Aethelflaed and the Missing Trophy (Book for English Learners)

by Jonathan Olliffe

  “I've got it! I woke up all of a sudden in the middle of the night, and it came to me” exclaimed Aethelflaed when she saw her friends. She did not even bother to greet them. They were getting out of Samantha's car.

  “What came to you?”

  Samantha had just driven back from Canterbury, where she was studying dentistry, and Natalia was with her. Natalia was taking a degree in Modern Languages at the university there.

  “The answer - I've worked it out! It's easy, it's logical, and I've been waiting for you two all day. I need your boat.”

  “My what?” Samantha frowned56.

  “Your boat. We're going to get the trophy back.”

  “I suppose you mean my parents' boat. And I'm going to study. I've got my last exam this Thursday.”

  “That means you've got another two days to study.”

  “And do you know how much I've got to revise?”

  “Well, you shouldn't have left it all to the last minute. You have to revise all year round, and not just in the last week. Even I know that!” Aethelflaed laughed “That's not my fault, is it?”

  “And you tell me that I'm a bad friend?”

  “Stop moaning75 and get the boat ready, before your mum and dad get back. If they catch you, you'll be grounded76 for a year, and I'm not taking the blame!” Aethelflaed stuck her tongue out at Samantha.

  The air was still hot, even though it was early evening. As the boat sailed silently along the creek you could hear the sound of birds in the reeds and the 'plop' of fish jumping out of the water.

  “If we walk, Scroogey will see us.” Aethelflaed told them as she explained her theory “You see, it's simple – the trophy falls into the water, gets swept away in the current, and Scroogey picks it up in his nets.”

  “Scroogey puts nets into the creek? That's illegal!” exclaimed Natalia.

  “Go and tell him off77 then! He knows that perfectly well, and that's why he only does it at night.”

  Activity 17: Read the description and name the object. If you need more help with the names, carry on reading the story:ANSWERS: profesornativogratis.com/9585-2/

  1. This is used to turn the car when you are driving.

  2 & 3. Two of these objects are used to cut wood.

  4. This word is plural, although it's only one object. They are used to weigh objects.

  5. If you want to know the length or width of something, you'll need this.

  6. This would usually be found in a bathroom, below a mirror.

  7. Are you trying to join pieces of paper? Every office and teacher has one.

  8. As old as human civilisation, now they are regarded as decorative ornaments.

  9. A dressmaker or tailor has one of these, maybe a bit more modern, though.

  10. A carpenter or DIY enthusiast should have some nails and one of these.

  11. If you don't have nails, you can also use this to do the same job.

  12. How are you going to get onto the roof of your house?

  13. This is useful when you get tired wandering around the park.

  14. When you go to the counter to pay, the cashier gets your receipt from this.

  15. The people who use this never get to see it.

  “Wait a second,” interrupted Samantha “There's something here I don't get78. Who pushed Bob into the river? Was it Rodney?”

  “You see, that was my mistake. I was trying to work that out too. I reckon79 that nobody pushed him in – he must have been too ashamed to admit that he had drunk too much, so he invented that story.”

  “No way! He's not that dim-witted80, is he?”

  Nobody answered. Natalia giggled.

  As they glided81 up the creek, Scroogey's boat came into view. It was like a mini Noah's ark, Aethelflaed thought, and surrounded by objects of all shapes and sizes: A washing machine, screwdrivers, ladders, TV or computer screens, pots, saws, scales, benches, briefcases, sewing machines, tape measures, pots, sacks, signs, parasols, a till and even a tombstone. The boat itself was loaded with more. The girls could see a fire extinguisher, hammers, hammocks, axes and a sink. On the roof there was a vase and a traffic cone.

  “OK, so now the most important question,” said Samantha “What are we going to do now?”

  “Jump onto Scroogey's boat and get the trophy.” answered Aethelflaed calmly “You don't think he'll give it to us just like that, do you?”

  “You're mad! I'm not going anywhere!” shrieked Natalia.

