A Christmas full of Happiness Learn English through story level 2
chapter 1
christmas
it is night
and the fields near the village
are white with snow
the village is quiet
but not everybody is sleeping
eyes are watching the roads and the
fields near the village
because this is czechoslovakia
and the year is 1957.
across the fields
only half a kilometer away
is the austrian border
but the people of czechoslovakia
are not free to go to austria
the border guards watch day and night
and they carry guns
in a house in the village
a man and a woman are talking
the woman holds a six-month-old baby boy
in her arms
she is excited
but she is afraid too
tell me again
she says
did he get to austria all right last
night
yes he did
the man says
nobody saw him
nobody heard him
but last night was easy
because the sky was dark
tonight
it’s more difficult
look at that moon
but it’s christmas night
the woman says
and the guards are drinking in the guard
house yes
that’s true
says the man
but sometimes they come out and drive up
and down the road for a time
so you must be careful
and you must run fast
very fast
he looks at his watch
it’s time to go
the woman puts on a white coat
and a white hat
the baby wears a white coat too
and the woman carries him on her back
good
the man says
white is best when there’s snow
nobody can see you
now
are you ready
let’s go
they leave the house
and walk quickly out of the village
after a time they stop
and the man says
very quietly
okay
you see those trees
turn right there
and go 50 meters
when you come to the road
go across it quickly
and run down the hill through the trees
then you come to the river
turn left
and go 500 meters
the trees finish there
and you can walk through the river
easily
across two more fields and you’re in
austria
our friends are waiting for you in the
second field
go now
goodbye
and good luck
the woman begins to run
the baby on her back is sleeping
but now
he opens his eyes
and begins to cry
the woman is afraid
and runs more slowly
but the baby’s crying is loud in the
night
at the trees
the woman turns right
and soon she is at the road
she does not see the black car under the
trees
but the men in the car
see her
suddenly there is a noise in the night
the noise of guns
then it is quiet again
the woman’s body lies in the snow on the
road
now the only sound
is the crying of the baby
chapter 2
england
hey
jan
look at this
carol
said she had a letter in her hand
and took it across to her husband at the
breakfast table
it’s from the oxford orchestra
she said
they’re giving concerts in the czech
republic this christmas
they’re doing three concerts in prague
and they’re asking me to go
because they need a harpist
shall we go to prague for christmas
i can play with the orchestra
and you can come with us
when are the concerts
ask jan
i always have a lot of work in the weeks
before christmas
i must finish writing my new book then
jan taught czech at oxford university
and wrote books about languages
he was born in czechoslovakia
but came to england with his father when
he was very young
he met carol when she was one of his
students at university
the first concert
is on december the 20th
carol answered
are you free then
no
i’m sorry carol
jan said
but i can’t come before december the
24th
well
it doesn’t matter
you can come for the second concert
it’s on december the 25th
but what about my father
said jan
we can’t go away and leave him at
christmas time
he loves a family christmas with us
you know that
joseph flack
was 68 years old
and his eyes were bad
he couldn’t see very well
so he lived with carol and jan
joseph can come with us
carol said
he often talks about prague at christmas
he says it’s the most beautiful time of
the year there
because of all the snow on the old
buildings
i know
said jan
but he only talks about prague
he never wants to go there
every time we ask him to come with us
he says no
i don’t know why
but i think it’s because of my mother
when he thinks about prague
he remembers her
you know
sometimes he cries when he looks at his
photo of her
after all these years
just then the door opened
and jan’s father came slowly into the
room
good morning
he said
and sat down at the table
is there any coffee
it’s cold now
said carol
shall i make you some more
thank you my dear
he answered
you’re very good to me
carol went out for some coffee
jan looked at his father carefully
i must ask him now
he thought
while carol is out of the room
you’re very quiet young
said the old man
is something wrong
no
no
said yarn quickly
nothing’s wrong
it’s just
i want to ask you a question
but
it’s difficult
