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Dino Mahoney

DO YOU think dating is something to laugh about?

Tonight on Radio 4's Songbirds (FM 97.6),

you can listen to the fifth episode of The Joker,

in which Carol  plays a joke on Roco by dating him.

How did this all happen? Well, in last week's episode, Cindy was very  angry with her brother Roco who had played  another practical joke on her.

So  she and her best friend, Bella, come up with a plan. They want to give  Roco a dose of his own medicine to show  him how unpleasant practical jokes can be.

Bella's idea is for  her younger sister Carol to ask Roco out a few times  and then dump him, telling him that she only dated him as a joke.

In tonight's episode, you will hear how Carol asks Roco out on a date.  Roco's best friend, Billy, can't believe that the prettiest girl in the class is going out with Roco.

Billy spies on Roco and when he sees that his friend  is really going out with Carol, he feels jealous and rejected.

Cindy: I can't take any more of Roco's stupid practical jokes!

Bella: Let's play a trick on him and see how he likes it!

Cindy: Good idea ... but what trick?

Bella: Listen, I'll ask my sister Carol to date him and then dump him. And as she's dumping him, she can tell him the whole thing was a big practical joke. That will teach him a lesson all right!

Carol: What? You want me to date Roco? No way, he's an idiot!

Bella: Just once or twice and then dump him. Tell him it was all a joke. It's the only way he's going to learn not to play practical jokes on other people.

Carol: But Roco is so dumb. If the others find out, they'll laugh at me.

Bella: Please, Carol, just for me.

Billy: Hey, look, that stuck-up Carol is coming over. I wonder what she wants.

Carol: Hi.

Billy: Come on, Roco, let's go and get something to eat.

Carol: I want to speak to Roco.

Billy: You can speak to him later. We've got things to do.

Roco: You go ahead, Billy. I'll be with you in a minute or two.

Billy: Huh! Okay. If you're not hungry ... I know I am. (Exit)

Carol: So Roco, how about going to the cinema together on Friday?

Roco:   I ... I ...

Carol: I take it that means yes. Okay, see you by the school gates at seven o'clock on Friday. Bye.

Roco: Hey, Billy, slow down. Wait for me.

Billy: I thought you weren't hungry?

Roco: I am.

Billy: What did she want?

Roco: Well, don't tell anyone, but she wanted to go out with me.

Billy: What? (Laughing) Go out with you? Carol? The prettiest girl in the class? That's a joke ... the best joke you've cracked all week!

Roco: Billy, it's not a joke.

Billy: (Laughing) Not a joke ... Carol Yee, the most popular girl in the class, asking you, Roco, to go out with her! (Laughing) Of course it's a joke!

Roco: I'm meeting her outside the school gates on Friday at seven. We're going to see a film.

Billy: (Laughing) Stop it, Roko ... (laughing) ... this is cracking me up, and look at your face, so serious. You should go on the stage ... become an actor or a stand-up comedian.

Roco: But it's true, Billy. She asked me to see a film with her.

Billy: (Laughing) Yes, yes, of course it is. Of course she did ... (Laughing)

Roco: But she did, Billy. She did, she did.

Cindy: (A little scream of surprise)

Roco: What?

Cindy: Your hair!

Roco: What's wrong with my hair?

Cindy: It's all sticking up! Have you had an electric shock or something?

Now listen to the rest of the Songbirds episode and answer these questions:

1. When Billy gets home from school he finds that ...

a. His mother has discovered some exploding chalk in his pocket.

b. His brother has told his father that Billy is in trouble.

c. He has left his bag  with all his books in it on the bus.

d. His father has received a letter from the headmaster.

2. Which is the correct answer to Roco's joke?

Question: What time is it when an elephant sits on your car?

a. Half-past fat

b. A bad time

c. Time to get a new car

d. The worst time in your life

Listening to Songbirds is a great way to boost your English language skills. A repeat of tonight's Songbirds can be heard on Saturday at 5.30pm, also on Radio 4.

You can  read the full Songbirds script or listen to the programme again by visiting: www.rthk.org.hk, clicking on 'Radio 4' and then  Songbirds.

Answers: 1. d; 2. c



The dating game