Then suddenly, there she was again, and so I said, "Hello again. You're still in England, then?" And she said, "Yes. But this is my last day. I go back to Sweden tomorrow." And she smiled. Now, usually I'm shy, but I took a small pink cake and wrote I LOVE YOU on it. And when she asked for a chicken sandwich, I looked into the blue, blue eyes and I gave her the cake! She laughed and said, "I didn't know English men were so romantic!" Well, after that she went back to Sweden, but we wrote letters and in 1998 we got married. Now we work together in the shop and we have three children.

3. Nowadays love on the Internet is big business. Millions try to find true love the every day. Per Olafson from Bergen and Debbie Grant from Banbury in England looked for love that way...

Debbie: I’m really quite shy. I find it difficult to talk to people face to face. But I find

it easy to chat on the Internet. I met Per there about a year ago. It was on a chatline called

"the Chat Room". He was so funny.

Per: But I’m only funny on the Internet! Anyway, we chatted on the Internet for

a year, we exchanged hundreds of e-mails and some photographs. I wanted to phone Debbie

but...

Debbie: I said no. I was worried. I didn't want it to end.

Per: She didn't even give me her address. But finally she said OK, I could phone, so

I did, and we spoke for an hour. It was very expensive! That was six months ago. Then she

sent me her address and...

Debbie: ...that was three months ago and one week later, there was a knock at the

door and I knew before I opened it. Somehow I wasn’t worried any more. I opened the door

and...

Per: .. .and I stood there with some flowers...

Debbie: ...lots of flowers. Red roses. Beautiful... and ...

Per: ...and well, we fell in love and ...

Both: .. .and we got married last Saturday.

A Blind Date

After D. White

Pam was sitting in Jenny's bedroom. Jenny was getting ready for a date. She was going out with a boy called Thomas. It was their first date, but now she had a bit of a problem. She had already arranged to meet another boy called Stephen, a pen pal who was coming to Petersfield to see her. Now she wanted Pam to help her sort it out.

"No, I just can't do it," Pam said.

"Of course you can," Jenny said. "It won't be difficult. I've shown you the photo of him. Just walk up to him and tell him ..."

"That you can't make it, that you are ill or something. Yes, I know," Pam said gloomily. "I'll say that you're so sorry. You don't look very sorry, though."

Jenny laughed. "Well, it's not my fault, is it? How was I to know that Thomas was going to ask me out on the very day that I'd arranged to meet Stephen?"

"Well, what am I going to do with him? Suppose he gets mad or something?" Pam

said.

"Don't be silly!" Jenny laughed again. "He's just a pen pal. I've only been writing to him for a couple of months."

"Oh, all right." Pam gave in. "Off you go and have a great time. I'll do my best." "Pam, you’re an angel! See you later then." And off she went.

At ten minutes past seven - a bit later than the arranged time just to make sure he was there - Pam arrived at the local cafe. There was only one boy on his own in there. So Pam walked up to him. When she got to where she could see him properly she stopped. He was really smashing! Much better than his photograph, with black hair and deep, dark brown eyes.

"I’m afraid she's sent me to tell you that she can't make it. She's not well," Pam lied and sat down.

"Oh, no!"

"She's really sorry. She said she'd get in touch with you as soon as she could." "I see," his voice was low, but he didn’t look too upset.

"She was really looking forward to it," Pam added. "Oh, well," he shrugged his shoulders, "that's life!"

"I'm glad you've taken it like that," Pam said. At least he wasn't desperately in love with Jenny.

The boy looked at Pam. "You and I," he said seriously, "have got a lot in common. Twin souls, you might say."

"Do you really think so?" Pam looked at him, amazed. She knew he was only kidding her along really, but she was enjoying it.

"Sure!" he said. "And-to celebrate our meeting I’m going to buy you a coffee!" He got her a cup of coffee and Pam wondered what Jenny would do to her.

Pam and the boy talked some more and after some time Pam realized she didn't want to go home.

"Would you like to go to the cinema?" he said just as Pam was wondering what to do. "There's a horror film on at the Odeon."

"How do you know what's on here?" she asked. "Jenny said you lived a hundred miles away."

"Who?" he muttered, standing up and putting his arm around her shoulders. "Jenny," Pam repeated. "The girl you were supposed to meet here." "Never heard of her!" he said.

Pam just looked at him.

"When a pretty girl sits opposite you and starts chatting, you just go along with it," he smiled. "By the way, my name's Chris. Do you mind?"

But Pam just looked at him, and said: "No, I don’t mind. Not at all."

What is so fascinating and perhaps dangerous in blind dates? Have you had such an experience?

Love and letter-writing have always gone together because letters are very personal. Sometimes it's easier for a person in love to express his feelings through writing, especially if the person is not sure of himself or isn’t sure that the answer will be positive.

