空大小熊

反斜線</>? 它是用來 做<分段> 的，而分段的時機是在遇到介係詞、標點符號

Chapter 3

A Lesson on Privacy

Mr. Chen and Miss Wei―two Chinese students studying /in America―are invited /to attend a wedding ceremony /for an American couple's daughter. Since they all are /in a tight financial situation, they plan /to buy a gift /for the bride together.

So, they meet and have a little discussion about.

The couple’s names are (Steve) and (Ann), and their daughter’s name is Julia. Neither Steve nor Ann is Julia’s true parent.

Julia is Steve’s first wife’s daughter /from her first marriage. Julia [ came /to Steve’s home //when her mother married Steve], but [stayed /with Steve //when her mother broke up /with Steve].

Chen: Since we are the guests /of (Steve) and (Ann), I ‘d suggest [we buy a gift /for the bride together].

Wei: Indeed. Do you know [that almost all wedding gifts are /for the brides]?

I believe [that’s why Americans have bridal showers and not showers /for the bridegroom].

Chen :I see. I guess[ I have made the right suggestion /for the wrong reason].

So, what kind of gift /would you suggest?

Wei: Do you have any idea?

Chen: Me? I don’t have a clue /about picking a gift /for the bride.

Whatever you say is O.K. with me.

Wei: O.K. But first we need /to decide /on the budget.

(What kind /of price range) are (we talking about)?

Chen: How about /around 60 US dollars?

Wei: O.K.

Chen: I know [this is much higher than (what we generally would do)].

But considering the way Steve and Ann have treated us, I think [we should give Julia a really good gift].

Wei: Yeah, especially considering the embarrassment (your big mouth caused).

Chen: How could I know? I have never heard /of anything like this. Had you?

Wei: No. Actually I also assumed [that they are Julia’s biological parents //when I heard them /talking about “ our daughter”].

Chen: This really opened my eyes. When we hear people //talking about parents and children //we immediately assume [they are talking about biological parents and children].

Wei: It seems [that our idea /of (parents) or (children) is closely associated /with bloodline].

Theirs is a pretty special case.

Chen: Yeah. Who could have imagined [that (Steve) and (Ann) love Julia /so much //they simply take her /as their “ daughter”, //despite the fact [that Julia is not biologically /(related /to any one /of them) whatsoever].

Wei: True! Generally only the biological or legal parents are called: Dad or Mom. At least //that’s [what I thought].

Chen: Talking about a special case. In our culture //when a divorced person marries again, //(his)or ( her new other  half)generally do not call the person’s child //from previous marriage: (my son) or (my daughter).

And the child rarely calls the new (husband) or (wife): (my dad) or (my mom).

Wei: Just look at the way (Steve takes care of Julia),/ no one would ever doubt //if she is not his biological daughter.

Chen: neither would anyone doubt the relationship //between (Ann) and (Julia) /if you listen /to the way (Ann chats /with Julia).

Wei: Yeah. On appearance, they do look /like a perfectly happy family. I wish [I would have a family /like this one].

Chen: You mean [you also are going /to marry someone (who already has children /from his previous marriage)]?

Wei: No, I didn’t mean that part.

Chen: Frankly speaking, I seriously doubt /if I could ever have this kind /of love/ if my future wife also has children /from her previous marriage. Could you?

Wei: I…I really don’t know. This is a tough one. I have never expected this kind /of marriage, /to begin with.

Chen: Me too. We were all raised /to expect a very typical marriage. In this sense, our idea /of parental love is strictly limited /to our own biological children.

Wei: Isn’t this [what we call: a normal family]? Then, what does (Steve) and (Ann’s family) make? Tell me, if you were /in Steve’s shoes, will you treat Julia/ as your very own?

Chen: It will be very hard, to be frank. It will be even harder /after her mother and I were separated. For what?

Wei: Yeah, I know [what you meant]. Isn’t that even more amazing?

Chen : You can say that again.

What would you do /if you were in my shoes?

What does Steve and Ann’s family make?

Wei: Fortunately they did not take your questions too personally. And Ann was kind enough /to explain /to us their wonderful story.

Chen: Why didn’t you do something t/o bail me out?

Wei: me? I was startled too. Before I was able /to think /of anything /to say //you were at it again.

Chen: Me and my big mouth.

Wei: At least we learned a valuable lesson /about love and privacy.

Chen: Tell me about it.

Wei: So now //I guess [you will know (what to do /in the wedding reception)].

Chen: Yeah, yeah. I will put a zipper /on my mouth.