Nature’s children INTRODUCTION It’s summer and the New Age Travellers are here again. In their vans, old buses and caravans, they move from place to place. Angry MPs, farmers and local people appear on television and complain about them: ‘The police shouldn’t allow it! They should put them all in the army!’ etc., etc.

Glossary MOVE (VERB) change residence ANGRY (ADJECTIF) displeased MP Member of Parliament FARMER (NOUN) person who owns or manages a farm COMPLAIN ABOUT (VERB) say that one is dissatisfied, unhappy, etc, ALLOW (VERB) permit (sb/sth) to do sth

1st PARAGRAPH The Travellers don’t have jobs, because they don’t stay in one place long enough. They are the children of nature – modern gypsies. When autumn comes, they disappear and we don’t see them any more. In fact, they move to the cities and look for empty houses for the winter. Perhaps the children go to school for a few months.

Glossary JOB (NOUN) regularly paid position or post ENOUGH (ADVERB) sufficiently ANY MORE (ADVERB) any further, any longer LOOK FOR (VERB) try to find (sth), seek EMPTY (ADJECTIF) with nobody in it PERHAPS (ADVERB) it may be that

2nd PARAGRAPH Paul and Janice are Travellers. They aren’t married. They have two children called Moonstone and Saffron. Their life is very simple. During the day they sit and talk to their friends while the children play. In the evenings they usually eat together with other families around a big fire, and somebody usually plays a guitar or switches on a CD player. They live on social security benefits. If they need extra money, Janice makes jewellery and sells it at markets and fairs.

Glossary TRAVELLER (NOUN) gypsy or other itinerant person LIVE ON (VERB) support oneself (from a certain source) SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS government payments to people who are unemployed, ill, disabled, etc. JEWELLERY (NOUN) ornaments, eg. rings and necklaces FAIR (NOUN) market (esp. for farm animals and farm products) held regularly in a particular place

3rd PARAGRAPH Both Paul and Janice come from normal middle class families. That’s one reason why Paul prefers the life of a Traveller. As Paul explains, ‘My father works in an office. He catches the same train to work every day. He comes home at 5.30. And why does he do it? To pay the mortgage on the house! But then what does he do in his free time? He works! He decorates the house, he digs the garden, and he washes the car. He thinks he’s free, but he’s really just a slave. Well, I don’t want to be like that.’

Glossary AS (CONJUNCTION) in the way in which CATCH (VERB) be in time for and get on MORTGAGE (NOUN) agreement in which money is lent by a bank for buying a house or other property DECORATE (VERB) put paint, plaster, wallpaper, etc. DIG (VERB) use one’s hands, a machine, etc, to break up and move (earth, etc.)

4TH PARAGRAPH What should we do about the Travellers? They’re rebels against respectable society and they don’t care what we think. But why shouldn’t they do their own thing? As I sit here at my desk and think about my mortgage, the insurance, and the taxes, I wonder who’s right.

Glossary AGAINST (PREPOSITION) in opposition to CARE (VERB) be worried, concerned or interested DO ONE’S OWN THING do what one wants to do without being influenced by other people or by rules AS (CONJ) while WONDER (VERB) ask oneself questions

Cmprehension questions 1st paragraph Do the Travellers have any jobs? Why? Where do they live? 2nd paragraph Who are Paul and Janice? Have they got any children? What kind of lifestyle do they have? What do they do for a living?

3rd paragraph What type of family do they come from? Does Paul admire his father? 4th paragraph How does the writer feel about the Travellers? Does he complain about them? What do you think about the New Age Travellers? Which lifestyle do you find more attractive Paul’s or his father’s? Why?