Series editor: Philip Prowse

Help!

Philip Prowse

calyInmDGE
UNIYERSITY PRES$
tusLf s*¡ED Ay l',¿s pRt:¿1i tyliDt¿,¡,1.¡i $F -tH¡ ulilvERg|r! cF cÁ¡v{BRrüGE
The Pict building, Tiumpingron Streer, Cambridge CB2 l.Rp, Unied Kingdom fl ü*nter¡ts
CAMBR¡DGE UNIVERSITY PRESS
The Edinbugh Building, Cambridee CB2 2RU, UK
40
10
Nü'est 20th Strees, New Yorlq NY l00l t-421 l, USA

Sumford Road, Oakleigh, VIC 3166, Ausrralia

i
Ruiz de Ala¡cón 13, 28014 Madrid, Spain
Dock Hous'e, The Vaterfronr, Cape Town 8001, Sourh A-frica
:
thrpter 1 "Every Morning"
htqr://www.cambridge. org

***yter 2 The letter

t$r Cmb,ridge Universi¡y Press 1999

First published 1999

il
Seventh Printing 2001 *hapter 3 Mel Parlss t2
ffr
This book is in copyright. Subject ro sr¿turory excepdon ¿nd.
Chapter 4 Chip t7
to rhe provisions of relevant collective licensing agre€men$,
no reproducdon ofany part may take place without
the written permission of Cambricige Universiry press. Chapter 5 H.lp! 23

Pri¡rted in haly by Rotolito Lombarda

Chapter 6 Teresa comes back 29
}'peset in 12115 AdobeGtramond [CE]

llluxrarions by Gary Taylor

fl
,$!l

IsBN0 i2t 6t615x ,$

oü'
.,..}il

itf

$
ü

fi
{r
ii
 .$ryNifl
I .-*,
Feople ire rhs st*?y L -naster "Earry fuf*r"nireg"'
l"

Frank l$formold: a writer. 'l'rn leaving now,' Teresa said.

I looked up from the newspaper. I was in the kitchen,
Teresa Wormold: a lawyer and Frank's wife. .lr rhe tabie.
'l'm leaving,' Teresa, my wife, said again. She 'tooá at
Mel Parks: a Hollywood producer. Ehe kitchen table and looked down at me. I looked at my
n"atch. It was eight o'clock in the morning. Time for
'leresa, my wife, to go to work. She was a lawyeg a very
Chip: a computer.
good lawyer. And she was beaudful.
A postman. '\7hat are you going to do today?' Teresa asked. 'Don't
go back to bedl'\Yr'hy dont you go out and look for a job?'
'Oh no,' I thought. 'Eight o'clock in the morning, and
she's telling me to get a job.'
 'il¡:';ir
'But I've got a ich,' I spid, tcr about *¡e thousandtir \t ab*¡:t a "riüut1ü ¿x¡tz i*, L'¿tz',r:x' 3r:* sezzr rhu:
v,''as

time. 'I'm a writer.' rr¡ all the big L*ncio:r ar:.d Hclil:r'aod &Lu r¡zakerc" Titt
'But you never finish your books! You begin lots of iilm makers didn't answer' And I didn't finish the bock'
'Good,' I answered.
books, but you never finish them.'
She was right. I write by hand in small notebooks - I've 'I think I'rn going to be horne late this evening,' she
but I dont finish said. 'There's a lot to do at work"
got lots of notebooks under the bed - 'Goodbye,' I answered. 'Have a nice day"
the books.
Teresa closed the door. She didnt say goodbye'
And sometimes I dont work. Sometimes I sit all day
with a white piece of paper and a pen and write nothing. I stood up. Then I saw something black on the fioor'
Sometimes I sleep ail morning and then I get up and i¡ was Teresat laptop computer. I opened the door but

watch television all afternoon.

