220. An unfortunate incident一次不幸的事件 threadlike-topography
Working in restaurants as a waiter can take its toll on even the most tolerable person. I’m a fairly tolerant guy, but I simply can’t tolerate it when I’m thriving really well on the job, and then some party of titanic proportions leaves a small tip. It’s not that I’m so worried about money. I’m quite thrifty. I’m not threatened by the fear of going bankrupt or anything. It’s just that when I spend eight hours thrusting my way through the threadlike openings among the crowds at the restaurant, I feel I should be duly rewarded for my efforts, especially on a night when I am worn out from head to toe. One such night I was on the threshold of quitting. I remember it well because I had just gotten the windows of my car tinted, which had cost me a lot. The tide was high on the beach that night and I wanted nothing more than to rest in the watery sand after a hard day’s work. The beach lies on a tilt and from a certain vantage point you can see a far off island on a clear night. Ah, that tilted beach was on my mind that night, but a rude customer thwarted my plans. The customer was a bit drunk, and kept thumping one of the waitresses in her behind. I’m not a timid guy, so I spoke up. “Leave her alone.” I said. The customer and I exchanged a few words I dare not repeat here, but it led to a fight. He hit me in the face and I gave him an even-toed kick in the groin. I was bleeding a little, but nothing a few pieces of tissue couldn’t take care of. Anyway, the police were called and things were settled. But because the police questioned us for so long, I didn’t have time to go to the beach. There was a thunderstorm that night, anyway, so I guess it doesn’t matter. The next morning I took a peaceful walk in the nearby mountains, surrounded by timber and a beautiful topography. I soon felt better and went back to work that evening.
threadlike adj.线状的
threaten vt.威胁,预示…的凶兆,可能来临
threshold n.开始,开端
thrifty adj.节省的,节俭的
thrive vi.繁荣,兴旺,茁壮成长
thrust n. 推力,冲vt.插入,用力刺
thump v.重击,砰然地响
thunderstorm n.暴风雨
thwart vt.阻挠,使…受挫
tide n.潮汐,潮流
tilt n.倾斜
tilted adj.倾斜的
timber n.木材,木料,森林
timid adj.胆怯的,羞怯的
tint vt.给…着色,染
tip n.顶,尖端,小费
tissue n.(生)组织,棉纸,薄纸
titanic adj.巨大的
toe n.趾,脚趾,足尖
toed adj.有趾的
tolerable adj.可容忍的
tolerant adj.容忍的,宽容的
tolerate vt.忍受,容许
toll n. 费,(遭受的)损失鸣v. (钟)
topography n.地形,地形学 |