NCERT Book Class 12 English (Flamingo) Prose 8 Going Places

8 Going Places
About the Author
A. R. Barton is a modern writer, who lives in Zurich and writes
in English. In the story Going Places, Barton explores the theme
of adolescent fantasising and hero worship.

Notice these expressions in the text.
Infer their meaning from the context.
 incongruity  arcade
 prodigy  amber glow
 chuffed  wharf
 solitary elm  pangs of doubt

“When I leave,” Sophie said, coming home from school, “I’m going
to have a boutique.”
Jansie, linking arms with her along the street; looked doubtful.
“Takes money, Soaf, something like that.”
“I’ll find it,” Sophie said, staring far down the street.
“Take you a long time to save that much.”
“Well I’ll be a manager then — yes, of course — to begin with. Till
I’ve got enough. But anyway, I know just how it’s all going to look.”
“They wouldn’t make you manager straight off, Soaf.”
“I’ll be like Mary Quant,” Sophie said. “I’ll be a natural. They’ll
see it from the start. I’ll have the most amazing shop this city’s
ever seen.’”
Jansie, knowing they were both earmarked for the biscuit
factory, became melancholy. She wished Sophie wouldn’t say these
things.
When they reached Sophie’s street Jansie said, “It’s only a
few months away now, Soaf, you really should be sensible. They