Le concours de dessin
The Drawing Contest
A teenager's regional art contest falls on the same day as his best friend's birthday, so he has to find a way to make both happen.
- art
- friendship
- decisions
Tap an underlined word to see its meaning.
What you'll encounter
- Grammar
- passé composé
- subordinate clauses with parce que/quand
- futur proche
- Vocabulary
- art and competition vocabulary
- feelings and opinions
- Skills
- following a light complication across multiple scenes
- understanding a character's decision-making
Hugo adore dessiner depuis qu’il est petit. Chaque mercredi, après l’école, il va au club d’art de la maison des jeunes de Lille. Ses carnets sont pleins de d’animaux, de bâtiments et de visages.
Show English
Hugo has loved drawing since he was little. Every Wednesday, after school, he goes to the art club at the Lille youth center. His notebooks are full of sketches of animals, buildings, and faces.
Cette année, son professeur, Madame Royer, lui de participer au concours de dessin régional. « Tes dessins sont prêts pour ça, Hugo », lui dit-elle. Hugo est à la fois fier et un peu .
Show English
This year, his teacher, Madame Royer, suggests that he enter the regional drawing contest. "Your drawings are ready for it, Hugo," she tells him. Hugo is both proud and a little nervous.
Il s’inscrit tout de suite. Le concours a lieu au centre culturel de Lille, un samedi de mars. Hugo choisit son sujet : les vieilles maisons de son quartier, avec leurs fenêtres colorées.
Show English
He signs up right away. The contest takes place at the Lille cultural center, on a Saturday in March. Hugo chooses his subject: the old houses of his neighborhood, with their colorful windows.
Mais quelques jours plus tard, Hugo découvre un problème. Le concours est à quatorze heures. Et à seize heures, le même samedi, il y a la fête d’anniversaire de sa meilleure amie, Léna.
Show English
But a few days later, Hugo discovers a problem. The contest is at two o'clock in the afternoon. And at four o'clock, on the same Saturday, there's the birthday party of his best friend, Léna.
Hugo ne sait pas quoi faire. Il attend ce concours depuis des mois. Mais il veut aussi vraiment être à la fête de Léna, parce qu’elle est son amie depuis la .
Show English
Hugo doesn't know what to do. He has been waiting for this contest for months. But he also really wants to be at Léna's party, because she has been his friend since kindergarten.
Il parle à sa mère ce soir-là. « Je ne peux pas être à deux endroits en même temps », dit-il, . Sa mère l’écoute, puis lui pose une question simple : « Tu as vérifié combien de temps dure vraiment le concours ? »
Show English
He talks to his mother that evening. "I can't be in two places at the same time," he says, discouraged. His mother listens to him, then asks him a simple question: "Have you checked how long the contest actually lasts?"
Hugo n’a pas pensé à ça. Le lendemain, il appelle l’ du concours. Elle explique que le temps de dessin est de deux heures, mais que les participants peuvent partir dès qu’ils ont fini.
Show English
Hugo hasn't thought about that. The next day, he calls the contest organizer. She explains that the drawing time is two hours, but that participants can leave as soon as they finish.
Hugo décide d’un plan. Il va arriver tôt au concours, travailler vite et soigneusement, puis partir juste après avoir rendu son dessin, à temps pour aller à la fête de Léna.
Show English
Hugo decides on a plan. He is going to arrive at the contest early, work quickly and carefully, and then leave right after handing in his drawing, in time to go to Léna's party.
Le samedi matin, Hugo prépare ses crayons et sa planche. Il achète aussi un petit cadeau pour Léna : un livre sur l’art de rue, parce qu’elle adore les murs peints.
Show English
On Saturday morning, Hugo prepares his pencils and his board. He also buys a small gift for Léna: a book about street art, because she loves painted walls.
Au centre culturel, Hugo trouve une place près d’une fenêtre, avec une belle vue sur la rue. Il commence à dessiner calmement, en suivant le plan qu’il a fait avec sa mère.
Show English
At the cultural center, Hugo finds a seat near a window, with a good view of the street. He starts drawing calmly, following the plan he has made with his mother.
Autour de lui, une vingtaine d’autres jeunes dessinent aussi, certains en silence, d’autres en avec leurs voisins de table. Hugo reconnaît une fille de son club d’art, Zoé, assise deux tables plus loin. Elle lui fait un petit signe de la main avant de se dans son propre dessin.
Show English
Around him, about twenty other kids are drawing too, some in silence, others whispering with the person at the next table. Hugo recognizes a girl from his art club, Zoé, sitting two tables away. She gives him a little wave before going back to her own drawing.
Après une heure et demie, son dessin est presque terminé. Hugo ajoute quelques derniers détails : un chat sur un , une porte bleu vif. Il est satisfait de son travail.