jan stopped
his father smiled
difficult
why is it difficult
are you afraid of an old man
of course not
said jan
but i am afraid of your answer
you see
carol wants to go very much
she loves playing her harp
but it’s christmas time and
stop
said joseph
what are you talking about
where does carol want to go at christmas
to prague
said jan
and i would like to go with her
we want you to come too
ah
said the old man
to prague
i understand now
the room was suddenly very quiet
jan drank his cold coffee
and waited
the old man took something out of his
it was a photograph of his dead wife
jan’s mother
he spoke very quietly
not to yarn
but to the photograph in his hand
perhaps now
before i die
just once
i can go back again
carol came back with some hot coffee
she looked at joseph
then at yarn
he’s thinking about prague
yarn said quietly
carol put the coffee on the table
and sat down
the hands on the clock slowly moved
through two long minutes
then the old man put the photograph back
in his pocket
all right
he said
let’s all go to prague for christmas
it’s beautiful there when it snows
i remember it so well
so very well
chapter three
the accident
the first rehearsal began at nine
o’clock
and finished at two o’clock
what a long morning
everyone said
i’m sorry
said the conductor
but we have very little time
the first concert is tomorrow night
and a lot of important people are coming
so we must play well
now
please go and eat
this afternoon is free
so you can go and look at this beautiful
city
tomorrow morning we begin again
at nine o’clock
please don’t be late
carol left the rehearsal room with alan
one of the first violinists
what are you going to do this afternoon
carol alan asked
i’m going to get a quick sandwich
and then i’m going shopping
carol said
my husband jan and his father are
arriving on sunday
monday is christmas day
and i haven’t got any presents for them
i must find something this afternoon
our only free afternoon
see you tomorrow then
said alan
and
good luck with the shopping
thanks
carol said
there are some wonderful shops in the
stare mesto
the old town
so i’m going down there
carol went into a lot of shops that
afternoon
in the end
she got a book for jan
and a picture for his father
when she left the old town
it was nearly dark
it was very cold
so she walked quickly through the
streets
back to her hotel
there were christmas trees in all the
shop windows
and the city looked beautiful
there was a lot of noise too
people
cars
taxis
buses
everybody’s doing their christmas
shopping
carol thought
suddenly
she saw a man across the street
it was yarn
why was he in prague so soon
yeah
she shouted across the street
but jan didn’t hear her he walked on
carol shouted again
very loudly
yarn
yarn
it’s me carol
a lot of people stopped this time
they all looked at her
the man stopped too
he turned
and looked at carol for a minute
but he didn’t smile
and he didn’t speak
it was a very long minute for carol
her husband’s eyes were cold
and carol began to feel afraid
then he moved
and began to walk away from carol
down a little street
carol did not understand it
but she knew one thing
she did not want to lose him
perhaps he didn’t see me very well
it’s so dark now
he’s going
where is he going
jan
come back
are you ill
she ran across the street
there was a sudden noise
and somebody shouted
two seconds later
carol lay in the snow
she ran right in front of me
the bus driver said later
i couldn’t stop
there was no time
carol’s face was white
and her eyes were closed
soon an ambulance came
and took her body away
was she alive
or dead
at nine o’clock the next morning
the conductor was ready to begin the
rehearsal
he opened his music
and the orchestra started to play
suddenly
his hand stopped moving
and the music stopped at once
harpist
the conductor shouted angrily
what’s the matter with you
are you sleeping
you begin to play here
excuse me mr rinaldi
said someone at the back of the room
the harpist is not here
everyone turned and looked at the harp
at the back of the orchestra
it was true
there was nobody in the harpist’s chair
well
where is she
asked the conductor
there was no answer
we can’t wait for her he said
we must have this rehearsal without her
where is alan
he can speak some check
alan stood up
can you go to the hotel
and look for her there
the conductor asked
then come back here at once
with or without her
alan left
half an hour later
he was back
she’s not at the hotel
he said
i spoke to two or three people in the
hotel
and they say that carol wasn’t there at
breakfast this morning
and they think
that she didn’t sleep in her room last
