雙語故事:Come in an envelope(坐信封過來)

【英文原文】

Come in an envelope——坐信封過來

Torrential rainstorms were knocking down power lines all over town. That meant, as a customer service rep for the electric company, I was dispatching repairmen right and left. When one lineman called a customer to get her exact address, he was told, "I'm at Post Office Box 99."

The weary lineman replied, "Ma'am, I'll be coming to you in a truck, not an envelope."

【中文譯文】

　　暴雨正對我們鎮上的電線線路進行肆意摧殘。那意味着，我作爲一名電力公司的客戶服務代表就得不停地向各處派出維修人員。當一個線路工給一個顧客打電話要確切地址時，他被告之，“我就在99號郵箱那裏”。

已筋疲力盡的電線工回答，“女士，我是坐卡車來的，不是坐信封”。

ential adj. 奔流的, 如急流的, 猛烈的

如：Torrential rain washed out most of the weekend's events.
這場雨很大, 週末比賽項目多數無法進行了.

2. knock down 擊倒, 撞倒, (投籃)命中

He knocked down his opponent with a powerful left.
他一記有力的左手拳將對手擊倒.

3. rep 售貨員, 推銷員，銷售代表

如：I'm a sales rep for General Electric.
我是通用電氣公司的一名推銷員。

4. dispatch 派遣; 迅速解決

A messenger was dispatched to take the news to the soldiers at the front.
一名通訊員被派去給前線士兵送消息。

注意：with dispatch表示“迅速解決”；如：

With computers we can solve all problems with dispatch.
有了計算機我們可以火速地處理許多問題。

5. right and left adv. 向左右兩邊(到處)

如：She owes money right and left.
她到處欠債.

6. weary 疲倦的, 厭煩的

I feel weary after such a long journey.
經過這麼長時間的旅行後, 我覺得很累。