What makes a good beginning? Do you havea fivourite book which you think begins in a wna? Tt may be vomething you are ‘book you read when you particularly compelling reading at the moment, or perhaps were younger? Hove important ist to know where to start your narrative? Think about this from the point of view of being present at the time, or looking back toa period when something happened. “This could be a chance event, or an exciting new opportunity } that had a big impact on your life Fiction From Reefby Romesh Gunesekera rathmal is rhododendeon a beautiful ed fowering sia Jasmineisa climbing plant with heavy sented fone The folowing extract from the novel Reef starts cut in SriLanka inthe 1960s, where the author, Romesh Gunesckera, grewup. inthis extract, «we follow the author's account ofthe curious first day when he enters the big house where he is to be a houseboy, or general servant, to Mister Salgado. Wordpool untroubled (33) to blurt out (35) The ie boy was bows like this in Si LanRot eect FO Mister Salgado ce ister Salgado is a real gentleman. You must do whatever tells you.’ My unele pulled my ear." it ou understan as leven years old.(My uncle was escorting me toa house town)l had never been to before. Ar the base of the two columns at the front of the house were beds of scarlet rathmal and white jasmine. The big windows were shielded by shutters { painted in mildewy gretn. My uncle took me into the back of the house through a side entrance. Inside,a doar squeaked behind us, closing automatically. A crumpled old woman fs sitting on a small wooden stool with her feet in the sun. She looked up. “You are back again?" she said ro my uncle. What is all this coming and going?” Her mouth collapsed round her empty gums. fy uncle told her we were there to see Mister Salgado! She got up and slowly made her way into the main part of the house. will ask, she mumbled. We saton the floor and waited. My ear hurt from my uncle's 1g. When the sun sank behind the rooftops, we were Summoned by a voice from somewhere deen inside rhe house, 1 last rays of light spiintered through the trees. My fincle shed me forward, ‘Let's go." \t first Mister Salgado said nothing. My uncle too was a is and they were both silent for a while. an of few word Sventually Mister Salgado nodded towards me. ‘So, this is the b "Yes, this is the boy. My uncle shifted his weight from one foot to the other. Ce1 — 7 | 30 He offered the bag of sree? mangos we hel rout i | ig the one f wens telling about. He is the hoy. He ean | very quickly? ‘A smooth untroubled face stared at school? Did you go? 435. “Yes? Pbfureea out.‘ went co school Fifth standard. Fean read and write. I had even learned some English from my ne poor schoolmaster who lived in a bung: Jow near my father’s fields. ‘And now?” he can led next to me. ‘As I told before, home any more. That sl 40 My uncle wi Jearn quickly but he cannot live at trouble Thad burned the thatched roof ofa hut in the schoolyard by accident. J only dropped a single match. Bue flame hac ight the thatch. My father went mad Tran 45 shot outand cau anew life for away co my uncle who promised t0 arrange ne. He told me I would never have to go back again. “Lam doing this only because I think your mother ~ if she were ‘live -would have wanted me to, Do you understand?” he 50° had said. Mister Salgado sighed. He spoke slowly. Ihad never heard language so gently spoken. Ever after when Mister Salgado spoke, | would be captivated. ROMESH GUNESEKERA (ene 41. Which words tell you that the old woman does not have any teett 2 How do you know that the uncle and the ater boy had to wait along time to see 3 Howrdo you know that the uncle had vis yor had visited Mister Salgado previously? ~ —~ 4 How does the boy fee! about his schoo! record? 404 5 How do you think the boy wl get on as houseboy to Mister Salpad of ister Salgado? g oeRo areas Toolkit Winen you are wating at boy uncle says Mister Salgado sa Yea gentleman What evidence is therein the story thatthe uncle froma ister Salgndo? What impression does the descr make on you? talking about a book you different social class than M, have enjoyed reading, tis, good tobe able to use expressive vocabulary For example: ition ofthe ald woman + for interesting you could ‘What Sort of man does Mister Salgado seem tobe? say intriguing, How does the uncle recommend his nephew to Mister captivating, fascinating, 1 Salgpio? absorbing { + abook you cant put down might be described as compulsive read, ripping enthrling ‘dd these words to your ite your own dialogue for a meeting between two characters bea dramatic conftontation, asin the opening scene of coeur essai ion 3 Expectations ofa nor pole intervie asin thessene | earings rte escribed in ‘Mister Salgado. ‘words to make your writing hich you meet. Was it an ore exciting and dramati. Interview fora job ora new school? Had you done Something wrong, or had you been accused of something You didrit do? Was it an exciting new opportunity that you desperately wanted? Provide notes on staging and the cast of characters, Describe the time and place, and provide details of any props required. ‘Use adverbs and descriptive past participles for the stage Girections to give the actors more information on the * feelings and actions of the characters.) Describe the circumstances in w ei SUUUESOOOOOGESEEEEEGEEEL \ Journal, Have you ever been in trouble? Was ik 105