Original fiction: fantasy

Fam bridge
Discovery
Readers

Margaret Johnson
Series editor: Nicholas Tims

Tom puts the camera down. He doesn't walt it in his hands 110W. Finalist
He feels afraid.
It's Tom's birthday. But no one has any time for him. Ihen he finds a bag
and inside, there is a strange camera. M1rgaret Johnson
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British English
Total word count: 1,975
CEF ESOL

S Starter/Beginner

1 Beginner/Elementary Al

Elementary/Lower-tntermediate A2 KET

Lower-intermediate Bi PET
r ISBN: 978-84 8323-509-6

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Cambridge Discovery Readers

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Series editor: Nicholas Tims

Gone!

Margaret Johnson

CAMBRIDGE
UNP/ERSITY PRESS
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS Contents
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Information on this title: www.cambridge.org/9788483235096
Chapter 1 Birthday boy 5
© Cambridge University Press 2009
Chapter 2 The camera 12
This publication is in copyright. Subject to statutory exception Chapter 3 Where's the ball? 24
and to the provisions of relevant collective licensing agreements,
no reproduction of any part may take place without the written
Chapter 4 The computer 30
permission of Cambridge University Press. Chapter 5 Trying to help 38
First published 2009
Fourth reprint 2012

Printed in Spain

ISBN 978-84-8323-509-6 Paperback; legal deposit: S.928-2009

ISBN 978-84-8323-513-3 Paperback with audio CD-ROM pack for Windows, Mac
and Linux; legal deposit: S.209-2009

No character in this work is based on any person living or dead.

Any resemblance to an actual person or situation is purely accidental.

Illustrations by Lyn Knott

Audio recording by BraveArts, S.L.

Exercises by Peter McDonnell

The publishers are grateful to the following for permission to reproduce photographlc
material:

Getty Images 1 Timothy Allen for cover image

The paper that this book has been printed on is produced using an clrmcntal
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forests and controlled sources. No hardwood pulp is used In (he production of this paper.

3
People in the story Chapter 1

Birthday boy

Tom: a boy with a birthday 'I'm sorry I'm working on your birthday, Tom.'
Mum: Tom's mother Tom's mother is leaving the house. She isn't looking
Annie: Tom's sister at Tom. She's thinking about work.
Dad: Tom's father Have a fice day, love. See you tonight,' she says.
Neil: Tom's friend

BEFOREYOU READ

1 Look at the pictures in Chapter 1. What do you think?

Answer the questions.
1 HowoldisTom?

2 Has Tom got a big sister?

3 Does Tom's mother work?

 'Goodbye, Mum Tom says. He feels sad. He doesn't Tom smiles. He likes being twelve.
want her to go. 'Can 1 give you your birthday present' this
Tom's sister, Annie, comes down from her room. afternoon?' Annie asks. 'I'm going shopping this
'Happy birthday, little brother!' she says. 'Twelve morning with my friends.' She goes to the door.
today!' '1 want to go shopping,' Tom starts to say, but Annie
doesn't hear.
'Enjoy your birthday,' she says. Tben she leaves too.

Now Tom's father is the only person at home2. Tom

finds him at bis desk. He's working on bis computer.
Tom's father works at borne, and be works all the time.
Tom walks into bis father's office and bis father turns
and looks at him. 'Helio, Tom,' he says. 'What are you
going to do with your birthday money?'
 '1 don't know, Dad,' Tom says. 'Can we go shopping?' 'I'm sorry Neil's mother says. 'He's playing football
Tom's father is looking at bis computer again. 'Not in Winston Park3. Is that Tom?'
today, Tom,' he says. '1 must finish this work. Where's 'Yes,' says Tom.
Annie?' 'Neil telis me it's your birthday today Neil's mother
She's shopping with her friends,' Tom says. says. 'Happy birthday!'
He knows bis father isn't listening. He's reading an 'Thank you,' says Tom.
email on bis computer. '1 must go, but have a good day!' says Neil's mother.
'Tbat's fice' he says, but he doesn't look at Tom. 'Thank you,' Tom says again and he puts the phone
'Have a good time!' down.
'OK,' says Tom and he leaves the room. 'No one has any time for me today,' he thinks. 'It's
Tom phones his friend Neil. Neil's mother answers. my birthday and no one has any time for me.'
'Can 1 speak to Neil?' Tom asks.
 LOOKING BACK 4 Who do the undertined words refer to in these unes from
the text?

