"You let me talk," I said on the stairs.
How it begins
"You let me talk," I said on the stairs.
„Du hast mich reden lassen", sagte ich auf der Treppe.
We were on the second floor of a grey council building near the station, climbing to the licensing office on the third, and I was carrying my father's folder. It was a plastic bag from his own shop with every paper about the market inside it, in no order at all, including the form he had signed on Friday night, which I meant to make as harmless as a piece of paper can be.
Wir waren im zweiten Stock eines grauen Verwaltungsgebäudes der Stadt in der Nähe des Bahnhofs und stiegen zum Amt für Genehmigungen im dritten hinauf. Ich trug die Mappe meines Vaters. Es war eine Plastiktüte aus seinem eigenen Laden, in der alle Papiere zum Markt lagen, ohne jede Ordnung, auch das Formular, das er am Freitagabend unterschrieben hatte und das ich so harmlos machen wollte, wie ein Stück Papier nur sein kann.
"You always talk," he said. "Since you were two."
„Du redest immer", sagte er. „Seit du zwei bist."
Languages
- The Rules · English (original)B2 Intermediate · 2,314 words · ~15 min · Audio
- Die Regeln · GermanB2 Intermediate · 2,258 words · ~15 min · Audio
- Las normas · SpanishB2 Intermediate · 2,158 words · ~15 min · Audio
- Les règles · FrenchB2 Intermediate · 2,552 words · ~15 min · Audio
German with English · Spanish with English · French with English · English with German · English with Spanish · English with French · German with Spanish · German with French · Spanish with German · Spanish with French · French with German · French with Spanish
Questions
Which languages can I read The Rules in?
English, German, Spanish and French. 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 B2 Intermediate. In translation, German, Spanish and French are B2 Intermediate. Levels follow the Common European Framework, from Pre-A1 (starter) to C2.
How long is it?
About 2,314 words: around 15 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.