Finns Business
.pdfStreamline Graded Readers
Level 3
Finn's Business
Stephen Rabley
Series Editors:
Bernard Hartley and Peter Viney
OXFORUNIVERSITD |
PRESY |
S |
OxforUniversitd |
Presy |
s |
Walto Streetn |
Oxfor, |
OXd 6D2 P |
OXFOR OXFORanDd ENGLISD Hartrademarke s
of Oxford University Press
ISBN 0 19 421910 0
© Oxford University Press 1988
First published 1988
Fourth impression 1994
Illustrate |
byd RobertLi:z |
s |
Printed in Hong Kong
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'Surprise!' |
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FinMcGilcouldn'n |
believt |
eitHe.officr wae |
fuls |
peoplof e |
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completel- |
Everyonfull. |
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eaLondoht e |
FashioCompann |
y |
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was there. For a second she just looked at them. |
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setunim esandwich!toIwant.geta' |
'How did ...?' she began. 'I mean, I only went out for five |
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Everyone laughed, then Finn's boss, Diana Matheson, |
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walketoward |
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hers |
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waholdines |
somflowersg |
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'Fiannola,' she said. 'We just wanted to say "congratulations" |
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youn |
ner wjo Parisnb |
We'l. |
misl yous |
coursef, |
bu, |
it' s |
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really good news.' Finn looked at her boss and smiled.
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'You'rtwentyon- |
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dneaalred |
you'r one |
eofthbseyount g |
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Then Jamie said, 'I'll see you downstairs in a minute, OK?' |
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fashion designers in Britain,' Diana continued. 'Soon, you'll |
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He left and Finn looked at the floor for a second. Then she |
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be one of the best in Europe - I'm sure of it. Good luck, and |
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picked up the phone on Diana's desk. 'Hello, this is Finn |
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don't forget. Come back and see us.' |
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McGill. Is there a call for me? Yes, I'll wait.' She moved to the |
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Diana'Oh please,, |
sai'Finnd 'I'.goinm g.cryto |
' |
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window again and looked out. The man was still playing his |
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Agaieveryonn |
laughed |
'It'.OK,s saiDiana'd 'I'v. |
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guitar outside the restaurant. Suddenly she heard her father's |
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.finished |
Sh'gave Fine |
flowersthn |
theturne,around . |
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voice. |
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'Well |
wha, |
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art |
wewaitinalel |
for?g |
shasked' |
'Let'. |
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'Fiannola, is that you?' |
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party.' |
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'Dad wha, |
lovelatsurprise!y |
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sai'Finnd'How'everythin.s |
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An hour later Finn quietly left the room. She went upstairs |
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at home in Belfast?' |
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Diana'to |
roos |
manstood |
windowathe |
Belo. |
wher car, ans |
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For a second there was no reply, then: |
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peopl |
fille |
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thdbusestreety |
Covenfs Gardent |
I.wat |
asho |
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'I'm afraid there's bad news, Finn. It's your mother. They |
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July day. A man was playing a guitar outside a restaurant. |
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took her to hospital this morning. She's had a heart attack.' |
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Finbegan |
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ntfeeo |
sadl |
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thoughtsh'e |
don'I. |
speat |
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'Oh Dad,' said Finn quietly. 'How bad is it? Is she going to |
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'A mdoinI |
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thgrighehing?t |
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French. I've got no friends in Paris. Am I just leaving London |
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'I don't know,' replied her father's voice. Then he said, 'Can |
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because ofJamie?' Then suddenly Finn saw her own face in the |
saiequietld |
you.. ca. yoncomuemohe She'?askins |
fog.your |
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wind |
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andwsmiled |
'Com. |
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on,e |
sh' |
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herselfyto |
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'Don'worrytYou'r. |
onle |
becaussayd |
it'eyous |
lasr |
datherey . |
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'Of course,' said Finn. 'I'll catch the first plane. And don't |
