Table Of ContentЭлизабет Стакли
КВАРТАЛ „МАГНОЛИЯ"
Книга для чтения
на английском языке
в X классе средней школы
Адаптация, комментарии и
словарь А. А. КЕРЛИН
ПРЕДИСЛОВИЕ
Современная английская писательница Элизабет Стакли пере
пробовала за свою жизнь много профессий: она работала постоянным
агитатором избирательного участка, четырнадцать лет руководила
местной военизированной детской организацией, преподавала в шко
лах; была шофером во французской армии, потом поваром в англий
ской армии; занималась трудотерапией с детьми — и писала книги.
Сейчас она живет в Лондоне, и двери ее дома всегда открыты для
соседских ребят. Они основали (не без ее участия) «Клуб Искателей
Приключений». Члены клуба ставят пьесы, рисуют, ходят в походы,
придумывают разные интересные дела. Об этих ребятах и для них
написала Э. Стакли свою книгу «Квартал „Магнолия" (Magnolia
Buildings).
Многоэтажный, многоквартирный дом (Buildings) с поэтиче
ским названием «Магнолия» расположен в рабочем квартале Лон
дона, и живет здесь рабочий люд. Поднимитесь по узкой, темной,
обшарпанной лестнице на четвертый этаж, —здесь в квартире 49
живет семья Бернерс: четверо ребят, их родители и тетя. Элли, ее
предприимчивый брат Вэл, старательная Дорин и малыш Лен —
герои этой книги, они обрисованы автором с любовью, тонким по
ниманием их психологии, мягким юмором. У каждого из них свои
интересы, свои стремления, они не застрахованы от ошибок, свой
ственных их возрасту. Однако атмосфера добра, справедливости
и взаимоуважения, царящая в этой простой английской семье, по
могает ребятам увидеть свои поступки, а иногда и проступки, в на
стоящем свете.
Перед читателями проходит жизнь семьи Бернерс в течение года,
с их повседневными заботами, радостями и горестями: хорошень
кая толстушка Элли в новогоднюю ночь задается целью во что бы
то ни стало похудеть и всегда выглядеть такой же изящной, элегант
ной и прекрасно одетой, как ее любимые кинозвезды; энергичный
Вэл, коновод дворовых мальчишек, организует свою «банду „Черная
5
Рука"» для борьбы с шайкой старших мальчишек, которые обижают
малышей и не дают спокойно вздохнуть вечно занятым женщинам
дома «Магнолия»; Дорин готовится сдавать ответственный экзамен
«одиннадцать с половиной»; весной в доме — повальная эпидемия
гриппа; потом попадает в больницу мама, и все домашние обязан
ности приходится выполнять Элли, и т. д. На этом фоне ярко выделя
ются традиционные английские праздники, которых с нетерпением
ждут ребята: майская ярмарка, 5 ноября — «день Гая Фокса» и рож
дество с обязательным школьным самодеятельным спектаклем.
Книга написана хорошим, живым, очень современным языком,
который автор адаптации старался максимально сохранить, сделав
в то же время книгу доступной для чтения в X классе средней
школы.
Chapter I
ALLY'S NEW YEAR RESOLUTION
Gloria Berners l lay asleep in her bed at 49 Magnolia
Buildings. 2 She was fourteen years old. Her name was
really Gloria Evelyn, but the other children had always
called her Glory Alleluia, or Ally for short.s
"New Year's Day!" said Ally to herself as she
woke up. "I must wish for so'mething." She turned
over on the pillow and her mop of curly yellow hair made
a fan round her face. She thought about the things she
wanted. The first thing, of course, was to have a bed to
herself and sleep in it without Doreen. That would be
grand. 4 Doreen snored in her sleep like a pig.
She kicked her little sister to stop her snoring.
Have a room to myself, that's next, she thought.
Have glamour5 like film stars. Have some pioper high
heel shoes. Meet Elvis Presley or Tommy Steele.e
Go to the Riviera 1 for a holiday and wear a bi
kini.
That's too many wishes for one year, Ally said to her
self. No hope 2 to get any of them. Not a chance of a room
to myself, let alone 3 a holiday on the Riviera.
No one had a room to themselves at 49 Magnolia Build
ings. The buildings were a block of old fashioned flats.
Mum and Dad shared a room, the boys, Val and Len, who
were twelve and eight, slept together while Doreen, Ally
and Auntie Glad 4 were in the third room. Not that Auntie
Glad was much bother. Б She was so quiet and so small,
almost a dwarf. When Dad's mother had died (Auntie
Glad was Dad's sister), she had brought her iron bed to
Magnolia Buildings with her, and put her trunk under it.
She took up very little room 1 and didn't speak at meals,
so that no one ever noticed her. She had a job as a dress
maker.
But the boys were different. Val was like twelve ele
phants. When he moved, everybody and everything were
in danger. Len played trains all over the floor. As for
Doreen, her books were on every table. She had to take her
Eleven Plus exam 2 this month. She made such a fuss
about it 3 that you could think she was the only girl in
the world who was to take it. She's just cut out for a teach
er, 4 thought Ally.
Then Ally remembered her diary. She must start to
write it. Lou, her friend, had given her that diary for
a Christmas present. Lou was going to keep a diary too,
so that they could compare their notes about all the excit
ing things that happened during the year. Ally lay and
thought of the things she would write. This first day of
the year was dark and snowy. Luckily, it was a Saturday,
and Dad didn't work on Saturdays as things were slack. s
Breakfast could be late.
Auntie Glad dressed in the dark and went off to wash in
the kitchen. The only water in the flat was there, and the
bath was under the kitchen-table.
Ally turned on the light and opened her diary. She wrote:
"Hello, New Year. Aren't you cold? We all live here in
the flat, Mum, Dad and Auntie Glad, me, Val, Doreen
and Len. Auntie Glad came to live 6 here when Dad's mum
died. I wished for a lot of things this morning, but won't
get them. Mum went out to work at five. She is still cleaning
offices, but will be back for breakfast. Dad works on the
railway. I must make tea..."
She went to put the kettle on when Auntie Glad came
back to do her hair. x They didn't speak to each other.
There was nothing to say at half past seven in the morning.
It was too cold. Auntie Glad began to take out her curlers.
The kitchen smelt stuffy. 2 Ally put the kettle on the
fire, then she put some cups and saucers on a tray and but
tered a few slices of bread. Auntie Glad ate no breakfast,
but she would be glad to have a cup of tea.
Then Ally went to wake up the boys. They were both
asleep in the one bed and only Val's black curls and Len's
crew cut could be seen above the sheet. Their clothes were
thrown on the floor, all mixed up with their dirty boots.
"Wake up," shouted Ally. "It's New Year's Day. And
mind you wash."3
They did not stir. She shook Val. Glamour, she thought,
shall I ever have it? She picked up all the clothes off the
floor and threw them on top of the boys.
Val opened his eyes and shut them again. It was too
cold to move. He could tell that by the tip of his nose.
New Year's Day, he thought, perhaps this year I'll get my
bike.
Dad was now shaving at the sink. It was a wonder how
the Berners family managed to do everything in their
little kitchen. To an observer they might seem to be
performing4 a complicated dance as they washed, shaved,
cleaned teeth and cooked meals.
Ally laid breakfast 5 for six while Auntie Glad slipped
across the room and out of the door like a small grey mouse.
No one saw her go.6 All she had done was to leave an empty
cup with a few tea leaves in it.
Mum came back and the day really began.
"Too bad 7 you were not with us this morning," she cried
as she opened the door. "We nearly died laughing. There was