'You need a real job,' Teresa said' '1We must haYe more
money!'
'Iühy?' I asked. '!lhy must we have more money?'
'\üle need money to buy things,' she said. 'You need ,lrrffi
new clothes. Look at your old clothes!' I had an oid
pullover and jeans on. She had expensive black clothes on.
'Theret nothing wrong with my ciothes,' I answered.
t,

'My jeans are a little dirty, but I can wash them'' l

'You do need rrew clothes!' Terei6a said. And I want a ii,
irl

nice car. And we need a new televisionl' i:

rti

i closed my eyes. \Why was Tbresa like this in the

mornings?
'Open your eyes! Dont go to sleep,' Teresa said. 'I'm
talking to you.'
'Look,' I answered. 'l'm not sleeping. tr'* thinking.
Atyr*y, you don't read my books,' I said.
'I read the first half of "Every Morning",' Teresa said. 'I
liked it.'
Oh, yes, I thought. That was rwo years ago. Teresa read
the first half of one of my books called "Every Morning".
Teresa wasn't there. I went and sat in a chair in front of the
television. I thought about Teresa. She was thirty years old'
I was thirry years old. She had dark hair and eyes' I had
dark hair and eyes. She was one mette tighry' I was one
metr€ eighry. But Teresa liked to work with comPutérs and
I didnt iike computers' I liked to write with an old pen'
She made a lot of money in her job and I made nothing'
And now she was angry with me - again.
I closed my eyes and went to sleeP.
Chapcer 3 T&s letter 'There¡ a i*tr¿i ijcrr vtstt,' tr''t Vruxtx:;:: t"'¡i;j.'i";' 1r. i;t;11;1',

rhe {-,r54. Xjr"ite 1,'üur naffr her*, pieasr.'

I wrote rny name c¡r rl-le Püstmatl's Pz7et s:-rd tt:*L" ri¡'*
ietter.
'Thank you,' I said and ciosed the door. I went into dre
kitchen and looked at the letter. It was big and biue' At
I heard a noise. lffhat i
opened my eyes and looked
was it? the top it said: 'Rogers, Tannenbaum and Schutz,
at my watch. It was nine o'clock. There was soffreone at the Afforneys, Hollywood, California, USA.'
front door. I got up slowly and went to the door. 'American lawyers!' I thought. 1ffas the letter for'leresa
It was the postman. He had some lerte¡s in his hand. and not for me? But my name was on the front.
FIe looked at my hair. Then I opened rhe letter and read it.
'Just got up, Mr rWormold?'the postman said. 'I got up Í(! : i ,.,

six hours ago.'

Rogers, Tannenbaum and Schutz Attorneys
I didnt answer. I was half-asleep.
Hollywood, California U.S A.

Dear Mr Worrnold.
. We work for Mel Parks of the
MegaMonster Movie Corpolation.
Mr Parks read the first hall of Your
'/t'/' book "Every Morning". He likes it very
¡nuch and wants 1.o read the second half
ol the story. He aiso wants to meet yotl
and talk about making a movie of lhe
book.
Mr Parks is in London on Vlarch 29th
and 30th. He is staying at the Waldorf
Hotel. Please telephone him there.
Please do not talk to anYone else
l,i about rnakir.rg a movie of "Evely
i Morning".
:t1
t! Yours truly.
¡{
s
't
R. Srel'4¿ará
 I put dr* letter on rhe *rhi* a*d smiled tc invseli. An I put cn r¡tv *'¿*t ck:rhcs. A l:e',+ broe'tl ;i:¡r: "r'J ;:":"
answ€r at last, tlto years after Teresa s€nt the first half brown ttúusers a*ó, a iacker. Thes i lcfr the flilt antl gc't
of my book "Every Morning" to all the Hoilywood film into the lift.
makers. The American word 'movie' was much nicer 'Sixth floor. Going down,'the lift said. It was a talking
than the British word 'fiLm'. And today was March lift.
29th! I know,' I replied.
'Yes,
i found the phone number of the \Waldorf Hotel in t}re \flhen I got out of the lift I took a bus to Piccadilly
\Waldorf Hotel'
telephone book, Then I telephoned Mel Parks. Circus and walked to the
'FIi, Mel Parks here.'
'Erm. Mr Parks. You don't know me,' I said slowly. 'My
namet Sformold, Frank lWormold.' Sixth floor.
'Mr 'Wormold!' Mel Parks answered in a loud voice. Going down.
'Or can I call you Frank? It's very good to talk to you!
How are you?'
'Fine, thank you,' I said.
'Say, Frank,' Mel Parks said. 'X7hy don't rn'e have lunch
today?'
I said. 'Ffow nice.'
'Yes,'
'OK,' Mel Paria said. 'See ycu here at the Waidorf at
twelve thirry.'
'Right,' I said.
And bring the second half of your stoty "Eve1v
Morning" with you,' Mel Parks said.
I put the telephone down. There was no second half of
"Every Morning". I iooked at my watch. It was half past
nine. I got a notebook and my old pen and started
writing.
tVhen I looked at my watch again it was eleven o'clock.
The second half of "Every Morning" was not finished, but
it was time to change my clothes. I wanted to look good
because the \flaldorf was a very famous hotel.
" Chaprer 3
'a[1'Í17
tl'Á€l I'ttTl15 'tj¿

