ACT 3-3  “我是小池塘里的大魚。”

【故事梗概】

另Susan和Michelle驚訝的是，Harry并沒有接受那份工作。Harry不想為一個大公司工作，他想要創建自己的公司，做自己的老板。他們不用搬家了，這是個令全家都很高興的決定。

Susan: OK. Now, tell us about your talk with Mr.York. Did you take the job?Harry: Nope.Michelle: What?Susan: No? You didn't take it?Harry: No, I did not take the job.Michelle: But, Daddy. I thought…Susan: Harry, you didn't turn it down because of me…Michelle: Or me?Harry: No, no. I turned it down because of me.Susan: How's that?Harry: Well, I began to think about you and about Michelle, and then I asked myself, do I really want to work for the biggest company in the country?Susan: And?Harry: And I don't. I went into business for myself because I like being my own boss. I run my own company. I'm a big fish in a little pond. I'm not really sure I want to be a little fish in a big pond.Michlle: Oh, Daddy, does that mean we don't have to move?Harry: That's right, sweetheart.Susan: Are you sure?Harry: I couldn't be more sure, Susan.Susan: I'm glad if you are, Harry.Harry: And besides, how could I live in Los Angeles when all my favorite people live here?Susan: Your favorite people?Michelle: Who's that?Harry: The Stewart family, of course.

【語言點精講】

1. But, Daddy. I thought…可是，爸爸，我還以為……thought: 過去時態的thought常表示某一想法是不符合事實的，已被新的認識所推翻；這一句是極好的例證。

2. Harry, you didn't turn it down because of me…Harry，你不是為了我而拒絕的吧……turndown: 拒絕。

3. How's that?這是怎么回事？

4. I went into business for myself because I like being my own boss. I run my own company. I'm a big fish in a little pond. I'm not really sure I want to be a little fish in a big pond.我自己經商是因為我喜歡自己當自己的老板。我是小池塘里的大魚，我并不真的認為我情愿當大池塘里的小魚。go into business: 經商，從事商業。I'm a big fish in a little pond. : 我是小池塘里的大魚。用這句話來形容小單位的主管，他在單位中可以獨當一面，但如果換到一個大單位，可能面臨許多競爭，地位也可能變成幾個小主管當中的一個了。

5. I couldn't be more sure.我再肯定不過了。

6. How could I live in Los Angeles when all my favorite people live here？我最喜歡的人都在這里，我怎能住到洛杉磯去呢？