走遍美国文本(全集)(24)52687.pdf
Chapter 23:The Community Center ACT I Morning,Grandpa.早安 爷爷。Is something the matter,Grandpa?怎麽了 爷爷 The editorial in this paper has my friend Nat Baker real upset.这张报纸上的社论著实令我朋友Nat Baker 不高兴。Ah!Ill read it to you.啊 我来读给你听听。The old library building on Chestnut Street,“Chestnut 街旧图书馆 which has been vacant for over a year now,已空了一年多was supposed to be made into a community center 原计划改成一家社区交谊中心 to serve the senior citizens 为 Riverdale 的老年 as well as the younger people of Riverdale.和年轻人服务 Due to lack of funds 由於缺乏经费 for the repainting of the interior of the building 用来重新粉刷内部 and for the furniture needed,和购买必需家具 the plans for the community center 这项修建社区中心的计划 have been postponed indefinitely.被迫无限期延期！Hes coming over to talk about it.他就是要来谈这个问题。Is it that serious a problem,Grandpa?这个问题有那么重要吗 爷爷 It is.是的。Nats not as lucky as I am,Robbie.Nat 不像我这样幸运 Robbie He doesnt have any family with him.他没有家人和他在一起。He lives alone 他一个人生活 and depends on places like a community center 主要靠社区中心这样的地方 to be with people-people his own age.和别人交往 But theres the old community center on Elm Street.但是在 Elm 街有一个旧的社区中心 Its small,它小小的 and the problem is that its set up primarily for kids to play.而问题是它主要是让孩子们去玩的 Ping-Pong tables,soda machines,and lots of music.乒乓球 汽 水贩卖机 热闹的音乐。Its too noisy for some older people like Nat.它对於像 Nat 这样的老人来说太吵了 I never realized that.我从来没有意识到这点。Its hard for some older people to take all that noise.一些老年人没法忍受那些噪音。Thats why the new community center is a good idea.这就是为什麽新的社区中心是个好主意。Part of the building for older people,建筑物中的一部part of the building for younger people.另一部分给年轻人用。I see what you mean.我明白你的意思 That must be Nat.一定是 Nat。It could be Alexandra.可能是 Alexandra。Shes coming over this morning to help me with my math.她今天早晨要过来帮我补习数学。Hi,Robbie.嗨 Robbie。Hi,Alexandra.Come on in.嗨 Alexandra。请进。分是老年人用 Do you want something cold to drink?想喝点什麽冰凉的东西吗 Id love some cola,please.请给我可乐。Cola coming up.可乐马上就来来 I really appreciate you coming over to help me with my math.我真的很感谢你过来帮我补数学 My final exam is next Tuesday.期终考就在下周二。Youre so good in all your other subjects.你别的功课都那样好。I just cant understand 我就不懂 why you have so many problems with math.为什麽你在数学方面有那麽多问题。Hi,Alexandra.嗨 Alexandra。Hi,Mr.Stewart.嗨 Stewart 先生。I thought that was Nat Baker who rang the front doorbell.我还以为是 Nat Baker 按大门门铃呢。Dont let me interrupt you.别让我打搅你们 No problem,Grandpa.没有关系 爷爷 Were just having some cola 我们只是先喝点可乐 before getting to the tough stuff-math.在对付难缠的数学之前。Hell do anything to avoid getting down to math lessons,他老是设法想逃避数学 Mr.Stewart.Stewart 先生 I was the same way.我当年也是这样 Really,Grandpa?真的 爷爷 Really.I didnt like math.真的。我不喜欢数学。I wasnt good at it,and I didnt like studying it.我不精於此道 也不爱去学它。But you had to be good at math.但是你数学一定很好。You graduated from engineering school.你是从工学院毕业的。I was.But not in high school.说的对。但高中时不好。For some reason,I couldnt get a handle on it.因为某些原因 我就是开不了窍。Then,in college,I became good at it.然後 在大学 我变得很精於数学。Then theres hope for Robbie.看来 Robbie 还有希望 I cant wait.我迫不及待。You think I can just skip it now and get to it at college?你想我现在略过数学 等到上了大学再学 可以吗 Youll never get to college to find out,Robbie,你根本就进不了大学去探究这个问题的答案Robbie if you skip it now.假如你现在略过它的话。That must be Nat.这一定是 Nat。Sit down,Robbie.Lets get to work.坐下来 Robbie 让我们开始做功课吧。Id like you to meet my friend Nat Baker.我来向你们介绍的朋友 Nat Baker。This is Alexandra Pappas,and this is my grandson Robbie,这是 Alexandra Pappas 这是我孙子Robbie whom I think youve met once or twice before.我想你以前见过他一两次面。Nice to meet you,Mr.Baker.很高兴见到你 Baker 先生。Hi,Mr.Baker.We met before.嗨 Baker 先生 我们以前见过面 Where?在哪 In town.At the hardware store.在镇上。在五金店。I remember now.Right.Hi.我现在想起来了。对了。嗨。Hello,Alexandra.哈 Alexandra。Dont let us keep you from your math tutoring,Robbie.别让我们打扰你的数学家教 Robbie。