搬來又搬去？

遷至新居，并不意味著從此過上神仙般的快活日子。相反，面對更為龐大的開支和繁瑣的家務雜事往往更容易讓人煩躁不安。要更自由還是負擔更輕，初試離家、離校生活的學生哥們，可真要好生解決了，因為美好的生活從來不會就這么唾手可得的哦。

(One month after they move into the apartment)

Justin: Craig? What are you doing in there?

Craig: (Answering from his bedroom) What?

Justin: Then who’s in the…

Grace: It’s me.

Justin:…bathroom? I thought we gave you your own bathroom to avoid stuff like this?

Grace: My 1)shower is broken. Can you please call someone to get it fixed? I’ll be out in a minute.

Justin: Why do I have to call someone? It’s your shower.

Craig: Quit your complaining and just do it.

Justin: What are you， my mother? ①Just stay out of it.

Craig: Hey! I pay more rent than you guys and I have the smallest bedroom. And have I complained once? No. So get on the phone and call someone to come and fix Grace’s shower. I’m going down to get the mail and you better have called by the time I get back.

Justin: Fine. Can I at least finish my lunch first? Oh， great. Whose turn is it to do the dishes?

Grace: Mine. I promise I’ll do it when I get out. Five minutes， I swear.

Justin: ②You are all talk， Grace.

Craig: OK， guys. Our first bills are here. I’m calling a house meeting. ③You are going to want to sit down for this.

(A few minutes later)

Justin: Four-hundred dollars for electricity， that’s 2)insane. ④I know we agreed to split the bills three ways， but you can’t expect me to chip in for that. I’m barely even here during the day and you guys have your a/c on 24/7.

Grace: He does make a good point， Craig.

Craig: True. Well， can you just pay $50 then?

Justin: Yeah， that sounds reasonable. Now， Grace， ⑤it’s no secret I have a bone to pick with you. We said we were all going to have weekly 3)chores and so far ⑥Craig and I have pulled our weight and you are lagging behind. It’s really frustrating.

Grace: I’m sorry， I really am. Starting today I’ll stick to the schedule. Promise.

Craig: You can start by cooking us dinner!

Justin: Sounds like a great place to start.

Grace: You guys are so horrible to me.

Justin: Nah， you love us! I’ll tell you one thing: it’s not as easy as I thought it was going to be， living away from home and school， but it sure beats dorm life.

(他們搬進新居一個月后)

賈斯汀:克雷格?你在里面干什么呢?

克雷格:(從他自己的臥室回話)什么?

賈斯汀:那么是誰在……

格蕾斯:是我。

賈斯汀:……浴室里?我想，我們已經給了你一間屬于你自己的浴室，就為了避免發生這種情況吧?

格蕾斯:我的花灑壞了。你能幫忙打電話叫人來修修嗎?我馬上就要出去了。

賈斯汀:為什么要我叫人來修?那是你的花灑。

克雷格:快別抱怨了，做就是了。

賈斯汀:你是誰啊，我媽嗎?你別摻和進來!

克雷格:嘿!我付的房租比你們多，而我的房間是最小的。我抱怨過一次嗎?沒有。所以，快去打電話叫人來修理格蕾斯的花灑。我要下樓去拿信，你最好在我回來前打好電話。

賈斯汀:好!最起碼能讓我先把午餐吃完吧?哦，太好了。輪到誰洗碗?

格蕾斯:該我了。我保證出浴室就去洗。就五分鐘，我發誓。

賈斯汀:你光說不做，格蕾斯。

克雷格:好了，室友們。我們第一批賬單在這兒。我宣布召開房務會議。你們都得過來坐下開會。

(幾分鐘后)

賈斯汀:400美元電費，真是瘋了。我知道我們曾經說過三個人平均分攤費用，但你們不要指望我平分這筆費用。我白天幾乎都不在這兒，而你們的空調就一周7天，每天24小時都開著。

格蕾斯:他說得有道理，克雷格。

克雷格:對。那么你只給50美元好嗎?

賈斯汀:噢，聽起來比較合理。現在，格蕾斯，我對你有意見那已經不是秘密了。我們說過，每周都分擔家務瑣事的，目前克雷格和我各司其職都做到了，只有你拖我們的后腿。那真讓人泄氣。

格蕾斯:對不起，真的。今天開始，我會嚴格按計劃執行的。我保證。

克雷格:就從給我們做飯開始吧!

賈斯汀:這個起點聽起來不錯。

格蕾斯:你們對我太刻薄了。

賈斯汀:不，你愛我們!我告訴你一件事:離開家里和學校出來住，確實沒有我想象中那么容易，不過，那肯定比宿舍生活要好。

Smart Sentences

① Just stay out of it. 你別摻和進來!

stay out of sth.: not get involved in sth.(置之身外，不參與)。例如:

I’ve tried to stay out of their messy fight.

我一直盡量不摻和他們一塌糊涂的爭吵。

② You are all talk， Grace. 你光說不做，格蕾斯。

all talk = all talk and no action

all talk: sb. not acting on what he/she has said they will do(講空話，干打雷不下雨)。例如:

You can’t trust my father’s promise. He is all talk.

你可不能信我爸的承諾，他總是講空話。

③ You are going to want to sit down for this. 你們都得過來坐下開會。

You are going to want to sit down for this.: used before saying sth. important(用在要說重要事情之前)。例如:

You are going to want to sit down for this. Mom called at three o’clock this morning.

你最好先坐下來聽，媽媽今天早上三點打來電話。

④ I know we agreed to split the bills three ways， but you can’t expect me to chip in for that. 我知道我們曾經說過三個人平均分攤費用，但你們不要指望我平分這筆費用。

split the bill: share the payment between two or more people(分擔費用)。例如:

My sister and I split the electricity bills and pay our own phone bills.

我和我姐分擔電費，然后支付各自的電話費。

chip in: each person gives some money so that they can pay for sth. together(湊份子)。例如:

All three of us chipped in for our parents’ wedding anniversary party.

我們三人都給父母的結婚周年派對出錢。

⑤ It’s no secret I have a bone to pick with you.我對你有意見那已經不是秘密了。

have a bone to pick with sb.: to quarrel with; to settle a disagreement(與某人之間有爭端要解決)。例如:

I have no bone to pick with you， Gill. You are my best friend.

吉爾，我們之間沒有什么糾紛要擺平的，我們是好朋友啊。

⑥ Craig and I have pulled our weight. 克雷格和我各司其職都做到了。

pull one’s weight: work as hard as everyone else in the same task(盡自己的本分)。例如:

Some countries have not pulled their weight in combating the financial crisis.

有些國家并沒有盡力抵御金融危機。