The story was rewritten by the ‘News in Easy English’ website for English learners.
Trysdale is a man. He lives in a small room. The room is quiet. It has a table. On the table, there is a cactus. Trysdale looks at the cactus. He feels sad.
Trysdale loves a girl. She is kind. She smiles a lot. One day, he asks her, “Will you marry me?”
She does not say yes. She does not say no. She smiles and says, “Tomorrow, I give you my answer.”
Trysdale waits for her answer. The next day, a man brings a cactus. The cactus is a gift from the girl. But she does not come. She does not send a letter. Trysdale does not understand.
He waits all day. He feels sad. He thinks, “Maybe she says no. Maybe she does not love me.”
Later, Trysdale’s friend comes to visit. He looks at the cactus and says, “Do you know this plant?”
Trysdale says, “No.”
His friend says, “This cactus is from South America. Its name is Ventomarme. It means ‘Come and take me.'”
Trysdale is surprised. He understands now. The girl says yes with the cactus. She uses the cactus to say, “Yes, I love you. Come and take me.”
But Trysdale does not understand at the right time. He waits. She waits, too. Now, they do not talk. They do not meet. They both feel sad.
Trysdale looks at the cactus every day. It reminds him of her. He thinks, “I make a big mistake. I do not see her answer. Now, I lose her.”
He learns something. He learns that love needs clear words. Now, he lives alone. He always remembers the cactus. It teaches him a lesson about love and understanding.
Source: americanliterature.com
Vocabulary for the Article
Man – a grown-up boy.
He is a man.
Room – a part of a house.
He lives in a small room.
Table – a flat place to put things.
There is a cactus on the table.
Look – to use your eyes.
He looks at the cactus.
Feel – to have an emotion.
He feels sad.
Sad – not happy.
He feels sad.
Love – to like someone very much.
He loves a girl.
Ask – to say a question.
He asks, “Will you marry me?”
Smile – to show you are happy.
She smiles a lot.
Say – to speak.
She says, “Tomorrow, I give you my answer.”
Wait – to stay and do nothing until something happens.
He waits for her answer.
Bring – to take something to someone.
A man brings a cactus.
Gift – a present.
The cactus is a gift.
Understand – to know the meaning.
He does not understand.
Friend – someone you like.
Trysdale’s friend comes.
Know – to have information.
Do you know this plant?
Use – to do something with a thing.
She uses the cactus to say yes.
Meet – to see someone.
They do not meet.
Lose – to no longer have something.
I lose her.
Learn – to get new knowledge.
He learns something.