What’s the Miracle’s Cost?

Tess was eight years old. One day she heard that her Mom and Dad were talking about her little brother, Andrew. All she knew was that he was very ill and they were completely out of money. They were moving to an apartment complex the following month because Daddy didn’t have the money for the doctor bills and the house. Only a very costly surgery could save him now and there was no-one to loan them the money. She heard Daddy say to her tearful Mother, “Only a miracle can save him now.”

Tess went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jar from the closet. She poured all the change out on the floor and counted it carefully. Three times, even. The total had to be exactly perfect. No chance here for mistakes. She carefully put the coins back in the jar and she slipped out the back door and made her way to Rexall’s Drug Store.

She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some attention but he was talking to another man. Tess twisted her feet to make a noise. Nothing. She cleared her throat with a disgusting sound. No good. Finally she took a quarter from her jar and banged it on the glass counter. That did it!

“And what do you want?” the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice. “I’m talking to my brother from Chicago.  I haven’t seen him in ages,” he said without waiting for a reply to his question.

“Well, I want to talk to you about my brother,” Tess answered back in the same annoyed tone. “He’s really, really sick … and I want to buy a miracle.”

“I beg your pardon?” said the pharmacist.

“His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside his head and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now. So how much does a miracle cost?”

“We don’t sell miracles here, little girl. I’m sorry but I can’t help you,” the pharmacist said.

“Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn’t enough, I will get the rest. Just tell me how much it costs.”

The pharmacist’s brother was a well dressed man. He stooped down and asked the little girl, “What kind of a miracle does you brother need?”

“I don’t know,” Tess replied. There were tears in her eyes. “I just know he’s really sick and Mommy says he needs an operation. But my Daddy can’t pay for it, so I want to use my money.

“How much do you have?” asked the man from Chicago.

“One dollar and eleven cents,” Tess answered. “And it’s all the money I have, but I can get some more if I need to.”

“Well, what a coincidence,” smiled the man. “A dollar and eleven cents — the exact price of a miracle for little brothers.” He took her money in one hand and with the other hand he took her hand and said, “Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let’s see if I have the kind of miracle you need.”

That well dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon, specializing in neuro-surgery. The operation was completed without charge and it wasn’t long until Andrew was home again and doing well. Mom and Dad were happily talking about this event. “That surgery,” her mom whispered, “was a real miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost.”

Tess smiled. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost… one dollar and eleven cents… plus the faith of a little child.

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40 комментариев к “What’s the Miracle’s Cost?
  1. Дмитрий

    Очень трогательная история! Жаль, что в реальной жизни таких людей очень мало!

    • ozma

      На то оно и чудо, что случается редко-редко :)

    • Юля Поспеева

      Можете пожалуйста его перевести?
      Очень нужно…
      Пожалуйста…

  2. fari

    Its a good story when I read ever

    • Лицеист

      ):(Неправильно!Надо было написать так-*I have ever read!*

      • Вика

        Тогда уже надо было вообще так написать: This is the best story I have ever read.

  3. fari

    Вот я всегда мучаюсь что не как не могу изучать новые слова, трудновато запоминать

    • Oleg

      Воспользуйтесь сайтом lingualeo.ru, сам учу там,все просто и доступно в игровой форме

      • Аноним

        прикольный сайт,спасибо!!

  4. Наталья Синицкая

    Спасибо за такой хороший рассказ!

  5. Аноним

    c’est merveilleux…

  6. Zinaida

    It is a very interesting shot story wiht a happy end.

  7. Kirxen

    This is wonderful story! Shell you add a soundtrack. Thank you very much for your work!

  8. Askhat

    very interesting story!thank you very much,hi all from Kazakhstan!!!

    • Mr.Brown

      Корректней было бы
      «Hi everybody»
      Или «Hi everyone»

  9. Ирина

    Это прекрасно

  10. Элина

    Очень трогательный рассказ. Жаль таких добрых людей совсем мало((

  11. Юлия

    Чудеса случаются, надо только в них верить :))
    Спасибо за рассказ!

  12. Asylkhan

    Супер история

  13. Monik

    It is really great story! Thanking youuu Hi from Tajikistan

  14. Anastasia

    Вeautiful fairytale :-)

  15. Victoria

    It is a nice touching story.I like this site.There are aways interesting stories.Thank you very much.

    • Натали

      A very soulful story. Thank you.

  16. Аноним

    как перевести словосочетание change out? монеты,не так ли?

    • Марина Борисова

      Не совсем. Монеты, мелочь — просто change. А out относится к глаголу poured.
      She poured all the change out on the floor — Она высыпала всю мелочь на пол

  17. Man with Canadian heart

    Спасибо за рассказ, это очень трогательно, у меня слезы так потекли, я просто представил это ангельское,сладкое лицо и вот Бог подарил ей чудо.)

  18. Регигн

    Прошу, если кто знает автора, напишите мне. Заранее спасибо.

  19. Maiya

    Thank you very much for these stories! It’s very useful thing to prepare to exams.

  20. Maiya

    Только сегодня увидела эти рассказы. И целый день с упоением читала их. Теперь сяду на доработку (перевод, еще раз прослушка, грамматика и т.д.). Самостоятельно готовлюсь на повторный IELTS. Проблема была в Listening. Спасибо большое! Удачи Вам и здоровья!!!

    • Марина Борисова

      Рада быть полезной!

  21. Gulzhan

    Очень трогательная история. спасибо.

  22. Виталий

    Спасибо.
    Кажется, по сложности этому тексту место в intermediate…

  23. Serg

    Очень полезно и интересно

  24. Vladimir

    The kind story! Thank you so much!

  25. Мурад

    Чтение таких захватывающих историй помогает учить язык. Помню в советских учебниках были такие короткие истории которые читались на одном дыхании. Спасибо Марине за подбор интересных сюжетов.

    • Марина Борисова

      Стараюсь и буду стараться!

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