Mrs.Jones was waiting for an important telephone call.But she had no bread in the house,so she left the baby at home and said to his five-year-old brother,“I am going to the shops,Jimmy,and I will be back in a few minutes.”While she was out,the telephone rang,and Jimmy answered.
“Hello,”said a man,“is your mother there?”
“No,”answered Jimmy.
“Well,when she comes back,say to her,‘Mr.Baker telephoned’.”
“What?”
“Mr.Baker.Write it down.B-A-K-E-R.”
“How do you write a B?”
“How do I write...?Listen,little boy,is there anybody else with you?Any brothers or sisters?”
“My brother Billy is here.”
“Good.I want to talk to him,please.”
“All right.”Jimmy took the telephone to the baby’s bed and gave it to Billy.
When their mother came back,she asked,“Did anyone telephone?”
“Yes,”said Jimmy,“a man.But he only wanted to talk to Billy.”
瓊斯夫人正在等一個重要電話,但家里沒有面包了,所以只能出去一趟,把剛出世的孩子比利留在家里。她對五歲的大兒子說:“我要出去買東西,吉米,幾分鐘就回來?!彼齽偝鋈ィ娫掆従晚懥?。吉米拿起聽筒。
“你好,”電話那頭的男子說,“你媽媽在嗎?”
“不在?!奔状鸬馈?
“那好,等她回來,告訴她‘貝克先生剛才來過電話’。”
“你說什么?”
“貝克先生。請你記下來。貝——克?!?
“‘貝’字怎么寫?”
“‘貝’字怎么寫……?聽著,小鬼,家里還有其他人嗎?比如哥哥或姐姐?”
“我兄弟比利在旁邊?!?
“行,請讓我和他通話?!?
“好的?!奔装央娫捘玫叫〉艿鼙壤拇策?,讓他聽電話。
媽媽回來以后,問:“有人打電話來嗎?”
“有?!奔椎溃笆莻€男的,但他只想和比利通話?!?