To study English(2)

He's 55.

He's trying to learn how to read.

He bears a resemblance to the actor Ernest Borgnine.

His plumber's work clothes - denim overalls, a flannel shirt - are still on.

Today, as he does twice a week, he has driven straight from work to Mrs.Lord's house.

His hands are dirty from his day's labor; as he points to words on the spelling list you can see that he has not had time to stop and clean himself up.

He has been coming to Mrs.Lord's house for just over a year.

He never learned to read as a child.

His mother was sick and his father was an alcoholic; the boy did not do well in school, and at the age of twelve he dropped out and began to work.

The man went through most of his life hiding his secret.

He learned to be a plumber; he married and started a family.

He concealed his inability to read even from his wife and children.