Seventeen Oranges (Prose)

Unit 4 – Prose

Seventeen Oranges

Bill Naughton

Warm Up

Share with your classmates.
Imagine you are caught while sneakily eating something without your parent’s permission.
- What would be your reaction at that moment?
- How would you manage that situation?

Seventeen Oranges

I was fond of oranges. I used to eat them all day and every day. But one day a policeman found seventeen oranges hidden away in my pockets. He locked me up and I have never eaten an orange again.

I want to tell you the story.

I was driving a little pony-and-cart for the Swift Delivery Company, and I often went in and out of the docks.

Where did the narrator work?
What was the narrator’s job in the docks?

I was not really a thief. But I usually left the docks with something under my apron. I had made the apron myself and it was a big one.

When there was a banana boat in the docks, I drove my little cart beside it. Sometimes bunches of bananas fell to the ground. Often my friends kicked a bunch to me from the boat. I always picked up the bananas quickly and hid them under my apron. Then I spent the rest of the day eating bananas. I liked bananas, but I like oranges best of all.

I only took things when I found them. But some people planned a theft very carefully. Clem Jones was a careful planner. Let me tell you about Clem.

Clem’s Trick

One day Clem was coming out of the docks. He was carrying a box.

Pongo (the policeman): “What have you got in here?”
Clem: “A cat. Please don’t make me open the box. The cat will run away.”

Pongo: “A cat? I don’t believe you. Open the box.”
Clem: “But the cat will run away.”

Pongo: “There isn’t a cat in the box. Open it up.”

Clem got very angry, but finally opened his box. Out jumped a ship’s cat. The cat ran back into the docks. Clem ran after the cat, shouting angrily.

What was Clem Jones carrying in the box?
What happened when the box was opened?

A ship’s cat is a cat that rides along on trading, exploration and naval ships to catch mice and rats which can cause damage to ropes, electrical wirings, crew’s food, grains in the cargo and wooden parts of the ship.

Two minutes later, Clem came back with the same box. He was holding the lid down tightly. Pongo laughed at him and Clem looked at him furiously. Clem looked angry all the way home. Then he smiled. He opened the box in the kitchen and took out a large Dutch cheese.

That was Clem’s story. But I was not so lucky. Pongo, the policeman, caught me red-handed because my apron string broke. He noticed that my trouser pockets were somewhat bulging.

Caught!

Pongo: “Hey! Wait a minute!”

He caught me by the collar, took me into his cabin nearby and looked into my pockets. There were seventeen oranges. Pongo counted them and placed them carefully on the table.

Pongo: “Too many people are stealing from the docks. You’ve stolen these oranges and concealed them in your pocket. Have you anything to say?”

I said nothing. I was very frightened, but I kept quiet. I had read a lot of detective stories to make the mistake of blabbing. Anything you say may be used as evidence against you. I knew that the best plan was to say nothing.

Pongo: “So you won’t say anything. I’m going to bring another policeman here. He’ll be a witness against you, when I bring up this case in the court.”

Pongo left the cabin and locked the door behind him. I was very worried.

I looked at the walls. I looked at the door. I looked at the seventeen oranges, and I looked at the apron with its broken string.

“I’ll lose my job,” I thought. “Perhaps I’ll go to prison. What will my father say? What will my father do?”

I almost gave up the hope of escaping from the trouble. I was locked in the cabin and the oranges were on the table. Pongo had gone to bring a witness. I was in trouble.

“Oh, my God!” I said.
“What can I do?”

“Eat the oranges,” said a voice in my head. “Eat the evidence.”

“Eat them?” I asked.

“Yes,” said the voice in my head. “Eat them and the evidence will be gone. Be quick! Eat them all.”

Eating the Evidence

I thought for half a second. Then I took an orange. I peeled it and put it in my mouth. Soon, only the pips were left.

“You have to swallow the pips too,” said the voice in my head. “You have to swallow the pips and the peel. You have to swallow all the evidence.”

“Yes, of course,” I said.

I swallowed the pips and put some of the peel in my mouth.

