Page 66 - Perfect Phrases ESL Everyday Business

Part 3

Using the Telephone

“Medicine”

When Sonia, a wonderful Peruvian nanny, spoke to my grandson
Leo on the telephone, he had been home from day camp for several
days with a cold. Sonia asked Leo, who was three-and-a-half years
old at the time, “Are you going to camp today?” Leo answered, “Yes,
because I have medicine.” Sonia said, “What? Leo, I don’t understand
you.” Leo said again, “Medicine.” Sonia repeated, “I don’t understand.”
Leo came back with, “Medicine, a-e-o-p-q-6-7, medicine.” He couldn’t
spell yet, but he knew that people spelled for clarification, especially
over the telephone.

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