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AMERICAN STORIES

时间:2006-03-06 16:00来源:互联网 提供网友:qwe   字体: [ ]
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AMERICAN STORIES
By

Broadcast1: Saturday, January 10, 2004

Now, the Special English program AMERICAN STORIES.

Our story today is called "A Girl for Walter". It was written by Theodore Jacobs. Here is Shep O' Neil with the story.

We never knew what Walter was, we called him an idiot2. We called it that without knowing if he really was as foolish3 and stupid4 as an idiot. Walter worked for a food store. He carried food to the homes that ordered it on the telephone. When we saw Walter coming down the street, pushing his four wheel5 wagon6 filled with food, we knew we would have fun. We stopped playing our games and followed him. We always saw him coming. He wore the same cloth7 every day. A brown hat, green shirt opened at the neck, and a pair of gray pants. We recognized8 the way he walked too, long slow steps with stiff9 legs. We followed him down the street, try to walk as he did.

Often, we would try to pull his hat off and see how funny he looked. Walter did not seem to be troubled by our words, except when we talked about girls. When one of us asked him how his lover10 like was, or said "Hey, Walter, I hear a beautiful woman is looking for you." He was get very angry. He would push his food wagon with one hand and try to capture11 one of us with the other. If he caught one, he held him close to his face and shouted in a loud voice. "I am going to get a girl. I am going to get a girl." Sometimes, he would say it again and again even when we get tired making fun of him. He would walk down the street shouting to himself. "I am going to get a girl."

Walter did not bring food to our house, mother was afraid of him. She went to a different store and bought the food home herself. When grandmother came to live with us, this changed.

Grandmother liked all sorts12 of people. She was interest in people no one else loved. During her life, she had made friends with men who drank too much, women who ate too much, and people who were just very lonely. Grandmother worked with church groups for many years but finally stopped. I think she could not work with them because she did not agree that it was right to try to change a person.

Grandmother liked people for what they were. If she knew a man who drank too much, she would not tell him to stop drinking. She would tell him how to drink and still be a gentleman. Once, she wrote a book on ten different ways to drink, and still act as if you had not had a drink. The important thing to grandmother was that things were done well in the right way and with control.

When grandmother learned13 about Walter, she told my mother she wanted Walter to bring the food to the house. Mother, of course, was strongly against it. She thought all sorts of strange things would happen. She did not trust Walter. But grandmother simply14 said, "Oh pooh, you are forty two years old, Sarah." And then she telephoned to the people at the food store and told them to let Walter bring the food.

Walter and grandmother became friends. The first time, he came to the house. He told grandmother he was going to get a girl. Grandmother seemed pleased, and told him how nice it would be. She said the trouble with young man today is that they do not know how to win a girl's heart. "You must be honest", she said. Walter just stood there and listened. Grandmother then told him how her husband won her heart. She told him about her marriage15 and the great love there was between them.

As he listened, Walter made funny faces and moved his mouth from one side of his face to the other. When she finished her story, she asked Walter where he met his young ladies. Walter did not say anything.

"I can understand how difficult it is for young people to meet these days." Then she said in a low voice, "If you meet a nice young lady, Walter, do you know how to act?"

"What? No, I don't" Walter said.

"Well, you should." Grandmother said, and she told him how.

Walter and grandmother became very close. Every time he came with food, she had a talk ready for him. It was funny to me, but to Walter and grandmother was serious.

Later, she began to read books to Walter, a little from a book each time he came. The first book was called "How to dress when you go out with a girl?" The next book told how a young man should act when he meets the girl's mother and father. Walter seemed to enjoy readings17 at least he listened. He would stand next to the wall and wrinkle18 his nose. If grandmother expected more from Walter, she never showed it, she continued reading16 to him.

As time past, Walter listened harder than before. He never took his eyes off grandmother as she read. When she smiled, he smiled too. When she was serious, Walter became serious. She read about the problems of early friendship. "How to become better friends and how to decide your girl is the right one to marry."

Grandmother was almost finished reading one day, when Walter stopped her.

"Know something Mrs. Gorman, I have a girl."

"How wonderful?" grandmother answered.

"I really do, a girl like you always talking."

"Isn't that wonderful? Where did you meet her?"

"A friend helped me."

"Isn't that exciting, tell me about her, is she nice?"

"I like her very much."

"Well, she must be. What's her name?"

"I forgot. That's something. I told her my name was Walter."

"Would you kind her and a gentleman?"

"All the time, I told her the nice thing."

"I am proud of you, Walter, is she pretty?"

Walter did not answer. He told again how he met her. It seemed to me that he had to say a thing more than once or no one would believe them.

"She must be nice," grandmother said. "I hope you comb19 your hair and wear a coat when you see her. And you must promise me that you will always be a gentleman."

After that, grandmother read "How to Choice the Right Wedding20 Ring and How to be Prepare for Marriage?" She seemed to be in a hurry as if Walter might get marry before she had finished his education. Nothing mother said helped. Grandmother continued to teach Walter. The next book she read to Walter was "How to love your wife?" Soon after grandmother finished reading it, she died. Just like that. It was difficult to believe. It was only after I saw them lower21 her body and cover it that I knew she would not come back.

