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B1 French short story: a town’s last public telephone

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Read a B1 French story with eight glosses, English translation and three questions about a public telephone that changes its neighbours’ minds.

In short

The residents first judge the telephone by how often people use it. Read what happens when one visitor needs it, then explain how their idea of usefulness changes. The eight glosses help with the turning points.

An old public telephone booth beside a village fountain.
The old cabine téléphonique helps a stranded traveller. Illustration: Atelier

B1 · Read, follow the clues, then answer

La cabine de la place

Sur la place de Valmont, une vieille cabine téléphonique1 restait près de la fontaine. C’était la dernière de la ville. Elle fonctionnait encore, mais presque personne ne l’utilisait. Chaque lundi, Luc, le cafetier, disait qu’elle prenait de la place. Nora, qui balayait devant son magasin, était du même avis.

Un jeudi, un car de touristes s’est arrêté sur la place. Une voyageuse est descendue, très inquiète : son groupe repartait d’un autre village et elle s’était trompée d’arrêt2. Son portable n’avait plus de batterie3. Elle connaissait le numéro de l’accompagnatrice, mais Luc avait oublié son propre téléphone chez lui.

Nora a montré la cabine. La voyageuse a décroché le combiné4 et composé le numéro. Quelques minutes plus tard, elle riait : l’accompagnatrice allait venir la chercher. En attendant, Luc lui a offert un verre d’eau. Il regardait la cabine avec un peu de gêne5. « Je voulais la faire enlever hier », a-t-il avoué.

Le lundi suivant, Nora a proposé de nettoyer les vitres. Luc a réparé la petite étagère6 sous l’appareil. Ils n’affirmaient pas que la cabine servirait tous les jours. Ils avaient simplement compris qu’un objet rarement utilisé pouvait rendre service7 au bon moment. Désormais, quand quelqu’un demandait pourquoi elle était encore là, Luc racontait l’histoire de la voyageuse. La cabine avait trouvé de nouveaux défenseurs8.

Read it in English

In Valmont’s square, an old telephone box stood near the fountain. It was the last one in town. It still worked, but hardly anyone used it. Every Monday, Luc, the café owner, said it took up space. Nora, who swept outside her shop, agreed.

One Thursday, a tourist coach stopped in the square. A very worried traveller got off: her group was leaving from another village and she had got off at the wrong stop. Her mobile had run out of charge. She knew the tour leader’s number, but Luc had left his own phone at home.

Nora pointed to the box. The traveller picked up the receiver and dialled. A few minutes later, she was laughing: the tour leader was coming to collect her. While they waited, Luc offered her a glass of water. He looked at the box with some embarrassment. “I wanted to have it removed yesterday,” he admitted.

The following Monday, Nora suggested cleaning the windows. Luc repaired the small shelf beneath the phone. They were not saying the box would be used every day. They had simply understood that an object rarely used could help at the right moment. From then on, when someone asked why it was still there, Luc told the traveller’s story. The box had found new defenders.

Four things on the square

Elle fonctionnait encore, mais presque personne ne l’utilisait.

It still worked, but hardly anyone used it.

The imparfait gives the continuing situation. Later, completed events move the afternoon forward.

Question 1No account needed
Why does Luc initially want the box removed?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

It takes up space and is hardly used.. The opening contrasts a working phone with very little use; Luc objects to the space it occupies.

Question 2No account needed
What makes the telephone useful to the traveller?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Her phone is out of charge and she knows a number to call.. She knows the tour leader’s number but cannot use her mobile; the box lets her make that call.

Question 3No account needed
Which ending best describes the residents’ new view?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Occasional help can justify keeping and caring for it.. They clean and repair the box after seeing its value at a particular moment, even with rare use.

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