002 Ten Minutes at the Counter

Jonathan Guglielmo — English Teacher  |  Suggested level: A2

Before you read my dear lads and lasses: What could Tessa do if her client arrives but her restaurant booking is not there?

On Thursday, Tessa brought a bright blue folder to the Willow Plate in Sheffield. At one o’clock, she was meeting a new client, Mr Shah. His market shop needed 2,000 labels by Monday. If he chose another printer, Tessa’s small team would lose its largest order of the month. She had made a reservation because neither of them had much time.

Inside, every table was full, and a queue bent along the pavement. ‘I’m sorry,’ said the waiter, looking at the reservation book. ‘Your name is not here.’ Tessa showed him an email from the day before. He read it, then sighed. ‘That is for the Willow Place, next to the market. This is the Willow Plate.’

Mr Shah arrived with his hands in his pockets. Tessa’s face grew hot. ‘We can meet somewhere else,’ she said. ‘There is a sandwich shop round the corner.’

He looked at the queue. ‘I have twelve minutes,’ he said.

A young woman in an apron heard them. She pointed to an empty counter beside the kitchen. ‘The owner is late, so you can use this for ten minutes. I can bring soup and bread quickly.’

Tessa put the labels on the counter. She spoke clearly about price and delivery. Mr Shah checked the designs while he ate. At 1.12, he shut the folder.

‘The labels are good,’ he said. ‘But I do not want 2,000.’ Tessa’s stomach fell.

Then he smiled. ‘I want 5,000. The market is opening an extra stall.’ He paid for the soup before she could speak. Outside, Tessa saw the Willow Place directly opposite, with her empty table waiting. She laughed. The wrong restaurant had given them exactly the right kind of meeting.

Understand and respond

Unit 002 • Ten Minutes at the Counter

Useful words in context

reservation — an arrangement to keep a table or place for someone

queue — a line of people waiting for something

pavement — the path at the side of a road for people to walk on

apron — a piece of clothing worn over the front of clothes when working

counter — a long flat surface where customers can be served

delivery — the act of taking goods to a customer

Check your understanding

1. What is the main idea of the story?

A. Tessa starts working in a restaurant kitchen.  

B. Mr Shah cancels his order because the restaurant is busy.  

C. Tessa gets help to hold a very short client meeting after going to the wrong restaurant.

2. Where was Tessa’s original reservation waiting?

A. At the counter beside the kitchen.  

B. At the sandwich shop round the corner.  

C. At the Willow Place directly opposite.

3. What did the woman in an apron offer Tessa and Mr Shah?

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4. How many labels did Mr Shah decide to order?

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5. True or false: Tessa knew she was at the wrong restaurant before Mr Shah arrived.

6. Why might Mr Shah have been happy with the meeting at the counter?

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Optional speaking

If you feel comfortable, describe a time when a small mistake changed a plan. What happened next?

For a future listening session

In a future recording, notice how the speakers use polite words such as ‘I’m sorry’ and ‘We can meet somewhere else’ when there is a problem.

You do not need every word to follow the main problem; first notice what Tessa needs and how the plan changes.