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worry, Dad. Everything will be all right - I'm sure of it. |
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Pari |
wilwonderfulsb e |
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Th. |
ne wjo |
wilwonderfulbb e |
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too, . |
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Everythin |
wilg |
bljuse.finet |
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And Jamie? Well, you love him, but he doesn't love you — |
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that's all. It happens to people all the time. No ... you're not |
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runnin |
awayg You'r. |
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beginninjust |
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gane |
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bi nane w |
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The next morning Finn and her father left the hospital in |
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country. What's wrong with that? Now, go back to the party |
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Belfasogethert |
'Thank. |
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cominfosr |
homg quickly,eso |
sai' d |
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and enjoy yourself.' |
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John McGill. He was a tall man with thin brown hair and a |
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Shturne |
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awad |
froy windowmthe |
Jus. het |
thndooe |
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tired face. Finn didn't reply, but held his arm tightly. |
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opened. It was Jamie Miller, one of the other designers at the |
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At the car she stopped and looked around her. 'I think I'd |
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London Fashion Company. 'Oh, here you are,' he said. |
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like to walk home,' she said. 'I haven't seen the old place for a |
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'There's a phone call for you. Diana asked me to find you.' He |
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lontimeg |
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Itha.s |
Ot |
witKyou?h |
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began to leave, and then turned. 'Are you OK, Finn? You look |
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'Of course,' her father answered. 'I'll see you later, back at |
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'I'm fine,' replied Finn with a bright smile. 'I just needed a |
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the house.' |
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Finwatchen |
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father'rd |
carsWhedisappearedt.n |
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few minutes alone, that's all.' |
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began to walk home through the streets of Belfast. At first she |
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Jamie laughed. 'I understand. Surprise parties aren't always |
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though about |
motherhe r |
Wa. shgoine gtolive |
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easy |
arthey?, |
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sai'She'd |
doins |
.wellg |
Wa' thas |
tru |
eonotr The? |
thoughshne |
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'Noalways,not |
replie' |
Finnd |
The.smiley |
daeacothert |
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abou |
father |
Hteache.wa thhead-s |
or |
faschoolbig |
5
usuall |
yhcompletwa |
sin controeeverythingofl |
Butoda. |
yhe |
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lookedifferen |
frightene— |
suddenlan |
ymucso |
olderh . |
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Afte |
halr |
afhoun Finr |
wan |
si thcentrn |
eo thfcitye The. |
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she remembered the Blue Moon cafe. 'It's just around the |
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corner from here,' she thought. 'Maybe I'll stop and have a |
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quic |
cuk .coffeefp |
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Ther |
wer |
lote |
peoplfs |
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ei thnsmalle |
war, |
cafem |
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couldn'Fin |
fint |
seatd |
bu, the |
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sae won |
ewindowbyth e |
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She sat down, ordered a cup of coffee and looked around her. Everything was the same - the pictures on the wall, the old wooden tables, the ...
'Fiannola McGill! Is it really you?'
Finlooken |
upd younA. womag |
nijean |
ans dashirre-dT |
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was standing next to her. She had a baby in her arms. 'Mary Killane!' Finn replied. 'I don't believe it. I haven't seen you for
. . . six years! Not since we left school.'
The two women looked at each other for a moment. Then they both began to laugh. Just then someone left and Mary sat down. 'Finn, you look great,' she said. 'You look very ... oh,
I don't know ... very London? Again they both laughed.
'Well, you look great, too,' said Finn. 'Both of you.' She smiled at the baby. 'Oh Mary, it's really good to see you.'
For nearly an hour the old school friends talked about their lives. First Mary described her job in a bookshop, her husband and her house in west Belfast. Then Finn talked about her parents, her work as a fashion designer and her new job in Paris.
'Paris! saiMary'd That'fantastic. OFinn.h you'r, es o lucky. When do you start?'
'In three weeks,' replied Finn quietly.
Mary looked surprised. 'You don't look very happy about it,' she said.
