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32. CHRISTMAS PRESENTS Mary counted her money. She had only one pound. That was all! And tomorrow would be Christmas. What Christmas present would she buy with only one pound? Mary laid down on the bed and burst into tears. After some minutes she dried her eyes and stood up. She knew that Jim would be home soon and she didn’t want him to find her in such a state. She desperately wanted to buy him a present so she decided to go and ask her mother for some money. She was combing her hair in the mirror before leaving and she smiled thinking how much Jim liked her hair. She suddenly had an idea and smiled to herself. She ran out of the house and down the street. She stopped in front of Mrs Sofo’s door. On the door there was written: HAIR OF ALL KINDS. She went in and asked, “Will you buy my hair?” “I do buy hair”, said Mrs Sofo. “Take off your hat! Let’s see your hair.” Mrs Sofo lifted Mary’s hair and said, “Twenty pounds.” “Give me the money now.” Said Mary. Half an hour later she was in a shop and she soon found out what she was looking for: a chain for Jim’s gold watch. It was seven o’clock. Jim would be home soon. He was never late. She looked in the mirror again. “Oh, I hope Jim doesn’t kill me, but what could I do with only one pound?” The door opened and Jim came in. He stood still and looked at Mary. He didn’t speak. His eyes were strange. Mary suddenly felt afraid. She felt at a loss. “Did you cut your hair?” Jim spoke slowly. “Oh, Jim, don’t look at me like that. I cut my hair and sold it. It will grow again. Don’t be angry!” Said Mary bursting into tears again. Jim smiled and took Mary in his arms. Then he took a small box out of his pocket and gave it to her. Mary opened the box. First smiled, then suddenly she began to cry. In the box there were two beautiful combs. She never thought she would have anything as beautiful. 1- Have you ever read or heard of episodes like this? 2- Who said the following and why?: a) ‘Take off your hat!’ b) ‘Don’t look at me like that.’ 3- Give reasons for the following: a) Mary burst into tears b) Mary opened the box 4- Look at these sentences and then build them up into a paragraph: 5- Look at these sentences and then build them up into a paragraph: She had left in a great hurry. She had taken her overcoat. But she had forgotten her gloves, her mobile and hat. She had even forgotten to say good-bye. She had just vanished.