Read and translate the text into Ukrainian.

The bus I catch doesn't go up the hill and when I get off at the corner I catch the smell of fish and chips and I cross the road and call at the shop and buy a fish and four penny-worth chips. I eat them out of the paper as I'm going up the hill. I really like fish and chips and there's no better way of eating them than in the open air. They last me till I get to the gate.

It's half past ten and the Old Lady and the Old Man are sitting with the table lamp on watching television when I go in.

" Do you want some supper? " the Old Lady asks me.

" I had some fish and chips on my way."

" You'll want a drink of something, I suppose? "

" It's all right, I'll make some cocoa."

I go into the kitchen and make the cocoa and bring it back into the living room and sit down on the sofa and light a cigarette. I'm thinking about Ingrid as I watch the picture that's on TV. I'm wondering what happened that she didn't come to meet me.

" Where've you been? " the Old Lady says in a minute.

" Pictures."

" By yourself? "

" With Willy Lomas."

" Willy Lomas? I don't think I know him, do I? "

" I used to go to school with him."

" I don't know why you pay good money to go to the pictures when you can see them at home for nothing" says the Old Man.

" You can't show colour and cinemascope on TV."

" Cinemascope? "

" Wide screen....... …. bigger."

" But they're pictures, just the same, aren't they? "

I say nothing to this. The picture's finished and there's a toothpaste ad on and I get up and throw my cig-end in the fire.

" Going up? " the Old Lady says.

" Yes, I'm ready for it. Had a busy day today."

I say good night and go upstairs. There's a light in Jim's room. I go into our bathroom and wash my face and clean my teeth as quickly as I can. As I'm coming out Jim calls me.

" What is it? "

" A letter for you."

I take it and look at it. I look at my name on the envelope and begin to get excited.

" Where did you get this? "

" I found it behind the front door. Somebody pushed it in while we were watching television. There's no stamp on it."

There's no address on it, either; just my name.

I shut the door behind me before I open the letter. " Dear Vic, " it says. " My cousin decided to catch a later train and I went with her to the station to see her off. The train was late and it was after half past seven when I got back. I went to where we'd arranged to meet but of course you'd gone. I'm going to be at the same place tomorrow (Sunday). I hope you can come.

Love, Ingrid."

(After Stan Barstow)