“Don’t eat it!” said the voice. “There isn’t time. Swallow it! Be quick! Swallow it!”

I took a small knife from my pocket and cut the oranges into large chunks. I swallowed the pieces of oranges one after the other.

There were still three oranges on the table when I heard Pongo outside. I stopped. My stomach was nearly full.

“Be quick! Swallow them!” said the voice in my head.

I was lucky. Pongo and the other policeman had seen some carts at the dock gate. They went and talked to the drivers. This gave me a few more minutes.

“I must swallow all the oranges,” I thought. “Only three left!”

I swallowed the first one, and then the second one.

Suddenly the door began to open. I went through a great deal of struggle and finally managed to finish off the last piece of the last orange. Pongo and the other policeman walked in.

Pongo: “This is the thief. I caught him with his pockets full of oranges.”

Why did the policemen arrive a little late to the cabin?
What did the narrator do with the pips and peels?

No Evidence

Pongo looked at the table and at first, he could not figure out what had happened.

Pongo: “Where are the oranges?”

Other policeman: “I can smell them.”

I said nothing. Pongo looked everywhere for the oranges. He looked in my pockets. He looked in my apron. But he didn’t find one orange.

Finally, Pongo understood what had happened. But it was very difficult to believe.

Pongo: “Seventeen oranges! Seventeen big oranges! How did you eat them all?”

I said nothing. Pongo was not able to send me to prison. There was no evidence.

Pongo became angry and shouted at me. But I didn’t say a word. In the end, he had to let me go.

Aftermath

I told Clem Jones about the seventeen oranges.

Clem: “Pongo locked you in that cabin for half an hour. He had no right to do that.”

Perhaps Clem was right. I don’t know. I didn’t have time to think about it. I had eaten seventeen large oranges – peels, pips and all. I felt very sick for a week and those oranges kept working away in my stomach.

About the Author

William John Francis Naughton, known as Bill Naughton (1910–1992), was an Irish-born British playwright and author. He worked as a weaver, coal-bagger and lorry-driver before he started writing. His preferred environment was working-class society, which is reflected in much of his work. He wrote many novels, short stories, plays and children’s books. He is best known for the play Alfie. His 1977 children’s novel My Pal Spadger is an account of his childhood in 1920s Bolton.

Glossary

• docks (n) – an enclosed area of water in a port for the loading, unloading and repair of ships
• apron (n) – a protective garment worn over the front of one’s clothes and tied at the back
• red-handed (adj) – used to indicate that a person has been discovered in the act of doing something wrong
• concealed (adj) – the act of keeping something secret or hidden
• blabbing (v) – to reveal secrets indiscreetly and thoughtlessly
• pips (n) – small hard seeds in a fruit
• chunks (n) – thick large pieces of something

Comprehension

A. Choose the correct answers

1. The narrator was very fond of ____
   a) reading detective stories.
   b) driving a pony-and-cart.
   c) eating oranges.
   d) munching away at something.

2. The narrator was searched by the policeman, because ____
   a) the oranges could be smelt.
   b) he was singing songs.
   c) he was carrying a box.
   d) his pockets were bulging.

3. The narrator kept his mouth shut when questioned by Pongo, because ____
   a) anything said would be held as evidence against him.
   b) the oranges would fall out.
   c) he did not steal the oranges.
   d) he was scared of Pongo.

4. The voice in the narrator’s head advised him to ______
   a) confess the truth to Pongo.
   b) eat all the oranges.
   c) deny his guilt.
   d) hide all the oranges.

5. Pongo found no trace of the oranges on the table, because ______
   a) Pongo’s mate had stolen them.
   b) all the oranges were sold.
   c) the narrator had eaten them all.
   d) they disappeared mysteriously.

B. Answer briefly

1. Why did the narrator call Clem Jones a careful planner?
   Clem tricked Pongo by pretending to carry a cat, then later smuggled a Dutch cheese.

