My favourite singer is Michael Jackson. I like his songs very much because they are full of energy and very melodic. I also like the way he dances.
There were nine children in Michael's family. They lived in a small fourroom house. Later he lived in a house which has seventeen rooms downstairs and sixteen rooms upstaires. It stands in 2,700 acres of ground. Besides the house there are guest houses, a golf course, a swimming pool, tennis courts, stables, gardens, lakes, forests and a zoo.
A lot of strange stories are told about Jackson. It's difficult to decide whether they are true or not. Michael never gave interviews and was rarely seen in public, except on stage. Certainly his behaviour may seem eccentric. In public he often wore a face mask to protect himself from germs, he slept inside an oxygen capsule, which he believed would help him to live longer. But his manager says that Jackson wasn't eccentric. He was just shy. Michael sang in public for the first time when he was five. Since that time he had always been in the public eye. And since that time he had been working like a grown-up.
There were times when he came home from school and he only had time to put his books and get ready for the studio. He often sang until late at night, even if it was past his bedtime. There was a park across the street from the studio, and Michael looked at the kids playing games. And he just stared at them in wonder — he couldn't imagine such freedom, such a carefree life.
Helen: I was wondering how your new job was going. You started last month, didn’t you?
Ruth: Yes, that’s right. To be blunt, I thought it was going to be more challenging. I’m bored most of the time. I spent most of last week just photocopying.
Helen: Did you? I thought you loved it there.
Ruth: Well, the people are great. But I can’t stand my boss. He never listens to us. Look – I’ve got a photo of the team on my phone.
Helen: You’re in the countryside, aren’t you?
Ruth: Yes, we had a team-building day and did lots of activities like kayaking.
Helen: Is that your boss in the middle?
Ruth: Yes! Judging by his expression, I’d say that he wasn’t enjoying himself as much as we were!
Helen: May I ask if the salary is OK?
Ruth: It’s OK but you need more than a good salary to be happy at work, don’t you?
Helen: Absolutely! I’ve never been that keen on working for a big company. I’d rather work for a charity or for myself …
