RETELL ROOM WITH A VIEW

A) Anna`s decision to have a room of her own

Anna was working in the London sales office of Lufthansa, the big German airline. And she was going to be in England for at least two years. She admired everything, except the place where she was staying at. She didn`t get along well with her cousin, and she wanted to find a room of her own in Putney. But she had looked at many flats, and they had all been expensive. Anna understood, that she must find a room, but it should be a room for a reasonable rent in Putney, as her journey to the office only took two minutes. And she continued her search for a flat.

B) Anna`s meeting with Susan

On Tuesday, April 15th, Anna asked the manager for the morning off and after that she set off for the offices of the Echo, the local newspaper, to put an advertisement. Anna arrived there and went up to the advertising department on the second floor. She saw a pretty, dark-haired girl and smiled at her. The girl was also filling in a form. She looked at her for a while and then clarified the correct way to say in English that she wanted to rent a room. The girl explained that people rent a room from someone and let it to someone. Anna complained that she constantly mixed up these two verbs. Anna pointed out that she was from Germany, her home was in Hamburg, and her name was Anna Klein. The girl also introduced herself, her name was Susan Bond. They shook hands. Susan wondered whether Anna wanted a furnished or unfurnished room and how much she wanted to pay for it. Anna pointed out that the rent should be no more than five pounds per week. Susan was surprised, because she wanted to let a room for that rent, and she suggested Anna to take a look at it. Anna agreed and they headed for Chestnut Avenue.

C) Susan`s house and the room Anna got

Anna saw a tall, well-built house and liked the look of it immediately. Susan walked up a short flight of steps and opened the front door. Anna followed her into the hall. Susan mentioned that her mother was out. They climbed the stairs. She opened a door on the landing at the top of the stairs. Anna admitted that the room was lovely.

It was bigger than she expected - about 6 meters long by 5 meters wide. One end had a curtain in front of it. Anna looked behind the curtain. In one corner there was a wash-basin. There was also an electric cooker, and on a shelf above it there were three new saucepans and a frying pan.

Beside the cooker there was a small cupboard. In it there were plates, cups, saucers and a teapot. In a drawer at the top there were knives, forks and spoons. This part of the room was really a small kitchen. Anna pulled back the curtain and looked at the rest of the room.

The carpet was light grey and covered most of the floor. In front of the gas fire there was a thick red rug. The curtains were also red – but of a lighter shade. The walls were white. It was a cheerful comfortable room.

Beneath the window there was a dressing-table with three drawers and a mirror. There were two armchairs, a small table with reading lamps and a few pictures on the walls. Anna did not like the pictures and thought that she would soon change these. Next to the gas fire there was a large built-in cupboard for clothes. Anna had already decided that she wanted the room.

That evening Anna met Mrs. Bond. The two of them got on very well. Mrs Bond wondered when Anna wanted to move in. Anna suggested Sunday and Mrs Bond agreed with her.