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22. DOING MY JOBIt was a shot in the dark. I pinched a small item because I just wanted to see theirreaction. They might have suspected something, or might not. Until then, I had beenplaying (it) by the ear – it was easy – but not too long any more. I was afraid thatmy activities in the storeroom caught somebody’s eye, and I had to be very carefulfrom then on. I might not be able to pull the wool over the people’s eyes any longer.All I could do was to feel my way, as they became quite unpredictable. Despite allthe unfavourable circumstances I was determined to keep my end up and finishwhat I had planned to do. If all else failed, I was ready to use my powers and forcethem to let me have what I wanted, but I decided to pull a fast one on them first andsee what happens. Of course, I tried to win their favours, hoping to have thingseasier, but they were difficult people to handle. They somehow didn’t understandthat money doesn’t make you happy. They had such a lot of goods in their store, butthey refused to give it away without payment. I managed to steal something whenthey weren’t looking, but it’s still only a drop in the bucket / ocean. I needed awhole lot more. I was due to leave at six p.m., the sledge being ready and waitingfor a signal. However, the number of presents I had (some of theme were out ofdate and those were earmarked for the naughty guys) was a far cry from the volumenecessary to keep my promises and satisfy the requests. I came to the conclusionthat I had to take the whole store. That was the only solution, but it was easier saidthan done because since they had discovered that several items were missing, theywere keeping their ears to the ground, and there wasn’t much I could do to diverttheir attention. It would have made a world of difference if the people had decidedto spend Christmas Eve at home like normal people do, but they are workaholics orsomething, and there was a fair bet they would spend all Christmas time at work,too. Soon my worst fears were confirmed. It was half past five and the store wasstill full of employees. The other day I was asked how it felt to be Santa Claus, soone can see it now. This is by no means an easy walk of life. Anyway, I was fed upwith the situation, and being driven to extremes I decided to take some radicalactions. All I said about people waiting for Christmas presents went in one ear andout of the other (they just laughed). Enough is enough, I thought. I blew the magicpowder all over the store. I didn’t have to wait long for it to take effect. Presently allthe workers were fast asleep, and I had all the goods loaded on the sledge.103

satisfy the requestscome to the conclusionthe only solutioneasier said than doneseveral items were missingkeep one’s ear to the grounddivert sb’s attentionmake a world of differenceworkaholicthere was a fair betworst fears were confirmedhow it felt to beSanta Clausby no meanswalk of lifebe fed up withdriven to extremesgo in one ear and out of the otherenough is enoughblow the magic powdertake effectbe fast asleepthe lesser evilmerchandisehave no faintest ideaclaimvanish into thin airjust like thatif need bespełnić prośbydojść do wnioskujedyne rozwiązaniełatwiej powiedzieć niŜ zrobićbrakowało kilku pozycjibacznie zwracać uwagę na to co się dziejeodwrócić czyjąś uwagęrobić ogromną róŜnicępracoholikbyły spore szansepotwierdziły się najgorsze obawyjakie to uczucie byćŚwięty Mikołajbynajmniejzawód; zajęciemieć dosyćdoprowadzony do ostatecznościwpadać jednym uchem a wypadać drugimtego juŜ za wieledmuchnąć magicznym proszkiemzacząć działaćgłęboko spaćmniejsze złotowarynie mieć zielonego pojęciatwierdzićzniknąć bez śladuot, tak sobiejeŜeli zajdzie taka potrzebaI. Answer the following questions with full sentences:1. What catches your eye when you look at other people?2. Why do some people try to pull the wool over other people’s eyes?3. What should one do with a product that is out of date?105

4. What things are you fed up with?5. What can you do when you are driven to extremes?6. How would you define the lesser evil?7. What do you have no faintest idea about?II. Fill in the gaps with the right phrase / idiom from the text:1. ‘How did you meet your wife?’ ‘She first....................................................... during a ball in the secondary school.We’ve been together since then.2. ‘So, how ................................................ to be a millionaire? Are all yourworries gone for ever?’‘Not really. I have actually doubled my trouble.’3. ‘What are we going to do if the plan fails?’‘We’ll ........................................................…………….. and try to save ourbutts.’4. Come on, .................................................................. , don’t stop trying. Youwill be successful sooner or later.5. I made a ...................................................................... by saying that I knewher, but surprisingly enough, I was right.6. I’m really ...............................…...................................... the way things arerun here. I’m leaving for good this time.7. It would .............................................................................. if your peoplejoined our forces. We’d surely win the battle, then.8. It’s a ............................................... they will succeed in their efforts. Theirdetermination is admirable.9. Of course, I could go there and talk to her, but it’s........................................…………………......... . I’m not brave enough.10. Please believe me, her elimination was just........................................................ . If we hadn’t done that, we’d have beenin serious trouble.11. She was trying to ................................................................................... bysaying that she was very experienced, but they were no fools and didn’tbelieve her.106

12. The food we received for the flood victims is just a.................................................................... when compared to our needs.We have to get much more.13. The renovated old town is a .................................................... what it hadbeen like before it was destroyed during the war.14. This was like magic. The man was standing in front of us and suddenly he......................................……................................................. . Nobody canexplain how it happened.15. We need to ...................................................................... now. The attackcan be launched again and we have to be prepared for it this time.16. We’ll have to ....................................................... with this project, as wehave never had a chance to gain such experience, and we don’t know whatmay happen.17. You can’t find this information in this encyclopaedia. It’s................................….……........ . It was published almost fifty years ago.18. You’ve got to be very careful. This man is very dangerous when................................………………………………….................... .III. Translate the following sentences into English using the phrases from thetext:1. Jakie to uczucie być sławnym i bogatym?2. Jego obecne prace zupełnie nie przypominają obrazów z przeszłości.3. Jego samochód po prostu zniknął bez śladu.4. Jej uroda zwróciła jego uwagę.5. Łatwiej powiedzieć niŜ zrobić.6. Nie mam zielonego pojęcia jak to się mogło stać.7. Nie pękaj, będzie dobrze.8. Nie próbuj mydlić nam oczu.9. Niestety będziemy musieli teraz improwizować.10. Po prostu zrobił was w konia.11. Tego juŜ za wiele.12. To był strzał w ciemno.13. Twoja darowizna to i tak kropla w morzu.107