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You are here: Home / Stories In English / “How Could You?!” – A Day In The Life Of A Prague Couple

“How Could You?!” – A Day In The Life Of A Prague Couple

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Pavel looked up at his girlfriend, exasperated that his favourite magazines now lay at the bottom of their rubbish bin. He’d saved them from an almost certain death, though he wasn’t out of the woods yet: he needed to delicately rescue them from the bin without tipping over the stale yogurt squished in between March and April’s issue of FHM.

“How could you!?” He hadn’t looked this upset since he took his dog to the vet.

“Pavel, look. You never read them and I thought we could do some spring cleaning. Bet you wouldn’t have even noticed!”

“What are you talking about?! These are mine, woman*. Mine, got it?”

She pursed her lips and stormed out of the room. She’d had more than enough.

She wondered how it all came to this. One moment they were strolling along the beach on their honeymoon, the next thing she knew she was spending her evenings alone while Pavel was working later and later at the office. She’d felt lonely, and frustrated that she was the only one trying to make this work. Something had to give.

Later that night, they had dinner in silence. Her eyes gazed at the flowers sitting so peacefully on the TV, while Pavel looked at his plate with a small hint of satisfaction that he had saved his magazines. But he knew better than to actually say something.

The clock ticked.

“Pavel, I’ve been thinking,” she started. Pavel had enough experience of women and relationships to know that the next line wouldn’t be good. “Maybe we should spend some time apart. Y’know, get some space and out of each other’s hair for a bit.”

He didn’t know what to say. He took a deep breath and quizzed her:

“What exactly are you saying? After everything…” his voice trailed off. He’d worked so hard the whole time to pay off their mortgage, and to have enough money saved up for their first little one.

“Just that.. I’m going to my mother’s this weekend. It’s what I need, to collect my thoughts.”

He nodded, not fully present with her but in some dreamland. He looked over at an issue of FHM, and smiled wistfully, knowing that this was where he kept her surprise birthday present: tickets to Paris for the weekend. She’d always wanted to go there, ever since she was a little girl.

The phone rang. “I’ll get it,” she said, brushing his arm for a brief moment as she got up out of her seat; Pavel, staring off into the distance, was in another world.

—————————————–

Word Bank

exasperated (adj.) = annoyed and surprised
not (yet) be out of the woods = the situation is still not resolved, although it is improving.
“We’re not out of the woods yet” means we’re almost in safe or ‘ok’ territory but not yet. Heading in the right direction though.
update: Taylor Swift’s new CD has a song with this fixed phrase:

stale (adj.) = opposite of ‘fresh’. If you leave out bread for a day or two it’ll go stale.

squish (v.) = pressed hard
How could you!? = we say this phrase when we are annoyed and disappointed with someone who has done something we don’t like.
eg you find out your boyfriend has a lover:
How could you?! = How could you do this to me?!
What are you talking about?! = you are showing you disagree or are surprised with what someone has told you
woman* (n.) = this can be a politically incorrect way of addressing a woman you are annoyed or angry with. Interestingly, calling a guy ‘man’ is fine (esp. USA) eg ‘hey man, how’s it going?’
purse (v.) = to press your lips together because you are upset or angry. nb: you probably know ‘purse’ as a noun for the small bag where you put your money (especially if you’re a woman)
stormed out (v.) = to leave the room quickly because you are angry or upset
she wondered how it all came to this = how things ended up like this, especially as the beginning was good
something had to give (or ‘something’s got to give’) = if one thing or person is receiving too much pressure which they cannot accept or withstand for a long time, at some point there will be a reaction to this pressure.
he knew better = to be wise or experienced enough to know the right thing to do
get out of each other’s hair = be away from each other and what we might find annoying in each other
for a bit = for a short time
quiz (v.) = to ask a question when you want to find out the answer quickly
trailed off = you gradually become quiet or silent
little one = baby
collect your thoughts = to think about things
smile wistfully (adv.) = although you have a small smile on your face, you’re sad because you can see that what you want may not happen. It can also be used when we look back on the past.

 

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And what about you? Do you have a story of a time when someone threw out something which was dear to you? Tell us about it by leaving a comment below.

And what do you think will happen next to our lovely couple?

Read more

Check out FCE story writing: “She smiled and walked away.”

Zuzana’s story: “Even the most beautiful places…”

Photo credits

Image: Kelsey_lovefusionphoto
Licence: CC by 2.0

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Welcome to Get Into English. I’m David, an English teacher, traveller & language enthusiast from Melbourne Australia.
That’s me above in Bendigo, Victoria before Corona came!
I write articles on learning English especially for people wishing to live in or travel to Australia, and for those who are interested in business and all kinds of issues!

Older posts were written while I was in Europe, newer ones are from Australia.

