La Petite Histoire | Beginner 3 | Épisode 5
If you've ever done a group lesson here at Lingua Franca, you've probably come into contact with La Petite Histoire*. A tale with the very humblest of beginnings, it winds up becoming a rollicking schlockbuster as you move up the levels and your French improves enough to handle the outrageous (some would say impossible) turns of events of the six young friends.
La Petite Histoire is currently only available to our students, however La Préquelle is for everyone’s enjoyment. Below, another instalment of this new series, Chapter 5 (of 6) of the Beginner 3 level.
*The Little Story | *The Prequel
Quand je suis rentrée de la fac hier soir, mon mari n’était pas content. Il était dans la cuisine, fatigué après une longue journée à l’hôtel.
“Un homme a appelé pour toi, Leïla”, il a dit.
“Ah, bon?”, j’ai répondu. “Qu’est-ce qu’il a dit?”
“Il veut t’aider avec ton anglais”, a dit Jean-Louis.
“Ah, super! Tu as son numéro?”, j’ai demandé.
“Leïla, il est français. Il ne peut pas t’aider avec ton anglais.”
“Ah, bon? Mais peut-être qu’il a passé beaucoup de temps en Angleterre ou il a de la famille anglaise.”
“Je ne pense pas, Leïla.” Mon mari est difficile parfois.
“Je vais appeler pour voir”, j’ai dit. “J’ai besoin d’aide. J’ai un examen le mois prochain et j’ai peur.”
Jean-Louis est sorti de la cuisine. Deux minutes plus tard, il est retourné et il a dit, “J’ai faim, Leïla. Qu’est-ce que tu vas préparer pour le dîner? J’ai travaillé dur aujourd’hui. Je suis fatigué, j’ai faim et je veux me coucher.”
Moi aussi, j’ai pensé, mais je n’ai rien dit. J’ai ouvert le frigo, j’ai pris des œufs, du fromage, du lait et des lardons et j’ai commencé à préparer le dîner pour notre famille.
When I cam home from uni last night, my husband was not happy. He was in the kitchen, tired after a long day at the hotel.
“A man called for you, Leïla”, he said.
“Oh, really?”, I replied. “What did he say?”
“He wants to help you with your English”, said Jean-Louis.
“Oh, great! Do you have his number?”, I asked.
“Leïla, he is French. He cannot help you with your English.”
“Oh, really? But maybe he has spent lots of time in England or he has English family.”
“I don’t think so, Leïla.” My husband can be difficult sometimes.
“I am going to call to see”, I said. “I need help. I have an exam next month and I’m scared.”
Jean-Louis left the kitchen. Two minutes later, he returned and said, “I’m hungry, Leïla. What are you going to make for dinner? I worked a hard today. I’m tired, I’m hungry and I want to go to bed.”
Me too, I thought, but I didn’t say anything. I opened the fridge, I took some eggs, cheese, milk and bacon and I started to prepare the dinner for our family.