Marys Life

Flvio Monteiro

2 MARYS LIFE

1

Hello, Im Mary. Im Canadian. Im from Whistler, a nice city in Canada. It is near
Vancouver and there are many mountains and parks there. I love my hometown!

My last name is Peart and I am 22 years old. Im single and I am a student at a
great university. The universitys name is University of Calgary. Calgary is a city in the
province of Alberta, Canada. I live in Calgary. I study English. I want to be a teacher!

I like books. My favorite writers are Stephanie Meyer and Nicholas Sparks. The
Host and Dear John are fantastic works!

I have two brothers and one sister. My brothers names are Alex and Jim, and my
sisters name is Kate.

Alex is 16 years old. Hes a student and his favorite free time activity is drawing.
He draws animals, especially dogs. His dogs are very beautiful!

Jim is 30 and he is married. His wifes name is Jill. She is 32. Jim is a doctor and
Jill is an architect. They have a kid. His name is Michael and he is 4 years old. They are a
happy family!

My sister Kate is a musician. Shes 23. She plays two musical instruments: the
guitar and the bass. She likes jazz music. Kate is single.

My parents are Robert and Suzy. My father is 58 and my mother is 60. Dad is a
police officer and Mom is an actress.

2

Its lunch break at the University now. I am with Julia. She is a good friend. Shes
23 and shes Mexican. Shes from Mexico City. Julia is an intelligent girl and shes in the
English program. We are in the cafeteria.

We are happy and tired. Its the end of the semester. Everybody is making plans
for the summer now.

Im going to travel. Im going to drive up to Whitehorse, in the state of Yukon.
Whitehorse is the capital. There are big museums and nice rivers there.

In Whitehorse, Im going to visit my boyfriend. His name is Neil. Hes 28 and hes
a cook. Hes a chef at a very famous restaurant. Hes a nice man!

Its possible that I will live in Whitehorse with Neil in the future and that we will
get married. Im so excited! I love him and he loves me!

Its one oclock p.m. Well go to class now.

THE BLACK CAT AND OTHER STORIES 1

3

On my way to the classroom, I see Mr. Carsons office. Mr. Carson is an American
Literature professor here. Hes a nice man. He is reading a book. I look at him and say hi.
He is very glad to see me. Im a good student.

Mr. Carson says: May I speak to you for a minute, Mary?

I stop and listen.

Mr. Carson says: There is a literature event downtown tonight. Dan Brown is
going to talk about his books and his career. Can you go there and write a report about
it?

I say yes and go to the classroom.

Now Im at home. Its two p.m. and its a beautiful afternoon. Im in my bedroom.
There are nice things here: a computer, a television, a video game system and many
books, of course. There is a big photograph too: my boyfriend and I together and very
happy.

Ill play a video game now. I love adventure games! I have a good time when I play
them!

After playing, its time to go to the gym. Im going to work out.

Now Im back from the gym. My dad is reading the newspaper and my mom is
washing the dishes. My brother Alex is drawing and my sister Kate is playing the guitar.
Im very tired and Ill take a shower.

After the shower, I get my cell phone and call Neil, my boyfriend. We start our
conversation:

- Hello, Neil!

- Hello, babe, how are you doing?

- Fine, dear. What about you?

- Im excited! Your visit is coming!

2 MARYS LIFE


- Thats right. Im so glad! Im leaving for Whitehorse on the 4th next month. Im
going to spend two weeks with you.

- Im sure well have a ball here, sweetie!

- For sure. Theres an important event Im going to participate in tonight. Ive got
to go now, honey. Bye!

- Take care, Mary.

6
After I say goodbye to Neil, the phone rings. Its Julia, my friend from the university:

- Hello, Julia. How are you?

- Im fine, Mary. Are you going downtown tonight?

- Yes, I am. Theres a literature event and Ive got to write a report about it. Im
going to meet Dan Brown! Its incredible!

- Oh, really? Can I go with you?

- Of course, Julia.

- Are you going on foot?

- No, Im not. Im driving. Are you coming to my house so we can go together?

- Yeap. Ill be there at 8 p.m.

- Ok, Julia.