Love Letters

After Christopher Leach

I was in a canteen, when he came over. He put his tray on the table and sat down. His name was Jock. I’d seen him around the camp, but we'd never spoken to each other and I was surprised that he’d chosen my table when so many others were vacant.

He looked at the book that lay open on the table before me. "Always see you with a book. Never got your nose out of one". I was silent.

"Hear you do a bit of writing too," he said. "Yes."

"Had some printed". "Yes."

"Make much out of it? Money, I mean?" "No."

He nodded understanding^. "Just like doing it, eh?" "Yes."

"Am I interrupting you?" "No."

I closed the book and put it to one side. His face was weather-beaten and freckled. His eyes a pale innocent blue.

"My name's Jock." "I know."

He leaned forward. "Interested in making a few bob?" "Doing what?"

"You interested?"

"I don't know, do I?"

"Listen then. But what I say is between us, right? Confidential. Okay?" "Yes."

"I was in Chatham yesterday," he said, "and I met a girl there. A waitress. Beautiful bird. I chatted her up. Got her name and address. Told her I'd write - fix something up when I’m in Chatham again."

"Congratulations," I said "Now I've got a problem..." "Why?"

He looked down at his tea.

"I'm no good with the words," he said. "Take a bike to pieces, put it together again - I can do it with my eyes shut. But writing - I'm lost, Frank. That's your name, right? - Frank?"

"Yes."

"So how about writing for me? I'll give you half a bar." I looked at him. It might be a laugh.

"Okay," I said.

In the evening we sat together at the table, the pad and the envelope ready. I took out

know, Frank. Can’t you imagine she’s your girl?"

"Okay," I said. If he wanted a love letter... I began writing. He watched the pen move over the paper. Shook his head.

"Wish I could do that, Frank. Writing like that... Great..." Ten minutes later I finished.

"Shall I read it?" I said. "Yes."

"My dear and beautiful Susan, my life has been so lonely. In my mind I have always had a vision of the ideal person and I met that person yesterday. That person was you, Susan. You made my day, like the sun makes the summer. I can't think of anything but you since our meeting. I hope to be in Chatham soon and I will let you know. Meanwhile, I send you all my love and all my heart. Write back and tell me that for you too, life has changed. Yours ever."

Jock shook his head admiringly. "Beautiful," he said. "You've got it, pal."

Three days later he came into the canteen and silently gave me the envelope.

In small neat writing the letter said:

"My dearest and most handsome Jock. Your letter was the most wonderful I have ever received. Isn’t it marvellous when two people meet and know that they are made for each other? As soon as I saw you I knew it was fate. I love your strong Scottish face, your manliness. Now a little about me..."

And so on. I finished reading and handed the letter back to Jock. "Write back tonight," he said. "Thanks a million, Frank."

Over the next three weeks letter followed letter. They became increasingly warmer in tone on both sides. I had no girlfriend, and I enjoyed myself, pouring out poetry and compliments over poor Susan. The money came in handy, too.

It was almost a month later that Jock got a forty-eight hour pass. My/our/his letters arranged the meeting. I watched him go to Chatham with a kind of quiet jealousy. Susan was my girl and I should be meeting her.

He came back on Sunday night. "We are getting married," he said. "What?"

"It went like a dream!" he said. "Popped the question a couple of hours ago and she said YES!" He squeezed my arm. "She said the letters made her sure. You’ll go to the wedding, won't you? Hey! - be best man! What about it?"

Bewildered by the speed of it all, I nodded.

It was a good wedding. Sun shining, organ playing. Afterwards, at the reception Susan came up to me. She was a large girl with yellow hair. Her face was warm and happy.

"I wanted to say thank you, Frank," she said. "You were a very nice best man."

I was glad the letter writing was over. She was not my type at all. I was sure they'd be very happy. Or was I? I was suddenly curious.

"Your letters did it," I said.

She giggled. She was slightly drunk with drink and happiness. "Shall I tell you a secret?" she said.

"Do."

She came closer.

"Don’t tell Jock. Don’t tell anyone. But... I never wrote them. I'm not good at that sort of thing. I had a friend to do it for me."

"Really? Is your friend here?"

"Janice? No, not yet. She’s a nurse. She is on duty till four. She should be here soon. Isn’t it funny? I hope Jock never finds out. He writes so well himself. Yes, there she is...Janice! Janice! Come and meet..."

And there she was - tall and dark and slim and beautiful and coming forward and smiling and being introduced... And she looked up and she had the most marvelous pair of brown eyes and her hand was cool in mine...

weather-beaten —обветренный bob - деньги

to chat smb. up - разговорить кого-либо to fix smth. up —договориться

half a bar - полфунта pad - блокнот

you've got it - ты попал в точку