The New Card

On Monday Nora started her new job in a big office near the river. A man at the front desk gave her a white card with her name on it. "This card opens every door on the third floor," he said.

Nora went up in the lift and tried the card at the first door. Nothing happened. She tried again, slowly. The light stayed red. A woman with two cups of coffee waited behind her.

"Is it your first day?" the woman asked. "I am Ada. The cards never work on Mondays." She laughed and opened the door with her own card. Then she gave Nora one of the coffees.

In the afternoon Nora went back to the front desk. The man looked at the card and smiled. "I am sorry," he said. "This card is for the second floor." He made a new one in two minutes.

On Friday the card still worked. Nora did not need Ada at the door any more, but they had lunch together every day. Next week Nora is going to bring the coffee.

It is Monday. Nora has a new job. A man at the front desk gives her a white card with her name on it. "This card opens the doors on the third floor," he says.

Nora goes up to the third floor. She tries the card at the door. Nothing happens. The light is red. A woman with two cups of coffee waits behind her.

"Is it your first day?" the woman asks. "I am Ada." She opens the door with her card. Then she gives Nora a coffee.

In the afternoon Nora goes to the front desk again. The man looks at the card. "I am sorry," he says. "This card is for the second floor." He makes a new card.

On Friday the card works. Nora and Ada have lunch together every day. Next week Nora is going to bring the coffee.