Olivia: Joe! Can you stop that please! Can you please come here and sit down!
Magda: Hello there, Olivia. Who’s this?
Olivia: This is Joe – he’s my nephew.
Magda: Nephew?
Olivia: My sister’s son.
Magda: Oh! I see. He’s lovely! I love children...
Olivia: Yeah, they’re great until you have to look after them...
Magda: You’re looking after him?
Olivia: Yeah, just for today, fortunately. My sister can’t get a babysitter. But Joe comes to my shop quite often. He loves it there...unfortunately!
Magda: Why’s that ‘unfortunate’?
Olivia: Because he’s a pest, that’s why...
Magda: What’s a ‘pest’?
Olivia: Somebody or something which makes you angry...
Magda: No!! I don’t believe it! He’s so sweet! How old is he?
Olivia: Four, nearly five.
Fadi: Whoooaaaa! Slow down there, little man! Who’s this?
Olivia: Fadi, meet Joe.
Magda: He’s Olivia’s nephew. And a sweet little pest!
Fadi: Oh really! I didn’t know you were Aunt Olivia!
Olivia: Thank you very much Fadi. You make me feel old. Listen, have you had a chat with Harry yet?
Fadi: About work?
Olivia: Yeah.
Fadi: No, not yet, but I’m supposed to talk to him today. He said he’d be in here later.
Olivia: Listen, though, it’s not true what Harry was saying...
Fadi: About what?
Olivia: About me being upset if he can’t do the website for my shop...I don’t mind if he can’t do it! He wanted far too much money. I could never have afforded it. Now it’s ok, because he thinks he’s turning me down...I don’t have to offend him by saying ‘no’! A happy result all round!
Fadi: I see...so I don’t have to bail you out, after all?
Olivia: No!
Olivia: Joe, can you stop that please? Come over here!
Fadi: ...and here he is!
Harry: Alright mate! Alright Olivia, Magda...who’s this young man?
Olivia: My nephew, Joe.
Harry: Hello Joe!
Harry: He’s very...erm...what’s the word...energetic?
Olivia: I just call him “trouble”!
Harry: So, Fadi, you wanted to talk business?
Fadi: Yeah, finally...well, I’ve got the all clear from my uncle, so we’re on.
Harry: Great.
Fadi: But...
Harry: There’s always a “but”!
Fadi: You’re going to have to do us a favour and come down on the price, mate...
Harry: What price did I quote you?
Fadi: Two thousand five hundred.
Harry: Well, seeing as you’re a friend, I could come down to two thousand four hundred, but not less than that.
Fadi: We can offer two thousand. That’s our top limit. We don’t have a bigger budget than that.
Harry: Come on! You’re joking!
Fadi: Sorry mate. It’s two thousand, or nothing.
Harry: No way. Can’t be done. I’ve got to go now...got to go and see Johnny – he’s offered me a real job...bye all!
Fadi: Oh no, do you think he’s really upset now?
Olivia: I don’t think “upset” is the word....
Fadi: We can go a bit higher actually...I was just trying to be a tough negotiator.
Magda: A bit too tough, I think.
Olivia: You should never mix work and friendship, anyway.
Magda: And you probably shouldn’t have a business meeting in a café!
Fadi: Oh no. What a mess. I’d better go. Hang on..where’s my...where are my....I can’t find my mobile! Or my keys! Has anyone seen them?
Magda: Let’s look under the seats...they must be here somewhere...
Fadi: I can’t see anything.
Magda: No sign.
Olivia: How strange...hang on a minute, my nephew’s been terribly quiet for the last five minutes...what’s he up to...Joe!!!
Comments
hi
what's the verb tense in this sentence : " i could never have afforded it" and what did fadi mean by "the all" and "we're on" in this one : " i've got the all clear from my uncle so we're on"
thank you
team
Hi Thuraya,
The first sentence contains a modal verb and the present perfect. In the second sentence, Fadi is talking about 'the all clear', which means his uncle agrees to go ahead. When he says 'we're on', he means they are ready to act.
Best wishes,
Adam
The LearnEnglish Team
I have a problem with listening to English. I can hear all the words in a sentence but just little understanding. i can't link all the words and interpret into my language but when I see the transcript I can understand. Please help me! Thanks!
team
Hello,
You probably just need more time and more practice. Listening in a foreign language is very difficult at first. As you become used to it, it will get easier.
Best wishes,
Adam
The LearnEnglish Team
Come on guys….. He is just 4 years old. He is not supposed to understand as adult do. Actually he could control himself more than natural. I mean comparing to other little boys. They must be full energetic. Adult should play with kids so that they learn things. They should examine everything to understand the world. Their brain will grow up. Trust me! I have 3 little nieces and one little nephew. I love dealing with them.
what other situation the bail out word can be used?
i think its also help for ielts
Hello .
I couldn't't find the audio of this episode .
team
Hello,
The audio is on the 'Listen' tab.
Best wishes,
Adam
The LearnEnglish Team
Hi everybody.
I am Yuriy. I am from Ukraine. I am 29. Many thanks to the authors of Big City Small World. Every episode is great. And it really helps learn English.