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The Boy on Graves-End Road by Caty Weaver

时间:2015-11-08 22:50:34

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(单词翻译)

The Boy on Graves2-End Road by Caty Weaver3

Editor's Note: This is a weekly multimedia4 series of American short stories for English language learners. Each story has video, audio5, quizzes, and a lesson plan for teachers. Hope you enjoy reading and listening to this story! Please leave your questions and comments below.

October 31 is Halloween. In the spirit of this ancient holiday, we present a story written by our own reporter and producer Caty Weaver. It's called "The Boy on Graves-End Road."

Kelly Ryan was making dinner. Her 10-year-old son Benjamin was watching television in the living room. Or at least she thought he was.

KELLY: "Benny-boy, do you want black beans or red beans?"

BEN: "Red beans, Mama."

Kelly: "Ah! Don't do that, Ben. You scared me half to death! You're going to get it now ... "

Ben had come up quietly right behind her.

KELLY: "I'll get back to you, stinker!"

Kelly goes to the phone, but as soon as she lays her hand on it, the ringing stops.

KELLY: "How strange. Oh, the beans!"

Kelly turns her attention back to cooking. As soon as she does, the phone rings again.

KELLY: "Honey, can you get that?"

BEN: "Hello? Oh, hi. Yes, I remember. Sure, it sounds fun. Let me ask my mom. Can you hold? She might wanna talk to your mom. Oh, um, OK. See you tomorrow."

KELLY: "Ben, your rice and beans are on the table. Let's eat."

KELLY: "So, what was that call about?"

BEN: "That was Wallace Gray. You know him, from class. He wants to play tomorrow. Can I go home with him after school? Please, Mom? I get bored around here waiting for you after work."

KELLY: "But, I don't even know his parents. Maybe I should talk to them."

BEN: "You can't, Mom. He was with his babysitter. He said his parents wouldn't be home until late tonight and they would leave before he went to school in the morning. Please Mom, Wallace lives right over on Graves-End Road. It's a five-minute walk from here. PLEASE,?”

KELLY: "Well, OK. What's so great about this guy, anyway? You've got a ton of friends to play with."

BEN: "I know. But Wallace is just different. He's got a lot of imagination.”

The school week passes, and Ben starts to go home almost every day with Wallace. Kelly notices a change in her son. He seems tired and withdrawn6. His eyes do not seem to really look at her. They seem ... lifeless. On Friday night she decides they need to have a talk.

KELLY: "Sweetie, what's going on with you? You seem so tired and far away. Is something wrong? Did you and your new friend have a fight?"

BEN:"No, Mom. We've been having a great time. There's nothing wrong with us. Why don't you like Wallace? You don't even know him, but you don't trust him."

KELLY: "Benjamin, what are you talking about? I don't dislike Wallace. You're right, I don't know him. You just don't seem like yourself. You've been very quiet the past few nights."

BEN: "I'm sorry, Mom. I guess I'm just tired. I have a great time with Wallace. We play games like cops7 and robbers8, but they seem so real that half of the time I feel like I'm in another world. It's hard to explain. It's like,  it’s like ... "

KELLY: "I think the word you're looking for is intense9."

BEN: "Yeah, that's it -- it's intense."

KELLY: "Well, tell me about today. What kind of game did you play?"

BEN: "We were train robbers. Or Wallace was. I was a station manager. Wallace was running through a long train, from car to car. He had stolen a lot of money and gold from the passengers. I was chasing10 right behind him, moving as fast as I could. Finally he jumps out of the train into the station to make his escape. But I block his path. He grabs11 a woman on the station platform. She screams 'No, no!' But he yells12 'Let me through, or she dies.' So I let him go."

KELLY: "What happened then?"

BEN: "Well, that's what was weird13 and, like you said, intense. Wallace threw the lady onto the tracks. And laughed. He said that's what evil14 characters do in the games. They always do the worst."

Later, after Ben went to bed, Kelly turned on the eleven o'clock news. She was only half-listening as she prepared a list of things to do the next day, on Halloween.

KELLY: “OK, let's see, grocery shopping, Halloween decorating, the dog’s gotta go to the groomer,  I gotta go to the  hardware store, clean up the garden ...

[TV in background]

NEWS ANNOUNCER15: "Reports say it appears she was pushed off the station platform into the path of the oncoming train. It happened during rush hour today. Some witnesses reported seeing two boys running and playing near the woman. But police say they did not see any images like that on security16 cameras at the station.