night
i don’t like this
said the conductor
carol is never late for rehearsals
and she knows that these concerts are
important for us
i think we must tell the police
shall i do it now
alan asked
yes
said the conductor
please go now
chapter four
nobody understands carol
carol slowly opened her eyes
her head hurt
she closed her eyes again
a man said something
what was it
carol
she heard
carol
can you hear me
i can hear you
carol said
but i don’t want to open my eyes
my head hurts
who are you
it’s me
giorgio rinaldi
the conductor of the orchestra
mr inaudible
carol opened her eyes again
her head didn’t hurt so much this time
what are you doing in my bedroom
she asked angrily
what’s happening
this isn’t your bedroom
said mr rinaldi
it’s a hospital in prague
you had an accident yesterday
can you remember anything about it
suddenly carol remembered everything
the old town
the christmas trees in the shop windows
christmas presents
yarn
yawn
she sat up
yan
where’s yarn she asked mr rinaldi
please mrs flack
said a woman quietly
don’t get excited
lie down again
carol turned her head
it hurt again
near the door of the room
she saw a woman in a white coat
a doctor
but i must see yarn
carol said
where is he
i must find him
i cut
oh dear
she put her hand to her head
who’s yarn
the doctor asked mr rinaldi quietly
her husband
he answered
he took carol’s hand
listen
your husband is coming
we told him about the accident
he’s on a plane from london now
on a plane
why he’s here in prague
i saw him in the street
near the old town
i called out to him
and he saw me
but he didn’t stop
he just walked away from me
please find him please
i must talk to him i must
the doctor moved nearer to the bed
jan is coming soon mrs black she said
please don’t get excited it’s not good
for you
now lie down again
and close your eyes
you must sleep
and i know you’re feeling very tired
carol lay down and closed her eyes
the doctor was right
she was tired
but why didn’t they listen
why didn’t they understand
jan was in prague
and she must find him
talk to him
the doctor looked at mr renaldi
and spoke very quietly
let’s leave her now please
she needs to sleep
you can come back later
mr rinaldi and the doctor left the room
they closed the door quietly
and then looked at carol through the
window in the door
she’s going to be all right
said the doctor
she just needs to sleep for a time
there’s nothing wrong with her
yes there is
said mr rinaldi
she thinks her husband is in prague
but i spoke to him on the telephone
three hours ago
and he was in oxford
i’m afraid she’s ill
very ill
listen
said the doctor
she had a bad hit on the head in the
accident
but she didn’t break anything
and her head is all right
we looked at it very carefully
she’s going to be okay
after a good sleep
but
all this talk about yarn her husband
said mr renaldi
what about that
yes
she’s confused about that it’s true
but she remembers her name
she knows you
and she understands that she’s in
hospital
all this is very good
now
what about you mr renaldi
it’s a difficult time for you too
because of your concerts
i understand that
but please go away now
eat something
have a sleep
then come back later this afternoon
you can’t do anything now
all right
said mr rinaldi
but he was not happy
poor carol
he thought
and my poor orchestra
how can i find another harpist before
tonight’s concert
chapter five
some visitors for carol
two hours later
a tall man arrived at the hospital
he asked to see the woman in yesterday’s
street accident
he didn’t know her name
the doctor came downstairs
who are you
she asked the man
my name
is parvel
i saw the accident
and i called the ambulance
is the woman all right
i just wanted to know that
i was afraid she was dead
the doctor smiled
would you like to see her
she’s much better now
yes please
answered pavel
then come with me
they went upstairs in the lift
and walked along to carol’s room
at the door they stopped
and looked in through the window
she’s sleeping
said the doctor
but she looks well said pavel
yesterday she looked so white
i was afraid for her
just then
carol opened her eyes
and saw a man through the window in her
door
she sat up
yarn
she shouted
jan
oh dear
the doctor said
not again
she hit her head in the accident
and she’s confused about some things
she thinks that you
are her husband from england
shall i go
asked pavel
perhaps it’s better
yes
answered the doctor
she went into carol’s room
and closed the door
parvel walked slowly back to the lift
then
the lift door opened
and a man ran out with some beautiful
red flowers in his arms
he looked at the numbers of the rooms
