A little boy went into a store, reached for a small chair and pulled it over to the telephone. He climbed onto the chair so that he could reach the buttons on the phone and pressed seven phone numbers. The store-owner observed¹ and listened to the conversation.

Boy：Lady, can you give me the work of cutting your lawn²?

Woman （at the other end of the phone line ）：I already have someone to cut my lawn.

Boy：Lady, I will cut your lawn for half the price of the person who cuts your lawn now.

Woman：I'm very pleased with the person cutting my lawn at present.

Boy：Lady, I'll even clean your yard and your sidewalk³, so on Sunday you will have the prettiest lawn in this area, San Francisco.

Woman：No, thank you.

Hearing⁴ this, the little boy was very happy.Then he put down the phone. The store-owner, who was listening to all this, walked over to the boy.

Store-owner：Son…I like your attitude；I like that positive spirit⁵ and would like to offer you a job.

Boy：No ,thanks.

Store-owner：But you were asking for one just now.

Boy：No, Sir, I was just checking my performance at the job I already have ,I am the one who is working for that lady I was talking to!

文章大意：

一个小男孩走进一家商店，拉过一把小椅子靠到电话机旁。为了能按到电话按键他爬上了椅子，之后按了七个号码。店主观察着他并认真地听着他们的对话。

男孩：女士，你能给我修剪草坪的工作吗？

（电话那头的）女士：已经有人修剪我的草坪了。

男孩：女士，我帮你修剪草坪只要那个人工资的一半。

女士：我很满意现在帮我修剪草坪的那个人。

男孩：女士，我还会帮你打扫院子和人行道，等到周日你就会拥有旧金山最美的草坪。

女士：不用,谢谢你。

听到这里，小男孩很高兴。接着放下了电话。这时听了所有对话的店主，走到男孩面前。

说：“小子，我喜欢你的态度，喜欢你积极向上的精神，我很愿意给你提供一份工作。”

小男孩回答：“不了，谢谢。”

店主：但你刚刚在找工作啊。

小男孩：不，先生，我刚刚只是在核实我的工作表现，事实上我就是给刚刚通话那个女士修剪草坪的人。"