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Lesson 240 of 240

New here? This is lesson 240 of a free 240-lesson English course.

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The last morning in English

Ana's last morning at the Blue Plate starts like the first one: coffee, eggs, and the quiet jukebox by the door.

Murray pats his peacoat, finds an old record in a paper sleeve, and slides it into the empty slot.

Dee puts on her glasses. She knows her mother's handwriting. B7 finally plays.

By the end, you'll share a last breakfast, remember an old order, and say a real goodbye that is also a hello.

By the end of this lesson

Share a last breakfast, remember an old order, and say a real goodbye.

  • Let me put my glasses on.I need my glasses to see this clearly.
  • This is my mother's handwriting.My mother wrote these words.
  • Two eggs over easy, and a black coffee.The breakfast he always asks for.
  • I needed to say a real goodbye.Years ago I left without a true farewell.
  • You finally finished it.You drank the last of the coffee.
  • Stay for one more cup.Please sit and drink coffee with us again.

Scene — the last morning

Same last morning on Larch Street. Ana pushes the diner door. Dee is already at the counter with the coffee pot.

Murray sits on two stools. He pats his navy peacoat. A paper sleeve comes out of an inside pocket.

The jukebox by the door still has a blank button and an empty slot. Then Murray stands up.

Ana enters the diner while Dee waits at the counter and Murray draws a paper sleeve from his coat.

Learn — a real goodbye

Six lines cover glasses, handwriting, Murray's usual breakfast, a real goodbye, and one more cup.

You'll also notice when someone finally finishes a coffee they never used to finish.

  1. Dee brings her glasses close to the sleeve to examine it clearly.

    Let me put my glasses on.

    I need my glasses to see this clearly.

    When to use it: Say this when you need glasses before you look at something small.

    Let me starts a short, polite action you will do now.

    Say it: The stress is on glass.

  2. Dee studies the sleeve and recognizes the words her mother wrote.

    This is my mother's handwriting.

    My mother wrote these words.

    When to use it: Say this when you know who wrote the words on a paper.

    Mother's shows the writing belongs to her, not to you.

    Say it: The s on mother's sounds like a short z.

  3. Dee sets Murray's familiar breakfast and coffee on the counter.

    Two eggs over easy, and a black coffee.

    The breakfast he always asks for.

    When to use it: Use this to order that breakfast at a diner counter.

    Over easy means fried on both sides with a soft middle, so learn it as one piece.

  4. Murray stands beside the jukebox and faces Ana and Dee across the diner.

    I needed to say a real goodbye.

    Years ago I left without a true farewell.

    When to use it: Say this when you left before and never said a proper goodbye.

    Needed is the past tense of need, and it tells why you came back.

  5. Dee tips the empty coffee pot over Murray's empty mug after he finishes the coffee.

    You finally finished it.

    You drank the last of the coffee.

    When to use it: Say this when someone at last drinks a coffee they kept leaving.

    Finished is the past tense, and finally means after a long wait.

    Say it: Finished ends with a t sound.

  6. Ana offers Murray a fresh mug of coffee and gestures toward an empty stool.

    Stay for one more cup.

    Please sit and drink coffee with us again.

    When to use it: Invite someone to sit and have another coffee with you.

    Stay plus for asks them not to leave yet, and names the extra coffee.

Story — b7 plays

Watch the last morning at the counter. Murray finds what was missing, and Dee knows the writing.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. The lamps are on. Ana steps in. Murray pats an inside pocket of his peacoat.
  2. MurrayWell. I think I found it.He thinks the missing thing is in his coat.
  3. He draws out a paper sleeve. The jukebox by the door is still empty.
  4. MurrayDee, I mean, this belongs here.He says the record belongs in the jukebox.
  5. DeeLet me put my glasses on.I need my glasses to see this clearly.
  6. She looks at the sleeve. She does not speak at first.
  7. DeeThis is my mother's handwriting.My mother wrote these words.
  8. AnaSo you kept it all this time?She asks if he kept the record all these years.
  9. MurrayYes. I've had it in my coat ever since I borrowed it.He says yes, and the record has stayed in his coat since he borrowed it.
  10. He slides the record into the empty slot. The machine clicks to B7.
  11. DeeWell, I'll be. It's playing.She is surprised the old song has started.
  12. MurrayTwo eggs over easy, and a black coffee.The breakfast he always asks for.
  13. AnaI'll have the usual.I'll have what I always order.
  14. They eat. Murray lifts the cup and drinks the last of it.
  15. DeeYou finally finished it.You drank the last of the coffee.
  16. MurrayI needed to say a real goodbye.Years ago I left without a true farewell.
  17. AnaStay for one more cup.Please sit and drink coffee with us again.
  18. MurrayI will. Thank you.He agrees to sit and drink another coffee.
  19. DeeSee you tomorrow, hon.you will see them the next day
  20. AnaSee you tomorrow.you will see them the next day

Practice — one more cup

Eleven quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, match, swap a word, and build a line.

They stay short, so the last round still moves fast.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    English

    Let me put my glasses on.Drop the Simple English here
    This is my mother's handwriting.Drop the Simple English here
    I needed to say a real goodbye.Drop the Simple English here
    Stay for one more cup.Drop the Simple English here

    Simple English

    Drag a Simple English line onto its English, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    Dee looks at Murray and waits. Order his usual breakfast.

  4. What does it mean?

    This is my mother's handwriting.

  5. Swap the word

    You left years ago with no farewell. Say why you came back.

    I needed to say a real ____.

  6. Build the line

    Please sit and drink coffee with us again.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Pick the reply

    Murray says:

    Well. That's the last sip.

    He just drank the end of his coffee.

    And you reply with:

  8. Swap the word

    The writing is small. You need the glasses on your face.

    Let me put my glasses ____.

  9. What do you say?

    It is morning. You leave the diner and you will be back the next day.

  10. Swap the word

    Dee asks what you want. You want the order you get every day.

    I'll have the ____.

  11. True or false?

    This line means you already said a complete goodbye years ago.

Say it — stay a minute

Now you're Ana on the last morning at the diner. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap play first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. DeeMurray's usual, hon?She asks Ana to order the breakfast he always gets.
  2. Ana (you)Order the breakfast he always asks for.

    Two eggs over easy, and a black coffee.

    The breakfast he always asks for.

0 of 4 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
Let me put my glasses on.I need my glasses to see this clearly.
This is my mother's handwriting.My mother wrote these words.
Two eggs over easy, and a black coffee.The breakfast he always asks for.
I needed to say a real goodbye.Years ago I left without a true farewell.
You finally finished it.You drank the last of the coffee.
Stay for one more cup.Please sit and drink coffee with us again.

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

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A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps your goodbyes ready for the counter.

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