"Mrs. Sandoval," the messenger said, "the telegram says --"
But now the woman interrupted him. "But you must open the telegram and read it to me," she said. "You have not opened it."
"Yes, ma'am," Homer said as if he were speaking to a school teacher who had just corrected him.
He opened the telegram with nervous fingers. The Mexican woman stooped to pick up the torn envelope, and tried to smooth it out. As she did so she said, "Who sent the telegram -- my son Juan Domingo?"
"No, ma'am." Homer said. "The telegram is from the War Department."
"War Department?" the Mexican woman said.
"Mrs. Sandoval," Homer said swiftly, "your son is dead. Maybe it's a mistake. Everybody makes a mistake, Mrs. Sandoval. Maybe it wasn't your son. Maybe it was somebody else. The telegram says it was Juan Domingo. But maybe the telegram is wrong,"
The Mexican woman pretended not to hear.
"Oh, do not be afraid," she said. "Come inside. Come inside. I will bring you candy." She took the boy's arm and brought him to the table at the center of the room and there she made him sit.
"All boys like candy," she said. "I will bring you candy." She went into another room and soon returned with an old chocolate candy box. She opened the box at the table and in it Homer saw a strange kind of candy.
"Here," she said. "Eat this candy. All boys like candy."
Homer took a piece of the candy from the box, put it into his mouth, and tried to chew.
"You would not bring me a bad telegram," she said. "You are a good boy -- like my little Juanito when he was a little boy. Eat another piece." And she made the messenger take another piece of the candy.
Homer sat chewing the dry candy while the Mexican woman talked. "It is our own candy," she said, "from cactus. I made it for my Juanito when he comes home, but you eat it. You are my boy, too."
Now suddenly she began to sob, holding herself in as if weeping were a disgrace. Homer wanted to get up and run, but he knew he would stay. He even thought he might stay the rest of his life. He just didn't know what else to do to try to make the woman less unhappy, and if she had asked him to take the place of her son, he would not have been able to refuse, because he would not have known how. He got to his feet, as if by standing he meant to begin correcting what could not be corrected and then he knew the foolishness of this intention and became more awkward than ever. In his heart he was saying over and over again, "What can I do? What the hell can I do? I'm only the messenger."
英语高手进,翻译
1.我可以跟校长通话吗?May I speak to the principal?2. 我希望尽快见到他。I hope to meet him as soon as possible.3. 除了我,人人都回来了。Everyone came back except me.4. 他只想出国深造,别无他求。He wants nothing but go abroad for further study.5. 我们当中没有人曾到过国...
英语高手进(翻译)
1. 据说这部电影下周将要上映。It's said the movie will be on next week.2. 以前我从未离开过中国。I've never been out of China before.3. 他降落在全世界每户房顶上,然后顺着烟囱往下爬。He lands on every roof all over the world and climb down through the chimney.4. 他迫不及...
英语高手进!翻译下
2.Email很快很方便,给我们生活带来了便利。写信比Email慢很多,没有Email快,但是我觉得写信更能代表你的心意。Email has brought us lots of convinience in our life. Though writing a letter is far slower than Email, I feel it represents our hearts and care.3.在我的记忆中,第一次上...
英语高手进,翻译句子(请人工翻译,谢)
After a long walk, the old man must be very tired.饭前你必须洗手。这对你的健康有好处。You must have your hands washed before eating. It's good for your health.这本书一定是Lucy的。瞧!她的名字在书的封面上。This book must be Lucy's. Look! Her name's on the book cover.-...
高分请英语高手进,歌词翻译……
Hello Get out the abacus and count this A funny story with a dark twist The target so big that you can't miss me 您好 拿出算盘来算算这 一个黑色的可笑故事 目标大得您无法错过 就是我 Composing And every page I turn I want more I never know the next thing in store could ...
英语高手进,不要觉得看着多,只要你翻译一句
John Bolton: 约翰-博尔顿 美国的驻联合国大使 http:\/\/www.rfa.org\/mandarin\/zhuanlan\/renwuxiaozhuan\/2005\/03\/17\/JohnBolton\/ not by any stretch of the imagination 绝对称不上, 绝对不是..., 绝对没有...by any stretch Beyond ordinary limits, especially of the imagination. For example,...
英语高手进(翻译)
“是的,夫人。”霍默说,小心翼翼地,好象正和一个刚刚给他纠正了错误的学校老师说话一样。他用颤抖的手指打开电报。墨西哥女人弯下腰捡起了被撕坏的信封试图将它弄平。她一边这么做,一边问道:“这是谁寄来的?——我的儿子胡安•多明哥么?”“不是,夫人。”霍默回答,“这是从陆军部寄...
英语高手进(翻译)
1)所有高一: High school freshmen are responsible for watering and weeding the plants.OR 我: During my high school freshman year, I was responsible for watering and weeding the plants.2、高二 收集报纸、旧书、玩具等废物,分类后送回收中心 2)所有高二: High school juniors are responsible...
英语高手进,翻译句子
How long did you stayed in Sydney?【若现在还在悉尼,则用How long have you been in Sydney】2.他今天不是和你在一起吗?he was together with you today,wasn't he?【我觉得这里用反义疑问句式最合适了】3.杭州以西湖闻名遐迩。Hangzhou is famous for West Lake.4. 全年的天气既不太热...
英语高手进(翻译)
5. Her life have to take care of the children.6. They do so only for entertainment and to bring the Christmas spirit of each person.7. Although Santa Claus no longer exists, but today the spirit of generosity still lives.8. Zouqinfangyou they spent the day.9. That night ...