The morning after she died, Walter came with food. Mother went to the door. "Mrs. Gorman is dead" she told Walter. "She died last night." Walter did not move at first, he did not seem to understand or he thought she was lying. He then tried to enter, but mother shut the door a little. "Can't you understand, she is dead, no one is here, she died last night, please do not come here again." Walter just stood there, his face white. Mother closed the door on him. She telephoned the food store and told them not to send Walter any more.

I did not see Walter again for a long time, I had forgotten all about him and the days that grandmother had read to him. Then one day, I saw him. He looked different, he was wearing a suit of cloth, the coat was old, and the trousers had been worn22 many times. He wore a white shirt and a necktie. I waited until he walked up to me, and I walked along with him. "Hello, Walter, do you remember me?" He turned quickly toward23 me, then smiled as he recognized my face.

"Oh, sure, hiya, how are you?"

"I am fine, Walter, how are you doing?"

"Thank you, ok. How are you doing?"

"Fine"

We walked a few steps in silence24. Suddenly, I had the old feeling that grandmother was still alive and Walter was still coming to the house. Without thinking25, I asked "How is your girl, Walter?" Suddenly, he was on me holding and tearing26 my shirt. He pulled me close to him and shouted "She is still alive! She is still alive!" His cry was loud and real. He pushed me away from him and I fell to ground, he ran down the street. As I get off, I could still hear him crying until his voice was lost among the sounds of playing boys.

You have heard the American story "A Girl for Walter" written by Theodore Jacobs. It first appears in N.G. magazine in nineteen sixty. Your storyteller was Shep O' Neil. This story is copyrighted27, all rights reserved28 for VOA Special English. This is Shirley Griffith.