I-ots of rich people come to the -Valdorf Hotel. I looked

at myself in a shop u'indow. I didn't look rich.
Mel Parks was by the front door of the hotel. He did
iook rich. He was short and fat. He had a green suit and a
big red tie.
'\7ell, Frank,' Mel Parks said in his ioud voice. 'Good
to see you!'
'Hello, Mr Parks,' I said with a small smile.
'Don't call me "Mr Parks",' he answered. 'Call me
Mel!'
'Hello, Mel,' I said.
'Let's get some lunch,' Mel said.
The lValdorf Hotel restaurant was veÍy good. Lots of
rich, beautiful peopie and lots of rich, beaudful food. Mel
and I had caviar, and lobster and champagne. l,om of
champagne. I was very happy. Mel liked me and Mel liked
my story.
Then Mel said: 'He¡ Frank. I loved the first half of
your book. Did you bring the second half of the book
with you?' 'l'm sorry' I answered. 'You see i write very slowly. I
'Er, no,' I said. 'I'm writing it again. I want to make it write by hand.'
better.' i didn't want to tell Mel the book wasnt 6nished. 'Don't teil me!' Mel said. 'I know. Your writing isnt
Mel looked at me. He looked unhappy. easy to read.
tffhy don't you use a computer?'
'Oh no,' he said. 'I wanted to take ir to California with 'I . .. i ...' I started to answer. I didnt want to tell Mel
me.' I didnt like computers.
.l .,
 'He¡i Frank,' &,{ei sir.i,J" '1n,' jt mcne¡'? 'li¡at's €asy. '?vlern*fi:, [,1*1 s;,riri" 'Héil''l h tir* í*dr?L{'ti\
J

MegaMcnster lvants y*ur bo*k. }-rure going to be a rich cofnDurer,

I

man. You're going to be famous. Let's say we give you

$1oo,ooo now.'
i looked at Mel. My mouth opened. I couldnt speak.
'Oh,' Mei said quickly. '$100,000 is too iittle, is it?
Lett say $200,000, then. ;-'ül:"*'i"--'"
i.'
I looked at Mel again. My mouth was still open. I still h.rit,i ffi
couldnt speak. $200,000 was sif, much money.
'OK,' Mel said quickly again. And a computer. thu
need a computer. You're going to have the best computer
in London. 0K?'
'Oh,' I said siowiy.
Mel took my hand. 'Good. Let's get the computer
today. And you're going to finish the book and give it to
me this week. Ali righti' He smiled.
'Yes,' tr said. I didnt know what to do or think.
$200,000! I was richi
-We
had soñé *ore champagne. &4ei talked and talked.
I didn't listen much. I thought about $200,üú0.
After lunch Mel and I took a taxi to a big computer
shop. Mel went into the shop first and Mel did all the
talking. 'Right,' Mel said. 'I want the biggest and the best
PC you have. i want lots of RAh4, I want a colour printer
and I want a fast modem.'
'Mel,' I said slowly. 'tr don't think X need a colour
printer. I write books.'
Mel lookecl at rne. 'Yes, you do,' he said in a loud
voice"
'OK. And what's RAM?' I asked in a quiet voice. "Vhy
do tr need lots of it?'
 :i|;

I ,
t)

'Wi*t a rnoden"l Y*i-lr cümpr¡t€r can tatk io thd

{
t {kay*r 4 t-,tjtfj
telephone,' Mel said' '1'** write ycur
book on &$
.o-p.rr.r' Then you send it to me*#by e-mail"
'út e-mail?' I asked'
"t',
'The Internet,' Mel said' 'You can send letters by
computer all over the world quickly" Mei put the cermpnrer oft a table in the living roermr' l{e
I didnt ask any mn'e qut'tions' Mel bought lots of pur it by the telephone. Then he did sarnething r* tlre
things for tle comPutÉr' complltff and aface camf ün tire screen.
Tt.n *e got into a taxi widr the.computer things.----.
'Ife're It rvas a womans face. 'Hi!'the t'oman said. 'I'm Chip,
I sat in the taxi and thought about the morning' talking to you frorn Megah'{cnster lvfovies in C¿}iiarnia.
'Teresa and I are going
going to be rich,' I said to Áyself' I'm goina to help you r,vitir vüür computer. Type "Help!"
to be rich. \fe're *"* 'o i"ut lom of money' Sttti I on tlre ke¡&oard and wait"
going to be happy. atá I'm going
to be happy' Teres*si
'You're OK now,' saici Mel. 'I'm going back t* dr*
io, ioitg to b.-"ng'Y with me now!' i

