Unit 21 Cuckoo¹ Husband 第21单元

Just after I got married, I was invited out for a night with the boys. 我才刚结婚，晚上就被一群朋友邀出去狂欢。

I told the Mrs. "I would be home by midnight...I promise!!" 我跟老婆说：“我半夜就会回来...我保证！！”

Of course, midnight came and went and I was still at the bar. I knew my wife will going to kill me if she found out. 当然啰，半夜早就过了，我人也还在酒吧里。我知道如果被老婆发现就死定了。

Just as I got in the door, the cuckoo clock started, and cuckooed 3 times. It was three a.m. 回到家门口时，布谷鸟刚好叫了三声， 已经凌晨三点了。

I realized my wife would probably wake up, so I cuckooed another 9 times. 我想老婆可能会醒来，于是学布谷鸟又多叫了九声。

I was really proud of myself to escape a possible conflict². 能够避开一场可能的干戈，我真替自己感到骄傲。

The next morning my bride asked me what time I got in and I told her "12 o'clock." 隔天早上老婆问我几点回来的，我告诉她“12点。”

She then told me that we needed a new cuckoo clock. 她就告诉我得买个新的布谷鸟钟了。

When I asked her why ahe said,"Well, last night it cuckooed three times, said 'Dame³ it,' cuckooed another four times, passed gas, 我问她为什么，她说：“因为啊，昨晚她叫了三声后，说了声‘该死’，再接着叫了四声；放了两个屁又叫了三声；

cuckooed another three times, cleared its throat, and cuckooed twice and giggled⁴." 然后清清喉咙又叫了两声，最后还咯咯地笑了起来。”