Finn slowly turned the coffee cup she was holding in her hands. 'Well, I'm not really. You see, Mary, I've always
wante |
dhavto me owbusinesy ..s twor. .myselffokr |
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'And won't you be able to do that in Paris?' |
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'No,' replied Finn. 'I'll be an assistant designer in a big
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—ypar .teamof |
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see,I'saidMary' 'An.whaduobtaLondot |
Whn?don'y yout |
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starbusinesat |
there?s |
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Fin wan |
tilturnins l |
thg ecuebetwp |
hehandsr |
'I'. tirem |
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ndon,oLf |
sh'saide |
'It'. greas placet |
bu, it' gossomt |
e.. . |
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memorieabd |
osfmer'noId.natw |
livttoreeth nea.morey She' |
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put down the cup. 'Anyway, you don't want to hear all this!' |
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Neither of them spoke for a few seconds, then Mary looked |
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watchthe |
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time?th Sh'stooe |
up'Lookd. |
musI, |
got . |
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I'm late.' She smiled. 'It's been really great to see you, Finn. I |
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hopuoeymother |
betteris soonr |
nA.listed don'- worrt |
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about Paris. I'm sure that everything will be OK.' |
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Finn smiled at the baby and then at Mary. 'Thanks,' she |
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said. |
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Fou dayr |
lates |
borroweFinn |
father'rd |
cas androvr |
et o |
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coastthe |
Fo. thrfirse |
tim |
einweea shk |
felhappyt |
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from the hospital was good. Ellen McGill was slowly getting |
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better — her life wasn't in danger now. But Finn wasn't only happy because of the news about her mother. There was something else, too. She was happy because she was back in Northern Ireland. It was so much quieter and friendlier than London.
She walked slowly beside the calm, blue sea, then lay down |
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onthware sandm |
Fosevera. minutel |
sh dreamejust |
—d |
half-asleep in the sun. Jamie, Paris, her parents, Mary ... |
all |
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kinds of thoughts passed through her head. Then the idea |
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lneddus camy retoeh |
'Ocourse!'.fthgsheuoht 'Wh.'ndiyd It |
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niht kofitbefore llstay'?I'tgotoParisIwon.here |
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to work for someone else. I can start my own fashion business
herBelfast.in |
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Shbega |
laughnto |
The. |
shn goe ut anpstarted |
dtrualono |
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Thnexmornint |
eFintelephogn |
DianMathesond |
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'You want to start a fashion company in Belfast! But Fiannola, why? The job in Paris was perfect for you.'
'I thought so, too,' said Finn, 'but I was wrong. I want to
ratsssetmyownbusin owthatnow.Ikn.'Therewasnoreply.
'Listen, Diana, I need your advice,' Finn continued. 'Will
the beach. Suddenly everything was clear. The past, the |
you help me?' |
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present, the future ... everything. 'That's it!' she shouted |
Severasecondl passed theDiana', voics 'Fiannolasaide, |
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happil ytoth ske any thsead'That'. answer!the |
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you're making a big mistake. Now, what do you want to |
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know?' |
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Finn asked a lot of questions. About money, about business, about making and selling clothes. She and Diana talked for
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yahoun anr halfd The. Fin saidn 'OK, thinI, that'k |
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everything. I've made twelve pages of notes. Thanks.' |
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'What are friends for!' said Diana. 'Oh, do you want to call |
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Paris |
shalo,r |
I?l |
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arey goofrienda |
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Finsmiledn |
'Yo. reallu |
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do it. I have to talk to the bank and see a few people first. I |
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won'refust |
the joe |
yetb Not. unti |
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I'l msuraboue |
mtplany |
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here in Belfast.' |
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'Well, good luck,' said Diana. |
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'Thanks, |
sai'Finnd |
'I'.goinm |
gneeto |
.dit |
' |
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One week later Finn and her father were driving to the
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hospital. In the gold evening light Finn looked through the |
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ope |
windocar |
wa thstreet |
Belfasto |
O. oncorne |
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stree |
grouat |
Britispof soldierh |
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gunh |
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talking. On another, three small boys were throwing stones at |
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an empty police car. Behind them, in big green letters on a |
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wall, was the message, 'IRELAND FOR THE IRISH'. |
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it',OKs |
I'l.'Whyl do I want to come back here?' thought Finn. 'Belfast |
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has so many problems, and they just go on and on.' Then a few |
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minute |
lates shr |
sae wt ol med anothein street |
On. wae |
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singing an Irish song and the other was dancing. Several |
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children were watching them and laughing happily. Finn |
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smiled |
'That'. |
why,s |
thoughtsh'e |
'It'. |
thpeopls |
here |
lovI. |
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them. They're my people. They're special ... different.' |
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ElleMcGiln |
walittins |
gu pi benwhed husbanher |
and d |
daughter arrived.
