ACT 1   Once they understand, they’re fine with it.

     

Interviewer: I see you have a B.A (n.文学学士学位) from Bradley University. That’s...uh...in Illinois (伊利诺斯州), isn’t it?

 

Brad: Yes, ma’am.

 

Interviewer: Graduated cum laude (以优等成绩毕业). High recommendations. Your student teaching evals (教学评估) are outstanding. [非常满意] Excellent. What made you decide to go into teaching?

 

Brad: It’s all I’ve wanted to be. I feel like I was born to teach.

 

Interviewer: Why choose Atlanta? I mean... Missouri is your home.

 

Brad: Yeah, no, I’m a...I think I’m thinking of becoming a Braves (即Bradley Braves, Bradley大学校队) fan, so...ah, Georgia (佐治亚州) honors (v. 认可) my Illinois teaching certificate (n. 证书). Plus (conj. 另外) I fell in love with Atlanta when I worked down here as a camp counselor (夏令营辅导员). So I live here now. So does my dad and my step-mom.

 

Interviewer: [开始注意到Brad的症状，有些尴尬] Well…it’s nice to have a family here to...give you support.

 

Brad: Maybe we should talk about the elephant (n.大象).

 

Interviewer: Elephant?

 

Brad: In the room, my Tourette’s.

 

Interviewer: [严肃] No, The Americans with disabilities Act (美国残疾人法案) doesn’t allow me to ask...

 

Brad: I know. But, I would like to tell you, just like I tell the kids in my classes. See, I explain to them that it’s a brain thing that causes me to make strange noises. They’re like... sneezes (v. 打喷嚏), irrepressible (adj.无法控制的) when you have to. You have to.

 

Interviewer: [怀疑又好奇] How do they react?

 

Brad: Once they understand, they’re fine with it (他们接受了). It’s never caused a problem in the classroom. All I want is a chance. Just get me the interviews and let me prove to them that I can do the job. The Americans with disabilities Act says I’m entitled to (有...的正当权利) a chance.