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 broadcast NSqyk     
n.广播,播音;v.播撒(种子),广播;(无线电或电视)广播;播送,播放
参考例句:
  • The speech will be broadcast nationwide.这次讲话将在全国广播。
  • That news was broadcast this morning.那消息是今早广播的。
2 idiot FcWze     
n.白痴,傻子,笨蛋
参考例句:
  • Only an idiot would make such a thoughtless remark.只有草包才会说出这样没有头脑的话来。
  • You are behaving like a perfect idiot.你表现得像个十足的白痴。
3 foolish BgnzN     
adj.愚蠢的,傻的;荒谬的,可笑的
参考例句:
  • The foolish boy was laughed at wherever he went.这个愚蠢的男孩不论走到哪里都受到讥笑。
  • Don't worry me with such foolish questions.不要用这些愚蠢的问题来烦我。
4 stupid ttBwD     
adj.愚蠢的,笨拙的,麻木的,无趣味的;n.傻瓜
参考例句:
  • The boy is too stupid.那个男孩太笨了。
  • He must be really stupid.那他一定很傻。
5 wheel egpw0     
n.轮子,周期;v.旋转,装以车轮,转动
参考例句:
  • The wheel must be breaking.一定是轮子断了。
  • Nobody could roll back the wheel of history.没有人能倒转历史的车轮。
6 wagon XhUwP     
n.四轮马车,手推车,面包车;无盖运货列车
参考例句:
  • We have to fork the hay into the wagon.我们得把干草用叉子挑进马车里去。
  • The muddy road bemired the wagon.马车陷入了泥泞的道路。
7 cloth 1WGyr     
n.布;植物;衣料
参考例句:
  • This kind of cloth washes very well.这种布料很好洗涤。
  • We make cotton into cloth.我们把棉花织成布。
8 recognized 00c1aa7e22032b50df53986ffd369419     
adj.公认的,经过验证的v.认出( recognize的过去式和过去分词 );承认[认清](某事物);赏识;承认…有效[属实]
参考例句:
  • I found it flattering that he still recognized me after all these years. 过了这么多年他还认得我,使我觉得荣幸。
  • I recognized him as soon as he came in the room. 他一进屋我就认出了他。
9 stiff 4G8z4     
adj.严厉的,激烈的,硬的,僵直的,不灵活的
参考例句:
  • There is a sheet of stiff cardboard in the drawer.在那个抽屉里有块硬纸板。
  • You have to push on the handle to turn it,becanse it's very stiff.手柄很不灵活,你必须用力推才能转动它。
10 lover IA0xx     
n.情人,恋人;爱好者
参考例句:
  • Every lover sees a thousand graces in the beloved object.情人眼里出西施。
  • Mr.Smith was a lover of poetry.史密斯先生是一名诗歌爱好者。
11 capture xTny1     
vt.捕获,俘获;占领,夺得;n.抓住,捕获
参考例句:
  • The company is out to capture the European market.这家公司希望占据欧洲市场。
  • With the capture of the escaped tiger,everyone felt relieved.逃出来的老虎被捕获后,大家都松了一口气。
12 sorts 10f719982bf268408f9f7ad6c354d9b2     
n.分类( sort的名词复数 );品质;品级;群v.分类,整理( sort的第三人称单数 );挑选;[计算机](根据指令的模式)把…分类;把…归类(常与with, together连用)
参考例句:
  • The bank staff got up to all sorts of antics to raise money for charity. 银行职员使出各种可笑的花招为慈善事业筹款。
  • He was out of sorts physically, as well as disordered mentally. 他浑身不舒服,心绪也很乱。 来自《简明英汉词典》
13 learned m1oxn     
adj.有学问的,博学的;learn的过去式和过去分词
参考例句:
  • He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
  • In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里,他被视为有学问的人。
14 simply mymwT     
ad.仅仅,只是;简单地;朴素地;完全,简直
参考例句:
  • The cake is made quite simply.这蛋糕做起来很简单。
  • The teacher explained the text simply.老师简单地解释了一下课文。
15 marriage FBuxa     
n.婚姻,密切结合,结婚,婚礼,合并
参考例句:
  • They have a happy marriage.他们的婚姻很美满。
  • She is uninterested in marriage.她对结婚不感兴趣。
16 reading YiGyU     
n.阅读,知识,读物,表演,对法律条文的解释;adj.阅读的
参考例句:
  • Children learn reading and writing at school.孩子们在学校学习阅读和写作。
  • He finds pleasure in reading.他从阅读中得到乐趣。
17 readings 24ce06bed20ba5337cf43074075d4008     
n.阅读( reading的名词复数 );读书;读物;读数
参考例句:
  • As part of the celebrations they staged a big,open-air multimedia event,with music,videos,poetry readings,dance and improvisations. 在庆典中,他们举行了大型的露天多媒体活动,其中有音乐、录像、诗朗诵、舞蹈和即兴表演。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • They have compiled a collection of Elementary Readings on the Natural Scieces to help young people in their studies. 为了便于青少年学习,他们编了一套《自然科学小丛书》。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
18 wrinkle WMFzG     
n.皱纹;vi.(使)起皱纹,皱眉;vt.使起皱纹
参考例句:
  • This pair of pants does not wrinkle.这条裤子不会皱。
  • Too much sunbathing will wrinkle your skin.皮肤晒得过分就能起皱纹。
19 comb ibMyK     
n.头梳,鸡冠;vt.梳头发,梳毛;vi.(浪)涌起
参考例句:
  • Don't forget to comb your hair before you go out.不要忘记临出门梳梳头。
  • We use a comb to tidy our hair.我们用梳子来梳理头发。
20 wedding geQzcf     
n.婚礼,结婚,结婚仪式,结合
参考例句:
  • I have to attend a wedding.我必须去参加婚礼。
  • Their wedding was very quiet.他们的婚礼很平淡。
21 lower 2Acxw     
adj.较低的;地位较低的,低等的;低年级的;下游的;vt.放下,降下,放低;减低
参考例句:
  • Society is divided into upper,middle and lower classes.社会分为上层、中层和下层阶级。
  • This price is his minimum;he refuses to lower it any further.这个价格是他开的最低价,他拒绝再作任何降价。
22 worn seCzJu     
adj.用旧的,疲倦的;vbl.wear的过去分词
参考例句:
  • The child's trousers have worn through at the knees.孩子裤子的膝盖处磨破了。
  • My shoes are worn out.我的鞋子穿坏了。
23 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。
24 silence gyXwI     
n.沉默,无声,静寂,湮没,无声息;vt.使缄默;int.安静!
参考例句:
  • She raised a hand for silence.她举手示意大家安静。
  • They drove home in silence.他们默不作声地开车回家。
25 thinking ggzz2u     
n.思考,思想;adj.思考的,有理性的;vbl.想,思考
参考例句:
  • All thinking men will protest against it.凡是有思想的人都会抗议这件事。
  • Thinking is mainly performed with words and other symbols.思想主要是用言语和其他符号来表达的。
26 tearing 4e533368c99778f362dba770ac8eef8f     
adj.撕开的,痛苦的v.撕( tear的现在分词 );(使)分裂;撕碎;扯破
参考例句:
  • Tom, when are you going to stop tearing around and settle down? 汤姆,你什么时候才能不再到处游荡而安定下来呢? 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Look at the children tearing about in the playground. 瞧那些在游戏场上奔跑的孩子们。 来自《简明英汉词典》
27 copyrighted 32701401a789dc816ef17a1195e74c82     
获得…的版权( copyright的过去式 )
参考例句:
  • That magazine usurped copyrighted material. 那杂志盗用了版权为他人所有的素材。
  • Why is it common for students to download copyrighted music? 为什麽学生下载有版权的音乐如同家常便饭?
28 reserved NSczV     
adj.预订的;矜持的;储藏着的v.保留[储备]某物( reserve的过去式)
参考例句:
  • The star has a ski slope reserved exclusively for her. 这位明星有一个专门留给她的滑雪场地。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He is very reserved. He does not say much. 他是个拘谨的人,不爱多说话。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
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TAG标签:   american  story  american  story
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