The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole

Read an extract from The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole,click on the gap and and choose the right word. Sunday January 11thFirst after EpiphanyNow I know I am an intellectual. I saw Malcolm Muggeridge on the television last night, and I understood nearly every word. It all adds up. A bad home, poor diet, not liking punk. I think I will join the library and see what happens.It is a pity there aren’t any more intellectuals living round here. Mr Lucas wears corduroy trousers, but he’s an insurance man. Just my luck.The first what after Epiphany?Monday January 12thThe dog is back. It keeps licking its stitches, so when I am eating I sit with my back to it.My mother got up this morning to make the dog a bed to sleep in until it’s better. It is made out of a cardboard box that used to contain packets of soap powder. My father said this would make the dog sneeze and burst its stitches, and the vet would charge even more to stitch it back up again. They had a row about the box, then my father went on about Mr Lucas. Though what Mr Lucas has to do with the dog’s bed is a mystery to me.Tuesday January 13thMy father has gone back to work. Thank God! I don’t know how my mother sticks him.Mr Lucas came in this morning to see if my mother needed any help in the house. He is very kind. Mrs Lucas was next door cleaning the outside windows. The ladder didn’t look very safe. I have written to Malcolm Muggeridge, c the BBC, asking him what to do about being an intellectual. I hope he writes back soon because I’m getting fed up being one on my own. I have written a poem, and it only took me two minutes. Even the famous poets take longer than that. It is called ‘The Tap’, but it isn’t really about a tap, it’s very deep, and about life and stuff like that.The Tap, by Adrian Mole"The tap drips and keeps me awake,In the morning there will be a lake.For the want of a washer the carpet will spoil,Then for another my father will toil.My father could snuff it while he is at work.Dad, fit a washer don’t be a burk!"I showed it to my mother, but she laughed. She isn’t very bright. She still hasn’t washed my PE shorts, and it is school tomorrow. She is not like the mothers on television.Wednesday January 14thJoined the library. Got Care of the Skin, Origin of Species, and a book by a woman my mother is always going on about. It is called Pride and Prejudice, by a woman called Jane Austen. I could tell the librarian was impressed. Perhaps she is an intellectual like me. She didn’t look at my spot, so perhaps it is getting smaller. About time!Mr Lucas was in the kitchen drinking coffee with my mother. The room was full of smoke. They were laughing, but when I went in, they stopped.Mrs Lucas was next door cleaning the drains. She looked as if she was in a bad mood. I think Mr and Mrs Lucas have got an unhappy marriage. Poor Mr Lucas!None of the teachers at school have noticed that I am an intellectual. They will be sorry when I am famous. There is a new girl in our class. She sits next to me in Geography. She is all right. Her name is Pandora, but she likes being called ‘Box’. Don’t ask me why. I might fall in love with her. It’s time I fell in love, after all I am 13 3 years old.Thursday January 15thPandora has got hair the colour of treacle, and it's long like girls' hair should be. She has quite a good figure. I saw her playing netball and her chest was wobbling. I felt a bit funny. I think this is it!The dog has had its stiches out. It bit the vet, but I expect he's used to it. (the vet I mean; I know the dog is.)My father found out about the arm on the stereo. I told a lie. I said the dog jumped up and broke it. My father said he will wait until the dog is completely cured of its operation then kick it. I hope this is a joke.Mr Lucas was in the kitchen again when I got home from school. My mother is better now, so why he keeps coming round is a mystery to me. Mrs Lucas was planting trees in the dark. I read a bit of Pride and Prejudice, but it was very old-fashioned. I think Jane Austen should write something a bit more modern.The dog has got the same colour eyes as Pandora. I only noticed because my mother cut the dog's hair. It looks worse then ever. Mr Lucas and my mother were laughing at the dog's new haircut which is not very nice, because dogs can't answer back, just like the Royal Family.I am going to bed early to think about Pandora and do my back-stretching exercises. I