\ffaldc,rf. I'll ring you tomorro*- t.: see haw' rhings are
I
1 going.'Then he lek.
{
I ryped 'Hetrp!' and waited. Chip's face wmrt away. The
'I'hen Chip's
cofilpüter ¡nade a noise. It'rn'as like 'Fing!'
face carne back.
 'I'm no"v inside your 1 prlr ri*,"r'rt zlzt t,:'t'¿pharte ar¡d s¡¿i;-etl-tr.rii';. "i--'"*l'i'
'Hil' Chip said n'ith a brg smiie' I can heip Morning" \x¡ü.s ?1 rtor-!' ¿L'out Jae, a l'CIuñg r€1r;st!ápf;r l114fi
comp*ter. \fhen r;'";t;ielp rype."Helpl"spelling and in London and rhe peopie he knew.
vou use the compu*t-l"¿
ntip *ittt your
First I typed in the first half of the story from my
nr"*-"r. And lots more things'' notebook. I worked and worked. I didn't think about
" '\lh", things?'I ryPed'
Chip. Then the computer went 'Ping!' and there was
'\Wait and see,' ChiP said'
teacher' \Vith Chips
help I Chip on the screen.
Chip was ",t.";;;;J funl tr 'Well, Frank,' Chip said. She didni smile. 'Don't you
lt was easy and it was
ro use
learned "oriputer.i"to the evening' And I was want me to help? You're not asking for help.'
worked all "fttr"oott ""d I wanted to be nice to Chip. So I ryped, 'Sorry, Chip'
h"ppy to work with the computer' '\lhy did Please help with spelling.'
'\fhy didnt I d; ;; l'fool' I asked mvself'computers? The computer made a noise. Then Chip came back.
with a was I afraid of
Iwrite ot"i-Wf't 'Color not colour,' it said on the screen.
Wriri"g like this is quickand
eas'v"
'No, Chip,' I ryped. 'Colour is British English. Color is
was leresa'
Th; I heard the telephone' It 'I'm stiil at lvorL I'm not ,A.merican.'
'I'm sorr¡ f'"tt"-f"'esa said' 'I know what is right,' Chip replied. 'The spelling is
gcing to stay in a hotel''
coming home tonight' I'm color.'
I said' 'Listen' I want to tell you something'
'Teresa,' 'OK,' I typed. Chip went away.I wasnt h"Ppy with the
\(/e're going to be ' ' spelling. 'But the movie is American,' I tlought, 'so it was
,l'm sorry pr"rrk,l "Teresa said' 'I cant talk now' Teil me
üK to have American spelling.'
tomorrow. GoodbYe'' An hour later there was a'Ping!' and Chip came back.
talk' She was sdil angry with
me'
Teresa didnt *1"'
*F,., 'Frank,' she said. 'Let me help you. Let me help with
'oabout MegaMonster Movies, tlre
So I didnt ,.ll -o"
tht computer until your story.'
computer C;l;' i *o.'ktd 'FIow can you help?' I asked.
""d eat or drink'
*i¿iüft,. I didnt h*t "nything to '\7ell,' Chip replied. 'i don't like Joe's name. I-et's call
ThJn.*t daYMel Parks telePhoned'
'Everyrhing OK?' him Red.'
'How are you' f'""ftt' ht '"id' 'But redt a colour,' I qyped.
.Fine, thank you, Mel,' I ansrn'ered' 'It's a very good
'Color,'replied Chip. 'Red's a good name.'
to-use.it"'
comPuter' I'm learning . Send 'i dont think so,' i typed. 'And it's my book.'
'Great,' Md leaving for California now'
';;]im week" 'I know best,' Chip answered.
rne the book bY e-mail this
 {omplre¡. 1 rrp*}'li':ipl' T'ner* !?á5
chang* Chip's changes' but I c*uidnt
ü
do
I tried tc came 0n rhe scrcen.
anything. So I started oto't *g^i*'
I worked all morning' I
'Can I help?'she asked.
¿iá;t {^r" ^ny breakfast' I wrote and wrote'
Sometimes
'help '
'This cup cf coflee,' I typed. 'Y/here did it come
áhip ."*. on the screen with more
I was very thirsry' Then I heard something in the from?'
Chip said nothing.
was someone in the
