Анетта Кин (Annette Keen)Jake arrives at Euston station in London. It is a holiday weekend and it is his first time away from Manchester. Jake is eighteen years old and he lives with his family. Now he is in London. He is very happy. He stops and looks at his map.
'I can go to the Notting Hill Carnival and I can see some interesting places from the bus too,' he thinks.
Jake is sitting on a red London bus behind a big family. The children are standing at the windows. They are looking for famous places.
'Look! There's Madame Tussaud's! Can we go there?'
'Not today,' their mother answers. 'We're going to the carnival.'
'They're going to Notting Hill too,' Jake thinks.
It is a hot afternoon and Jake is sitting on a bench in Notting Hill. Suddenly, he sees some people in costumes. They have balloons and drams in their hands.
'Does the carnival start here?' Jake asks Mel, a girl in a green dress.
'Yes, near here. Look at the floats!' she says. 'Listen to the music! The procession is starting.'
Suddenly, a tall girl runs to the first float. Her costume is yellow and red and she has feathers in her hair. The young men on the float shout to her.
'Quickly, Maria! You're late!'
'Sorry - a little problem with my job,' she says. 'But it's OK now.'
The band moves slowly down the street.
Jake looks at the beautiful tall girl in her carnival costume. Their eyes meet and she smiles at him. Suddenly, he knows. It's love!
Jake's new friends are standing and waiting for him. But he walks away from them. He can only see Maria. Mel talks to Jake but he doesn't hear her. She looks at Maria and she understands.
The carnival procession moves down the street. On the floats people are dancing to the music. Some people in the street are dancing too. There is a lot of music, noise and colour.
Lake is running but there are crowds of people near him. He can't stay with Maria's float. How can he meet this beautiful girl? Who is she?
Maria looks down and sees Jake again. He has a friendly face and she likes him too.
'I'm Jake. What's your name?' he shouts.