[originaltext]M: Excuse me, Ms. Sherwin, could I speak to you for a few minutes

M: Excuse me, Ms. Sherwin, could I speak to you for a few minutes?
W: Well, please sit down.
M: Thank you. Uh..., it’s about my wife.
W: Yes, go on.
M: She’s ill and has to go to hospital tomorrow. But we have a young baby, you know.
W: Yes, Jerry. Is it anything serious?
M: The doctors say it’s just a minor operation. But it has to be done as soon as possible. And...the problem is my daughter.
W: In what way, Jerry?
M: Well, my wife will be in hospital for several days, so there’s nobody to look after my daughter. That’s why I’d like to have a few days off. From tomorrow.
W: I see. You need a few days off to look after your daughter while your wife is in hospital.
M: Yes, will that be all right?
W: I’m sure it will, Jerry. All I want to do now is to make sure that there’s someone to cover for you while you’re away. Uh...how long did you say you’ll need?
M: Just a few days. My wife should be out of hospital by next Thursday, so I can be back on Friday.
W: Well, perhaps you’d better stay at home on Friday, as well. Just to give your wife a few extra days to rest after the operation.
M: That’s very kind of you, Ms. Sherwin.
W: Don’t mention it.