The Community Center ACT I
ACT I
Morning, Grandpa. 早安,爺爺。
Is something the matter, Grandpa? 怎么了，爺爺？
The editorial in this paper has my friend Nat Baker real upset. 這張報紙上的社論著實令我的朋友Nat Baker不高興。
Ah! I'll read it to you. 啊！我來讀給你聽聽。
"The old library building on Chestnut Street, “Chestnut街的老圖書館，
which has been vacant for over a year now, 已空了一年多，
was supposed to be made into a community center 原計劃改成一座社區(qū)交誼中心
to serve the senior citizens 為Riverdale的老年人
as well as the younger people of Riverdale. 和年輕人服務(wù)。
Due to lack of funds 由于缺乏經(jīng)費
for the repainting of the interior of the building 用來重新粉刷內(nèi)部
and for the furniture needed, 和購買必需家具，
the plans for the community center 這項修建社區(qū)中心計劃
have been postponed indefinitely." 被迫無限期延遲！”
He's coming over to talk about it. 他就是要來談這個問題。
Is it that serious a problem, Grandpa? 這個問題有那么重要嗎，爺爺？
It is. 是的。
Nat's not as lucky as I am, Robbie. Nat不像我這樣幸運，Robbie。
He doesn't have any family with him. 他沒有家人和他在一起。
He lives alone 他一個人生活
and depends on places like a community center 主要靠社區(qū)中心這樣的地方
to be with people--people his own age. 和別人交往。
But there's the old community center on Elm Street. 但是在Elm街有一個舊的社區(qū)中心。
It's small, 它小小的，
and the problem is that it's set up primarily for kids to play. 而問題是它主要是讓孩子們?nèi)ネ娴摹?
Ping-Pong tables, soda machines, and lots of music. 乒乓球，汽水販賣機，熱鬧的音樂。
It's too noisy for some older people like Nat. 它對于像Nat這樣的老人來說太吵了。
I never realized that. 我從來沒有意識到這點。
It's hard for some older people to take all that noise. 一些老年人沒法忍受那些噪音。
That's why the new community center is a good idea. 這就是為什么新的社區(qū)中心是個好主意。
Part of the building for older people, 建筑物中的一些由老年人用，
part of the building for younger people. 另一部分給年輕人用。
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 。
She's coming over this morning to help me with my math. 她今天早晨要來幫我補習(xí)數(shù)學(xué)。
Hi, Robbie. 嗨，Robbie。
Hi, Alexandra. Come on in. 嗨，Alexandra。請進。
Do you want something cold to drink? 想喝點什么涼的東西嗎？
I'd love some cola, please. 請給我可樂。
Cola coming up. 可樂馬上就來。
I really appreciate you coming over to help me with my math. 我真的很感謝你過來幫我補習(xí)數(shù)學(xué)。
My final exam is next Tuesday. 期終考試就在下周二。
You're so good in all your other subjects. 你別的功課都那樣好。
I just can't understand 我就不懂
why you have so many problems with math. 為什么你在數(shù)學(xué)方面有那么多問題。
Hi, Alexandra. 嗨，Alexandra。
Hi, Mr. Stewart. 嗨，Stewart 先生。
I thought that was Nat Baker who rang the front doorbell. 我還以為是Nat Baker按大門鈴呢。
Don't let me interrupt you. 別讓我打攪你們。
No problem, Grandpa. 沒有關(guān)系，爺爺。
We're just having some cola 我們只是先喝點可樂
before getting to the tough stuff--math. 在對付難纏的數(shù)學(xué)之前。
He'll do anything to avoid getting down to math lessons, 他老是設(shè)法想逃避數(shù)學(xué)，
Mr. Stewart. Stewart 先生。
I was the same way. 我當(dāng)年也是這樣。
Really, Grandpa? 真的，爺爺？
Really. I didn't like math. 真的。我不喜歡數(shù)學(xué)。
I wasn't good at it, and I didn't like studying it. 我不精于此道，也不愛去學(xué)它。
But you had to be good at math. 但是你數(shù)學(xué)一科很好。
You graduated from engineering school. 你是從工學(xué)院畢業(yè)的。
I was. But not in high school. 說的對。但高中時不好。
For some reason, I couldn't get a handle on it. 因為某些原因，我就是開不了竅。
Then, in college, I became good at it. 然而，在大學(xué)，我變得很精于數(shù)學(xué)。
Then there's hope for Robbie. 看來Robbie還有希望。
I can't wait. 我迫不及待。