2. What was Clem Jones carrying in the box during his second attempt?
   A large Dutch cheese.

3. Why did the policeman suspect the narrator?
   His apron string broke and his pockets were bulging.

4. What did Pongo consider as evidence against the narrator?
   The seventeen oranges found in his pockets.

5. How did the narrator feel when he was alone in Pongo’s cabin?
   Worried, frightened, and hopeless.

6. What did the narrator do to get rid of the evidence?
   He ate all seventeen oranges, including peels and pips.

7. What did Pongo do when he found no oranges on the table?
   He searched the narrator’s pockets and apron, then shouted at him.

8. Why were the policemen not able to bring any charges against the narrator?
   There was no evidence left.

9. How did the narrator feel after eating seventeen oranges?
   Very sick for a week.

10. What happened to the narrator’s love for oranges after the incident?
    He never ate an orange again.

C. Answer in 80–100 words

1. Narrate the clever strategy followed by Clem Jones to deceive Pongo.
   Clem carried a box and claimed it contained a cat. When forced to open it, a real ship’s cat jumped out and ran away. Later, Clem returned with the same box, now containing a Dutch cheese, which he successfully smuggled past Pongo.

2. Describe the confrontation between the narrator and Pongo.
   Pongo caught the narrator with seventeen oranges in his pockets, accused him of theft, and locked him in a cabin. The narrator, frightened and silent, ate all the oranges to destroy the evidence. When Pongo returned, he found no proof and had to release the narrator.

Vocabulary

D. Synonyms

1. evidence – proof
2. furiously – angrily
3. frightened – afraid
4. quiet – silent
5. trouble – difficulty

E. Antonyms

1. hidden – exposed
2. ordered – requested
3. locked – released
4. carefully – carelessly
5. sick – healthy

Listening (Page 207)

F. Complete the table

CAUSE	ACTION	EFFECT
Chatur Pandit claims he saw a red peacock.	He pays 1000 gold coins for the red peacock.	The king banishes him from the court for a month.
Tenali wants to teach the king a lesson.	He hires a painter and paints four peacocks red.	He proves that the king spends money needlessly.

G. Answer based on listening

1. Why did Chatur Pandit ask the king for 1000 gold coins?
   He claimed he had seen a rare red peacock and needed the money to buy it.

2. Where did Chatur Pandit find the red peacock?
   In a forest.

3. What sort of a person was Chatur Pandit?
   Greedy and cunning.

4. True or False: Tenali was given three weeks to bring more red peacocks.
   False.

5. Why did the people feel lucky to have Krishna Deva Raya as their king?
   Because he accepted his mistake and learned from it.

Speaking

H. Group Discussion

Choose one situation and discuss how the story would change:

1. Pongo had pardoned the narrator after scolding him.
2. Pongo had arrived on the scene before the last orange was eaten.
3. Pongo had forgotten to lock the door properly but the narrator only discovered it just before Pongo returned.

Share your ideas with the class.

Writing

I. Diary Entry (60–80 words)

Imagine you are Pongo.

1. Your feelings when you caught the boy.
   “I felt triumphant—finally caught a thief red-handed!”

2. Your feelings when you came back and found the oranges gone.
   “I was shocked and furious. How could anyone eat seventeen oranges in minutes?”

Reading – Anecdote

J. Complete the table

| Name | Nicholas Scotti |
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Reason for trip | To visit cousins in Italy |
| Means of transport | Plane |
| Destination | Italy (but got off in New York) |

K. Circle the best option

1. (b) was in Rome.
2. (a) thought he was in Italy.
3. (a) surprised
4. unlucky / stupid / miserable

L. Write an article (150 words)

Describe an unexpected event in your life and how you felt then vs. now.

Grammar

A. Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal Verb	Meaning
fond of	to like something very much
hidden away	kept secret
lock up	to imprison
laughed at	mocked
look at	to examine
bring up	to mention
gave up	stopped trying
went through	experienced
finish off	complete
figure out	understand

B. Can You Do It?

Activity: Ask classmates “Can you…?” and play BINGO with abilities.