KELLY: "No! It can't be. The station is an hour away. They couldn't have gotten there. How could they? It's just a coincidence."

The wind blew low and lonely that night. Kelly slept little. She dreamed she was waiting for Ben at a train station. Then, she saw him on the other side, running with another little boy.

It must be Wallace she thought. The little boy went in and out of view. Then, all of a sudden, he stopped and looked across the tracks -- directly at her.

He had no face.

Saturday morning was bright and sunny, a cool October day. Kelly made Ben eggs and toast and watched him eat happily.

KELLY: "You know, Benny-boy, a woman DID get hurt at the train station yesterday. She actually got hit by a train. Isn't that strange?"

She looked at Ben.

BEN: "What do you mean, Mom?"

KELLY: "Well, you and Wallace were playing that game yesterday. About being at a train station. You said he threw a woman off the platform, and she was killed by a train."

Kelly felt like a fool even saying the words. She was speaking to a ten-year-old who had been playing an imaginary17 game with another ten-year-old. What was she thinking?

BEN: "I said we played that yesterday? I did? Hmmm. No, we played that a few days ago, I think. It was just a really good game, really intense. Yesterday we played pirates19. I got to be Captain Frank20 on the pirate18 ship, the Argh.

"Wallace was Davey, the first mate21. But he tried to rebel22 and take over the ship so I made him walk the plank23. Davey walked off into the sea and drowned. Wallace told me I had to order him to walk the plank. He said that's what evil pirates do."

KELLY: "I guess he's right. I don't know any pirates, but I do hear they're pretty evil!"

BEN: "So can I play with Wallace today when you are doing your errands24? Please, Mom? I don't want to go shopping and putting up Halloween decorations."

KELLY: "Oh, whatever. I guess so. I'll pick you up at Wallace's house at about five-thirty, so you can get ready for trick or treating. Where does he live again?

BEN: "Graves-End Road. I don't know the street number but there are only two houses on each side. His is the second one on the left."

KELLY: "OK. I can find that easy enough. Do you still want me to pick up a ghost costume for you?"

BEN: "Yep. Oh, and guess what, Mom: Wallace says he's a ghost, too! I suppose we'll haunt25 the neighborhood together."

Everywhere Kelly went that day was crowded. She spent an hour and a half just at the market. When she got home, decorating the house for Halloween was difficult.

But finally she had it all the way she wanted.

KELLY: "Oh, gosh, five already. I don't even have Ben's costume."

She jumped into her car and drove to Wilson Boulevard. The party store was just a few blocks away.

Kelly soon found the ghost costume that Ben wanted. She bought it and walked out of the store.

EILEEN: "Hey, Kelly! Long time no see. How's Benjamin doing?"

KELLY: "Eileen! Wow, it’s great to see you. How's Matt? We've been so busy since the school year started, we haven't seen anyone!"

EILEEN: "Matt's good. Well, he broke his arm last month so no sports for him. It is driving him crazy, but at least he's got a lot of time for school now!"

KELLY: That's good, yeah.

EILEEN: "Anyway, Matt was wondering why Benny-boy never comes by anymore. We saw him running around the neighborhood after school last week. It looks like he’s having fun, but he's always alone. We don't need to set up a play date. Ben should know that. You just tell him to come by anymore. We took him running around the neighborhood after school  last week. It looks like he’s having fun, but he’s always alone. We don’t need to set up a play date. Ben should know that. You just tell him to come by.  

KELLY: "Wait, wait a  minute. Alone? What do mean alone? He started playing with a new friend, Wallace somebody, after school, like everyday this past week. Ben hasn't been alone. Wallace Gray, that's it. Do you know him? Does Matt?"

EILEEN: "Oh, Kell. Kelly, I'm sure he's a fine kid. I don't know him but don't worry, Ben's got great taste in friends, we know that! I'm sure he wasn't really alone, he was probably just playing hide and seek or something. I didn't mean to worry you. I guess everybody's on edge because of what happened to the Godwin boy this morning."

Kelly suddenly felt cold and scared. What Godwin boy? And what happened to him? She was not sure she wanted to know, but she had to ask.

EILEEN: "Frank Godwin's youngest boy, Davey, the five-year-old. You know Frank, we call him Captain. He used to be a ship captain. Well, this morning the rescue squad26 found Davey in Blackhart Lake. They also found a little toy boat that his dad made for him. Davey and his dad named it the Argh. Davey must have been trying to sail it. It’s so sad."

