The New Glasses

Mike was an actor. People said he was handsome, and this made him happy.

Mike spent a lot of time looking in the mirror. He also spent a lot of money on clothes and expensive shoes.

But Mike had a problem. He could not see well.

Mike went to the doctor. The doctor checked his eyes and gave him an eye test.

“Mike”, the doctor said, “You need to wear glasses.”

Mike was not happy.

“No,” he said. “Glasses will make me look silly. Glasses are for old men.”

One week later, Mike got his new glasses from the shop. He looked in the mirror and felt sad. Then he left the shop with the glasses on.

As Mike walked home, he realised that he could see very well. The street, the cars, and the shops were clear. The colours were bright. The lights were strong.

Mike saw a man with a bag walking in front of him. He saw the man drop the bag. But the man did not notice. Mike took off his glasses and tried to pick up the bag. 

…but it wasn’t on the ground. It was still on the man’s arm. Mike felt confused.

Two minutes later, the man really did drop the bag. This time it made a noise when it hit the ground. But the man didn’t notice. He continued walking.

Mike picked the bag up and called to the man.

“Excuse me,” he said. ’You dropped your bag.’’

“Thank you,” said the man. ‘’

‘’No problem,’’ said Mike.

Mike put his glasses on and continued walking.

Then he saw a boy with a ball. With his glasses on, Mike saw the ball go into the road. The boy ran after it. A car was coming! Mike took off his glasses. The boy still had the ball in his hand. But then the ball went into the road again.

Mike understood. With the glasses, he could see accidents before they happened.

He ran to the boy and stopped him. Just then, a car passed and hit the ball. The boy was afraid, but he was safe. His mother said, “Thank you.”

Mike walked on. He passed a café. He saw a woman with a cup of coffee sitting outside. With his glasses on, he saw the coffee fall off the table. It fell onto her legs.

Then Mike took off his glasses. The coffee was still on the edge of the table.

“Be careful with your coffee,” Mike said.

The woman moved the cup.

“Thank you,” she said. “You stopped my coffee from falling.”

“No problem”, said Mike. ‘’I am happy to help.’’

Mike walked home feeling good.

He now knew he could help people if he wore his glasses.

That night, Mike looked in the mirror and smiled. Perhaps wearing glasses wasn’t so bad, after all. 

📒 Key vocabulary

• actor – a person who plays in films, TV, or theatre
• handsome – good-looking (usually for a man)
• mirror – glass that shows you your face and body when you look at it
• silly – not smart; not serious
• drop – fall to the ground
• ground – the land we walk on
• passed – went by
• edge – the line or place at the side of something

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