  Samantha was horrified: “You brought me out here with the boat and you tell me this now? I can't turn around here!”

  “Exactly” Aethelflaed smiled “You didn't think I was going to tell you at your place, did you? I'm not that stupid, you know.”

  “If Scroogey doesn't kill you, I'll do it myself, I swear82.” Samantha murmured.

  “Ethel” pleaded Natalia “Don't do this for a stupid trophy. We know you're smarter than we are. You don't have to prove anything to anyone.”

  “Just as well83 there's nobody on deck. Keep quiet, or he'll hear you.”

  “And Gary? Gary might be around somewhere....”

  “Gary is with Rodney, and if that changes Stan will tell me. Does anyone want to join me?”

  As Samantha and Natalia looked on84 terrified, Aethelflaed leapt85 down onto Scroogey's boat, and whispered to the girls: “When you get out of the creek, turn around and come back. I'll have seen all I need to see, and I'll jump back onto your boat as you sail past.”

  As the boat swept by, the two faces disappeared from view. 'They've gone paler86 than I am!' thought Aethelflaed with a smile.

  Aethelflaed looked around the deck. The most important thing was to hide, in case Scroogey came up to check, ant it would give her time to look for the trophy. She looked around at the bicycles, bottles, cages, and junk. It took her no more then five seconds to see a good place – and quickly headed towards a pile of nets at the back of the boat.

  She had not gone more than two paces when she heard a door open behind her, and a voice that snapped: “Who's there? What are you up to?”

  Aethelflaed felt her heart leap out of chest. After freezing, she gradually regained her composure and turned to face Scroogey.

  For as long as she had remembered, she had been told stories about the madman who lived out on a boat in the marshes and ate frog soup and naughty children. Her father had always told her off for repeating these stories at home, but had offered none in reply.

  Scroogey was Davingstock's greatest mystery. He was not so much old as ageless, and in the young people's imagination seemed to have been around before Davingstock existed. For everything that was known about him, five stories were invented, and over the years it was impossible to say which was which.

  Where Gary had come from and who his mother had been was also an enigma. Gary himself did not know, or refused to tell. If he spoke to anybody, it would be to Rodney, because the rest of Davingstock treated him with mistrust87. Since he was a child people had steered clear of Gary, having been raised in the marshes, and being his father's son.

  And here stood Aethelflaed, in front of the very same Scroogey. His face was covered by a long discoloured moustache. He was wrinkled88, but his eyes were lively and his posture was firm.

  Activity 18: Name the 19 types of animal in this picture.ANSWERS: profesornativogratis.com/9585-2/

  “Can't you hear me girl? What are you doing on my boat?” He was staring at her. Aethelflaed had to think fast.

  She opened her mouth: “I was looking for Gary – is he here?”

  There was no reaction at first, and then the man laughed, a loud, body-shaking laugh. To Aethelflaed's surprise, his teeth were white and strong like a teenager's. He was wearing a torn89 blue top, ragged89 brown courdroy90 trousers with knee patches; sandals, tied with string5. He was scruffy91 but clean, she noticed.

  “You jump onto my boat when you think nobody's looking, and now you ask for my son!” His smile disappeared suddenly, as if it had been
switched off. “You've come to steal something. Tell me what you are looking for.”

  For a couple of seconds Aethelflaed said nothing, and then, as Scroogey watched, eyes narrowed, she answered: “The trophy. I've come for the trophy.”

  The man's expression changed. He looked curious. “What trophy?”

  “The football trophy the town won. It fell in the river, and I was sure you caught it. It's not mine. I've come to take it back to town.”

  “The vase, the golden vase? That was the football trophy?” Scroogey smiled “I put flowers in it. You'll find it around here.” He turned away from Aethelflaed, waving his hand.

  “And the next time you need something, just call like a normal human being.” He shouted before disappearing into the boat.

  Aethelflaed sighed with relief, and leaned92 onto the side of the boat, head in hands. Then quickly she stood up and looked around her, moving bottles, cages, rope and piles of junk93.