and then went quickly into carol’s room
he didn’t see pavel
but an older man came slowly out of the
lift next
he saw pavel
and stopped suddenly
pavel stopped too
i’m sorry
said the old man
my eyes aren’t very good
i
thought you see
you look
yes
i know
said pavel
i saw your friend
he’s not my friend
he’s my son
please tell me
what is your name
pavel brichter
the old man looked very afraid
his face went white
and his mouth opened and closed
but he said nothing
now pavel was afraid
you don’t look very well he said
would you like to sit down
and shall i call a doctor
there’s a doctor in this room here
please said the old man
my son
is in that room
please take me to him
pavel took the old man’s arm
in carol’s room yarn put the red flowers
on the bed
and took his wife’s hands
oh my love
are you all right
he said
i can’t understand it
why did you run in front of a bus
how did it happen
carol didn’t answer his questions
yarn
she looked up into his face
you are young
tell me that you’re yan
of course i’m yarn
what are you talking about
the doctor came up to the bed
wait a minute
she said
you told me that your name was
britta
are you mrs black’s husband
or not
just then
carol looked behind yarn
she saw parvel with yarn’s father
through the window of her door
her eyes got bigger and bigger
who
is that she said
yarn and the doctor turned and saw
parvel
my god
said yarn
i don’t know
the doctor looked back at yarn’s face
two men
but only one face
she said quietly
then yarn’s father opened the door of
carol’s room
and the two men came in
yarn stood up
he looked at his father
who is this man
he asked
his name
is pavel brichter
answered his
father please
bring me a chair and some water
i need to sit down
before i can answer your question
yarn got a chair for his father and the
doctor gave him some water
then
she left the room quietly
chapter six
who is pavel
the old man drank some water and looked
up
pavel he said
i must ask you to look at this photo
he put his hand in his pocket
and took out a photograph
of a young woman
do you know this woman
yes
said pavel
that’s a photo of my mother
lenka
she died when i was very young
but my grandmother had many photos of
her
and we often looked at them
did you live with your grandmother
when you were young
yes i did
but
how do you know all this
because
said joseph
lenka
was my wife
dad
what he’s saying
said jan
joseph looked at jan
my boy
don’t be angry with me
i didn’t tell you
many things about your mother
perhaps i was wrong
but i wanted to forget
not to forget your mother
only to forget that terrible night
in 1957
jan
this man parvel
is your twin brother
you can see that it’s true
look at your faces
marvel looked at tian
so
i have a brother
he said
my grandmother never told me that
jan smiled
and
my father
our father
never told me
about a twin brother
he turned to joseph
tad
why didn’t you tell me
it’s a long story
said the old man
it begins many years ago
when a young man went to prague
university
he was there for seven years
and in his last year
he met a beautiful young woman
his eyes turned to the photo
she was so beautiful
of course
the young man fell in love with her
and they got married in 1956
but things were difficult in prague then
people were not happy
and they were not free
lenka and i
and a lot of our friends
wanted to change things
but it was dangerous work
the russians knew about us
and they watched us all the time
then
you two boys were born on a wonderful
day in june
1957
but you went away
pavel said angrily
your wife died
and you left the country
you went away to england
and began a new life
you didn’t write
you didn’t telephone
you weren’t interested in me
your son
joseph’s face was very sad
he said
i thought you were dead
look
i must show you something
from behind the photo of his wife
he took out a letter
and gave it to pavel
the letter was old and yellow
pavel opened it
and began to read
the letter was in check
and it was his grandmother’s writing
i write to tell you joseph that your
wife is dead
on christmas night
the guards shot her
on the road at the border
she carried pavel your baby son
and my grandson
on her back
and the guards shot him too
your wife
and your son are dead
your
friends
came and told me yesterday
you have yarn
and a new life in england
and what do i have
nothing
you took one grandson away from me
and now my daughter
and little parvel are dead
because of you
don’t write to me
and don’t come back to prague
i never want to see you
or hear from you again
stannis lava
slowly
pavel put the letter down
i understand now
he said quietly
what a terrible letter
