Waiting for Gus 1

     Sarah is excited about seeing  Gus, a boy she really likes.

1.Drama Focus

Sarah:   Oh Mary, I've just had an email from
          someone  very special... someone you
          know!

Mary:    Who?!

Sarah:   Can't you guess?

Mary:    Give me a clue.

Sarah:   California.

Mary:    Gus?

Sarah:   Yes!

Mary:    You got an email from Gus?

Sarah:   Yes! And guess what?  He's coming to
          Hong Kong!

Mary:    Fantastic! Why?

Sarah:   To see me.

2.Language Focus

a.Language Function: 'Guessing'

     Very often at the  beginning  or during a conversation  we  ask  people  to  'guess' our news.  Sarah  does  this   twice.   First  she says, 'Can't you guess?'  The  second time she says, 'And guess what?' Asking people to guess our news is a way  of making  the conversation more lively  and interactive.  It can build up suspense and interest.
     If you are asked to guess what someone's news is and you cannot, you can say,'Give me a clue.' A 'clue' is a piece of information that will help you to guess what the news is.  When Mary  asks  for a  clue  about  who it is that Sarah   is   talking   about,   Sarah   simply says, 'California.'   Mary  knows  that  their friend  Gus  lives  in  California  and so she guesses correctly that it is Gus.

Waiting for Gus 2

1.Drama Focus

Sarah:   Oh Mary, Gus is coming to  Hong Kong to
          see me and I feel as if I'm  walking on
          air!

Mary:    But where did he find the money to buy a
          ticket? I thought Gus was broke.

Sarah:   I'm  not  sure...  he's  just  coming...
          that's  all I know.  He's  flying in at
          eight o'clock.

Mary:    Where's he going to stay?

Sarah:   He's asked  me  to book him  a room in a
          small  hotel....  somewhere  that  won't           break the bank.

2.Language Focus

a. Idioms: 'Walking on air'

      We use this idiom to describe someone who is very  happy.  Sarah is very happy because  Gus  is coming  to see her  in  Hong Kong.  She is in love with  Gus  and she is so happy that she feels that she is 'walking on air.'

b. Idioms: 'To be broke'

   When Mary says she thought that Gus was 'broke'
she means that she  thought  Gus  had  no money at all.

c. Idioms: 'To break the bank'

    Because Gus does not have much money he needs to find an inexpensive hotel when he goes to Hong Kong, one that does not 'break the bank', meaning a hotel room that is inexpensive.

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