C. Do’s and Don’ts

1. must
2. should / ought to
3. should

D. Complete with modals

1. must
2. needn’t
3. May
4. couldn’t
5. could
6. mustn’t
7. can

E. Letter Completion (Modals)

Sample answers:
- must
- might
- could
- should
- ought to
- will
- will

F. Match the squares

Correct matches:
- I must take some pills.
- She mustn’t eat…
- They should wear warm clothes.
- Sam and Jai should see a doctor.

G. Fill in the blanks

Sample answers:
- should
- will
- must
- should
- must
- may
- must
- might
- must

Practice Practice Exercises

Can you ?

1. We use (should/must/ought to) when something is compulsory, obligatory and important.

2. We use (should/must/ought to) when something is the right thing to do.

3. We use (should/must/ought to) when something is suggested or recommended.

1. Students be quiet when they write the examination.

2. You wear a coat, it’s quite warm.

3 . open the window? It is very hot in the room.

4. I go to the school yesterday because I was ill.

5. When she was eighteen, she run fast.

6. You drive fast. It’s not safe.

7. Sachin is a famous cricketer. He bat well.

How are you? I feel sad to inform you that my house was burgled last week when I was on a holiday. Burglars have known from the accumulated newspaper pile that I had gone away. When I came back last Sunday, I found the back-door lock broken. I have forgotten to bolt the back-door from inside and they have entered through it. My room was ransacked. They took my laptop and other valuables. I have deposited the jewellery in a bank locker to avoid this loss. I have informed my neighbours about my week-long trip. Well, I have registered an F I R with the police. They are investigating the case. They have assured that I get my jewels back. The burglars be caught very soon. Convey my regards to all at home.

Milk is a nutritious food enriched with vitamins and proteins. We take milk regularly so that we not develop deficiencies in our body. Aged persons, children and patients take milk in sufficient quantities as it provides strength to their body. We supplement it with fruits, vegetables and pulses for proper growth of the body. But we consume milk of good quality. Otherwise, it cause harm to the body. We be very careful while selecting our food items because there are chances that these be adulterated. We protect our health

1. The narrator was very fond of

2. The narrator was searched by the policeman, because

a) the oranges could be smelt.

b) he was singing songs.

c) he was carrying a box.

d) his pockets were bulging.

3. The narrator kept this mouth shut when questioned by Pongo, because

a) anything said would be held as evidence against him.

b) the oranges would fall out.

c) he did not steal the oranges.

d) he was scared of Pongo.

4. The voice in the narrator’s head advised him to

a) confess the truth to Pongo.

b) eat all the oranges.

c) deny his guilt.

d) hide all the oranges.

5. Pongo found no trace of the oranges on the table, because

a) Pongo’s mate had stolen them.

b) all the oranges were sold.

c) the narrator had eaten them all.