7

Its evening. Ive got to get ready for the event. Im by my bedroom window and
I see the trees in the backyard. Theyre tall and beautiful, and I remember Neil. Hes not
here with me. Im sad

Julia arrives and tells me about her day. Her life here is very nice.

We enter my car and listen to music. Now Adele is singing with her marvelous
voice!

On our way to the event, we observe Calgary. There are monuments, restaurants,
shopping malls and many other things. Its a great place!

There are a lot of people downtown. Many of them are here to see Dan Brown.

MARYS LIFE 3

Hes a very famous celebrity in Canada.

Julia and I are thirsty and hungry. Before the event starts, we decide to go to
Geddys, a nice pizza place here!

8

Now were having pepperoni pizza and chatting. Some of our friends are at
Geddys too. Everybody is having a good time!

Julia is telling me about Mexicoin Spanish! Im glad I can understand a word
here and there. Ive got to practice. Spanish is a beautiful language.

Then I see Mr. Carson. Hes eating alone. He sees me and smiles. Theres a book
on his table. Probably one of Dan Browns works. I think my professor will ask for an
autograph.

I observe Mr. Carson. He finishes his pizza and starts reading. Hes so serious! He
reads and reads and then he screams! Theres a large mouse under his table! No, in
reality there are two mice! The professor is desperate!

Julia and I are perplexed and everybody is laughing! I look at my professor and
say: Dont panic!, but Mr. Carson ignores me and leaves the place.

Its time to meet Dan Brown! We leave Geddys and go to the auditorium where
the famous writer is going to be.

There are many people in the auditorium. I can see students, teachers, reporters
and dozens of Dans fans! Everybody is so excited!

Dan appears and greets the audience. He is thankful that were all there to see
him. He says that hes going to speak about his books and career, and also that everybody
can participate and ask questions.

After some time, I see Mr. Carson entering the room. Hes serious again.

I ask the writer:

- Mr. Brown, what is your favorite book in American literature?

He stops, thinks for a second and says:

- Its a John Steinbeck book. The title is Of Mice and Men.

Everybody looks at Mr. Carson and laughs. Hes so embarrassed!

4 MARYS LIFE

The event is nice. The audience and the writer have fun.

10

Saturday morning. Its a new day! I get up, take a long shower and have breakfast.
The pancakes my mother prepares are delicious!

Ive got to write the report for Mr. Carson, but I feel lazy this morning So, I
decide to surf the net. First, I check my e-mail. Next, I watch funny videos.

Im using a social network now. Im chatting with friends from all over the world.
Theyre Brazilian, Japanese, Italian, American, etc.

My boyfriend is a social network friend too. He says hello and we chat for three
hours. I tell him all about last night. He loves Mr. Carsons mice episode! He laughs a lot!

After the chat with Neil I call Julia and we talk for some minutes. She feels lazy
too

Today is Julias mothers birthday. Now I remember it. The party is going to be
tonight at Julias house. Im tired, but Ive got to go! Im sure it will be good.

Ill stay home all day long. No reports today

11

At the party, I have soda and nachos. Nachos is a Mexican dish of tortilla chips
covered with cheese or cheese-based sauce, served as a snack. It is delicious!

Were having a good time, and everybody is happy tonight.

Julia introduces me to Gina, her cousin:

- This is Gina. - says Julia.

- Nice to meet you, Gina! - I say.

- Nice to meet you too, Mary! - Gina replies with a smile.

We start talking and Gina tells me about her routine:

- Im a waitress at a fast food restaurant downtown. I work there in the morning
and in the afternoon. Im an actress too. Im in drama school at night. One day, I want
to be very famous, like Jennifer Lawrence! On weekends, I go to the cinema with my
friends.

MARYS LIFE 5

Wow, Gina is an actress, and that is so nice! She goes on:

- My dad has a house on the mountains. Its a cabin. I go there to practice for the
presentations at the drama school. Its very important to get ready for them. Hey, girls,
its a good idea if we go there right now!

I look at Julia. I can see in her eyes that she likes her cousins suggestion. Its
midnight. We decide to go to the cabin.

12

Were in Ginas car. Shes driving and the three of us are singing. Lady Gaga is
playing on the radio.

