Big night out [Imagery/tension/twist.]
The night club was mad. Crazy busy and mobbed with eighteen year-olds celebrating. They drank to the future, to college, to the fake ID that got them in.
Jim stood at the bar nursing a Coca Cola and feeling happy with his work so far. He had gotten them all on the bus, all into the club and not one had complained about the price. Now he just had to make sure they stayed out of fights, got back on the bus in two hours and made it home.
At 3AM Jim was mildly alarmed but not yet panicking. All but three were aboard the bus. Some were worse for wear. The bad ones were put up front and given a sick bag. There was the usual couples and shenanigans at the back but Jim stayed put with the driver. His phone rang.
"Mike! We are leaving soon. Where are you?"
"I'm gonna stay here Jim. Met a girl. You know how it is!"
"If you're sure?"
"Absolutely! Thanks Jim. Great night!"
" You're welcome."
As he hung up, the remaining two passengers arrived at the bus. They were laughing hard at something and both of them had ketchup all over their white shirts.
Soon the bus was halfway home, where they halted for the scheduled pee stop at the side of the road.
By 4AM the bus was parked outside an abandoned TESCO. All the customers got off and slinked, staggered or swaggered to parents cars.
Now the tough work began. Dmitry the driver was allowed all the cash under and behind seats. Jim got everything else. It took a whole hour to clean it down to perfection. Dmitry was not allowed or insured to drive at the weekend. He did school runs. So what the owner didn't know, didn't hurt.
Seventy euro plus two hundred for driving. Dmitry drove away content. Jim put 14 cans of beer, two unopened naggins of vodka, four packets of cigarettes and four decent e-cigarettes into the boot of his ancient corrolla. And two very nice phones. The three sacks of rubbish went into three different TESCO bins.
Finally Jim got to count five hundred euros towards his college fund. After some sleep he would punt on the drink to the Alkys in the town park. He'd sell all the cigarettes in school on Monday. And the phones would be unlocked and on the internet by nightfall. Only two more nights out to organise before he finished school.
He hated all of this. What choice did he have? His Dad drank everything and his mum was long gone. College was up to Jim and him alone.
Question A-50 marks
[1] From your reading of this text, what impression do you get of Jim? Give reasons for your answer. [15]
[2] Choose two images from this story and explain why they stood out to you. [15]
[3] {A} The theme of this paper is 'inspiring people'. Identify someone in your life that inspires you and explain why they inspire you. [10]
{B} Explain why you would or would not like to be in Jim's situation. [10]
Jim stood at the bar nursing a Coca Cola and feeling happy with his work so far. He had gotten them all on the bus, all into the club and not one had complained about the price. Now he just had to make sure they stayed out of fights, got back on the bus in two hours and made it home.
At 3AM Jim was mildly alarmed but not yet panicking. All but three were aboard the bus. Some were worse for wear. The bad ones were put up front and given a sick bag. There was the usual couples and shenanigans at the back but Jim stayed put with the driver. His phone rang.
"Mike! We are leaving soon. Where are you?"
"I'm gonna stay here Jim. Met a girl. You know how it is!"
"If you're sure?"
"Absolutely! Thanks Jim. Great night!"
" You're welcome."
As he hung up, the remaining two passengers arrived at the bus. They were laughing hard at something and both of them had ketchup all over their white shirts.
Soon the bus was halfway home, where they halted for the scheduled pee stop at the side of the road.
By 4AM the bus was parked outside an abandoned TESCO. All the customers got off and slinked, staggered or swaggered to parents cars.
Now the tough work began. Dmitry the driver was allowed all the cash under and behind seats. Jim got everything else. It took a whole hour to clean it down to perfection. Dmitry was not allowed or insured to drive at the weekend. He did school runs. So what the owner didn't know, didn't hurt.
Seventy euro plus two hundred for driving. Dmitry drove away content. Jim put 14 cans of beer, two unopened naggins of vodka, four packets of cigarettes and four decent e-cigarettes into the boot of his ancient corrolla. And two very nice phones. The three sacks of rubbish went into three different TESCO bins.
Finally Jim got to count five hundred euros towards his college fund. After some sleep he would punt on the drink to the Alkys in the town park. He'd sell all the cigarettes in school on Monday. And the phones would be unlocked and on the internet by nightfall. Only two more nights out to organise before he finished school.
He hated all of this. What choice did he have? His Dad drank everything and his mum was long gone. College was up to Jim and him alone.
Question A-50 marks
[1] From your reading of this text, what impression do you get of Jim? Give reasons for your answer. [15]
[2] Choose two images from this story and explain why they stood out to you. [15]
[3] {A} The theme of this paper is 'inspiring people'. Identify someone in your life that inspires you and explain why they inspire you. [10]
{B} Explain why you would or would not like to be in Jim's situation. [10]
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