kitchen. It *", tood noise' There 'Come on,' I typed. 'Tell me.'
" to t}re kitchen door' I
kitchen! I got up and walked slowly 'Drink the coffee, and start working again,' Chip said'
there' But in
of.rr.a ,nJ ¿oo, quickly' There was no-one -Wow! I I wanted to finish the story so I did what Chip said. At
the microwave there *"' " cup of hot
coffee'
$7as there someone
two in the afternooq¡''I heard another noise in the kitchen.
**.r,.¿ a cup of coffee, but I was afraid' I got up and ran into the kitchen. There was no-one
else in the flat? I looked in ail
the rooms' I was the only
went back to the there. I slowly opened the microwave door. In the
person there' I took the coffee and microwave there was a hot meal - spaghetti. I love
spaghetti. I sat down at the table and ate it. This time I
didnt look in all the toorns.
I went back to the computer and ryped 'Help!' \ü7hen
Chip came on rhe screen I typed 'Thank you'. She said 'I
hope it was a nice lunch.'
'It was great,' I said with a smile.
I worked ail afternoon. Then Chip came on the screen.
'Lett have the book in New )brk,' she said' 'Red now
lives in New York, not London. New York's much better
than London.'
'No,' I typed. But when I looked at the screen I saw the
book was norv in New York.
I wasn't h"ppy but I needed to finish the story. I wrcte
and wrote. Then I heard a noise' There was someone at
the door. I opened the door' There were two men in
white coats with a big television.
'I'm sorry,' I said. 'Thar's not for me.'
'Mr \flormold?' one cf the men asked'
21
 'Yes,' I said'
Clrapter 5 f{elp!
'This is your television,'the man said' 'Look.' He had a
paper in his hand with mY name on it'
'OK,' I said. 'Come in.'
then
The men put the television in the living room and
At four o'clock I heard another noise at the door. Two men
ieft. It *", satellite television with television from all
" in white coats were there.
over thre world'
'Good afternoon, sir,' one of the men said' FIe gave me
I put the television on' There was A'merican fcotbali on
a piece of paper
the teievision' I sat down in front of the television
and
'\lrite your name here, please.'
watched the football.
there' I wrote my name.
There was a 'Fing!' from the computer' Chip was
'Thank you, sir,' the man said. 'Here are the keys''
'Come on, Frank,' she said' 'Let's do sofire more work''
'Keys to what?' I asked.
I wanred ro watch more reievision, but chip was right.
off and went 'To your car, sir,'the man said. 'The cart outside,'
I needed to work. i rurned the television
'\(/ow'a cai.' I closed the door and ran to the window
back to the comPuter'
I looked down. Outside the front door was a big new blue
car. I went back to the computer and ryPed 'Help!'
Chip came on the screen. 'Can I help?'she asked.
€#1iaye!sf,",*r 'Yes,' I typed. '\7here did the television and car come
from?'
'From me, but don't think about them now,'she said'
'Just write the book.'
'I want to see the car,' I ryped.
'OK,' Chip said. 'But finish the book first.'
'No,' I said.
'Finish the book!'said Chip.
'No,' I shouted. 'I want to see the car.'
I put on a coat and went out into the lift. The lift
doors closed. 'Sixth floor. Going down,' the iift said.
'How's the book going? Nearly finished?'
'Oh, be quiet!' I shouted.
aa
 'i
'1 d:rá scrme \¡,:l¡::li rl:hf,l-l ',:olt \';*i't +"'Ja,"' {-.-i"itt :,,:;,i'i"