Feel free to leave a comment!

davidsweetnam

This is a nice time to take a little break from po This is a nice time to take a little break from posting photos. This is from my 12 km walk to Middle Park last Thursday 😮 
Not quite sure what to do with the hundreds of photos I still have from during the lockdown 🤷‍♂️ 
But I’ll be back in Middle Park, hopefully tomorrow, it’s a beautiful part of Melbourne. 

Mej se hezky a zatim ahoj 🏝😊🌱

#výlet #cestujeme #cestujemespolu #melbournelife #melbournebeach #middlepark #heartmiddlepark #melbmoment #melbournemoment #beachlife🌴 #visitmelbourne #melbourneiloveyou #aussiebeaches #sunsetlovers #beachlover #plages #pláž #alaplaya #playabonita #modra #seaside #beachwalks 🏝
Walking home from Middle Park. Melbourne and the M Walking home from Middle Park. Melbourne and the Melbourne Cricket Ground at dusk 🏏 
So many magical moments in Australian sporting history have happened here. Hawthorn’s three-peat in 2013-15, Shane Warne’s 700th wicket, the 1992 World Cup, the 1956 Olympics. 
There are many walks you can go on from here - to the river, to East Melbourne, to Richmond. Or indeed up William Barak Bridge to the city 😊🌱☕️

#mcg #melbmoment #melbournemoment #checkmelbourne #výlet #cestujeme #cricketground #always #hawthornfc #naprochazce #stadiumhoppers #exploremelbourne #mynikonlife #urbanscape #trainspotting #citylife #urbanexplorer #railfans #vlak 🏝
If you’re not sure where to go, come here ☕️ If you’re not sure where to go, come here ☕️😃

I came here quite a bit during the lockdown. This one is from late October 🤗 And it’ll be waiting for you tomorrow. 

#melbmoment #melbournemoment #sunsetlove #zapadslunce #slunicko #slunce #sluníčko #výlet #cestujeme #likemelbourne #checkmelbourne #melbournelife #yarrariver #australia108 #eurekatower #morellbridge #mynikonlife
I walked all afternoon from Richmond to Middle Par I walked all afternoon from Richmond to Middle Park last Thursday. Still posting some of the pictures 😃 This is Beaconsfield Parade, Middle Park 🏝

#heartmiddlepark #melbmoment #melbournemoment #visitmelbourne #middlepark #cityscene #cityscapes #výlet #cestujemespolu #cestujeme #naprochazce #beachliving
Waiting for the sunset at Middle Park. The views f Waiting for the sunset at Middle Park. The views from those buildings must be amazing 🏝

#melbmoment #melbournemoment #výlet #slunce #zapadslunce #nebe #cestujeme #coucherdesoleil #heartmiddlepark #checkmelbourne #melbournebeach #summervibes☀️ #mynikonlife #beachdiaries #beachwalk 🏝
Melbourne is oddly tropical at times - I quite lik Melbourne is oddly tropical at times -
I quite like this 🌱🏝☀️

Middle Park, Melbourne 

3.12.20 😊 
#middlepark #heartmiddlepark #visitmelbourne #likemelbourne #checkmelbourne #vylet #cestujeme #naprochazce #tropicalvibes #mynikonlife #melbournegram #streetsofmelbourne #seeaustralia #melbournetodo 🏝
Middle Park, the red city. This street has many Au Middle Park, the red city. This street has many Australian Bottlebrush trees 😊

#bottlebrush #citylife #sundayvibes✨ #streetphotography #urbanjungle #citylifestyle #melbournemoments #melbmoment #mynikonlife #urbanscape #výlet #naprochazce #cestujeme 🌱
3.12.20
Late in the day in Middle Park, Melbourne 🏝 #h Late in the day in Middle Park, Melbourne 🏝

#heartmiddlepark #visitmelbourne #likemelbourne #jaro #checkmelbourne #printemps #melbmoment #melbournemoments #sunlover #beachvibes 🌱
The colours of Thursday 😍🏝🌱 #jacarandatr The colours of Thursday 😍🏝🌱

#jacarandatree #melbourne #melbmoment #melbournemoment #melbournegardens #queenvictoriagardens #výlet #cestujeme #mynikonlife #roseslovers #eurekatower #australia108 🌳
Richardson Street, Middle Park 🌳🌴🌱 #výl Richardson Street, Middle Park 🌳🌴🌱

#výlet #cestujeme #kostel #heartmiddlepark #checkmelbourne #likemelbourne #urbanscapes #beachtown 🏝
Middle Park is one of Melbourne’s smallest subur Middle Park is one of Melbourne’s smallest suburbs. If you haven’t been here, I totally recommend you visit 😊🌱☕️ Beautiful sea, churches, shops, homes and tree-lined streets. 

#middlepark #melbournebeach #visitmelbourne #likemelbourne #checkmelbourne #cestujeme #výlet #heartmiddlepark #beachlovers🌴
Wandering along Richardson Street, Middle Park 🌳 🏝 

#iheartmiddlepark #middlepark #heartmiddlepark #likemelbourne #checkmelbourne #tropicallife #beachlovers🌴
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