The Girl in the Photograph

Level: B1

While I was walking along the road the other day, I happened to notice a small brown leather purse lying on the pavement. I picked it up and opened to see if I could find out the owner’s name. There was nothing inside it except some small change and a rather old photograph – a picture of a woman and a young girl about twelve years old, who looked like the woman’s daughter. I put the photograph back and took the purse to the police station, where I handed it to the sergeant in charge. Before I left, the sergeant made a note of my name and address in case the owner of the purse wanted to write and thank me.

That evening I went to have dinner with an uncle and aunt of mine. They had also invited another person, a young woman, so that there would be four people at table. The young woman’s face wad familiar, but I could not remember where I had seen it. I was quite sure that we had not met before. In the course of conversation, however, the young woman happened to remark that she had lost her purse that afternoon. I at once remembered where I had seen her face. She was the young girl in the photograph, although she was now much older. Of course she was very surprised when I was able to describe her purse to her. Then I explained that I had recognised her face from the photograph I had found in the purse. My uncle insisted on going round to the police station immediately to claim the purse. As the police sergeant handed it over, he said that it was a remarkable coincidence that I had found not only the purse but also the person who had lost it.

Glossary

claim- to ask for something because you believe it is your legal right to own or have it

coincidence- the fact of two things happening at the same time by chance, in a surprising way

hand- to pass or give something to someone

happen- to do or be something by chance

in case- because something is possible to happen

in/over the course of- during

insist- to ask strongly that something should happen

lying- being or remaining in a flat position on a surface

make a note of- write something down to help you remember it later

pavement- a flat part at the side of the road for people to walk on

recognise- to know who someone is or what something is when you see or hear them because you seen or heard them before

remark- to say

remarkable- unusual or surprising