nnisheci thr book."

'1X4rad' 1 saiá. t* m,yself. ThenI t.Tpeá '"d¡l'l-raii'
'I finished the bcok,'she said again. 'But I haoj. ¿o make
some changes.'
^...
lli.' i
'Changes?' I typed.
B.' i rl
, : :'i. 'Yes,' Chip said. 'I didni like the name of the book" So
'li
...;
ii:,- I l
I changed it.'
:t'
'You did what?' I typed"
'I changed the name of the book,' Chip said. 'trts new
name is "Every Hour". Much nicer.'
'\X/hy?' I ryped. I was angry with Chip ncw" 'Any other
changes?'
'Yes,' Chip said. 'The story is now about a yúutrg
ne?vspaper womarr and the men she knows.'
'Oh nc!' I tvped. And the ending? How does the story
finish?'
'It's very unhappl',' Chip said. 'A1l the men die''
'tÁlhe¡ iire iiir :4isp'$r:Lt" ! ';z:r' 'ttttt iizt:: tl"t t't'rt:tt" 'Thatk terribie. No-one's going to like that ending,' I
i ior:k **r ilti: i'"in **u3 g*r ixt-t"' t:hr i¿r' I iii'á;-iz t-Le
{'rive
-_- ^)
L]'l'rLr.
t'rt*'s*T artá
arilntlrere' i ii:sl sai i;r iil**;;it' 1tu'rrrcé 'Oh 1'es,' Chip said. 'Mel Parls likes it!'
car starreri' A zt:ir;: s¿t':t
"tlelj'r:- 'ri' i3 i:g C' T?l* time is
'How do you know?' I ryPed.
4.15.' l-r wa: ?, iliíttlt¡' c2t'!i; 'i e-maiied ihe book tc ivlel,' Chip said. 'F{e wants us
'\l#. h*r* do ,l,c,u w?r!t- t{} g*i' t?'*
;a';
.e"ke'á' tc w-rite another story ncw.'
í
'l dcdt -,T?,ttl T.r3 gts ;ztz"¡'vtrtr:i:':' s'-ilcá'
'?eat v¡hzt I sa-idi 'Us?' I ryped.
'üK,' li:.t c:á-:{ 2t"':i\¡;err:li'" '{'n* .-'¿; ;t:x}i 'Yes,' Chip said. 'I like writing witl-r you"
tt: r?re lilt
I tur*ed tÍre iai *í'i ai:.l f,ct' *ilr' I '¡"rr* br'ck Then I heard the teiephone. It was Mel.
t?t,eii{'; s*;-tá,-.-
and g*t il:. "l'llr-re [t'i dÜ r{:tu* {rtci{:-;ltitiTigi 'zt t?'e 'l{i, Frank,' Mel said' 'Great story. I loved the ending'
'Yá, n*,r, {}¡:'' i w*';r¿' iiit't} t'1¡ze t'at" I ::at ¿-i-r¡-¡"-¡:
\]??ratt the next book calied?'
'Next book?' I asked.
Chip cac-r* *n ih* ¡rcrllrfi'

25
 'Y'éah,' h{el ansé-r¡ed' 'í nced anctirer sl$nr bv th¿

weekend - abcut the same ne1¡"spáper wcrr'an.'

'lV{el,' tr answered' 'i need time' I need to think'
I write
siowly. Writing isn't easY''
'Yá,r.,. goi Chip,' Mel said' 'And $200'000' How
Letk say half a
much do you *""t fo' the next book?
million? OK?'
'OK, h4el,' t said and Put the phone dcwn'
Isatandlookedatthescreenforalongdme.IwasYery
unhappy now tr didnt want to write
with a cornputer' A
liked wridng
;;d;t which changed everyihing I wrote' I
$200'000 was
by áys.lf. 1 didnt want ^nY more rncrney -
a new car and a
too much rnoney anyway'And we nox'had
the rncvies any more'
television' I didnt want to write for
I stood uP' t knew what to do' I rurned off the
the

computer. Citip', face went from

the screen' I left
roorn and went into the living room'
I rurned on the
scteen'
television' Chipt face was on the television
'Now'
'You cant turn me off like that" Chip said'
about a writer' Ve're
about our next book' trtt going to be
going to call it ' . .'
" 'Ño,' i said and turned off tire ielevision'
'Hello,' the car said. 'Itt 18"C. The time is 4'45-
I went back to tlre bedroonr and picked "P .".i':
Vhere do you want to go?'the car asked.
t had the comPuter in both hands and walked
computer. 'London Bridge,' I said.
qr'riidy out of the fiat' I got into the
lift'
'Not going down' Put Chip 'OK,' the car said. 'Take the AI2.'
'Sixth floot,' the iift
'lid' I drove quickly along the Al2 ro London Bridge. i
back in the flat. Now!'
stopped the car. Then I picked up the computer and uied
'No,' I shouted'
to to open the door, but I couldn t.
I ran out of the iift' Then i walked down thre stairs 'Do not get out of the car,' the car said' 'The doors are
computer in the
the sueet with the comPuter' I put the
closed. Put the computer down.'
car and then tr goi in' I started the
car'
 I put the compuler dor'r'n' I eat and thcught. Then
I Chapter 6 Trresa c#r'rud'i fP¡¿*fu
cornputer out' The
opened a window and threw the
conputer fell into the water'

