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Emil lives in a big apartment building. There is one kitchen that everyone in the building shares. Emil likes to cook his dinner there every evening. Today, he wants to make a simple soup. He goes to the kitchen at six o'clock. He sees his , Petra, waiting outside the kitchen door. Petra looks unhappy. She has a pot in her hand. She wants to cook her dinner too. Emil looks at her and feels bad. He knows she has been waiting for a long time. He says, "I am so sorry, Petra. I did not know you were waiting." Petra nods her head slowly. Emil opens the door and they both go inside. The kitchen is small but clean. There are two cookers in the kitchen. Emil walks to one cooker and Petra walks to the other. Emil puts his pot on the cooker.
He turns on the heat. He starts to cut some vegetables on the table. Petra puts her pan on her cooker. She does not speak at first. Emil looks at her again. He wants to why he is late. "I went to the shop after work," he says. "There was a very long ." Petra looks at him. "How long did you wait?" she asks. "Almost forty minutes," says Emil. "The shop was very busy today." Petra's face becomes softer. She nods again. "That is a long time," she says. "Yes, it was," says Emil. He his soup slowly. He adds some salt and pepper to it. The kitchen starts to smell nice. Petra smiles a little.
"It happens," she says . Emil feels . He was worried that Petra was very angry with him. "Thank you for being ," he says to her. Petra laughs softly. "Next time, send me a message," she says. "Then I will know you are coming late." Emil thinks this is a very good idea. "Yes, I will do that," he says. "Good," says Petra. She her food in the pan. Emil his soup too. They cook quietly together. The kitchen feels warm and friendly now. Emil is happy that Petra is not angry. He tells himself to always send a message next time. They finish cooking at the same time. They say goodnight to each other and go back to their rooms.
a line of people waiting for something
"There was a long queue at the shop, so Emil waited a long time."
a person who lives near you
"Petra is Emil's neighbor because she lives in the same building."
to tell someone the reason for something
"Emil wants to explain why he arrived late to the kitchen."
able to wait calmly without getting angry
"Petra was patient and waited outside the kitchen door."
happy because something bad did not happen
"Emil felt relieved when Petra was not angry with him."
used by more than one person
"The kitchen in the building is shared, so everyone can use it."
to move food around in a pot or pan with a spoon
"Emil stirs his soup so it does not burn."
in a friendly and gentle way
"Petra speaks kindly to Emil and does not shout at him."
I am so sorry
used to say you feel bad about something you did
"Emil says, "I am so sorry," because he made Petra wait."
It happens
used to say that something is normal and not a big problem
"Petra says, "It happens," to show she is not very angry."
at first
in the beginning, before something changes
"Petra does not speak at first, but then she listens to Emil."
send me a message
to write and send a short note or text to someone
"Petra tells Emil, "Send me a message," so she knows when he is late."
feel bad
to feel sorry or guilty about something
"Emil feels bad because Petra is waiting outside the kitchen."
next time
on the following occasion when the same thing happens
"Emil says he will send a message next time he is late."
at the same time
together, at one moment
"Emil and Petra finish cooking at the same time."
thank you for being patient
used to thank someone for waiting calmly
"Emil says, "Thank you for being patient," because Petra waited without getting angry."
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