Show English
After an hour and a half, his drawing is almost finished. Hugo adds a few final details: a cat on a windowsill, a bright blue door. He is satisfied with his work.
Il rend son dessin au bien avant l’heure limite. Deux autres élèves n’ont pas encore fini. Une des juges regarde longtemps son dessin. « Il est plein de vie », lui dit-elle avec un sourire.
Show English
He hands in his drawing to the jury well before the deadline. Two other students haven't finished yet. One of the judges looks at his drawing for a long time. "It's full of life," she tells him.
Hugo la remercie, attrape son sac, et court pour attraper le bus. Il arrive chez Léna avec quelques minutes de retard seulement, essoufflé mais heureux.
Show English
Hugo thanks her, grabs his bag, and runs to catch the bus. He arrives at Léna's building just a few minutes late, out of breath but happy.
« Tu es arrivé ! » dit Léna, surprise et contente. « Bien sûr », répond Hugo. « Je ne veux pas rater ton anniversaire pour rien au monde. » Il lui donne le livre, et Léna le prend dans ses bras.
Show English
"You made it!" says Léna, surprised and pleased. "Of course," answers Hugo. "I don't want to miss your birthday for anything." He gives her the book, and Léna hugs him.
Une semaine plus tard, Hugo reçoit une lettre du concours. Il a gagné la deuxième place. Il appelle Léna tout de suite pour lui annoncer la nouvelle, et elle est aussi contente que lui.
Show English
A week later, Hugo receives a letter from the contest. He has won second place. He immediately calls Léna to tell her the news, and she is as happy as he is.
Ce soir-là, Hugo regarde encore son dessin, maintenant sur son mur. Il pense que, finalement, les meilleurs jours sont ceux où on n’a pas à choisir entre les choses qu’on aime.
Show English
That evening, Hugo looks at his drawing again, now framed on his wall. He thinks that, in the end, the best days are the ones when you don't have to choose between the things you love.
Show full English translation
Hugo has loved drawing since he was little. Every Wednesday, after school, he goes to the art club at the Lille youth center. His notebooks are full of sketches of animals, buildings, and faces.
This year, his teacher, Madame Royer, suggests that he enter the regional drawing contest. "Your drawings are ready for it, Hugo," she tells him. Hugo is both proud and a little nervous.
He signs up right away. The contest takes place at the Lille cultural center, on a Saturday in March. Hugo chooses his subject: the old houses of his neighborhood, with their colorful windows.
But a few days later, Hugo discovers a problem. The contest is at two o'clock in the afternoon. And at four o'clock, on the same Saturday, there's the birthday party of his best friend, Léna.
Hugo doesn't know what to do. He has been waiting for this contest for months. But he also really wants to be at Léna's party, because she has been his friend since kindergarten.
He talks to his mother that evening. "I can't be in two places at the same time," he says, discouraged. His mother listens to him, then asks him a simple question: "Have you checked how long the contest actually lasts?"
Hugo hasn't thought about that. The next day, he calls the contest organizer. She explains that the drawing time is two hours, but that participants can leave as soon as they finish.
Hugo decides on a plan. He is going to arrive at the contest early, work quickly and carefully, and then leave right after handing in his drawing, in time to go to Léna's party.
On Saturday morning, Hugo prepares his pencils and his board. He also buys a small gift for Léna: a book about street art, because she loves painted walls.
At the cultural center, Hugo finds a seat near a window, with a good view of the street. He starts drawing calmly, following the plan he has made with his mother.
Around him, about twenty other kids are drawing too, some in silence, others whispering with the person at the next table. Hugo recognizes a girl from his art club, Zoé, sitting two tables away. She gives him a little wave before going back to her own drawing.
After an hour and a half, his drawing is almost finished. Hugo adds a few final details: a cat on a windowsill, a bright blue door. He is satisfied with his work.
He hands in his drawing to the jury well before the deadline. Two other students haven't finished yet. One of the judges looks at his drawing for a long time. "It's full of life," she tells him.
Hugo thanks her, grabs his bag, and runs to catch the bus. He arrives at Léna's building just a few minutes late, out of breath but happy.
"You made it!" says Léna, surprised and pleased. "Of course," answers Hugo. "I don't want to miss your birthday for anything." He gives her the book, and Léna hugs him.
A week later, Hugo receives a letter from the contest. He has won second place. He immediately calls Léna to tell her the news, and she is as happy as he is.
That evening, Hugo looks at his drawing again, now framed on his wall. He thinks that, in the end, the best days are the ones when you don't have to choose between the things you love.
Words to know
- croquis
- — sketches
- propose
- — suggests
- nerveux
- — nervous
- maternelle
- — kindergarten
- découragé
- — discouraged
- organisatrice
- — organizer
- chuchotant
- — whispering
- replonger
- — go back into
- rebord de fenêtre
- — windowsill
- jury
- — jury
- encadré
- — framed