  Next to some boxes she found some wild daisies94 crushed95 and dried, but no trophy. 'I give up', she thought. She went to the side to wait. Her friends found her ten minutes later, sailing back up the creek.

  “Ethel!” they whispered, as she leapt onto the deck behind them “You're alive!”

  “The trophy wasn't here - Gary's got it.” Aethelflaed had calmed down, but her friends noticed her change of mood.

  “In that case, let's go home and forget it.” said Samantha “We won't get that back now.”

  “What can you do?” added Natalia “If you tell PC Blake, Gary's just going to deny96 everything! You can't prove he took it. It's game over, Ethel”

  “You're right” replied Aethelflaed “But you have to promise to come with me to The Davingstock Arms. Let's have a drink!”

  By the time the boat is back and moored they are smiling and laughing once again. Aethelflaed has told them about Scroogey, her Scroogey - scarier and more sinister than the original - and enjoying her friends' shrieks of fear and open eyes.

  Natalia and Aethelflaed sit by Samantha's swimming pool, waiting for her to change. Her parents turn up, earlier than expected, and the girls greet them nervously. “That was close!” whispers Natalia.

  Luckily, Samantha comes in and the girls make their excuses (“We need a break - we've been studying all evening.”) they cross the bridge and head for the pub.

  It's late Monday evening, but The Davingstock Arms always has an army of regulars, drinking pints of Davingstock's own dark ale97: Farmers, fishermen, London commuters98 and workers from Davingstock's own brewery99. Those at the tables are talking and laughing; those at the bar are staring silently at their beers. This is the scene when the three girls stroll in.

  As soon as Aethelflaed enters the bar she calls out for silence. The noise stops and everyone turns to look. “The trophy's been found!” declares Aethelflaed triumphantly. Behind her, her friends suddenly have the same expression of terror as before.

  “She's lost her mind. She's gone completely mad!” Natalia whispers.

  The regulars look at her carefully. Is this a joke? No, It's young Ethel, the librarian's dim-witted daughter. “Where is it? Have you got it?” one asks.

  “Scroogey fished it out of the creek. Gary's got it. He wanted to keep it a secret – he wants to give Bob a surprise, I mean.”

  Natalia leans against the door. She makes a sound, like a cat crying.

  The pub erupts. Everybody is talking at the same time. “Someone call Gary! Has anyone got his number? Phone that Rodney fellow then. He'll have his number. Tell him to bring it over here!” People yell.

  A hand grabs Aethelflaed's shoulder. It's Natalia. “What have you done? What if he hasn't got it? What if he's sold it? We'll end up being chucked into the creek, the three of us!”

  Samantha has turned red. “That's it, Aethelflaed!” she whispers furiously “I need a friend that acts like a normal human being. If we get out of here alive, you'll have to find yourself another friend- and this time I mean it!!”

  A yell is heard from inside the pub “The girl's right! He's got the trophy – he's coming this way!”

  Aethelflaed smiles, Natalia sighs with relief, and Samantha covers her face with her hands. “Great – now we don't have to worry about the rest. We know it's Gary who's going to kill us. Wonderful!”

  “Get some drinks for the girls!” someone shouts. They are asked questions. Aethelflaed answers, Samantha frowns and keeps quiet, Natalia murmurs something, but nobody minds.

  Activity 19: What are these people's jobs?ANSWERS: profesornativogratis.com/9585-2/

  A) These people used to have to wear a wig, but it's not so common now. Although here it's a man, over half of the under-forties are women in the UK.

  B) The qualities needed for this job are: loyalty, sense of duty, companionship. He or she must be reliable, disciplined and – of course – brave.

  C) Keeping control of adults or children in a highly competitive situation requires what is called 'people management'. We've already seen this job in the story.

  D) She's just finished her shift in the medical surgery. She's like a family doctor, but there's a different name for it – just two letters (It's an abbreviation).

  E) This job could be civil, but I think this young man works for the military because he's wearing a type of uniform which a fisherman, for example, wouldn't.