how could she do that to you
and to me
stanny’s lava loved her daughter very
much
joseph said sadly
she loved you too
and didn’t want to lose you
i see that now
but she never liked me
and after that letter
how could i go back to prague
you were dead
lenka was dead
he put his face in his hands
the room was very quiet
then pavel put his hand on his father’s
arm
stannis lava is dead now he said
you and i can begin again
he smiled
and learned to be father
and son
joseph’s face was wet with tears
he put his hand over pavel’s hand
and smiled back at him
but he could not speak
now there were tears in everybody’s eyes
after a minute or two
jan said
dad
i know it’s difficult for you
but
can you tell us about that christmas in
1957
how did it all happen i’d like to know
yes
said his father
you
and pavel
must know
he turned to pavel
but
what did stannislava tell you
very little
pavel said
she never wanted to talk about it
she told me that my mother died in
hospital
and you went away to england
that was all
i can understand that
said joseph
poorest on his lava
she lost her daughter
because of me
and she never liked our work for freedom
you see
she didn’t understand
she just wanted a quiet family life
christmas
1957
said yarn
yes
said
joseph in october and november of that
year
things got more and more dangerous for
lenka and me
our friends told us
leave before the russians get you
get away to austria
and then to england
we didn’t want to leave czechoslovakia
of course
it was our
home but we couldn’t stay
our friends helped us
and jan and i got across the border on
the day before christmas
december the
24th it was night
there was no moon
and we got to austria all right through
the fields and the snow
but the next night
december the 25th
said pavel
my grandmother told me the day
my mother died in a hospital bed in
prague she said
lenka
died in the snow
on the road at the border
joseph said
she was so near austria
so near us
with you pavel
on her back
the old man’s voice stopped
and again
he put his head in his hands
chapter 7
the music must come first
for some minutes
nobody in the room said anything
they looked at the old man in his chair
and they all thought about a snowy night
in 1957
then pavel turned to yarn
let’s forget
1957 for now
he said quietly
for me
this is a wonderful day
i have no family in prague
my grandmother died many years ago
but now
i have a brother
a father
he looked at carol in her bed and smiled
and
a sister
why did you come to the hospital to see
me
carol asked
you had an accident because of me
pavel said
i knew that
you called to me
and shouted
and then ran to me across the street
right in front of a bus
i didn’t understand why
but i wanted to know that you were all
right
young looked at carol too
and
are you all right my love
i’m sorry
i forgot about you
i’m feeling very well
carol said happily
now
i understand everything
so i feel much better
my husband is my husband again
and we have a new brother
oh
but there is one thing
she looked at her new brother
why is your name
pavel britta
and not parvel
the old man moved in his chair
her name was lenka
he said quietly
before she married me
yes
pavel said
he looked at carol
you see
my father didn’t want me
i thought
so i didn’t want my father’s name
and when i was older
i changed it
and took my mother’s name
he turned to his father
i was an angry young man then
but now
no
said joseph
don’t change it
it’s a very good name
and you are lenka’s son
suddenly the door opened
and mr rinaldi came in
carol
he said
the doctor says that you are better
is it true
you look wonderful
can you play in the concert tonight
you see
i can’t find another harpist
and without a harp the music
he saw everyone for the first time
and stopped
oh
i’m sorry
he said quickly
i see you have friends here
but you see
it’s important
it’s an important concert for my
orchestra and
he stopped again
why are you all laughing at me
jan stopped laughing first
mr rinaldi
he said
you are the right man for prague the
city of music
the music
must come first
carol
mr rinaldi began
carol turned to yarn
i feel very well now
and i’d like to play tonight
but i want all my family to come to the
concert
my husband my new brother
and their father
can you all come
please say yes
jan looked at his father
are you all right dad
or are you feeling tired now
shall we all go to mr rinaldi’s concert
free tickets of course for all carol’s
family
said mr rinaldi quickly
christmas music in prague again
joseph said slowly
and with my two
sons
wonderful
wonderful
he smiled happily at yarn and pavel
how can we say no
he asked
you