Speaking
Pronunciation
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.