1 Check your answers to Beforeyou read on page 4. Annie (x2) Tom Dad
Mum Tom arid Dad Neil
ACTIVIT! ES
1 'See you tonight.' (page 5) TÇ,
2 He doesn't want her to go. (page 6)
2 Complete the sentences with the names in the box.
3 She goes to the door. (page 7)
Tom (x3) Mum Dad Annie (x2) NeiL (x2) 4 Tom finds him at his desk. (page 7)
5 'Can we go shopping?' (page 8)
1 Mum leaves the house and goes to work. 6 'She's shopping with her friends.' (page 8)
2 isTom's 7 'He's playing footba[1 in Winston Park.' (page 9)
3 It's 's birthday.
4 is twelve today. 5 Match the questions with the answers.

5 is going shopping. 1 Why is today a special day forTom? ¿

2 What has Tom got for his birthday?
6 works at home.
3 What does Tom's dad do at home? ji
7 is Tom's friend.
4 Who does Tom taik to on the phone?
8 15 at the park.
5 Who 15 playing football? ji
9 isn't happy.
a Heworks.
-b It's his birthday.
3 Underline the correct words in each sentence.
c Neil's mother.
1 Mum is thinking abo ut her work/ Tom's birthday. d He's got money.
2 Annie has / hasn't got a present for Tom. e Neil.
3 Tom'sfather/mother has got a computer.
4 Tom has got some/hasn't got any birthday money. LOOKING FORWARD
5 Tom's father can/can't go shopping.
6 Dad is listening to Tom / reading his email.
6 Tick (/) what you think happens in Chapter 2.
7 Tom speaks to Neil / NeiI's mother.
1 Tom goes to the park.
8 Neilknows/doesn'tknow it'sTom's birthday.
2 Tom stays at home. ji

10 11
Chapter 2 Tom goes over. Neil sees him. He smiles. 'Helio,
Tom!' he calis. 'Happy birthday!'
The camera 'Thank you!' Tom calls, but Neil is running to get
the ball.

Tom leaves the house and walks to Winston Park. He

doesn't like football, but he wants to be with people.
It's a hot day. In Winston Park there are lots of
mothers and fathers with their children. Boys and
giris are running and laughing. Everyone looks happy.
Tom sees Neil and sorne more boys. They're playing
football.
 Tom watches the game4 for ten minutes, but Neil He puts his bag down. There is another bag under
doesn't speak to him again. Neil's good at football and the seat.
he's enjoying the game. Tom starts waiking across 'What's this?' thinks Tom. The bag is black. Tom
Winston Park. opens it. He's looking for a name. There is only one
He sits down on a seat and takes a drink from his bag. thing in the bag: a camera.

Tom takes it out. Then he looks in the bag again, but

there is nothing in it. No name.

14 15
 Tom looks at the camera. There are four buttons:
PHOT0, DELETE, QN and 0FF.

Tom puts his finger on the QN button and presses'

it. The camera makes a noise.
The black bag is on the seat. Tom can see it in the
camera. Tom puts his finger 011 the PHOT0 button. He
presses it. The camera makes another noise. Tom looks
at the photo of the bag. It's OK, but he doesn't want
a photo of a bag, so he presses the DELETE button. The
photo goes away.

16 17
 'This camera is OK,' Tom thinks. 'But it isn't my 'It's looking for food,' Tom thinks. He smiles and
camera. 1 must take it to the police. 1 can buy a camera presses the PHOTO button. But when he looks at the
with my birthday money.' photo, it isn't good.
Tom puts out his hand to take the camera bag from Squirrels are too fast for photos Tom thinks.
the seat. But the bag isn't there. He presses the DELETE button. The photo of the
He looks under the seat. No bag. He looks behind squirrel goes away.
the seat. No bag. Tom doesn't understand. 'Where is the
bag?' he thinks.
A squirrel runs in front of the seat. Tom wants a
photo of it. The squirrel stops.

