365个英语简短小故事-111. Dog Inherits Millions
时间：2018-12-31 作者：英语课 分类：365个英语简短小故事
The late Leona Bridges, a New York woman who married into millions, left her mansion 1 and her $12 million fortune to her pet, a little white Chihuahua named Duchess. Although Leona is survived by one son, Wilbur, and three grandchildren, they received nothing in her will.
Wilbur was not surprised. He had already hired a lawyer to fight the will. The lawyer said there would be no problem proving that Leona wasn’t “all there” when she signed her will. No one, said the lawyer, in their right mind could be so cruel to their own flesh and blood while being so generous to a dog that had been rescued from an animal shelter. “The dog doesn’t even have papers,” said the lawyer.
Leona had not spoken to Wilbur in five years. They used to get along very well. Then Wilbur made an unfortunate joke. He was visiting Leona one afternoon. She had just spent $400 at a dog beauty parlor 2. The employees had washed, shampooed, and blow-dried Duchess, and then tied a big pink ribbon around her neck. Leona mentioned to Wilbur how beautiful Duchess looked. Wilbur said, “Yes, if your idea of beauty is a large rodent 3 with a pink ribbon around its skinny neck.” Leona gave him a dirty look.
Wilbur apologized, saying he was just joking, but Leona told him to leave immediately. How dare her son belittle 4 her “baby.” She didn’t respond to any of his emails or phone messages. Leona told her staff to never use the words “Wilbur” or “rodent” in her presence 5. Days later, she fired her butler when he said he was going to “polish the silver”—she thought he said he was going to “watch for Wilbur.” The butler had worked for Leona for 25 years.
- The old mansion was built in 1850.这座古宅建于1850年。
- The mansion has extensive grounds.这大厦四周的庭园广阔。
- She was lying on a small settee in the parlor.她躺在客厅的一张小长椅上。
- Is there a pizza parlor in the neighborhood?附近有没有比萨店？
- When there is a full moon,this nocturnal rodent is careful to stay in its burrow.月圆之夜，这种夜间活动的啮齿类动物会小心地呆在地洞里不出来。
- This small rodent can scoop out a long,narrow tunnel in a very short time.这种小啮齿动物能在很短的时间里挖出一条又长又窄的地道来。
- Do not belittle what he has achieved.不能小看他取得的成绩。
- When you belittle others,you are actually the one who appears small.当你轻视他人时， 真正渺小的其实是你自己。