KELLY: "Wait, he's dead?

EILEEN: "Yes. Davey drowned."

KELLY: "Where's Blackhart Lake?"

EILEEN: "It's right off Graves-End Road, right behind that little cemetery27. That's why they call it Graves-End. Kelly, where are you going?"

Kelly: "I've got to get Benjamin."

Kelly raced down Main Street. She had not idea who Wallace Gray was or how he was involved in any of this. But she did not trust him and she knew her child was in danger.  

Finally she was at Graves-End Road.

BEN: "Only two houses on each side."

She remembered what Ben had told her.

EILEEN: "Right behind that little cemetery."

And what Eileen had told her. Kelly got out of the car and walked down the street. She looked around.

BEN: "It’s the second one on the left."

She could see the lake. Some fog was coming up as the sky darkened on this Halloween night. But there was no second house. Instead, what lay before her was grass and large white stones. The cemetery. Kelly walked through the gate into the yard of graves.

KELLY: "Ben?"

No answer. She kept walking.

KELLY: "Ben? Answer me. I know you're here."

Again no answer. But the wind blew and some leaves began to dance around a headstone. Kelly walked slowly toward28 the grave1. Suddenly the sky blackened -- so dark, she could not see anything. She felt a force pushing at her. It tried to push her away from the grave. But she knew she had to stay.

KELLY: "Benjamin Owen Orr, this is your mother. Come out this second!"

No one answered, except for the sound of the blowing wind. The darkness lifted. Silvery moonlight shone down directly onto the old gravestone in front of her. But Kelly already knew whose name she would see.

KELLY: "'Wallace Gray. October 31, 1900, to October 31, 1910. Some are best when laid to rest.'"

Kelly took a deep breath. Then ...

KELLY: "Wallace Gray this play date is OVER! Give me back my son. Wallace, you are in TIME-OUT."

Suddenly, the ground shoots upward29 like a small volcano30. Soil, sticks and worms fly over Kelly's head and rain down again -- followed by her son, who lands beside her.

BEN: (COUGHING, CHOKING)

KELLY: "Ben! Ben!"

BEN: (COUGHING, CHOKING) "Mom, Mom! Are you there? I can't see. All this dirt in my eyes."

KELLY: "Ben, I'm here, I’m here baby, right here. Oh, sweet Benny-boy. Can you breathe? Are you really ok? What happened? How long were you in there?"

BEN: "I don't know, Mom. But I didn't like it. I didn't like where Wallace lives. I want to go home."

KELLY: "Oh, me too, Sweetie. C’mon, Ben, put your arm around me. C’mon.

BEN: "And Mom, one more thing ... "

KELLY: "What is it, Ben?"

BEN: "I don't want to be a ghost for Halloween."

Words in This Story

scare - v. to cause (someone) to become afraid

cemetery - n. a place where dead people are buried : graveyard31

intense - adj. of a person : very serious

platform - n. a flat area next to railroad32 tracks where people wait for a train or subway

headstone - n. a stone that marks the place where a dead person is buried and that usually has the person's name and birth and death dates on it

weird - adj. unusual or strange

ghost - n. the soul of a dead person thought of as living in an unseen world or as appearing to living people

worm - n. a long, thin animal that has a soft body with no legs or bones and that often lives in the ground

choke - v. to become unable to breathe usually because something gets stuck in your throat or because the air is not good for breathing