'Oh Mum, you look so much better!' said Finn.
'I feel better,' her mother replied. 'And they say I can come home at the weekend.'
'Oh Ellen, that's great news,' said John McGill. He kissed
wifehis'Grea. |
news,t |
repeateh' |
softlyd |
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Fin |
san |
ot thn side |
eo thf |
be and held |
r'hed motr |
hands |
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'Mumwonderful,that' |
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shesaid'The. |
nshlookehappild |
yat |
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botparentshe |
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'I'v. |
goesomt |
gooe newsd |
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John McGill smiled at his daughter. 'I thought there was |
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something, |
hsaid''You've. |
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made |
ealo notphf |
calle this |
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week.' |
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laughedFinn |
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'I'sorry.m |
Dad, |
wanteI. |
dttelo |
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earlie |
bucouldn'rIt |
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..t nobefor.t |
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mwa.betters |
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Tell us what?' asked Ellen. |
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Finn turned to her mother. 'I'm going to start a fashion |
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busines |
Belfast,in |
sh'saide wen.'I |
ttothyesterdabank |
any d |
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they'vagreed |
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Ica.borron |
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moneywth |
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It'calle.s |
"smald |
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busines |
grant"s |
Bubefor.t |
thae |
haIt |
dshot |
thew |
mmplany |
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.Look |
Sh' tooe |
piecka |
papeof |
our |
otthepockfr |
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plan, |
sh'saide'First. I'l,havl |
efinptoworkshda |
That'. |
nos t |
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a problem. I saw a place in west Belfast this morning. It's |
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small |
bu, |
it' noexpensiveot o |
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The. |
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I'lnneel |
twpeopld |
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work with me. I can design all the clothes, but I'll need help to |
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makthem |
Th. thire |
thind |
hiogsafa |
shown |
wanI. |
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havt o |
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onMarcein haEuropht e Hotela |
I'valread. showy nth |
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people there some of my designs. They really liked them. Then, after the show, with luck I'll have a lot of orders. That's when the real work will begin.'
John McGill looked at his daughter. 'This is all so sudden,' he said. 'Are you sure about it?'
'No,' replied Finn, smiling. 'I'm not sure at all, but I want to doitOh. an, cad nlivI homeat wite yoh fou arfemonthw s
... until I can find a flat?'
John and Ellen McGill looked at each other for a moment. 12
Ellen was the first to speak. 'Now I really feel better,' she said. 'Of course you can.'
