Tildy’s Moment
by O’Henry
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Bogle’s Family Restaurant on Eighth Avenue is not a famous place, but if you need a large cheap meal, then Bogle’s is the place for you. There are twelve tables in the room, six on each side. Bogle himself sits at the desk by the door and takes the money. There are also two waitresses and a Voice. The Voice comes from the kitchen.
At the time of my story, one of the waitresses was called Aileen. She was tall, beautiful and full of life. The name of the other waitress was Tildy. She was small, fat and was not beautiful.
Most of the people who came to eat at Bogle’s were men, and they loved the beautiful Aileen. They were happy to wait a long time for their meals because they could look at her. Aileen knew how to hold a conversation with twelve people and work hard at the same time. And all the men wanted to take Aileen dancing or give her presents. One gave her a gold ring and one gave her a little dog.
And poor Tildy?
In the busy, noisy restaurant men’s eyes did not follow Tildy. Nobody laughed and talked with her. Nobody asked her to go dancing, and nobody gave her presents. She was a good waitress, but when she stood by the tables, the men looked round her to see Aileen.
But Tildy was happy to work with no thanks, she was happy to see the men with Aileen, she was happy to know that the men loved Aileen. She was Aileen’s friend. But deep inside, she, too, wanted a man to love her.
Tildy listened to all Aileen’s stories. One day Aileen came in with a black eye. A man hit her because she did not want to kiss him. ‘How wonderful to have a black eye for love!’ Tildy thought.
One of the men who came to Bogle’s was a young man called Mr Seeders. He was a small, thin man, and he worked in an office. He knew that Aileen was not interested in him, so he sat at one of Tildy’s tables, said nothing, and ate his fish.
One day when Mr Seeders came in for his meal, he drank too much beer. He finished his fish, got up, put his arm round Tildy, kissed her loudly, and walked out of the restaurant.
For a few seconds Tildy just stood there. Then Aileen said to her, ‘Why, Tildy! You bad girl! I must watch you. I don’t want to lose my men to you!’
Suddenly Tildy’s world changed. She understood now that men could like her and want her as much as Aileen. She, Tildy, could have a love-life, too. Her eyes were bright, and her face was pink. She wanted to tell everybody her secret. When the restaurant was quiet, she went and stood by Bogle’s desk.
‘Do you know what a man in the restaurant did to me today?’ she said. ‘He put his arm round me and he kissed me!’
‘Really!’ Bogle answered. This was good for business. ‘Next week you’ll get a dollar a week more.’
And when, in the evening, the restaurant was busy again, Tildy put down the food on the tables and said quietly, ‘Do you know what a man in the restaurant did to me today? He put his arm round me and kissed me!’
Some of the men in the restaurant were surprised; some of them said, ‘Well done!’ Men began to smile and say nice things to her. Tildy was very happy. Love was now possible in her grey life.
For two days Mr Seeders did not come again, and in that time Tildy was a different woman. She wore bright clothes, did her hair differently, and she looked taller and thinner. Now she was a real woman because someone loved her. She felt excited, and a little afraid. What would Mr Seeders do the next time he came in?
At four o’clock in the afternoon of the third day, Mr Seeders came in. There were no people at the tables, and Aileen and Tildy were working at the back of the restaurant. Mr Seeders walked up to them.
Tildy looked at him, and she could not speak. Mr Seeders’ face was very red, and he looked uncomfortable.
‘Miss Tildy,’ he said, ‘I want to say that I’m sorry for what I did to you a few days ago. It was the drink, you see. I didn’t know what I was doing. I’m very sorry.’
And Mr Seeders left.
But Tildy ran into the kitchen, and she began to cry. She could not stop crying. She was no longer beautiful. No man loved her. No man wanted her. The kiss meant nothing to Mr Seeders. Tildy did not like him very much, but the kiss was important to her – and now there was nothing.
But she still had her friend, and Aileen put her arm round Tildy. Aileen did not really understand, but she said, ‘Don’t be unhappy, Tildy. That little Seeders has got a face like a dead potato! He’s nothing. A real man never says sorry!’
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слушал читал и в конце не понял смысл в этой фразе
But she still had her friend, and Aileen put her arm round Tildy. Aileen did not really understand, but she said, ‘Don’t be unhappy, Tildy. That little Seeders has got a face like a dead potato! He’s nothing. A real man never says sorry!’
