My husband asked me to go to the post office to mail his resume in anticipation¹ of a job interview. He instructed me to send it the fastest way possible.

Struck by the urgency in his voice, I grabbed a handful of change and dashed out the door. Arriving at the post office, I rushed to the counter and breathlessly explained to the clerk that my envelope had to be delivered immediately . He casually² weighed the envelope and said it would cost $ 10.03.I fumbled⁴ through my pockets and tallied⁵ up my coins. "But I don't have $ 10. 03, " I said. He punched some more buttons and said, "Okay, that will be $ 7. 40, ma am.

Once more I said in dismay, "Sorry, I don't have $ 7.40.

"Well," he sighed, "exactly how much do you have?"I meekly⁶ answered, "I have exactly $ 2. 15, sir."With that, he yelled over his shoulder to a coworker, "Hey, Charlie, get the pigeon ready.

Notes:

(1) resume n. 履历

(2) anticipation n.期望

(3) dash v.急奔；猛冲

(4) breathlessly adv.上气不接下气地

(5) casually adv.漫不经心地

(6) fumble³ v.摸索

(7) tally⁷ up算上

(8) punch v.敲；击

(9) dismay n.困惑；茫然

(10) meekly adv.谦和地