Lesson 2. A play : Tom Paints the Fence

 

(Tom Sawyer is eating bread and jam in the kitchen of an old-fashioned farmhouse. Aunt Polly, a woman of about 55, comes in.)

Aunt Polly : Tom, what are you doing here?

Tom : Uh ... I'm just going to wash the dishes.

Aunt Polly : Wash the dishes? A likely story. You'd better wash your face first. Just look at your face.

Tom : How can I look at my face?

Aunt Polly : Look at your hands then. They are covered with jam.

Tom : I was very hungry, because I ...

Aunt Polly : Because you went swimming. you were absent from school today, weren't you? You're a naughty boy and you'll have to be punished. Tomorrow you'll have to stay home and paint the fence.

Tom : Oh, no ! Tomorrow is Saturday !

 

(The front yard. Tom is painting the fence. His friend Ben looks on.)

Ben : Ha ! Ha ! You are working on Saturday. I won't help you.

Tom : I don't want you to. This isn't work. It's fun, and it's very difficult.

Nobody can do it except me.

Ben : It looks easy. I'm sure I can do it.

Tom : Oh, no ! You can't.

Ben : Come on, let me try. I'll give you my apple.

Tom : All right. You can paint just a little. But be careful. Don't splash paint on the flowers.

 

(Tom sits down under a tree and eats the apple. Other boys come along. They are wearing overalls and straw hats. One boy has a fishing pole. Everyone wants to paint.)

Tom : OK, OK. I'll consider letting you paint, but you have to give me something. What do you have to give me something. What do you have to offer?

John : How about these oranges?

Bob : I'll give you my ball.

Bill : I can give you my pet frog.

Bob : Can I paint now?

Tom : Each of you can paint, but you have to wait for your turn.

 

(After a few hours almost every boy in the town has painted.)

Tom : It's almost time for Aunt Polly to return. I suppose you'd better leave now.

Bob : Here she comes now.

Tom : Hurry ! Give me the brush.

(All the boys go away. When Aunt Polly appears, Tom is painting the fence.)

Aunt Polly : You did work hard this time, Tom ! You're almost through painting the fence.

Tom : Yes. I did a good job, didn't I ? May I go swimming now?

Aunt Polly : Yes, you've worked enough today.

Tom : Thanks, Aunt Polly.

 

Dialogue(1)

Mrs. Kim : Are you watching TV?

Sang-ho : I just turned it on.

Mrs. Kim : Have you finished your homework?

Sang-ho : Not yet, but I don't have much.

Mrs. Kim : I'm afraid that won't work this time. You'd better get busy right now.

Sang-ho : OK, Mom. You're right. I will watch TV after I finish my homework.

 

Dialogue(2)

Sang-ho : I'm sorry I've kept you waiting.

Mike : That's OK. I just got here.

Sang-ho : My class is putting on an English play. We were practicing.

Mike : Oh. What play are you putting on?

Sang-ho : Tom Sawyer. Have you read it?

Mike : To tell the truth, I haven't.

Sang-ho : You should. It's really interesting. I'd like you to come to our play.

Mike : I'd like to.