The moment

Priya and Oliver share an apartment in Toronto. Priya opens the fridge after a long day, and her dinner is gone. She's annoyed, but she wants to fix the problem, not start a war. Listen for how she raises it, how Oliver takes it, and how they end as friends.

The conversation

PriyaOliver
  1. Priya
  2. Oliver
  3. Priya
  4. Oliver
  5. Priya
  6. Oliver
  7. Priya
  8. Oliver
  9. Priya
  10. Oliver
  11. Priya
  12. Oliver
  13. Priya

Words to know

a gentle start to a serious chat

you admit you did something wrong

I'll pay for it

casual for "yes, I agree to that"

the anger is gone; we're still friends

Check yourself

1Why is Priya annoyed?
2What does Oliver mean by "dinner's on me tonight"?
3How do they stop the problem happening again?

Practice · 4 min

Round one: repeat every line. Round two: mute Priya and say her lines in the gap, calm but firm, not shouting. Round three: mute Oliver and practice owning a mistake. Last, say "I'm not trying to fight" three times until it sounds friendly.

  1. PriyaOliver, can we talk for a minute?
  2. OliverSure. Is something wrong?
  3. PriyaMy leftovers are gone. The pasta from Sunday.
  4. OliverOh no. I thought it was for anyone.
  5. PriyaIt had my name on it. And this keeps happening.
  6. OliverYou're right. I'm sorry. That wasn't fair.
  7. PriyaI'm not trying to fight. I'm tired and hungry.
  8. OliverI get it. I'd be annoyed too.
  9. PriyaCan we have one shelf each in the fridge?
  10. OliverGood idea. And dinner's on me tonight.
  11. PriyaThai food from the place on the corner?
  12. OliverDeal. So, are we OK?
  13. PriyaWe're OK. No hard feelings.

Say it today

Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.