes we sat
quietly and talked for hours about the war and our plans for
the future.
One day our ship arrived in Valletta, the port of Malta.
Frank was very happy. I went with him and visited his cousins.
His uncle had a cafe in Sliema, near Valletta. He was a big,
friendly man. 'Welcome, Peter,' he said. 'You are one of our
family now, and you must see all of our beautiful island.'
We all sat in the sun outside the cafe with our cold drinks
and I was very happy. I looked at the blue sea and the busy
people, and I forgot the war for a short time.
While we were sitting there, a young woman came towards
us. When she saw Frank, she ran and kissed him. 'Frank!' she
said. 'It's wonderful to see you!'
Frank kissed her. 'Maria, this is my friend Peter,' he said. He
looked at me. 'Peter, this is my cousin, Maria.'
She was wearing a red dress. It was the colour of flames in
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the fire. She held out her hand to me. 'Peter,' she said, 'have a
wonderful time in Malta.' She smiled, and we all smiled,
because she was so beautiful. She sat down with us, and asked
Frank a lot of questions about the Navy and the war. They
talked, and I watched Maria — her dark hair, her eyes, the way
she moved her hands when she was talking. I was in love.
From that moment Maria was the most important person in
my life. We were together for ten days. We ate in little
restaurants beside the sea. We listened to music in the clubs
and bars. We walked over the island. We looked at the flowers,
the horses and the people. Every day I learned more about her;
and she had dreams for the future.
'I'm going to be a doctor, Peter,' she said, 'to help people.
And I want to travel round the world.'
I kissed her. 'When this war finishes,' I said, 'we're going to
travel together.'
We couldn't forget the war. After nine days I had to go back
to my ship. On my last afternoon Frank drove us up to the hills
near Luga, and Maria and I walked together for an hour. It
was spring. The sun was shining, and the hills were bright with
flowers. But we didn't see the colours round us. We sat quietly
together.
Maria looked at me. Her face was angry. 'I hate war!' she
said. 'Why do people fight, Peter? You don't want to fight, do
you?'
I held her hand. 'I don't want to — but I have to. But don't
worry. I'm going to come back after the war. And then ...'
I couldn't say any more.
Maria said quietly, 'People change ... Are we going to be
different after the war?' eyes of the old lady in the picture.
'Oh, Maria, I don't know,' I said, 'but I'm going to come We didn't say anything after that. We just sat together and
back. We can always be together.' Maria didn't answer. 1 watched the sky and the sea. The next day I went back to my
looked at her; her eyes were full of love. I thought about the ship.
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For many months our ship was in the centre of the war. One beautiful Maria ... with a young man. She was wearing a long
terrible day Frank died, and a lot of other people on the ship. dress, and she had some flowers in her hand. The young man
I was lucky — I didn't die, but I was in hospital for six months. was wearing an expensive suit, and he had a flower, too. I
In Malta life was difficult, too. A lot of people died there. I knew immediately ... this big party was for Maria, and she
didn't hear from Maria. Perhaps she ... but I couldn't think was married to the young man.
about that. I wanted to write to her, but in hospital I couldn't. I sat in the restaurant until it was quiet again. All the people
Then I was afraid. went away. Then I walked slowly back to the port. A boat was
The war finished, and I left the Navy. I lived with my mother going to England the next day. I sat in a cafe by the sea; I
in Cornwall, but I was not happy. One day Mother said, couldn't read, or write, or think about anything. 'I've lost
'Peter, you must go back to Malta. You're thinking about Maria!' I thought. 'Why am I still alive?'
Maria all the time, I know.'
That night I couldn't sleep. I was thinking about Malta -
about Maria. The next morning I knew. Mother was right.
Only Maria was important in my life, and I had to find her
again. I bought a boat ticket to Malta, and in a week I was in
Valletta. When I arrived, it was very late. I couldn't visit her. I
stayed in a hotel near the sea, and the next day I got a bus to
her father's cafe in Shema.
It was winter in Malta now. There were no flowers on the
hills, the sea was grey, and there was a cold wind. The cafe was
there, but it was empty. There was no glass in the windows.
There were no doors. 'What happened here during the war ?' I
thought. I was cold in my thin coat. Where was she? How
could I find her? I went back to Valletta, and I walked slowly
through the streets of the town.
I stopped outside a big hotel in the town centre There was
a party, with music and dancing. People were singing and
laughing. I was cold, and I went into the hotel for a cup of
coffee. I was sitting in the hotel restaurant when I heard a
shout. The people from the party were running into the street,
and a lot of cars were stopping noisily outside the hotel. They
had lots of flowers on them.
I stood up and looked out of the window, and I saw - my
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Six weeks later I moved out of my mother's house into a needed her more than I needed the money. But then I thought,
little room. It was small and cheap, and I took only a few of 'With the money I can help my mother. I can buy her a house,
my things with me - a chair, my radio, and my grandmother's she can leave the shop, and she can have a holiday.'
picture. I often sat in the evenings and talked to the little old The next day I knew the answer. I had to sell the picture. 'I
lady with the quiet face and the red dress. She was my friend, can ask my friend's brother,' I thought. 'He can sell the picture
and she knew my secrets. After some time I got a boring job in for me.' I went to the office, and when I saw my friend, I went
a boring office. I had a little money for food, and some money over to him. But before I could speak, my friend laughed and
for my room. I often visited my mother and gave her some took my hand.
money. She was old now, and tired, but she had to work in the 'Well, here's the lucky man!' he said, and the other people in
shop because she needed the money. the office all laughed and clapped their hands. 'You've won
One day a man in my office stopped next to my desk. 'Do the lottery,' he said, 'and a cheque for £20,000 is coming in
you want to buy a lottery ticket?' he asked. 'A lot of people the post!'
need new houses after the war. The money from the lottery is
going to help them.' He smiled. 'Maybe this is the lucky
number and you can win a lot of money.'
I bought a ticket, and after that he was very friendly. I
visited him and his family at his house. He talked a lot about
pictures. His brother had an important shop in London and he
knew a lot about famous painters. One day he came to my
room to have a cup of coffee. He looked at my little room, and
immediately he saw my old lady. He went very close to her,
and looked at her carefully for a long time. Then he said,
'Where did that picture come from? I think it's something
special.'
The next day he brought his brother. They took the picture
away and after a lot of tests the brother came back. He was
very excited. 'Your picture is by Rembrandt!' he told me. 'You
can sell it and get thousands of pounds!'
For two days I sat in my room and looked at the old lady.
She smiled quietly at me, and I thought she was saying, 'You
must do the best thing. I am your friend.'
I didn't want to sell her. I couldn't. She was the best thing in
my life. She was a part of my life from the beginning, and I
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That evening when I went back to my room, the old lady Exercises
looked happier. And behind the front door was a letter from
Malta. It said:
1 Read through the story quickly and find this information.
1 The colour of the old lady's dress in the picture.
2 The place where Peter's mother worked.
3 Peter's age when his grandmother died.
4 The year when the war began.
5 The name of Peter's friend in the Navy.
6 The country Peter's friend came from.
7 The colour of Maria's dress.
8 The number of days Peter and Maria were together.
9 The number of months Peter was in hospital.
10 The amount of money Peter won in the lottery.