Ну, Тильда расстроилась, что он попросил у неё прощения за тот поцелуй, и подруга утешает её, говоря, что он не стоит того, чтобы плакать, ведь был бы он настоящим мужчиной, не просил бы прощения за такую вещь как поцелуй :)
Но у неё все еще была подруга, и Эйлин положила руку на круглую Тильди. Эйлин не очень понимала, что произошло, но она сказала, «Не расстраивайся, Тильди. Что, мало Сидеровых получили в лицо, как мертвый картофель! Он ничего. Но настоящий мужчина никогда не говорит прости!»
Нет, это значит, что этот мелкий Сидерс, с лицом похожим на гнилую (мертвую) картошку — никто.
Не положила руку на круглую Тильди, а обняла Тильди.
Не на круглую Тилди. А обняла её. То есть положила руки вокруг неё.
Бедная она. Не нашла свою любовь.
Всем советую- читай рассказы О.Генри на любом языке. Это просто класс! Спасибо за рассказы на английском. Я так понимаю, что Вы их немного упрощаете- я знаю все рассказы почти наизусть, Вы убираете некоторые специфические фразы. Может быть зря?
Да, некоторые рассказы в «простом» разделе адаптированы для тех, кто учит английский. Только упростила их не я, а специалисты из Оксфордского и других университетов. Иначе эти рассказы было бы очень сложно читать тем, кто пока не очень хорошо владеет английским.
Рассказы без адаптации (в «первозданном» виде) в разделе «Advanced» и отчасти в разделе «Intermediate — Upper Intermediate».
Спасибо Вам огромное, я только начинаю учить английский, но все читаю на одном дыхании, все понятно,рассказы подобраны великолепно, читала Ваши рекомендации по изучению языка,очень благодарна за помощь в изучении! От рассказов я в восторге,и если не знаю какое-то слово, то пропускаю его и читаю дальше и все понятно становиться,а значение незнакомых слов потом нахоожу.
Всё правильно делаете. Удачи в изучении английского!
Помогите,пожалуйста,как переводится »That little Seeders has got a face like a dead potato»?
Что-то вроде: «У этого коротышки Сидерса рожа как вялая картошка».»
А,веселая фраза,большое спасибо за помощ и за такой чудесный сайт)
Рада, что вам нравится)
Это самый точный перевод !
очень интересный захватывающий текст
Марина! Спасибо за полезные советы и тексты!!!
Рада быть полезной!
Thank you very much for the interesting short stories!
You are welcome!
I read and listen to this story with great pleasure. Thank you.
a face like a dead potato! — )))))))))лицо как мертвая картошка)))
Благодарю за чудесные рассказы!
Огромное спасибо! Перечитываю О’Генри постоянно, знаю многие рассказы наизусть и мне очень приятно читать его произведения на английском — я даже не пользуюсь словарем, слова «переводятся» сами!
That little Seeders has got a face like a dead potato! He’s nothing. A real man never says sorry!’ But I have the offer for you, we should try live together. Aileen and Tildy lived long and happy! The end!
Альтернативный конец? Мне нравится :)
Hmmm, nice)
:)
Понравилось! Спасибо =))
Подскажите, что здесь подразумевается под «Голосом, приходящим из кухни» в предложениях
«There are also two waitresses and a Voice. The Voice comes from the kitchen» ?
Думаю, имеется в виду голос (повара), доносящийся из кухни.
Что интересно я так ни когда с удовольствием не читал. я не могу остановится. очень затягивает. спасибо за подбор рассказов.
Спасибо. Очень интересно и легко переводить!
Супер рассказ. Спасибо
Это какой уровень?
Pre-Intermediate
Рассказ отличный. Поняла легко Слушаю несколько раз каждый текст , выписываю слова , которые не знаю и понравившиеся полезные фразы. Получаю удовольствие от изучения языка. Огромное спасибо.
Отлично, продолжайте в том же духе!
Marina, thank you for your hard work. It is very helpful in learning English language. I am glad that there are many O’Henry’s stories in your collection.
Hi, Vera! Nice to know you like the website. O’Henry is the best!