JohMcGiln |
tooldaughter'hik s |
hans |
smiledand |
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'Welcom |
home |
Finn, |
hsaid'e . |
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Thfirse |
reat |
dal |
Finn'businesyof |
Septembewass |
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On that day she and her two assistants moved into their |
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worksho |
pwesBelfastin |
On. |
wae MeDwyersg |
Sh. |
wae |
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seventeen, played the piano and had long, red hair. The other |
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waRickShapirosy |
H. waneixtes |
alway, |
wors |
blace |
k |
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leathe jacker |
wit |
hinams |
eo thnbacke |
wanted, |
dtlivo |
ei n |
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Los Angeles. Both of them loved fashion. |
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yol botu |
Afouho'cloctr |
thak |
dat |
theystoppey |
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andRickd |
mady |
some |
'tea. Finn took three cups out of a bag, sat on a wooden box
lookedan |
aroun herdoThworks.e |
wapmalls |
bu, |
watit |
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warm and there was lots of light. She liked it. |
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'Well, here we are,' said Meg. 'It's exciting, isn't it?' |
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Finn smiled. 'Yes, it is,' she agreed. Then she looked at |
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Rick |
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anyMegd haven'I. |
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reallt |
toly |
yod w |
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'Thi. |
my plansiths, havee I?' she asked. |
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'No, not much,' said Ricky. He passed Meg a cup of tea, |
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then sat on the floor and crossed his legs. 'But you talked |
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et o |
about a show at the Europa Hotel in March.' |
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'That's right,' said Finn. 'We have to prepare a complete |
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collection between now and then. Jackets, skirts, coats, hats— |
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everything |
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Look! |
Ica, shon |
wyosomdesigns.u |
Sh' tooe k |
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severa |
piecel |
papeosf |
our |
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bar |
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pud e |
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floor. |
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'Thes |
argreat, |
sai'Megd . |
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'Loo |
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kahijacket,s shoute' Rickyd |
'An. |
thesd uits! |
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'D yoreallu |
likthem?y |
aske' |
Finnd |
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Rick |
any Medlookeg |
daeacothert |
'No,. sai'Megd |
'W. |
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don' |
liktheme |
wlove,.them |
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For the next four months Ricky, Meg and Finn worked on |
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the collection every day. Often they stayed at the workshop |
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13 |
until ten or eleven o'clock at night. Finn was really pleased |
worksho |
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busie |
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anbusierd |
Th. shoe |
waEuropht e |
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with both of them. After a few weeks they weren't just her |
Hotel was on March 20th and it was already February. |
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assistants; they became her friends. |
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Sometime |
Finthoughtsn |
'We'l, nevelfinisr |
time,nh |
ub' |
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Then, one day in January, Ricky came to Finn with a |
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slowly the collection grew, and the small room began to fill |
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problem |
'Thi. |
silly,is |
hsaid'e 'bu, |
havtI etmebodtalktos |
y |
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with coats, dresses, hats and suits. |
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uoba |
itI.gothiyesterday.lette r |
showeH' Find nthletter . |
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On Friday March 12th Meg and Finn left the workshop at |
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waItmads |
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newspaperoutot f |
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11 p.m., but.Ricky said, 'I'm not tired. I'll stay for an hour or |
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.two H' wamakines |
greea jacken |
anetwand |
finisdto ith . |
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'This one's really beautiful,' he said. 'And it's my size, too. I |
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thought, maybe after the show ...' |
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Finn smiled and gave him her key. 'Perhaps,' she said. 'Now |
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don't work too late and don't forget to lock the door.' |
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Ricky smiled. 'Don't worry, boss,' he said. 'Go home and go |
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to bed. I'll see you both in the morning.' |
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The phone rang at 1 a.m. Half-asleep, Finn answered it. |
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'Yes, this is Fiannola McGill,' she said softly. Then she quickly |
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opene |
anhed.eyesr turned do thnlighe |
next |
ttothbed |
'Afire. |
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Onohwhe, |
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din |
d..yes. |
yes, |
coursf, |
e.. I'l |
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Finn looked at the letter. Her mouth was suddenly dry.immediately |
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pue |
thphone downe |
Theembere.shn |
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'Who sent this? Do you know?' she asked. |
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... 'Ricky!'. |
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Ricky looked at the floor. 'No,' he replied, 'but it's not the |
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lates Finr |
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parenthed arrives |
outsid |
the |
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.first |
stoppeH' |
fodsecondar |
'We'v. |
problemgoat |
Finn, . |
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workshop. It was almost impossible to see the building. Smoke |
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Norther |
Irelan |
dfulpoliticsis o f |
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an,somd peopl |
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kI' m |
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oug |
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otwindowsalfthl e |
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wer policofficere |
