Phản ứng theo tập quán

Two men walking in opposite directions met. One asked, "Have you seen...?"

"You've lost a sandal, haven't you?"

"Yes!"

"A leather one?"

"That's right."

"And not a particularly new one?"

"Exactly!"

"Black, was it?"

"Yes!"

"For your left foot?"

"Precisely! You've seen it, haven't you? Please give it back."

"Oh, no. I haven't seen it anywhere."

"Then how do you know so much about the sandal I lost?"

"I looked at the one you're still wearing."

Từ vựng trong truyện

• opposite directions: hai hướng ngược nhau
• sandal: dép có quai
• leather: bằng da
• Precisely: chính xác

It was my first time. I lay down, my muscles tense. I pushed him away and tried to think of an excuse, but he wasn't so easily deterred. He asked whether I was afraid, and I bravely shook my head.

He had far more experience than I did. His finger found exactly the right spot on the first try. He went deeper, and my whole body trembled. I was tense with anticipation, but he was as gentle as he had promised.

He looked straight into my eyes and told me to trust him. He had done this many times before. His lovely smile helped me relax, and I opened up so he could get in more easily.

I begged him to hurry, but he kept preparing slowly to make it hurt as little as possible. He moved closer, deeper... Pain surged through my body, and a trickle of blood seemed to appear as he pushed harder.

He looked concerned and asked whether it hurt much. With tears in my eyes, I shook my head and told him to go on. He moved in and out with the precision of years of experience. By now I was completely numb, though I could still feel him inside.

After a few numb moments, I felt a burning sensation, and he pulled it out. I lay there panting, relieved that it was over.

He gave me a warm smile and said I was the bravest person he had ever seen. I smiled and thanked him.

He really was an excellent dentist. That was the first time I had a tooth pulled.

Từ vựng trong truyện

• deterred: bị ngăn cản, làm chùn bước
• anticipation: sự chờ đợi hồi hộp
• trickle: dòng chảy nhỏ
• precision: sự chính xác
• numb: tê liệt, mất cảm giác
• panting: thở hổn hển

On a flight, the pilot announced that the plane was overloaded and all unnecessary items had to be thrown out.

First, an American tossed out a suitcase. A Japanese passenger asked what was in it. "Dollars," said the American. "We've got plenty in my country."

Next, a passenger called Se-ri threw out a sack. The American asked what it contained. The Japanese man replied, "Diamonds. We've got plenty in my country."

Seeing this, the Vietnamese passenger kicked both the American and the Japanese man out of the plane. An Iraqi asked why.

"We've got plenty of braggarts in my country!" he replied.

Từ vựng trong truyện

• overloaded: quá tải
• unnecessary: không cần thiết
• tossed out: ném ra ngoài
• sack: bao tải
• braggarts: những kẻ khoác lác

A famous bullfighter limped out of hospital. His body was covered in bandages after he had been badly injured in his latest fight.

"I'll have my revenge!" he roared at the fans crowding around the hospital gates.

He walked into a restaurant. The crowd followed eagerly, wondering how their hero would get his revenge.

He seated himself grandly at a table, beckoned to a waiter and announced:

"The hour of revenge has come! Bring me a pot of... sliced beef!"

Từ vựng trong truyện

• bullfighter: đấu sĩ đấu bò
• limped: đi khập khiễng
• bandages: băng dùng để băng bó vết thương
• revenge: sự trả thù
• beckoned: ra hiệu gọi ai lại gần

A surly man walked into a bank and told the teller, "I want to open a damn account."

Startled, she replied, "I'm sorry, sir, I didn't quite understand. What did you say?"

"Listen! I said I want to open a damn account right now!"

"I'm very sorry, but we cannot tolerate that sort of language." She left her counter and reported the matter to the bank manager.

They returned together. "Is there a problem here?" the manager asked.

"There's no damn problem," the man said. "I've just won fifty million dollars in the damn lottery, and I want to open a damn account at this damn bank!"

"I see," said the manager. "And this bitch is giving you trouble?"

Từ vựng trong truyện

• surly: cục cằn
• teller: giao dịch viên ngân hàng
• Startled: giật mình, sửng sốt
• tolerate: chịu đựng, chấp nhận
• lottery: xổ số