British English Accent
Tom had a restaurant in the centre of the city. He also had a big problem: business was down, and he had many bills to pay.
Tom was worried. He didn’t want to lose his restaurant.
Tom loved running. He ran every morning before work. He was one of the fastest runners in town.
One evening, his friend Paul told him about a big race.
“The winner gets €30,000,” Paul said. “Why don’t you run?”
Tom thought about the money. He could pay his bills and save his restaurant.
The next day, he entered the race.
But there was a problem. His friend Martin also entered. Martin was from the same running club. He was the only runner in the club who was faster than Tom.
Tom wanted to win, but he was worried about Martin.
On Friday, Tom and Martin went to the city. They stayed at the same hotel, in one room.
On Saturday evening, they had dinner together.
“Are you ready for tomorrow?” Martin asked.
“Yes,” Tom answered.
“I think it will be a good race,” Martin said.
Tom smiled, but he was not happy.
At ten o’clock, they went back to their room. Martin put his running shoes near the door.
“Good night, Tom.”
“Good night.”
An hour later, Martin was asleep.
Tom got out of bed.
He looked at Martin’s shoes. He took a small knife from his bag. Then he made a small cut in one shoe. The cut was difficult to see.
Tom wanted Martin to have problems with his shoe. He wanted him to run more slowly.
He put the knife away and went back to bed.
On Sunday morning, they got up early. Martin put on his shoes.
“Ready?” he asked.
“Yes,” Tom said.
At nine o’clock, the race started.
For the first fifteen kilometres, they ran together. Then Martin ran faster. Soon, Tom couldn’t see him.
At twenty kilometres, Tom saw Martin again. Martin was running slowly.
“What’s wrong?” Tom asked.
“My foot hurts. I think there’s a problem with my shoe.”
“Maybe you should stop.”
“No. I want to finish.”
Tom ran on.
At twenty-eight kilometres, he heard people shouting. He looked back.
Martin was on the road. He couldn’t get up. Two people ran to help him. Tom stopped for a moment. Then he looked at the runners in front of him. He ran on.
At thirty-five kilometres, Tom was second. He was tired, but he ran faster.
At forty kilometres, he passed the first runner. Now he was first!
A few minutes later, he finished the race.
He won €30,000!
People took photos. A woman gave him a medal.
Tom was very happy.
Later, he went back to the hotel.
Martin was not there.
Tom called him, but there was no answer.
At six o’clock, he got a message.
I’m in hospital. My foot is broken. I can’t run for six months.
Tom read the message again. He sat on his bed.
He didn’t want this to happen. He only wanted Martin to run more slowly.
The next morning, Tom went to the hospital. Martin was in bed.
“Congratulations,” Martin said.
“Thanks. How are you?”
“Not good. My shoe broke. I fell, and now my foot is broken.”
Tom looked at the floor. Martin looked at him.
“It’s strange. My shoe was fine on Saturday.”
Tom said nothing.
“You were in our room that night. Did you see anything?”
Tom looked at Martin. For a minute, he didn’t speak.
Then he said, “Yes. I cut your shoe.”
Martin looked at him in surprise.
“You? Why?”
“I needed the money. I wanted you to run more slowly. I’m sorry.”
Martin was quiet.
Then he said, “Please go, Tom.”
Tom left the hospital.
A few months later, business was good again. Tom paid his bills and bought new tables for his restaurant.
He had no more money problems.
But Martin never spoke to him again. He didn’t answer Tom’s calls. They were no longer friends.
Tom was no longer afraid of losing his restaurant. But to save his business, he lost something much more important.
📒 Key vocabulary
- bills – money you have to pay for things
- worried – feeling afraid that something bad will happen
- runners – people who run
- race – a competition to see who is the fastest
- club – a group of people who meet to do something together
- cut – a hole in the skin or in an object that is made by something sharp
- hurts – feels painful
- shouting – speaking very loudly
- medal – a small metal prize for winning a race
- broke (break, broke, broken) – become damaged or stop working
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