【故事梗概】
星期六上午，Robbie和Grandpa (Malcolm Stewart)在厨房里说话。邮递员送来了一些信。夹在一堆帐单和广告中间的是一封Grandpa大学时的室友Pete Waters写来的信。
Robbie: The mailman just dropped some mail in our box, Grandpa.
Grandpa: Probably a lot of advertising and bills. Why don't you write to me, Robbie, so I can get some interesting mail?
Robbie: You were right, Grandpa. Advertising, bills, bills, advertising.
Grandpa: It's just like I said, Robbie. Nothing interesting.
Robbie: You won't believe it, Grandpa, but there's a letter here addressed to you, Mr. Malcolm Stewart, and it looks like a personal letter.
Grandpa: Oh, it must be a bill.
Robbie: I don't think so. The return name and address is Pete Waters, RFD Number 1, Chesterton.
Grandpa: You're joking. Pete Waters?
Robbie: Pete Waters, RFD Number 1, Chesterton. You know him?
Grandpa: Do I know Pete Waters? You bet I do! He was my roommate in college. He visited with Grandma and me in Florida about five years ago.
[He opens the letter.]
【语言点精讲】
1. The mailman just dropped some mail in our box, Grandpa.
爷爷，邮递员刚在我们信箱里投放了一些信件。
mailman: 邮递员。近年来由于女权运动者反对含有性别区分的词汇，因此常改称mail carrier。
2. Probably a lot of advertising and bills.
可能是许多广告宣传品和帐单。
advertising: 广告；促销宣传品。
bills: 这里指的是账单。
3. Why don't you write to me, Robbie, so I can get some interesting mail?
你为什么不给我写几封信，Robbie，好让我也能收到有趣的邮件？
so I can get some interesting mail: 这里so是so that的省略，引导目的状语从句。
4. You won't believe it, Grandpa, but there's a letter here addressed to you, Mr. Malcolm Stewart, and it looks like a personal letter.
你不会相信的，爷爷，真有一封信是寄给你的。Malcolm Stewart先生收，还像是一封私人信件呢。
a letter here addressed to you: 一封寄给你的信。
a personal letter: 一封私人信件。这是同广告或商业函件相对而言的。
5. The return name and address is Pete Waters, RFD Number 1, Chesterton.
寄信人的姓名地址是Pete Waters，乡村免费递送，切斯特顿1号。
return name and address: 回信用的姓名和地址。通常就是寄信人的姓名、地址。
RFD: rural free delivery的缩写，指的是（邮件的）乡村地区免费递送。这是一种为偏远乡村地区免费投递信件、报纸的邮政服务系统。由邮递员开汽车递送邮件，每个邮递员负责一条线路。在美国，这种服务开始于1896年。
6. Do I know Pete Waters?
反问句，意思是“那还用问，我当然认得他了”。其形式是把对方的问句原句重复一次，稍加重读，有时改用降调。
7. You bet I do!
这是美国口语的用法，表示“当然”，“毫无疑问”的意思。在这里Grandpa想要表达的意思是“我当然认识他”。意思相近的表达还有“Of course I do! ”以及“ I certainly do!”
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