Reading and Speaking skills practice:
Love at first sight
…..
Chapter 6… Manuela and eternal love, from the book In the land of volcanoes, by edudelcorral
Santiago de Querétaro, Querétaro, Mexico
It turns out that her mother had asked Grandpa to please go with her to Honduras, to a city near the border called Choluteca. She wanted to leave early morning at dawn, the next day after the festival. If they left early, they could drive over and arrive by lunch time. She had a particular interest in obtaining the recipe for a soup made by doña Eloísa and renowned all over Central America. Throughout the past four generations, doña Eloísa’s family had been preparing this exquisite dish, made from cow’s stomach, and regionally celebrated.
The Eloísa Girl – La Niña Eloísa – as she was fondly called by everyone that knew her, had a fourteen-year-old daughter named Manuela. She was her mother’s little helper and would assist in the kitchen chores. An extraordinarily beautiful young woman, her Hispanic heritage and Honduran origins were clearly stated by that dark skin and its rich, deep cinnamon hues. Her eyes, liquid and as dark, as deeply roasted coffee, were graciously set below light, diaphanous eyebrows, that seemed just barely inscribed by an artist’s paper-thin black felt pen. They were then just so elegantly crowned, by her long eyelashes that gently curved, when she closed her eyes. Manuela’s unsurpassed charm and beauty, her graceful motions as she walked the streets, were the pride of the city. She was well-loved for more than just her mere physical beauty. Beyond that, it was her gentle disposition and her attitude towards life that charmed everyone that surrounded her. Always kind to all, forever with a smile to share with the world, nobody remembers one single instance in her life, when she displayed a bad temper or was mean towards someone else.
So they arrived to Choluteca; while the women were talking shop and recipes, Grandfather, who was a bit hungry, walked into the kitchen looking for something to eat. To his great surprise, he ran into Manuela, and he was totally stunned by her beauty. For a few moments he stood still, smitten, dumbfounded, and speechless. It takes quite a bit of an effort, to imagine Grandfather, who had never lacked for words, hopelessly struck dumb by ove at first sight. Silently he heard how she offered him a dish of the delicious Mondongo. He accepted gracefully and proceeded to happily devour that soup, as he felt Manuela’s sweet gaze envelope him. Discreetly, Manuela laughed as she watched him blush, while she gently asked him about himself and Nicaragua. When he had finished eating, he smiled as he asked her name. Having said no more, he smiled once again and got up from the table. He then apologized for having to leave, but promised to come back shortly with a great surprise.
Vocabulary
It turns out [phrase] Used for saying what the situation really is when something different might have happened.
They said the repairs would cost around $20,000, but, as it turns out, the final bill will be twice that amount.
He was expecting to have completed his training by now. As it is, he’s only halfway through it.
Heritage [noun] the art, buildings, traditions, and beliefs that a society considers important to its history and culture
Ireland’s rich musical heritage.
A need for African-Americans to preserve their African heritage.
Diaphanous [adjective] very light and thin enough to see through
A diaphanous veil covered her hair, as she walked into the church.
Inscribed [inscribed] to write or cut words on or in something, especially as a record of an achievement or in order to honor someone
inscribe something with something: a gold watch inscribed with her initials
inscribe something on something: The names of all the dead were inscribed on the monument.
Crowned [verb] to make someone a king or queen during a ceremony in which a crown is put on their head
James III was crowned at Kelso Abbey.
crown someone something: Haile Selassie was crowned emperor in 1930.
to give someone a crown for winning a competition
crown someone something: She was crowned Miss America almost twenty years ago.
to add the last and greatest success to a series of achievements
Williams crowned his amazing pop career by taking three of last night’s four major awards.
to cover the top of something
Almost every hill is crowned with a pretty village.
to hit someone hard on the head
They crowned the man with a whack that resounded.
Graceful [adjective] graceful movement is smooth and beautiful
She rose to her feet in one graceful movement.
a graceful shape or object is attractive
graceful Moorish architecture
graceful arms and feet.
showing good manners and respect for other people
She was extremely graceful in defeat.
a graceful refusal
smitten [adjective/adverb] in love with someone
She instantly was smitten by the unknown stranger.
seriously affected by something such as an illness or emotion
He felt smitten by the malaria.
Dumbfounded so surprised that you do not know what to do or say
Mary was dumbfounded by his reaction.
Speechless so surprised, upset, or angry that you cannot think of anything to say
It was a performance that left him speechless with admiration.
Gaze [verb] to look at someone or something for a long time, for example because they are attractive or interesting, or because you are thinking of something else
gaze at/into/toward/upon/up at: We gazed in wonder at the scene before us.
He lay on the bed gazing up at the ceiling.
They gazed into each other’s eyes.
Apologize to tell someone that you are sorry for doing something wrong or for causing a problem
There’s no need to apologize.
apologize for: I apologize for taking so long to reply.
apologize to: You should apologize to your customers for wasting their money.
apologize profusely/sincerely/unreservedly: The newspaper has apologized unreservedly for printing false allegations about her.
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