I know you want to get to it.我知道你想要开始啦。Stay.stay.再待一会儿 再一会儿。I told you.Hell use any excuse to avoid math.我说嘛 他就是找各种藉口来逃避数学。Did you read the story in the paper,Malcolm?你看到报纸上的新闻了吗 Malcolm I did.看到了。Its a serious matter for a lot of us.对我们许多人来讲 这可是个严重的问题。A serious matter.一个严重的问题 It is.Come on out to the patio.的确如此。请到院子来吧 Well talk about it out there.我们到外头谈 Thanks.Nice to meet you.again.谢谢。很高兴见到你。Whats the problem?是什麽问题 Come on!Youll hear about it.来吧 来听听 You can read it in the paper.You can read what people say.You can find it in the paper.Most papers in the U.S.A.Sometimes you can find good news.Sometimes the news is bad.Sometimes the news makes you happy.Sometmes it only makes you mad.But if you want to be informed,take my recommendation.Go to a newsstand and pick up a paper,if you want information.If you want to read the news.look in the paper.If you want an opinion.look in the paper.If you want to buy a house.look in the paper.If youre looking for a job.look in the paper.If you want to buy a car.look in the paper.If you want to see a show.look in the paper.You can read it in the paper.You can read what people say.You can find it in the paper.Most papers in the U.S.A.If you want to know the score.look in the paper.If you want the weather forecast.look in the paper.If you want to see the comics.look in the paper.If you have money to invest.look in the paper.If you want a recipe.look in the paper.If you need a vacation.look in the paper.You can read it in the paper.You can read what people say.You can find it in the paper.Most papers in the U.S.A.You can read it in the paper.You can read what people say.You can find it in the paper.Most papers in the U.S.A.ACT II There is a way,Malcolm.有一个办法 Malcolm。We get our friends to roll their sleeves up and get to work.我们召集我们的朋友挽起袖子来做。Its certainly a good idea.这的确是个好主意。If I could take a look at the place,假如我能看看那个地方的话 I could probably tell what it requires to fix it up.我大致能说出修复它需要些什麽。How much paint,how many hours of work.多少油漆 多少小时的工作量 Thats what I came to ask you to do,Malcolm.这正是我来请你做的 Malcolm。If you would supervise the refurbishing,假如你能监督刷新 Ill find the people to help do it.我可以找人来帮忙。Ill help too,Mr.Baker.我也要帮忙 Baker 先生。I can get some of my friends to go around the neighborhood 我可以叫我的朋友们在这社区 and collect the furniture we need.募集我们需要的家具。Ill help.我也来帮忙。Tomorrow.Yes.Well meet tomorrow morning,right here.明天。对我们明天早晨会面就在这儿 Can we help?我们可以帮忙 Id really like to.我真的希望帮忙 Sure.当然。We might need you to come through with your friends,Robbie.我们也许需要你们多邀朋友来帮忙 Robbie。Not just to go around the neighborhood asking for furniture,不仅在这社区里募集家具 but to help with the paint job.还要帮忙粉刷 Thats backbreaking work and may be too much for us.这可是累人的活 我们可能负荷不了。Ill do it.Ill talk to them.我来做 我去跟他们谈一谈。And tomorrow morning well all meet here to discuss the plan?是不是明天早上我们都聚到这来讨论整修计划 Tomorrow morning it is.确定是明天早上 Come in,come in.Please,come in.请进 请进。乔 进来。Id like you to meet my friend Malcolm Stewart.我来为你介绍朋友 Malcolm Stewart。Malcolm,this is Joanne Thompson.Malcolm 这是 Joanne Thompson Hello,Joanne.Nice to meet you.好 Joanne ：高兴见到。My pleasure,Malcolm.我也很荣幸 MMalcolm。And this is Abe Lucas.You must remember Abe.这是 Abe Lucas。你一定记得 Abe。He ran the drugstore 他经营药房 and used to play drums with the jazz band on weekends.还经常在爵士乐队中打鼓。Oh,sure I do.Hi,Abe.噢 我当然记的。嗨 Abe。Hello,Mr.Stewart.哈 Stewart 先生。Malcolm,please.请叫我 Malcolm 吧。Hello,Malcolm.哈 Malcolm。Sit down,sit down.Have some coffee.请坐 请坐。喝点咖啡。And Ive got some delicious Danish pastry for you.我为你们准备了一些可口的丹麦点心。Wheres your grandson Robbie and his friend Alexandra?你的孙子 Robbie 和他的朋友Alexandra 呢 Werent they going to be here this morning?他们不是今天早上要来这儿吗 I thought so,too.我也这样想。Im surprised theyre not here.我奇怪他们怎么没来。Robbie left early this morning to meet Alexandra.Robbie早上很早出去接 Alexandra。