When Tom looks for the squirrel, he can't see it.

Squirrels run fast Tom thinks. 'But not that fast.
Where is it?'
 Tom looks at the camera. He doesn't understand.
Something is wrong. He wants to try the camera again.
There are sorne fiowers next to his seat. Tom looks at
the camera again. He can see the fiowers. He presses the
PHOTO button and takes a photo of the fiowers.
Then he presses the DELETE button to make the
photo go away. Tom takes the camera away from his
face. He looks for the fiowers. They aren't there.
'The fiowers are gone,' he thinks. 'Gone!'

20 21
LOOKING BACK 4 Are the sentences true (T) or false (F)?
1 Tom runs to the park. F
2 The weather is good. fl
1 Check your answer to Lookingforward on page 11.
3 Tom doesn't watch alt the game.
4 Tom finds a blue bag under his seat.
ACTI VITI ES 5 There's nothing in the bag.
6 The camera has got three buttons.
2 Underline the correct words in each sentence. 7 Tom takes a photo of his bag.
1 Tom wants / doesn't want to be with friends. 8 Tom doesn't like his photo of the squirrel.
2 Tom playsfootball with / talks to NeiL.
3 Neitis/isn'tgood at football. 5 Answer the questions.
4 Tom has something to eat/drink in the park. 1 Does Tom like football?
5 Tom /Neilfinds a camera.
6 Tom uses/ doesn't use the camera. 2 Where doesTom find the bag?
7 Tom wants to take the camera to the police/home.
8 Tom deletesall/someofhis photos. 3 What does he Look for in the bag?

3 Put the sentences in order. 4 Is the picture of the squirrel good? Why / Why not?
1 Tom finds a camera.
2 Tom speaks to Neil.
3 Tom sits down. LOOKING FORWARD
4 Tom goes to the park.
5 Tom deletes the photo.
6 Tom watches the game. 6 Tick (/) what you think happens in the next two chapters.
7 Tom takes a photo of the bag. 1 Tom plays footbatl.
8 The bag is gone. 2 Tom takes more photos with the ¿amera.
3 Tom goes shopping.

22 23
Chapter 3 Across Winston Park he can see the boys playing
football.
Where's the ball? '1 must tel! Neil about this!' he thinks. He puts the
camera in his bag and starts running across the park.

Tom puts the camera down. He doesn't want it in his

hands now. He feels afraid6.

He thinks about the camera bag, the squirrel and

the fiowers.
'When 1 take photos of things with this camera, they
go away, he thinks. 1 dont know how, but they do.'

24 25
 But after a minute he stops running. He thinks about Lots of the boys run to the boy in the blue T-shirt.
the camera bag, the squirrel and the fiowers. He's near They are all very happy.
the boys now. Tom quickly takes the camera from the bag and
'It's my birthday,' he thinks. '1 want Neil to come looks into it. He can see the ball.
to the shops with me. Wc can get a pizza. 1 can buy
something with my birthday money.'
A boy in a blue T-shirt has the ball now. He's running
fast. Ihen everyone shouts.
'Goal!'

He presses the PHOTO button and then the

DELETE button. The boys want to start playing again.
'Hey!' shouts the boy in the blue T-shirt. 'Where's
the ball?'

26 27
 No one can understand. They look on the grass7 and But Neil doesn't hear Tom. He's listening to the boy
behind trees. in the blue T-shirt.
It's OK,' he says. 'I've got another ball in my bag.'
'Good,' says Neil. 'But where is our other ball?'

'1 don't know,' says the boy.

He gets the new bali trom tus bag. lney start to play
again.
you see the ball, Tom?' Neil asks. Tom thinks about taking a new photo: a photo of
No, sorry, Tom says. 1 dont know where the ball the new ball. But the boys run away across the grass and
is. 1 don't think you can play now. Do you want to get Tom turns and starts to waik home.
a pizza with me? 1 can buy something to eat with my
birthday money.'

28 29
Chapter 4 'Tom? Is that you?' he calis.
'Yes,' Tom answers.
The computer 'Do you want a coifee?' bis father asks.
'No thank you,' answers Tom. Tm just getting
something from my room.'
When Tom gets home, his father is making a coifee.

