Happy Birthday, Walter

DuoText original

Ana, 24, answers an advert and comes alone to Hollin Bridge, a small market town in the north of England: night baker wanted, no experience needed, room upstairs.

about 500 words · 5–10 min to read.

Part of a series best read in order.

Start with episode 1

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How it begins

EnglishGerman

Walter takes the sign from Ana’s hands. He doesn’t look at it. He puts it back behind the flour, in the dark. Then he takes the long tool from the box.

Walter nimmt Ana das Schild aus den Händen. Er schaut es nicht an. Er stellt es zurück hinter das Mehl, ins Dunkle. Dann nimmt er das lange Werkzeug aus der Kiste.

“The door,” he says. And they finish the door. At nine o’clock, it closes again. Walter says good night and goes upstairs. He doesn’t say anything about the sign.

„Die Tür“, sagt er. Und sie machen die Tür fertig. Um neun Uhr geht sie wieder zu. Walter sagt gute Nacht und geht nach oben. Über das Schild sagt er nichts.

On Friday, Jess comes into the kitchen after school. She speaks very quietly. “Ana. Tomorrow is Grandad’s birthday. He is seventy-two. Can you help me? I want to make a cake.”

Am Freitag kommt Jess nach der Schule in die Küche. Sie spricht sehr leise. „Ana. Morgen hat Opa Geburtstag. Er wird zweiundsiebzig. Kannst du mir helfen? Ich will einen Kuchen backen.“

The opening paragraphs, as the reader shows them. Read on

Languages

All 17 editions: titles, levels and lengths

Happy Birthday, Walter · English (original)A1 Easy · 523 words · ~5 min
Alles Gute zum Geburtstag, Walter · GermanA1 Easy · 512 words · ~5 min
Χρόνια πολλά, Γουόλτερ · GreekA1 Easy · 510 words · ~5 min
Feliz cumpleaños, Walter · SpanishA1 Easy · 513 words · ~5 min
Bon anniversaire, Walter · FrenchA1 Easy · 582 words · ~10 min
जन्मदिन मुबारक, वॉल्टर · HindiA1 Easy · 572 words · ~10 min
Selamat Ulang Tahun, Walter · IndonesianA1 Easy · 509 words · ~5 min
Buon compleanno, Walter · ItalianA1 Easy · 478 words · ~5 min
ウォルター、おたんじょう日おめでとう · JapaneseA1 Easy
월터 씨, 생일 축하해요 · KoreanA1 Easy · 390 words · ~5 min
Fijne verjaardag, Walter · DutchA1 Easy · 523 words · ~5 min
Wszystkiego najlepszego, Walterze · PolishA1 Easy · 450 words · ~5 min
Feliz aniversário, Walter · PortugueseA1 Easy · 528 words · ~10 min
La mulți ani, Walter · RomanianA1 Easy · 496 words · ~5 min
İyi ki Doğdun Walter · TurkishA1 Easy · 391 words · ~5 min
Chúc Mừng Sinh Nhật, Walter · VietnameseA1 Easy · 595 words · ~10 min
Walter，生日快乐 · ChineseA1 Easy

Open it in the reader: all 272 language pairs

Reading it as a parallel text

A parallel text puts a story next to its translation, paragraph by paragraph. Read in the language you are working on and glance across only when a sentence stops you: the story keeps moving, and the words you look up stay in context. More in how to read with a parallel text.

Questions

Which languages can I read Happy Birthday, Walter in?

English, German, Greek, Spanish, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish, Vietnamese and Chinese. Pick the language you want to read and the one to keep beside it: every paragraph sits next to its translation, so you can check a sentence without losing your place.

What level is it?

The original English is A1 Easy. In translation, German, Greek, Spanish, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Turkish, Vietnamese and Chinese are A1 Easy. Levels follow the Common European Framework, from A1 (beginner) to C2.

How long is it?

About 523 words: around 5–10 min of reading, with the translation beside it. The time depends on the edition's level: an easier edition is read more slowly.

Is it free?

Yes. Read it online with no account. The downloads (PDF, EPUB, and AZW3 and MOBI for Kindle) need a free account.

Can I read it on a Kindle or Kobo?

Yes. Download the EPUB for Kobo, Apple Books and most e-readers, or the AZW3 or MOBI for a Kindle, with each paragraph followed by its translation. There is also a side-by-side PDF to print, and each language on its own.