haven't grown for two weeks. If this carries on I will be a midget.I will go to the doctor's on Saturday if the spot is still there. I can't live like this with everybody staring.Friday January 16thMr Lucas came round and offered to take my mother shopping in the car. They dropped me off to school. I was glad to get out of the car what with all the laughing and cigarette smoke. We saw Mrs Lukas on the way. She was carrying big bags of shopping. My mother waved, but Mrs Lucas couldn't wave back.It was Geography today so I sat next to Pandora for a whole hour. She looks better every day. I told her about her eyes being the same as the dog's. She asked what kind of dog it was. I told her it was a mongrel.I lent Pandora my blue felt-tip pen to colour round the British Isles.I think she appreciates these small attentions.I started Origin of Species today, but it's not as good as the television series. Care of the Skin is dead good. I have left it open on the page about vitamins. I hope my mother takes the hint. I have left it on the kitchen table near the ashtry, so she is bound to see it.I have made an appointment about the spot. It has turned purple. Watch the video and enjoy Intellectual Boy Music Trailer from the musical The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole.Listen again and match the questions to their answers. 1. When will people understand the torment of being a thirteen-and-three-quarter-year-old intellectual?2. Why is Adrian loosing sleep?3. What will he send to the BBC?4. Why will he send "The Tap" to the BBC?5. What does he say about his poem?6. What could "Dear Man at the BBC" do with "The Tap"?7. What will happen once he is on the BBC?8. Will he change his looks?9. Do people care when you are 13 and three quarters?10. Who will he be friends with?11. What will his wife always do for him?12. What will happen if the man at the BBC takes a chance on him?13. What is Adrian's middle name?1. When he is famous and his diary is discovered.2. He is thinking grand and amazing things.3. His poem "The Tap".4. There's loads of intellectuals there and they'll know what to do with it.5. It's very smart, like a little piece of art and he knows it all by heart.6. He could put it in his show on the radio after a piece on violent dogs in Walthamstow.7. Everyone will look at him and he'll have to be a sharp and dapper chap.8. He'll grow a big moustache.9. No, they don't.10. Elton John.11. She'll always make his tea.12. His Mum, Dad and Grandma and everyone around will see his name in the lights.13. Albert. Listen to "Take a Stand", one more song from the musical.Put the sentences in the right order. 1. Adrian can't wear his red socks he got from Auntie Susan to school.2. At school it is forbidden to wear anything but black.3. He will take a stand to prove Barry he can be a toughie too.4. Pandora, Nigel and Adrain are the generation which won't turn to violence.5. They will protest and show everyone it's time to change the laws about school uniforms.6. Barry will punch and kick Adrian, and tie him to the fence because Adrain "owes" him money.7. Adrian and his mates invite freedom fighters to join the cause and say no to stupid laws.8. They will fight against opression with lingerie obsession. Listen to Take a Stand once more and choose the right answer. In his fight for freedom, Adrian will take his case to the British Prime Minister. He doesn't mention the PM by name but refers to his house number (Downing Street) which is: Number 11 Number 10 Who does Adrian compare himself to? Who led a thousand men like Adrian plans to? Wellington Nelson Listen very carefully. Can you recognise their voices? Who will be the leader of their revolution? Adrian Pandora Nigel Who will be the secretary of state? Adrian Pandora Nigel Who will be the victim who can just stand by the gate? Adrian Pandora Nigel Adrian is late again and owes Barry 20 pence 20 pounds What will not be tolerated at Mr Scruton's school? red black Adrian will take a stand because he doesn't want to be a boy who gets his head shoved down the loo. tied to the fence. Like a proper action hero, Adrian will show Barry he's got pride like Adrian Pacino Adrian DeNiro Finally, no task!Just enjoy and watch West End LIVE PERFORMANCE, July 2019 and their well known lyrics from "Misunderstood":We're just a bit misunderstoodWe're just a bit misunderstoodCos when you're a spotty and pubescentTeenage adolescentLost in childhoodYou're doing the things you never shouldCos you're misunderstood...