,f ;3 'I'm here,'someone said. I opened my eyes' It was Teresa!

rt ,Í
':*l I. 'fuleep!' Teresa said with a smile'
i looked at my watch' It said nine o'clock!
'\fhat are ,vou doing here?' I asked' ¡
'I came back for my laptop comPuter,' leresa answered'
'l need to have the laPtoP at work''
'But that was YesterdaY!' i said'
'No,' Teresa answered. 'That was haif an hour ago"
'No, please listen" I said' ''$(lb're rich' i ve got
$200,000!'
Tbresa looked at me. 'I dont know what you're talking
about,'she said''I've got to go to wcrk' I cant stay here
listening to your stories.'
'But itt not a story,' i said. 'Please listen''
Then I told Teresa about Mel Parks and lvlegaMonster
Movies and about the computer, and the television and
the car.
'Oh, yes,' she said. 'But where are the computer' and
I started the car agatfi' the television and the car?'
'There,' i said. 'No comPuter now!' in
She was right' There was no computer or television
'And no car','said the car'
I couldnt make the living room.
The car stopped. I tried and tried but 'It was a dream,' Teresa said with a smile' 'Something
a long walk'
i. *^n. t got o,rt and walked home' It was you thought about when you were asleep''
up to the flau I didnt want
'ülhen i go. ho,,t. I waiked Teresa was right. There w¿s no comPuter' no
car' no
walk' I sat down
r0 use the lift. I was tired after the iong MegaMonster, no ChiP' Just a dream'
in ihe chair and went to sleeP'
 'But why?' I said. 'l ci*n't r:suall,o, dream abou¡ cars and 'Yiell, 1 ¡hink 1 r.rnderstanri n*v"' sh'* sairi" ''X ?'i'-': ':ar
computers and televisions.' and a new tele.,'ision are iinportanr' Sut ,v*"i are rnuch
'I don't know,'said Teresa. 'But I don't have time to sit more important. And if you reaiiy want to be a wriier
and talk about your dreams.' She was sdll angry with me. then I am happy. I'm sorrY''
'No, wait!' I said. 'i had dre dream because you're not 'Thank you,' I said. And we kissed. It was a long kiss' I
h"ppy with me. Every morning you tell me to find was very h"ppy. Teresa lvasn't angry with me now'
another job so we can have a nice car and a better 'I must go to work,'said Teresa, 'but I just need to look
television. And I want you to be happ¡ so I dreamed we ar my e-mail to see if there are anv messages.' Teresa
had all of those things.' ürned on the laptop comPuter. The computer went
Teresa looked at me for a long time. Then she sat down 'ping'. There were no messages but I saw the word 'Help'
next to me. on the screen.
'Look,' I said.
'\(/hat?' Teresa asked.
"'Help" on the screen,' I said.
'l dont see anything,'she said.
I closed my eyes. Then I heard a voice. A woman's
voice. An American woman's voice.
'Help!'said the voice. 'F{elp!' I could hear water. It was
Chip and she was in the water.'Help!'
'I cant see anything,'Teresa said'
i opened my eyes. There was nothing on the screen'
'Did you hear anything?' I asked.
'No,'she said, 'it's ali in your head.'
'Yes,' I said, 'it must be.'
'I've got an idea,' Teresa said. '1ühy dont you write
down the dream?'
'That's a good idea,' I said. 'Yes, it's a really good
idea.'
'Now, I must go!' Teresa said again. She stood up and
went to the door. This time she took the laptop computer.
She looked beautiful. i knew she wasn't a dream.
.tl
 'Thanks,' I said'
'Why?' asked Teresa.
'For the idea, for the help . . ' for everything,' I said'
She smiled at me. Then she closed rhe door'
I got a notebook. Then i got rny old pen and sat at rhe
table. I wrote the first line of the stor,v. ;

'I'm leaaing nota,' Teresa said . '

.
i