d) they disappeared mysteriously

1. Why did the narrator call Clem Jones a careful planner?

2. What was Clem Jones carrying in the box during his second attempt?

3. Why did the policeman suspect the narrator?

4. What did Pongo consider as evidence against the narrator?

5. How did the narrator feel when he was alone in Pongo’s cabin?

6. What did the narrator do to get rid of the evidence?

7. What did Pongo do when he found no oranges on the table?

8. Why were the policemen not able to bring any charges against the narrator?

9. How did the narrator feel after eating seventeen oranges?

10. What happened to the narrator’s love for oranges after the incident?

1. Narrate the clever strategy followed by Clem Jones to deceive Pongo.

2. Describe the confrontation between the narrator and Pongo.

a) proof

b) contradict

c) disprove

d) refute

a) politely

b) gently

c) angrily

d) calmly

a) undaunted

b) afraid

c) valiant

d) brave

a) furious

b) noisy

c) silent

d) agitated

a) peace

b) difficulty

c) harmony

d) comfort

a) exposed

b) masked

c) concealed

d) buried

a) prepared

b) arranged

c) forced

d) requested

a) closed

b) sealed

c) released

d) chocked

a) attentively

b) carelessly

c) cautiously

d) strictly

a) healthy

b) disordered

c) feeble

d) unhealthy

1. Why did Chatur Pandit ask the king for 1000 gold coins? 2. Where did Chatur Pandit find the red peacock? 3. What sort of a person was Chatur Pandit? 4. State whether the statement is true or false. Tenali was given three weeks to bring more red peacocks. 5. Why did the people feel that they were lucky to have KrishnaDevaRaya as their king? Speaking H. Work in groups of four. Choose one of the situations given below. Discuss how the story would have been different if, 1. Pongo had pardoned the narrator after scolding him. 2. Pongo had arrived on the scene before the last orange was eaten. 3. Pongo had forgotten to lock the door properly but the narrator only discovered it just before Pongo returned. Share your ideas with the rest of the class. Writing I. Work in groups and discuss. Then write a diary entry in about 60-80 words describing your feelings and emotions for the given situations. Imagine, you are Pongo. 1. Your feelings when you caught the boy. 2. Your feelings and emotions when you came back and found the oranges gone.

2. Where did Chatur Pandit find the red peacock? 3. What sort of a person was Chatur Pandit? 4. State whether the statement is true or false. Tenali was given three weeks to bring more red peacocks. 5. Why did the people feel that they were lucky to have KrishnaDevaRaya as their king? Speaking H. Work in groups of four. Choose one of the situations given below. Discuss how the story would have been different if, 1. Pongo had pardoned the narrator after scolding him. 2. Pongo had arrived on the scene before the last orange was eaten. 3. Pongo had forgotten to lock the door properly but the narrator only discovered it just before Pongo returned. Share your ideas with the rest of the class. Writing I. Work in groups and discuss. Then write a diary entry in about 60-80 words describing your feelings and emotions for the given situations. Imagine, you are Pongo. 1. Your feelings when you caught the boy. 2. Your feelings and emotions when you came back and found the oranges gone.

3. What sort of a person was Chatur Pandit? 4. State whether the statement is true or false. Tenali was given three weeks to bring more red peacocks. 5. Why did the people feel that they were lucky to have KrishnaDevaRaya as their king? Speaking H. Work in groups of four. Choose one of the situations given below. Discuss how the story would have been different if, 1. Pongo had pardoned the narrator after scolding him. 2. Pongo had arrived on the scene before the last orange was eaten. 3. Pongo had forgotten to lock the door properly but the narrator only discovered it just before Pongo returned. Share your ideas with the rest of the class. Writing I. Work in groups and discuss. Then write a diary entry in about 60-80 words describing your feelings and emotions for the given situations. Imagine, you are Pongo. 1. Your feelings when you caught the boy. 2. Your feelings and emotions when you came back and found the oranges gone.

Tenali was given three weeks to bring more red peacocks.

5. Why did the people feel that they were lucky to have KrishnaDevaRaya as their king? Speaking H. Work in groups of four. Choose one of the situations given below. Discuss how the story would have been different if, 1. Pongo had pardoned the narrator after scolding him. 2. Pongo had arrived on the scene before the last orange was eaten. 3. Pongo had forgotten to lock the door properly but the narrator only discovered it just before Pongo returned. Share your ideas with the rest of the class. Writing I. Work in groups and discuss. Then write a diary entry in about 60-80 words describing your feelings and emotions for the given situations. Imagine, you are Pongo. 1. Your feelings when you caught the boy. 2. Your feelings and emotions when you came back and found the oranges gone.

1. Pongo had pardoned the narrator after scolding him.

2. Pongo had arrived on the scene before the last orange was eaten.

3. Pongo had forgotten to lock the door properly but the narrator only discovered it just before Pongo returned.

Share your ideas with the rest of the class.

1. Your feelings when you caught the boy.

2. Your feelings and emotions when you came back and found the oranges gone.

(a) had to change the plane.

(b) was in Rome.

(c) had to phone his cousins.

(d) had to look at the airport.

(a) thought he was in Italy.

(b) knew the policeman.

(c) didn’t speak any other language.

(d) liked the language.

3. On the next day, Mr Scotti was at how the local people responded to his queries.

(a) surprised

(b) unhappy

(c) glad

(d) upset

Clever / Unlucky / Stupid / Successful / miserable / happy