  F) This smart young man has one of Davingstock's sharpest minds. He has just graduated and is due to work for NASA, putting science into practice.

  G) He could be a lawyer or a businessman because he's wearing a suit, but in fact he helps out in an office, organising the paperwork, making coffee and other admin.

  H) This is Brian. He looks like a teacher, doesn't he? Well, he is, in a way, but as he teaches at a university, he's called something different.

  I) Do you remember the waiter from earlier in the story? Well, this is his sister, Jane. Most jobs have unisex titles now, so you could say 'waiting staff' or 'server'.

  J) If you've got a problem with a boiler or a leak in your radiator, this is the man you should call. He'll give you an 'estimate' or a 'quote' of how much it will cost to fix.

  K) Chopping, slicing, braising, roasting, simmering and baking are all part of this person's job. I need both names – the world-class and the everyday.

  L) He works in Davingstock's poshest hotel. He takes your suitcases. There are a few names – give me the one which can also be used in a hospital, airport or station.

  ANSWERS: profesornativogratis.com/9585-2/

  A while later the door opens and Gary walks in. He's carrying the trophy in his arms. Rodney is behind him. They are both white, and they have the same scared expression as Sam and Natalia. Gary tries to smile, but it makes him look like he's crying.

  Everybody cheers. “He's got the trophy! He's found the trophy!” The barman yells at everyone to be quiet. “I'm phoning Bob. He's got to come over. I'll tell him he left something here the other night.” The phone call is over in twenty seconds. Then people pass the trophy around the room, one by one. People are shaking Gary's hand, clapping him on the back, buying him drinks.

  Aethelflaed sees Gary's face. He's beaming24 with happiness. He feels – at last! - appreciated, part of the community. When he starts talking, he doesn't stop. He tells one story about how he found the trophy, then he tells another. They are completely different – the second story has nothing to do with the first. Nobody minds – they like both.

  Bob comes into the pub. The first thing he sees is the trophy, and he freezes, mouth open. People tell him that Gary found it, and he shakes his hand, almost tearful. “I won't forget this, Gary” he keeps saying “I owe you one.” Gary insists that it was nothing, and that any decent person would have done the same.

  By now nobody remembers Dean's acrobatic saves during the final, or Ayaan's dramatic entrance, or Bob's last-minute goal. Davingstock has
found a new hero!

  It's time for us to drink up100 and say goodbye. There are still a lot of people left in the bar, joking and laughing, but we have to work tomorrow!

  The girls have already left. Can you hear their shrieks of laughter across the creek? The air is cooler – you should have brought your jacket.

  Stepping outside, it feels as though we are in a new world. The creek is as dark and thick as oil, its surface twinkling4 with diamonds. The sun has almost disappeared. The sky has been painted with brushstrokes of crimson101, turquoise, and ruby. Out on the marshes the old man's boat now seems to sail in a sea of gold....

  Have you enjoyed this book?

  Yes, I have!

  If you have, please help me to carry on publishing. If this is a success I will be able to dedicate more time and energy to writing more. Rate the book on Amazon and explain why you have liked it, share with your friends, nd subscribe to my newsletter on profesornativogratis.com for more news and material to learn English.

  No, I haven't. It could be better...

  If you have not enjoyed the book, or have any ideas on how I could improve, I would love to hear from you. Please write to me at: contact@profesornativogratis.com

  The second Aethelflaed book: 'Aethelflaed & the Rock Star' is now for sale on Amazon: Longer & Better!

  Would you like a preview of the next book? Subscribe to the monthly newsletter from profesornativogratis.com, and get the first chapter for free!

  Activity 21: Choose the right person.

  Who......?

  1.….. is completely bald?

  2.…. influences Aethelflaed's behaviour?

  3.….. gets people's backs up102?

  4.….. doesn't feel part of the community?

  5.….. is very opinionated?

  6.…. is not up-to-date with current affairs?

  7.…. is popular, but perhaps not very bright?

  8.…. does not have a very good academic record?

  9.…. puts himself at risk to help others?