Susan 想請自己的老板John Marchetta幫忙，為Grandpa 找點事做。她叫來
了自己的助手Sam “商量”這個想法是否可行。

    Susan ： Sam， would you come in， please ？

    Sam ： You sound like something's bothering you ， Susan. The sketches
for the cover of the new doll book？

    Susan ： That's not it. Please sit down. Sam： Sure. Susan： I need
your advice on a personal matter， but it's not about me. Sam ： You need
my advice on a personal matter， and it's not about you. OK. Susan： It's
about my grandfather. Sam ： What's the problem ？

    Susan ： It won't sound like a big deal ， but it is. I had dinner
with him Saturday ， and he's very unhappy about not working. Sam ： I
thought he was retired and pleased to be living with the family. Susan
： He is， but there's so much energy and talent in the man ， and he
doesn't get to use it. Sam： But what can I do？ What kind of advice are
you looking for ？

    Susan ： Simply this. John Marchetta runs this company. Sam ： He
founded this company. Susan ： Right. John Marchetta gave me my start
here six years ago， when I first graduated from college. He gave me the
chance to use my talents and made me feel more confident. Sam ： Right.
Maybe he can do the same thing for your grandfather. Susan： Or at least
give him some advice. Sam ： Right. Then I‘ve solved you problem. Susan
： I can always depend on you ， Sam. Sam ： I'm glad to help. Shall I
call Mr. Marchetta for you？

    Susan ： No ， no. I'll do that. Thanks.

    「語言點精講」

    1. You sound like something's bothering you.聽起來好像有什么事使你
心煩。這是一種關心別人，詢問別人怎么了、是不是有麻煩了的說法。bother：
使煩惱，打擾。

    2. I need your advice on a personal matter， but it's not about me.
我有一件私事需要聽你的意見，可并不是關于我自己的。Susan 的話有些表面上
的矛盾，這顯然讓Sam 有點摸不著頭腦，所以他說“You need my advice on a
personal matter ， and it's not about you.”這里Sam 重復了Susan 的話。

    重復別人的話是確認對方意圖的一種方式。

    a personal matter ：個人的事情，私事。

    3. It won't sound like a big deal ， but it is. 聽起來不像是一件重
要的事情，可事實上是的。

    sound like：聽起來好像…

    a big deal：指的是something very important（很重要的事情）。

    4. I had dinner with him Saturday ， and he's very unhappy about not
working.我星期六和他一起吃的晚飯，他因為沒有工作很不高興。

    I had dinner with him Saturday：正式的說法應該在Saturday前面加上一
個on. 但是在美國英語中，這個on常被省略。

    be unhappy about：因為……而不高興。

    5. Simply this. 簡單說就是這樣的。

    6. He gave me the chance to use my talents and made me feel more confident.
他給了我使用我的才能的機會，使我更有信心。

    give sb. the chance to do sth.：給某人機會做某事。

    made me feel more confident ：使我更有信心。 make sb. do sth. 是make
加不帶to的不定式作賓補，其他類似的動詞還有feel， let， see， watch， have
等。

    7. Then I ‘ve solved you problem.那么說我已經(jīng)解決了你的問題了。

    solve the problem ：解決問題。這是個常用的搭配。

    8. I can always depend on you.我總是可以信賴你的。可以用這句話來感
謝對方對自己的協(xié)助，這里的“對方”應該是和自己比較熟悉的人。

    depend on ：依靠；信賴。也可寫作“depend upon ”。

    9. Shall I call Mr. Marchetta for you ？

    要不要我給Mr. Marchetta 打電話？

    表示主動為某人做某事時，如果主語是I 或we時，一般用shall ，例如：
“Shall I/we wait for you ？”。主語是you 時則用would ，例如：“Would
you like me to help you ？”。