The moment
Yuki and Daniel got married in Seattle on Saturday. Next Friday they fly to Lisbon for their honeymoon, and tonight they're going through the checklist at the kitchen table. Everything looks fine until Daniel reads the hotel's reply. Listen for the problem, and for the one sentence that fixes it.
The conversation
- Yuki
- Daniel
- Yuki
- Daniel
- Yuki
- Daniel
- Yuki
- Daniel
- Yuki
- Daniel
- Yuki
- Daniel
- Yuki
Words to know
get a reply from someone
a good idea or a good decision
you don't have to pay more
enjoy or use something fully while you can
Check yourself
Practice · 4 min
Round one: repeat each line in the gap. Round two: mute Daniel and deliver the bad news, then the good news; slow down on "No extra charge." Round three: mute Yuki. Then say "I haven't heard back from the hotel yet" three times, stressing a different word each time.
- YukiOkay, passports, tickets, chargers. What else have we forgotten?
- DanielSunscreen. And an adapter, because the plugs in Portugal are different.
- YukiGood call. Did you ever hear back from the hotel in Lisbon?
- DanielI did, actually. There's a small problem with the room.
- YukiWhat kind of problem? Please don't tell me they've lost our booking.
- DanielNo, the booking's fine. But it says two single beds.
- YukiTwo single beds? On our honeymoon? That's almost funny.
- DanielI've already written back. I told them we're on our honeymoon.
- YukiAnd? Have they answered, or are we sleeping in separate beds?
- DanielThey've moved us to a double room with a sea view. No extra charge.
- YukiWow. Maybe we should tell everyone we're on our honeymoon.
- DanielWe can, for about a year. After that, it's a lie.
- YukiThen let's make the most of it. Add "ask for upgrades" to the list.
Say it today
Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.