The moment

Mateo calls his friend Mei with big news: concert tickets in Tokyo. Mei is thrilled, but there's one problem. She doesn't know yet if she can take time off work. Listen for the fast reactions, the moment of waiting, and how the excitement comes back even bigger.

The conversation

MateoMei
  1. Mateo
  2. Mei
  3. Mateo
  4. Mei
  5. Mateo
  6. Mei
  7. Mateo
  8. Mei
  9. Mei
  10. Mateo
  11. Mei
  12. Mateo

Words to know

you're about to share surprising news

I hope it goes well

wait a very short time

no work for all of the week

a happy line before you go somewhere

Check yourself

1Why isn't Mei sure she can go at first?
2What does Mei mean by "No way"?
3What does "Fingers crossed" show about Mateo?

Practice · 4 min

Round one: repeat every line, letting your voice rise on "No way" and "That's awesome." Round two: mute Mei and say her lines in the gap. Round three: mute Mateo. Then call up one real plan you're excited about and say it with "I'm counting the days."

  1. MateoMei, guess what? I got the tickets!
  2. MeiNo way. For the concert in Tokyo?
  3. MateoTwo tickets, near the front. You're coming, right?
  4. MeiI'm dying to go. But I'm not sure about work.
  5. MateoOh. When do you find out?
  6. MeiI asked my boss this morning. I'm still waiting.
  7. MateoFingers crossed. It's going to be amazing.
  8. MeiWait, she's calling me right now. One second.
  9. MeiShe said yes. I have the whole week off!
  10. MateoThat's awesome. I'm so pumped.
  11. MeiMe too. I'm counting the days already.
  12. MateoThen start packing. Tokyo, here we come.

Say it today

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