Sam arrived at his house, number 56. The lights were on in every room, and he could see his sixteen-year-old daughter, Emma, sitting at her computer in her bedroom.Sam went inside the house and put his bag down. "Wonderful," he thought. "No more work until Monday. Sam worked for the town's newspaper the Bath Chronicle. He was a reporter, but not a very important one. He quite liked his job, but he didn't get a lot of money for it. When he started work at the newspaper twenty years ago, he had big ideas. He wanted to work there for a few years, and then move to London to work for one of the big newspapers. But time moved on and he didn't. Sam still wrote about the ordinary lives of people in Bath and sometimes sometimes a big story. Then all the people on the paper had to work together and it felt good again for a short time. Hannah, where are you? called Sam. Upstairs with Alicia, a voice repliedSam went upstairs and found his wife, Hannah, in the bathroom. Two-year-old Alicia was playing in the bath with about ten yellow plastic ducks"Hello, my favourite two girls, said Sam and kissed them both. il heard that, Dad, called Emma from her bedroom. "What about me? I thought I was your favourite. That was yesterday when you made me a cup of tea, said Sam and walked into his older daughter's room. Emma was looking at something on the Internet"I'm trying to find something about Chile for my geography teacher, said Emma and turned to give her father a kiss. Go and ask Maggie. She's just come back from Chile, replied her father. No, it's OK, I'll find it on the Internet. It's quicker Anyway, she probably doesn't know much about the Mapuche Indians. Dad you know I really like geography, don't you?" asked Emma. Yes,' replied her father. Well, our teacher wants to take us to Norway after school finishes in the summer. She told us about it today. It sounds wonderful. Can I go?' Emma looked at her father. He could see how excited she was. It'll be expensive, won't it?' asked Sam. "I'm not sure replied Emma, but she knew it wasn't cheap. "There's the money I got for my birthday. We can use that, Yes, but that's not enough for a holiday to Norway. I'll um about ca d m and be left the room.
again thinking about money. Sam went into his other daughter's bedroom. Hannah was sitting on the bed. Alicia was nearly asleep so Sam kissed her goodnight. "How much does Emma need for Norway? he asked Hannah as they walked downstairs. A lot about E700, I think. And she has to tell her teacher on Monday if she's going,' replied Hannah'She really wants to, Sam. "I know. I'll try to find the money from somewhere.' Sam walked into the back garden for a cigarerte. Hannah sat down at the kitchen table to read the newspaper. Hannah looked up when Sam came back in and said, 'I could get a job, Sam. But I really want to stay at home with Alicia for a bit longer. I know, and that's fine," said Sam. "I'll ask Jeremy to lend us some money. I don't like doing it, but I've done it before.
His older brother, Jeremy, had a good job. He worked in the world of computers where nobody thought about not having enough money Jeremy was strong some people thought he was hard, not strong. Every job he got was better than the last one, He wasn't happy if life was too quiet and easy. He was a doer, not a thinker, His wife was the same They both worked and played really hard. 'It's good that they don't have any children because there isn't enough time for them in their lives, thought Sam, Jeremy didn't understand how expensive children were, And Sam hated asking his brother for money. He could tell that Jeremy felt sorry for his younger brother Why don't you get a better job, Sam Jeremy always asked, 'You're intelligent, you could do anything,'I like my job, replied Sam. don't want to work anywhere else." That wasn't really true, but he could never let Jeremy know that. And this was the same conversation Sam and Jeremy had on the phone that Friday evening. But then it changed m sorry. Sam, but I'm not going to lend you the money, said Jeremy. Pardon?' said Sam. No, no money this time. You need to think about your job. Get a job with more money. You've got to change, Sam. Every time you need money, you come to me. Well, I think it's too easy. Jeremy stopped. Sam put the phone down. His head was hurting. He couldn't believe it. His own brother didn't want to help him. His own brother talked to him like that, and made him feel small and dir Sam went back into the kitchen.
'What did he say?" asked Hannah. Fine," said Sam. "He'll lend us the money, so Emma can go to Norway. q know it's difficult for you to ask, so thank you, my love, said Hannah and kissed him. Sam didn't look at Hannah and went to find Emma.