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点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 grave EeCz3     
n.墓穴,坟墓,雕刻工,抑音;adj.庄重的,严肃的,重大的,低沉的;vt.雕刻
参考例句:
  • Marriage is the grave of love.婚姻是爱情的坟墓。
  • This is a very grave matter indeed.这问题的确非常严重。
2 graves 594bca3f02fc8fcfe8133ce01b4e3f43     
n.(法国)格拉芙葡萄酒;坟墓( grave的名词复数 );死亡;钝重音符;沉音符v.坟墓( grave的第三人称单数 );死亡;钝重音符;沉音符
参考例句:
  • He went to visit the graves of his forefathers. 他去拜谒他祖先的墓地。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • They were eating themselves into their graves. 他们吃喝过度,在自找死路。 来自《简明英汉词典》
3 weaver LgWwd     
n.织布工;编织者
参考例句:
  • She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快,而且布的质量很好。
  • The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。
4 multimedia BnSzdj     
adj.多种手段的,多媒体的;n.多媒体
参考例句:
  • Multimedia is the combination of computer and video technology.多媒体是计算机和视频技术的结合。
  • Adam raised the issue of multimedia applications and much useful discussion ensued.亚当提出了多媒体应用的问题,从而引发了许多有益的讨论。
5 audio 9yOziJ     
n./adj.音频(响)(的);声音(的),听觉(的)
参考例句:
  • Often,the meeting is recorded on audio or video media for later reference.通常这种会议会以视频或者音频形式记录下来,供以后查阅。
  • You don't even have to pay for audio programs.你大可不必为自己听这些节目付费。
6 withdrawn eeczDJ     
vt.收回;使退出;vi.撤退,退出
参考例句:
  • Our force has been withdrawn from the danger area.我们的军队已从危险地区撤出。
  • All foreign troops should be withdrawn to their own countries.一切外国军队都应撤回本国去。
7 cops 2a0b059e51cc7166bec7f81b0985a1d4     
n.堆,顶;警察( cop的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • As usual, the cops get the baddies in the end. 跟平常一样,警察最后把坏人都抓起来了。
  • Somebody call the cops! 去个人报警啊!
8 robbers 8c8771e4d06892dfbdb0e25fa517d4c2     
n.抢劫者,强盗,盗贼( robber的名词复数 );盗匪
参考例句:
  • The robbers fled empty-handed. 抢劫犯一无所获地逃走了。
  • The policeman discharged his gun at the fleeing robbers. 警察向逃跑的强盗开了枪。 来自《简明英汉词典》
9 intense G5axf     
adj.认真的,专注的;强烈的;紧张的;热情的
参考例句:
  • Susan was an intense young lady.苏珊是一个热情的年轻姑娘。
  • The quarrel caused her intense unhappiness.争吵令她极其不快。
10 chasing 8fde1d7175bfd43e3953dc8f79f4dcdf     
n.雕镂术,雕刻工作;车螺丝;抛光;螺旋板
参考例句:
  • My dog likes chasing rabbits. 我的狗喜欢追捕兔子。
  • The children were having fun, chasing each other's shadows. 孩子们追逐着彼此的影子,玩得很开心。
11 grabs 63ff862ac9e8bc241ee82db3ae2893d1     
n.试图抓取,有意抢夺( grab的名词复数 )v.抢先,抢占( grab的第三人称单数 );(尤指匆忙地)取;攫取;(尤指自私、贪婪地)捞取
参考例句:
  • The job is up for grabs.Why don't you apply now? 那工作谁都可以争取,你怎么不现在就申请呢? 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • She grabs a stack of baby photos and thrusts them into my hands. 她抓起一沓婴儿照片塞到我手里。 来自辞典例句
12 yells 125085a41c2797c7a3b1b94d59906b26     
v.叫喊,号叫,叫着说( yell的第三人称单数 )
参考例句:
  • The most savage yells of all came from the schoolchildren. 最野蛮的喊叫声来自那些学童。 来自英汉文学
  • Dimes, dimes, "yells another, selling $ 10 vials of crack. 另一个卖瓶装克拉克的青年也在大声叫卖。 来自名作英译部分
13 weird bghw8     
adj.古怪的,离奇的;怪诞的,神秘而可怕的
参考例句:
  • From his weird behaviour,he seems a bit of an oddity.从他不寻常的行为看来,他好像有点怪。
  • His weird clothes really gas me.他的怪衣裳简直笑死人。
14 evil KiHzS     
n.邪恶,不幸,罪恶;adj.邪恶的,不幸的,有害的,诽谤的
参考例句:
  • We pray to God to deliver us from evil.我们祈求上帝把我们从罪恶中拯救出来。
  • Love of money is the root of all evil.爱钱是邪恶的根源。
15 announcer FVqzB     
n.宣布者;电(视)台播音员,报幕员
参考例句:
  • The radio announcer said it was nine o'clock.电台播音员报时9点整。