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on one side and you're on the other.' Neither of them spoke for |
pourinwa s |
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fighteran-fired everywheres |
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Quickl. |
Finy |
gon |
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ot thf care |
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several seconds. |
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On the other side of the street there was a crowd of people. She |
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'Do you want to stop working here?' asked Finn. 'I don't |
Meg'sawcafs inehtcrowe nad dardrawotn |
r'e'Whers. s |
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want to lose you, Ricky, but after this I can understand ...' |
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Ricky?' she shouted. 'Have they found him?' |
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'No, I don't want to leave,' said Ricky quickly. He looked |
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'No, not yet,' replied Meg, 'but I've talked to the police. |
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aroun |
hid mfinisheaalt th-lhalfe |
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clothed |
workshopithn e |
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The knoy |
thaw |
he't |
theresin |
An.Finnd there'omethin,s |
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can't leave,' he said. 'There's too much to do.' They both |
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dlse,continush'e |
'The. saythay |
thfirewasn'e |
accident . |
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smiled. 'I just wanted you to know,' he said. 'That's all.' |
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Someone started it.' |
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Fin anRickd |
didn'y |
eltMelaboug |
hlettere Fin.didn' |
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policofficena |
camtowarde |
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th e |
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tell her parents either. 'Why worry them?' she thought. |
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crowd'Excus. |
me bu, |
artlyoeFiannu |
McGill?a |
askedh' |
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'Perhap |
it's jus |
batjokeAnywayd. |
Ricky', |
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rights |
H.can'e |
t |
Hwaholdines |
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parg |
theoafle |
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jacker |
tihandshi s |
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leavnowThere'. tosmuco ht.doo |
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could see the letters R.I.C. on it. 'One of the fire-fighters found |
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There certainly was a lot to do. Life in the west Belfast |
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this inside the building,' he said quietly. 'I'm very sorry.' Meg |
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14 |
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15 |
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put a hand in front of her face and began to cry. Finn wanted |
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niFnnaMegwatched dthefire They'.ndid aeptsoseverakf |
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cryto too, bucouldn't,sh e |
Sh. juslookedt Ricky'at |
jackets |
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minutes. Finn felt completely empty inside. 'Why did I let him |
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the na htcloue |
kdosmf |
above workshopthee |
Sh. |
fel colt |
d stay? |
thoughtsh'e |
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kne'.I |
abouw |
hlettere Wh.didn'y |
...It ' |
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and sick. |
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'Finn! Meg!' It was a voice behind them in the crowd. They |
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botturneh |
lookedand |
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'Wh |
waothat?s |
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Mequicklydg |
The. 'Ricky!n... |
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e |
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shouted. |
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Ricky pushed through the crowd, then suddenly he was |
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standin |
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themo |
H. wawearins |
thgreeg jacken |
frot |
m |
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Finn's collection. 'My Mum just woke me up,' he said. 'She |
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saw the fire from her bedroom window. I ran all the way here.' |
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Finlookedn |
himat |
'Onfighter.o thfire-f |
founs this,d |
sh' e |
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said. |
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Ricky looked at the leather jacket in her hands. 'You mean, |
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you thought ...' He looked at both of them and then at the |
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fire. Nobody spoke. |
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Later that day Finn, Meg and Ricky went back to the |
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workshop. Slowly they walked around the black, empty |
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building |
'Wha. |
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dt |
ow now?ed |
aske' Megd |
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Finn looked at her sadly. 'Well, we can't start again. There |
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isn'time, |
sh'saide |
Th. shoe |
w isevei n |
daysn |
I'v. |
stile gol |
alt |
l |
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the designs at home, but that doesn't really help us. We just |
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can'makt |
ale thclothee |
agais beforn |
the.20the |
' |
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That day was like a bad dream for Finn. She had to talk to |
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policeht |
hkt,naeb |
ptho,rueE Hotela |
Al.thiltoos |
klona g |
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eminta,'nhedsdid |
virratmohietnuem.11plShe.adhtaa |
b h |
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and made a cup of coffee. Then she went into her room and sat |
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on the bed. A few minutes later her father knocked on the |
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door. |
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'I'm so sorry, Finn,' he said. 'Can your mother and I do |
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anything?' |
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Finn looked at the floor. 'No, Dad,' she said. 'Nothing.' |
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'What happens now?' he asked. 'Will you go back to |
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England?' |
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Finn thought for a moment. 'No,' she said angrily. 'I'll start |
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mowcompany |
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herey.again |
The' |
vern softly |
shbegay |
nt o |
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16 |
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17 |