001 The Blue Badge

Jonathan Guglielmo — English Teacher  |  Suggested level: A2

Before you read: A person wants to join a local group but feels nervous; what could make them feel welcome?

At half past five, Mina unlocked the upstairs room at the Greenbank Community Centre. It was the first meeting of Hello Tuesday, a small group for people who wanted to meet their neighbours. As a volunteer, Mina had put tea, biscuits and coloured name badges on a table. Then she found a note under the door.

‘Please leave a chair near the door,’ it said. ‘I want to come, but I feel nervous about introducing myself.’ There was no name.

Mina looked at the six chairs round the table. A stranger might arrive late and see them all full. She added a seventh chair near the door and placed a blue badge beside it. But how could she welcome the writer without making that person feel watched?

At six o’clock, people began to come upstairs. A young father came with a sleeping baby. Two women from the florist arrived together. An older man in a grey coat sat silently by the window. Mina smiled at each person, but nobody took the blue badge.

When the tea was ready, Mina said, ‘We can all make our own choice tonight. You may say your name, say one thing about yourself, or simply wave.’

The group became quiet. Then the man by the window moved to the empty chair near the door. ‘I wrote the note,’ he said. ‘I am David. I have lived above this centre for seventeen years.’

‘Welcome, David,’ Mina said.

David held the badge but did not put it on. ‘My partner died last winter. Since then, I have gone home late so I do not have to talk to people.’

No one rushed to answer. The young father offered David a biscuit. One of the florists asked which flat was his. Soon David was telling them about the tomatoes on his balcony.

At the end, David gave the blue badge back to Mina. ‘Keep it here,’ he said. ‘Someone else may need it next week.’

Mina placed it beside the door, ready for the next unknown neighbour.

Understand and respond

Unit 001 • The Blue Badge

Useful words in context

volunteer — a person who chooses to help without being paid

note — a short written message

nervous — worried or not relaxed about something

badge — a small piece of card or plastic that can show a name

choice — a decision between different things

neighbour — a person who lives near you

Check your understanding

1. What is the main story about?

A. Mina helps make a community meeting welcoming for the person who wrote a note.   B. David decides to move away from his flat.   C. Mina loses a blue badge before a meeting.

2. Where does Mina find the note?

A. Inside the blue badge.   B. Under the door.   C. On the tea table.

3. What three ways can people introduce themselves at the meeting?

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4. How long has David lived above the community centre?

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5. True or false: David puts on the blue badge during the meeting. Give evidence from the story.

6. Why does David ask Mina to keep the blue badge by the door?

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Optional speaking

Optional: Imagine you are welcoming someone new to a group. Practise one friendly sentence you could say to them.

For a future listening session

In a future recording, notice the gentle pauses before David speaks and how they can show that he feels nervous.

You do not need a perfect introduction; one small friendly sentence can be enough.