A Second Chance Learn English through story level 2
sometimes people’s lives go terribly
wrong
maybe their marriage breaks down
they lose their job
their house
their friends
they have to live on the street
they drink too much
they don’t wash
who will give a man like that a second
chance
only a very special kind of person
like nan
a fruit seller on the streets of
kingston
[Music]
sonny had a new plan
but he did not know if nan would agree
to it
he and jake were building a house
which was big enough for two families
and one day they decided between them
that sonny’s ex-wife tanya and his
children should have it
nan
sonny said to her quietly
i going to let tanya and the children
live in the house
what
shouted none
why
it is good for the children
said sunny
they will be off the streets
and the boys won’t have to hustle like
me
but what about me and you
where are we going to live
we will try and build another one
sonny said
lord
he thought
is she going to leave me now
maybe this is too much for her
i love her
i hope she understands what i’m trying
to do
so
nun said slowly
you tell tanya already
i said something about it
sonny looked away from nan’s eyes
she agrees because it would be good for
the children
i don’t want my daughters living and
dying like dogs on the streets of
kingston
and i don’t want my boys carrying guns
and selling drugs
i want them to have a place to live none
a place where they can study their books
and have a better life
it is a hard thing you ask sonny
nan said quietly
sonny was a good man
and nan trusted him
but she could not understand why he
still cared about his ex-wife tanya
why can’t he have a clean break with
this woman she thought
tanya ruined his life
she went with other men
and she kicked him out on the street
and then she sold all his things
nan remember the day when she first met
sonny
a day that changed her life
he was just a street man
a drunkard
and so dirty
there was hunger in his face
in his eyes
even in the way he walked
she watched him for a while
then called out to him
old man
come here
you’re hungry
yes mom
what kind of a street man was this she
thought
nobody ever called her mom
that wasn’t a word people said to women
who sold fruit on street corners
they usually called out old girl
or something worse like
dirty skettle
it felt good to be called mom
she took some of her fruit and gave it
to him
thank you miss
he said
i’m very grateful
he came by every day after that
and every day she gave him some fruit
then one day she took him to the church
on harbour street
which helped street people with their
drink problems
they agreed to help him
and took him in
two months later a clean tidy man in a
light brown suit stopped by her stall
and said
how are you madam
he gave a big smile
showing his white teeth
here’s something for you
he said
and held out two one thousand dollar
bills
thank you
nan said
but why you give me so much money
you helped me when i needed someone
he said quietly
you brought me back to life
nan stared at him
not understanding
i was that old drunkard on these streets
he explained
and you gave me food every day
what
said nan
i happy to see that you are right now
yes
thanks to you
i now have a job with the town council
you know
i drive the garbage truck
nan smiled happily
she went on smiling for the next year
and a half
she felt young again
and full of hope
at last she could forget the sad years
when she was 16
with a baby
and no chance to go to school and get a
better life for herself
she and sonny started living together
and now they were planning to get
married and have a home of their own
she decided to give sonny this one thing
and to give it freely
because she trusted him
okay go on
she said to sonny
let them live in the house
and we will work together to build our
own
sonny put his long arms around nan’s
comfortable body and pulled her close
he understood what she was saying
that she trusted him
that she was strong enough to wait
he put his mouth close to her ear and
whispered
thank you
[Music]
you