Tom quickly runs up to bis father's office. It's the

room with the computer. He takes the camera from his
bag. He can see the computer in it. He quickly presses
PHOTO. Tben DELETE.
 He looks at the table. No computer.
Good,' he thinks.
Tom's father comes into the room with his coifee.
He smiles at Tom.
'OK?' he asks. Then he stops smiling. 'Where's my
computer?' he asks.

'1 don't know,' says Tom.

'1 don't understand Tom's father says. 'Where is it?'
He looks behind Tom. He looks under the table. He
looks all over the room. Then he looks at Tom.

32 33
 'Tom?' he says. 'Where's my computer?' Tom looks at bis father.
'1 don't know,' answers Tom. 'I'm sorry, Dad,' he says.
'Computers don't just go!' Tom's father says. His father smiles a little. 'It's OK, son,' he says. 'Go
'Yes they do!' thinks Tom. and enjoy your birthday.'
Then he looks at his father. 'Can we go to the shops, Tom leaves the room. '1 can't enjoy my birthday,' he
Dad?' he asks. thinks. 'No one has any time for me.'
No, Tom!' bis father says. '1 must find my computer!
I'm going to phone the police.'

Tom goes to his room and sits on his bed. Then he

thinks about his mother and he knows what he wants
After the police come,' Tom says, 'can we go to the to do.
shops then?'
But Tom's father can't stop thinking about his
computer.
'Please, Tom he says. He looks tired. '1 know it's
your birthday, but alT my work is on that computer. It's
very important. 1 don't know what to do.'

34 35
 4 Match the two parts of the sentences.
LOOKING BACK
1 Tom runs across the park because
2 Tom doesn't take a photo of the new ball because
Check your answer to Lookingforward on page 23. 3 Tom's dad isn't in his office because
4 Tom wants the computer to go away because
ACTIVITIES 5 Tom can't enjoy his birthday because
a he's making a coffee.
2 Underline the correct words in each sentence. b no one has any time for him.

1 Tom telis / doesn't teil his friend about the camera. -- he wants to teil Neil about the camera.
2 Tom wants to eatsomething/playfootbaii with Neil. d he wants to go shopping with his dad.

3 Tom takes a photo of the ball /hoy. e the boys run away.

4 The boys continue playing with a new /the oíd ball.

5 Tom takes / doesn't take a photo of the new ball. 5 Answer the questions.
6 Tom's dad is working / making a drink when Tom gets home. 1 Why does Tom put the camera down at the start of
7 When Tom gets home, he goes to his bedroom / dad's office. Cha pter 3?
8 Tom's dad's computer is ¡mportant because it has a Lot of
work/photos on it. 2 What does Tom want to do with his birthday money?
9 Tom is/isn't enjoying his birthday.
3 How many photos doesTom take in Chapters 3 and 4?
3 Answer the questions.
In Chapters 3 and 4, who
1 is afraid? Tom LOOKING FORWARD
2 asks Tom about the ball?
3 finds another ball in his bag?
6 Tick (/) what you think happens in the next chapter.
4 makes a drink?
5 loses his computer? 1 Tom goes to see his mum at work.

6 can't do any work? 2 He takes the camera to the police.

7 wants to go shopping? 3 He buys a new camera.

8 isn't happy?
Chapter 5 'Mum's tired,' Tom thinks. 'She works a lot.'
He goes into the café.
Trying to help His mother sees him.
'Helio, Tom,' she says. 'Why are you here on your
birthday?'
'I'm here to help you,' he says.
Kathy-*s Coffee Shop

Tom leaves the house and walks to his mother's café

- Kathy's Coifee Shop.
The café selis food alT day. Lots of peopie go there
on Saturdays. Tom can see his mother in the café. She
iooks hot. There are peopie at alT the tables and they're
alT waiting for their food.

38 39
 His mother smiles. 'You're a good boy,' she says. Then she leaves the
'Oh, thank you, Tom,' she says. 'People want plates kitchen.
and cups for their food and drinks she says. 'They're Tom quickly takes the camera from his bag.
all dirty.' '1 can have an afternoon with Mum,' he thinks. 'We
She takes Tom to the dirty plates and cups in the can go to a restaurant. Or watch a film.'
kitchen8.
'Can you wash them for me?' she asks.