Frankly,I thought theyd be here,but.老实说 我原以为他们会在这儿 但 Its OK.Im sure they meant well,没有关系。我想说他们有心帮忙 but they probably had other things on their minds.但他们也许还有其他的事想要做。I understand you used to be in the construction business,听说你过去从事营造业 Malcolm.Malcolm。I was,indeed.的确如此。I wonder if you would take a look at the old library 我不知道你是否可以看一看旧图书馆 and make sure that it is in good condition 确定它状况良好 so that we dont have to worry about any structural problems.我们就可以不用担心任何结构上的问题。When can I do that?Id be happy to.我什麽时候可以去看 我很乐意做这项工作。Weve got permission to go inside the old building 我们已获准进入那栋老建筑物 during the week-在周 内 Tuesday or Wednesday.星期二或者星期三。Thats fine with me.I can do it either day.对我来说时间都适合。两天 哪一天我都可以。That would be very helpful.你这样做帮忙可大噢。I think the building just needs a good cleaning.我想那座建筑 只需要好好地打扫一下。And a good paint job.还需要好好的粉刷。Then we have to furnish it.然後我们还得摆设。I wish Robbie and Alexandra had come to this meeting.我真希望Robbie 和Alexandra 已经来参加开会。They had some ideas about getting the place fixed up.他们对於怎麽修复这个地方有些构想。Perhaps theyll show up.In the meantime,也许他们会露面。在这等待期间 let me give you some additional thoughts and ideas I have.让我提出一些例外的想法。OK.好。Go ahead,Joanne.请讲吧 Joanne。As I said,mostly the building just needs a good cleaning.就像我先前所说这栋建筑物大部份仅需要好好打扫一下 This place can be developed 我们可以拓展这个地方 with one real intergenerational program.用一套真正跨辈份的活动。Thats an idea I like.我喜欢这样的主意。A community center 一个社区中心 with the kinds of programs that fit everyone.拥有适合任何人的各种活动。And programs that dont leave anyone out.而且是些不排除任何人的活动。Its asking a lot.那需要做许多工作。But we cant do it without talking to the young people.但我们不能在没有跟年轻人谈谈的情 下就去做。Finding out what they want.得看看他们想些什麽。If only Robbie and Alexandra were here.要是 Robbie 和 Alexandra 在这儿多好。Dont be upset,Malcolm.别懊恼了 Malcolm。Well have a chance to talk to them later.我们以後还有机会跟他们谈。Its not like Robbie.这不像是 Robbie 的作为。If he says hes going to be here,hes here.假如他说他要到这儿 他就一定会来。I wonder what the problem is.我不知道发生了什麽问题。I wonder what the problem is.Whats the problem?Whats the problem?I wonder!I wonder what the problem is.Robbie and Alexandra arent here!Why not?Where are they?I dont know.I dont know where they are.Why didnt they come?I dont understand.I dont understand why they didnt come.We need a new community center.But we cant do it without talking to the young people.Finding out what they want.What do the young people want?Wed like to know.Wed like to know what the young people want in the new community center.What does Robbie think about it?Wed like to hear.Wed like to hear what Robbie thinks about it.But where did he go?We dont know.We dont know where he went.ACT III Hi,everyone.Sorry Im late.嗨 各位好。抱歉我迟到了。But Alexandra and I 但 Alexandra 和我 have been busy at work this morning 一早上都在忙 on the community-center project.为社区中心的事情 And we brought someone along who can help.而且我们带来可以帮助我们的人。You remember Charles Maxwell,Grandpa?你记得 Charles Maxwell 吗 爷爷 Hes the editor of the Riverdale paper.他是 Riverdale 报的编辑。He wrote some nice articles on Mom 他写了一些介绍妈妈的好文章 when she was running for the school board.在妈妈竞选联合校董会席次时。Yes,I remember.You were a great help.是的 我记得 你帮了个大忙。Hi,Mr.Stewart.嗨 Stewart 先生 Hope to be a bigger help on the new community-center project.希望能在新社区中心这件事上提供更大的帮助。From what Robbie and Alexandra have told me,从 Robbie 和 Alexandra 告诉我的情 看来 you people are making one big story.你们正在制造一件大新闻。Let me introduce you,Mr.Maxwell.让我给你介绍一下 Maxwell 先生。This is Nat Baker,这是 Nat Bake whos responsible for this meeting,他是这个会议的负责人 and this is Joanne Thompson-and Abe Lucas,这是 Joanne Thompson 还有 Abe Lucas who used to run the drugstore in town.他过去在镇上经营药房。Robbie and Alexandra told me Robbie和 Alexandra 告诉我 what you need to fix up the old library.你们修复旧图书馆所需要的东西。I am planning to write an editorial that I think will help you.