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Askingfortrouble
(Whydidthepolicemanaskthewritertocometothepolicestation?)
ItmusthavebeenabouttwointhemorningwhenIreturnedhome. Itriedtowakeupmywifebyringingthedoorbell, butshewasfastasleep, soIgotaladderfromtheshedinthegarden, putitagainstthewall, andbeganclimbingtowardsthebedroomwindow. Iwasalmosttherewhenasarcasticvoicebelowsaid, 'Idon'tthinkthewindowsneedcleaningatthistimeofthenight.' IlookeddownandnearlyfellofftheladderwhenIsawapoliceman. IimmediatelyregrettedansweringinthewayIdid, butIsaid, 'Ienjoycleaningwindowsatnight.'
'SodoI,' answeredthepolicemaninthesametone. 'Excusemyinterruptingyou. Ihatetointerruptamanwhenhe'sbusyworking, butwouldyoumindcomingwithmetothestation?'
'Well, I'dprefertostayhere,' Isaid. 'Yousee. I'veforgottenmykey.'
'Yourwhat?' hecalled.
'Mykey,' Ishouted.
Fortunately, theshoutingwokeupmywifewhoopenedthewindowjustasthepolicemanhadstartedtoclimbtowardsme.
Newwordsandexpressions 生词和短语
fastadv. 熟（睡）
laddern. 梯子
shedn. 棚子
sarcasticadj. 讽刺的，讥笑的
tonen. 语气，腔调
参考译文
我回到家时，肯定已是凌晨两点左右了。我按响了门铃，试图唤醒我的妻子，但她睡得很熟。于是，我从花园的小棚里搬来了一个梯子，把它靠在墙边，开始向卧室的窗口爬去。快要爬到窗口时，下面一个人用讽刺的口吻说：“我看不必在夜里这个时候擦窗子吧。”我向下面看去。当我看清是一个警察时，差一点儿从梯子上掉下去。我回答了他的话，但马上又后悔不该那样说，我是这样说的：“我喜欢在夜里擦窗子。”