2 Are these sentences true ( V) or false ( X ) ?


1 Peter's grandmother lived in the north-east of England.
2 The picture was of Peter's grandmother.
3 Peter's grandmother sometimes talked to the old lady in the
picture.
4 Peter went into the Navy in 1939.
5 Peter never wrote to his mother during the war.
6 Maria wanted to stay in Malta all her life.
7 Maria's cousin died in the war.
8 Peter's picture was by a very famous painter.
9 Peter sold the picture for £20,000.
10 Maria's father saw Peter in Malta when Peter went there after
the war.
The next day I flew to Malta.
3 Complete the spaces in these sentences.
1 The picture was Peter's ..... thing in his grandmother's room.
2 The old lady in the picture was wearing an ..... red dress.
3 Peter was an ..... child.
4 Peter's mother was very busy, and most of the time Peter was

5 The ..... of the picture was made of wood.


6 Frank and Peter visited Frank's..... in Malta.
7 Maria said, 'Have a ..... time in Malta.

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8 Maria's face was ..... when she talked to Peter about the war. Glossary
9 Peter got a ..... job in a ..... office.
10 In her letter Maria said, 'I..... you! When can you come?'
beginning: the start
4 Comprehension questions believe: think that something is true (not a lie)
1 Where was the picture in Peter's grandmother's room? bright: opposite of 'dark'; bright colours are easy to see
2 What was the little old lady in the picture wearing? boring: not interesting
3 Why didn't Peter's grandmother feel alone? cake: something sweet to eat; a cooked mixture of flour, eggs,
4 Why did Peter like the radio? butter, etc
5 Why did Peter want the picture from his grandmother's house? cheque: a piece of paper from a bank with an amount of money and
6 What did Peter talk about to the old lady in the picture? somebody's name written on it
7 What was Peter's job in the war? china: pottery; cups and plates are made of china
8 Where did he travel with the ship ? clap: hit the hands together to make a noise
9 Did Frank like music? cousin: a child of your mother's or father's brother or sister
10 What was Maria wearing when Peter first saw her? earn: get money by working
11 Where did Peter first see Maria? excited: a (good) strong feeling; you feel excited when something
12 What did Peter and Maria do together in Malta? exciting happens to you
13 When Frank died, what happened to Peter? fireplace: the place in a room where a fire can burn
14 When Peter saw the party in the hotel, he was sure about flame: red or yellow burning gas; when a fire burns, you see flames
something. What was he sure about? frame: the piece of wood or metal round a picture
15 What did Peter do after the war? homework: school work that you have to do at home
16 Why was the brother of the man from the office excited about imagination: making pictures in your head of things and people that
Peter's picture? you cannot see
17 Why didn't Peter sell the picture ? lottery: a kind of competition; people buy numbered tickets and
18 Who was the young man with Maria at the party in Valletta ? some of them win prizes or money
19 How did Maria know Peter was alive after the war? mirror: a piece of glass; you can see yourself in a mirror
20 What did Peter do the morning after he won the lottery? Navy: all the fighting ships of a country and the people that work on
them
5 Discussion questions noisily: with a lot of noise; not quietly
1 Describe the picture. old-fashioned: not modern; of a kind that was usual a long time ago
2 Do you think Peter had a good life when he was young? Why? only child: a child with no brothers or sisters
3 Why do you think the picture was important to him? painter: a person who makes pictures with colours; Rembrandt
4 Why did he think Maria was married when he saw her at the was a famous painter from Holland
party? parents: mother and father
5 What do you think happened when Peter got to Malta at the part: a piece; anything that belongs to something bigger
end of the story? port: a city or town by the sea where ships can stop
shelf: a piece of wood or metal on a wall for books and other things
unhappy: opposite of 'happy'; sad

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