  • The announcer tells the listeners what programme comes next.广播员告诉听众下一个是什么节目。
16 security iTdzh     
n.安全,安全感;防护措施;保证(金),抵押(品);债券,证券
参考例句:
  • A security guard brought him down with a flying tackle.一名保安人员飞身把他抱倒。
  • There was tight security at the airport when the President's plane landed.总统的专机降落时,机场的保安措施很严密。
17 imaginary Aazxr     
adj.想象中的,假想的,虚构的,幻想的;虚数的
参考例句:
  • All the characters in this book are imaginary.此书中的所有人物都是虚构的。
  • The boy's fears were only imaginary.这小孩的恐惧只是一种想象。
18 pirate F23z9     
n.海盗,每盗船
参考例句:
  • The pirate chief commanded that the prisoners should be shot.海盗头子下令枪毙俘虏。
  • The shore batteries fired at the pirate boat.海岸炮兵向海盗船开火。
19 pirates cbb038d74db4fd0e22ac501524f92158     
n.海盗( pirate的名词复数 );剽窃者;侵犯版权者;非法播音的人(或组织)
参考例句:
  • Children dressed (themselves) up as pirates. 孩子们假扮成海盗。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • The pirates treated their captives with barbarity. 海盗们残暴地对待他们的俘虏。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
20 frank JibxK     
adj.坦白的,直率的,真诚的
参考例句:
  • A frank discussion can help to clear the air.坦率的谈论有助于消除隔阂。
  • She is frank and outgoing.她很爽朗。
21 mate 2B9xE     
n.伙伴,同事;配偶;大副;v.(使)交配
参考例句:
  • Where is the mate to this glove?这副手套的另一只在哪儿?
  • She has been a faithful mate to him.她一直是他忠实的配偶。
22 rebel VANz2     
n.叛徒,起义者;vi.造反,反抗,反感;adj.造反的,反抗的,反叛者的
参考例句:
  • The rebel army is attempting to subvert the government.反叛军队企图颠覆政府统治。
  • The rebel army has readjusted its strategy.叛军已经重新调整了策略。
23 plank p2CzA     
n.板条,木板,政策要点,政纲条目
参考例句:
  • The plank was set against the wall.木板靠着墙壁。
  • They intend to win the next election on the plank of developing trade.他们想以发展贸易的纲领来赢得下次选举。
24 errands 73b17faa22c4125bdd671cd69e0185d6     
n.errand的复数;差使( errand的名词复数 );差事
参考例句:
  • He often runs errands for his grandmother. 他经常给他的祖母跑腿儿。
  • I have a few errands to do in the town. 我在城里有些差事要办。 来自《简明英汉词典》
25 haunt d57yf     
vt.常出没于,使苦恼,萦绕;n.常去的地方
参考例句:
  • The area was a haunt of criminals.这个地区是罪犯经常出没的地方。
  • The college library is a favorite haunt.大学图书馆是人们喜欢的地方。
26 squad 4G1zq     
n.班,小队,小团体;vt.把…编成班或小组
参考例句:
  • The squad leader ordered the men to mark time.班长命令战士们原地踏步。
  • A squad is the smallest unit in an army.班是军队的最小构成单位。
27 cemetery ur9z7     
n.坟墓,墓地,坟场
参考例句:
  • He was buried in the cemetery.他被葬在公墓。
  • His remains were interred in the cemetery.他的遗体葬在墓地。
28 toward on6we     
prep.对于,关于,接近,将近,向,朝
参考例句:
  • Suddenly I saw a tall figure approaching toward the policeman.突然间我看到一个高大的身影朝警察靠近。
  • Upon seeing her,I smiled and ran toward her. 看到她我笑了,并跑了过去。
29 upward Sj7wQ     
adj.向上的,上升的;adv.向上,上升
参考例句:
  • The birds flew upward.鸟儿向上飞去。
  • Prices have an upward tendency.价格有上升的趋势。
30 volcano MLxzR     
n.火山
参考例句:
  • The volcano unexpectedly blew up early in the morning.火山一早突然爆发了。
  • It is most risky to go and examine an active volcano.去探察活火山是非常危险的。
31 graveyard 9rFztV     
n.坟场
参考例句:
  • All the town was drifting toward the graveyard.全镇的人都象流水似地向那坟场涌过去。
  • Living next to a graveyard would give me the creeps.居住在墓地旁边会使我毛骨悚然。
32 railroad ATIxl     
n.铁路;vi.由铁路运输
参考例句:
  • The railroad connects two cities,namely,New York and Chicago.这条铁路连接两个城市,即纽约与芝加哥。
  • My brother is working on the railroad.我兄弟在铁路系统工作。

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