Tom smiles. He can see the dirty cups and plates in the camera.
'Of course he says. He presses PHOTO. Then DELETE. Then he takes the
Tom's mother smiles again. camera away and looks.

40 41
 His mother looks at him. She looks very tired now.
'What?' she asks. '1 don't understand.'
'The camera ...' Tom starts, but his mother speaks.
'Tom,' she says, 'there aren't any plates or cups and there
are lots of people in the café. What am 1 going to do?'
'Glose the café, Mum,' Tom says. 'We can go out.'
His mother is angry now.
'1 can't close the café, Tom!' she says. 'This is myjob!
Now, please, teli me where the cups and plates are
'1 don't know, Mum,' Tom starts saying. 'It's the
camera ...'
- The door opens. Tom's sister comes in.

'Gone,'he thinks. 'They're gone.' And he smiles.

His mother comes back into the kitchen. She looks
all over the room.
'Tom?' she says. 'Where are the cups and plates?'
Tom thinks for a few9 seconds.
'It's the camera he telis her. 'When 1 take a photo,
things go away.'

42 43
 'Hello she says. 'What's wrong?' 'No!' Tom shouts.
Tom's mother starts telling Annie about the plates Annie presses the PHOTO button.
and cups, but Annie isn't listening. She sees Tom's 'Give the camera to me, Annie!' Tom shouts.
camera. Annie looks at the photo.

'This isn't a good photo of you, Tom,' Annie says.

'No! Don't press any buttons!' shouts Tom.
But it's too late. Annie presses DELETE.

'What's this?' she says and takes it from her brother.

Is it new?'
'Give it to me!' Tom says.
Annie doesn't listen. She puts the camera to her eye.
She looks at Tom.
'Smile!' she says.

44 45
LOOKING BACK 4 Are the sentences true (T) or false (F)?
1 It's the weekend.
2 Tom's mum has a Lot of work at the café.
1 Check your answer to Lookingforward on page 37.
3 She's happy because Tom wants to help her.
4 Tom doesn't want to wash the cups and plates.
ACTIVITIES 5 Tom tells his mum about the camera.
6 Tom's mum can't close the café.
2 Put the sentences in order. 7 Tom tells Annie about the camera. II
1 Tom and his mum go into the kitchen. II 8 Annie takes a photo of Tom with her camera.
2 Annie takes the camera from Tom.
3 Tom takes a photo of the cups and plates. Underline the correct words in each sentence.
4 Annie takes a photo of Tom. 1 There are a lot of! There aren't any people in Kathy's Coffee
5 Tom goes to his mum's work. Shop.
6 Tom tells his mum about the camera. 2 Tom / Tom's mum is tired.
7 Annie arrives at the café. 3 The cups and plates are on the tables un the kitchen.
8 The cups and plates go away. 4 Tom / Tom's mum tells Annie about the cups and plates.
5 Annie listens / doesn't listen to Tom.
3 Match the two parts of the sentences.
1 Tom goes to the café because ri 6 Answer the questions.

2 Tom takes a photo of the cups and plates because 1 Why isTom's mum surprised to see him in the café?
3 Tom's mum wants the cups and plates because
4 Tom's mum is angry because 2 What islom's plan?
5 Annie presses DLETE because
a the cups and plates are gone. 3 What happens when Annie takes a photo of Tom?
b it isn't a good photo of Tom.
c there are lots of people in the café. 4 List the things that are 'gone' in the story.
d- he wants to go out with his mum.
e he doesn't want to wash them.
G Lossa ry

'present (page 7) noun something that you give to someone,

often on a special day, for example birthdays
2 home (page 7) noun the place where you uve
3 park (page 9) noun a big area of grass, often in a town, where
people can waik and play
4 game (page 14) noun an activity or sport that people play
5 press (page 16) verb to push something hard
6 afraid (page 24) adjective frightened or worried
7 grass (page 28) noun a green plant that grows on the ground in
gardens and parks
8 kitchen (page 40) noun a room that you cook food in
9 (a) few (page 42) sorne, or a small nurnber of

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Using the CD-ROM and audio CD
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