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Standing inside the CEO's Tokyo office, Sumiko waited patiently
while her American boss finished his phone call. He replaced
the receiver
and looked at her very seriously. She was so nervous her
palms
were sweating.
Suddenly, a wide smile came across his face. 'New
York loved your report. They say it's the best that's come from
Tokyo
for years. Congratulations! You've made a
name for yourself at head
office.' He held out his hand for her to shake. She wiped her hand on
her skirt and shook his hand firmly. 'Thank you
Adams-san,
but it was a
team
effort,' she said.
'No
way!
You worked
your butt off for this and derserve all the
praise you get. And what's
more, head office wants you and I to present the report
in
person at the big meeting next month. Pack your bags,
we're going
to New York.'
Back at her desk, Sumiko couldn't believe what had just happened. This was what she had worked so hard for, for many years. This was her chance for success on the big stage. It was a wonderful opportunity. Except for one thing: she had already promised her boyfriend that they would go on vacation the same week as the meeting. They had been together for four years and she had never made time to take a vacation with him, always cancelling at the last moment, or postponing until she was less busy. Her career always came first. How could she tell him this time? What would he say? She felt like crying, torn between her job and her relationship.
That night, Sumiko couldn't sleep. Who should she let down, her boyfriend or her boss? She cried herself to sleep, but by morning she had decided. She had made her choice and that day she told both her boss and her boyfriend what she was going to do.
The following weeks went quickly and soon Sumiko was boarding the express train to Narita airport with her heavy suitcase. The train passed through endless Tokyo suburbs before stopping at the airport. She waited in line at the JAL check-in counter, and passed through passport control. He was waiting for her there at the departure gate, with a wide smile on his face. She knew she had made the right choice.
Verbs
sweat:
When you are hot, your skin gets wet because you sweat.
make a name for yourself:
Do something that makes you well-known by other people. Usually for a
good reason
work your butt off:
Work very hard, until you are very tired.
make time:
Find some spare time to do something.
postpone:
To change an event to a later date.
be torn between:
Not knowing which is the best thing to do or best thing to choose.
let sb. down: To disappoint
somedody by your actions.
cry yourself to sleep:
To cry so much, you become tired and fall asleep.
board:
To get on a bus or plane.
Nouns
a receiver:
The part of a telephone that you speak into, and listen to.
your palms:
The flat insides of your hands.
a team effort:
Something that is done only because a group worked together.
praise:
Positive words that show you admire somebody or something.
the big stage:
The most important place, where many people are watching.
a career:
A job that you want to continue doing and develop.
a suburb:
An area outside the main city where people live.
Adverbs
firmly:
in a strong way.
Expressions
no way:
In this case meaning 'I don't agree'.
what's more:
= in addition (spoken).
in person:
Do something by going there yourself. Not by sending a letter or
askinganother person to do it.
Japanese vocabulary
(name)-san:
A title added to someone's name to be polite.