Learning English

Mariam
Hello, I'm Mariam – and today I've got a story about a young orphan - he has a tough life but with hope, spirit and a little bit of luck, all that could change.

This young orphan is called Oliver. At the age of nine he ends up in a miserable, grim workhouse. All the children who work there are always cold and light fires to keep warm. They are also badly treated and are always so hungry. One day, Oliver bravely goes up to the manager to ask him for more food, but he is thrown out because of his insolence. And so begins Oliver's new life.

I'll jump on a bit in the story. He's in London and he gets in with the wrong crowd:  a friendly young beggar invites him to shelter in a run-down, damp building with very little light - so it is dark too. It is run by a scruffy old man called Fagin. Oliver doesn't have to pay anything to stay there but in order to earn his keep, he has to work as a pickpocket – carefully and secretly stealing money and valuable possessions from people's pockets. He knows it's wrong but what else can he do?

When he sees the other children pickpocketing Oliver isn't happy and he runs away but the police catch him, thinking he is the thief. Luckily, a kind gentleman called Mr Brownlow sees what is going on and is able to shed light on what happened to the police. He then agrees to look after poor Oliver.

All seems well - Oliver has his own big spacious room, with windows and it's painted in a light blue colour. For the first time, he even has his own big comfy bed – and it's not long before he's out like a light.