Its a cold night. Were on the road to Ginas fathers cabin. We are going up the
mountain.

There are no people here. Its very silent. Its so different from the party!

After some minutes, we see the cabin. Theres a black cat in front of it

Gina parks her car and we walk to the cabins front door. Gina unlocks it and
opens it. Its a quiet and dark atmosphere.

Gina says theres an electric lamp they use to light the place. Where is the lamp?
We cant find it!

We hear a sound outside: its the car. Someone is driving it in circles around the

6 MARYS LIFE

cabin!

The door closes. We try to open it, but it is locked! Were all desperate!

The sound of the car stops. We have no idea of whats happening

13

It is dark, but the moonlight helps us see parts of the room.

Now were quiet. Then Julia says:

- Mary, are you there?

- Yes, I am. Were in an insane situation!

- Thats right, my friend! What are we going to do?

- I dont know Wait a second, we can phone our parents!

- Oh, yeah! Ill get my cell phone!

- Me too! Wait I cant find my cell phone!

- And I cant find mine, Mary! Oh, my!

- Gina, what about your phone? Is it there with you? Gina? Gina?!? Where are
you?!?

Gina isnt in the cabin with us! Where is she?!?

14

Julia and I stop. We are quiet now. We sit down and notice its raining outside.
Theres thunder and lightning, and its probably over one a.m.

My friend is sleeping. I think shes very tired. Im anxious and nervous, and I cant
sleep.

After one or two hours, the car is back. It is surrounding the cabin again. This time
theres music coming from the car. Its a strange instrumental song. The music is very
loud. Wow, its an incredible guitar sound!

Julia wakes up and tells me shes afraid. Im afraid too, but Julia is completely
desperate! Shes screaming!

The car and the music stop. There are footsteps outside. Someone is walking in
the cabins direction, in our direction! Who is that person?!?

MARYS LIFE 7

15
The door opens... Julia and I are terrified!

A strange man appears at the door. Hes wearing a black jacket and his face Its
so dark, we cant see it

- What are you girls doing here at this time of night? the strange man asks with
a peculiar voice.

Were afraid and silent. He continues:

- Its so dangerous here! You dont understand the risks! Im sure your parents
always tell you that. Now Ill teach you a lesson youll never forget. I will punish you,
disobedient girls!

The strange man approaches us. He takes an object out of his jacket pocket

16

We look at the object. It isnt large. The man moves it from one hand to the other.
Then the object becomes big. It isan umbrella!

The music starts to play again. Its jazz now. Is the strange man dancing?

Now the lights are on. Julia holds the electric lamp. She is laughing!

I look at the strange man. Its Gina, Julias cousin! Now I remember: shes an
actress!

Julia and Gina are laughing a lot. They are having a ball!

Im furious, and then I see Kate, my sister, entering the cabin.

- Hello, sis! - Kate says. Im sorry about the instrumental music. Thats a recording
of me playing the guitar in my bedroom.

Im not ok, and I ask my sister and my two friends:

- Why, you stupid girls?

- Because we have a surprise for you! they answer in chorus.

8 MARYS LIFE

17

The music is different now. Its a romantic Celine Dion song. Shes a Canadian
singer who sings the famous song My Heart will Go On from the Titanic movie.

Again, there are footsteps outside, but this time we arent tense.

I look at the open door. Can you imagine who enters the cabin?

Its Neil! My boyfriend is here to see me! Hes got a nice smile on his face! Im so
happy! I give him a hug and a big kiss!

- What a surprise, dear!- I say to my boyfriend.

- Its good to be here, babe. - he replies.

Now were all happy and dancing.

The author Flvio Monteiro

MARYS LIFE 9

18

Its Sunday and Im with Neil. Were walking hand in hand at a beautiful park here
in Calgary. Its a wonderful sunny day!

There are many birds singing and lots of tall trees. Theres also a river here, and
the water is nice and clean.

We can see a group of kids playing soccer, and also couples walking together, just
like Neil and me.

Were making lots of plans; every word we say is a word of affection.

The fact that Neil is here is marvelous. Its perfect! I want this day to be eternal!

Im daydreaming

The author Flvio Monteiro

10 MARYS LIFE