我计划写一篇社论 我认为应该能帮助你们。Lets go.What are your questions?我就进行吧。哪你想问哪些问题 OK.Now,I have.first.a couple of questions here.好 现在 我有第一几个问题。Have you talked to the community council?你们跟社区的委员会谈过了吗 And have you had an engineer come in to do an inspection?你们可有一个工程师来做过检查吗 OK,what do you need most of all?好 你们最需要的是什麽 People power.人力。Men and women,young and old,to give us their time.不管男女老幼 请他们贡献时间。To do what?做什麽呢 To help scrub the building interior clean.帮忙把建筑的内部擦洗乾。So that we can repaint it.好让我们可以重新粉刷。And you also need bodies to do repainting?你们也需要人手来重新粉刷吗 Thats right.是的。And well also need some ladders 而且我们还需一些梯子 and some brushes and some paint.刷子和油漆。When do you need the volunteers,你们什麽时候需要义工 and where do they report?他们去哪儿报告 Ive got the council to agree 我已说服议会 to open the building for us on the next four weekends.在往後四个周末 开放那座建筑。How about furnishings?家具摆设怎么办 Are there any special requirements that I should list in the paper?有什麽特别的要求要我列在报纸上的 Yes.是的。Here is a copy of all the things we need to start with.这是我们一开始需要的所有东西的清单。Lets see.Four desks.我来看看。四张桌子。Eight straight-back chairs.Thirty folding chairs.八张直背椅。三十张摺椅。Six table lamps.Three end tables.One piano.六个 灯。三盏灯。一架钢琴。This is a good start.这是一个好的开始。These items shouldnt be difficult to come by 这些东西应该是不难弄到的 once I print the article in the paper.等我将这篇文章刊登在报纸上。This community has always been very generous.这个社区一向是非常慷慨的。I agree,Mr.Maxwell.我有同感 Maxwell 先生。What youre saying is,in order for this center to succeed,你刚才所说的是为了使中心能成功 we need to put together volunteers 我们需要募集自愿者 from the various generations of future users.从不同辈份的未来使用者中。Thats right.是的。And without their energy and stamina,没有他们的体力和耐力 theres no way we can complete this project.我们无法完成这项计划。Ive got it.Now give me some information about 我知道了。现在告诉我 how you see the building being used.你们计划如何使用这栋建筑。Oh,here.On the ground floor we have the reception area.噢 看这个。在一层我们会有一个接待区 Its here,Robbie.就在这 Robbie。Charles Maxwell lived up to his word.Charles Maxwell 兑现了他的诺言。At the Stewart family home on Linden Street yesterday,“昨天在 Linden 街 Stewart 的家中 a group of caring Riverdale citizens gathered 一群热心公益的 Riverdale 居民聚集在一起 to plan the refurbishing of the old library 计划重新整修览图书馆 to transform it into a new community center.将它转变成一新的社区中心。The original plan by the council 议会原有的计划 was tabled because of lack of funds.因为缺乏经费被无限期地搁置。The new plan needs you.这项新计划需要你的协助。You could call it a community unity plan.你可以称它为社区团结计划。It needs your time,and it needs your energy.它需要你的时间 需要你的力气。And it needs your contributions of furniture,而且也需要你捐献家具 paint,brushes,ladders,lamps,et cetera.油漆 刷子 梯子 灯等等。A list of these items and a volunteer form 这些物品的清单和义工申请表格 can be picked up at the Riverdale Press offices.可以到 Riverdale Press 各办事处索取。By working together,透过共同工作 this community can do anything to benefit its citizens,这个社区可做任何造福居民的事情。and we know you will all work together 我们相信各位共同出力 towards refurbishing the old library 去重新整修老图书馆 and making it a new community center.使它成为一个新的社区中心。Charles Maxwell,Editor.编辑 Charles Maxwell。”OK,what do you need most of all?People power.Men and women,young and old,to give us their time.Pitch in,help out,volunteer!Give your time,join in,lend a hand!Pitch in,take part,we need you here!We can do it with your help,yes we can!Well solve our problems one by one.If we all work together,well get the job done.Pitch in,help out,volunteer!Roll up your sleeves,take part,we need you here!What youre saying is,in order for this center to succeed,we need to put together volunteers from various generations of future users.PARTICIPATE!COOPERATE!COLLABORATE!WE NEED YOUR HELP,LETS GET TO WORK!Pithc in,help out,volunteer!Give your time,join in,lend a hand!Pitch in,take part,we need you here!We can do it with your help,yes we can!
