【中级趣味阅读】Anniversary Day
Chloe and Kevin enjoy going out to Italian restaurants.
They love to eat pasta, share a dessert, and have espresso.
Chloe and Kevin’s anniversary is coming up. Kevin wants to plan a night out at an Italian restaurant in town. He calls a restaurant to make a reservation but they have no tables available. He calls another restaurant, but they have no availability either.
Kevin thinks and paces around the house. He knows that Chloe loves Italian food more than anything else. He knows that nothing makes her happier. But the only two Italian places in town are too busy.
Kevin has an idea. What if he cooks Chloe a homemade Italian meal? Kevin pictures it: he puts down a fancy tablecloth, lights some candles, and plays romantic Italian music. Chloe loves when Kevin makes an effort.
There's only one thing. Kevin isn't a good cook.
In fact, Kevin is a terrible cook. When he tries to make breakfast he burns the eggs, when he tries to make lunch he screws up the salad, when he tries to make dinner even the neighbors smell how bad it is.
Kevin has another idea: if he calls up one of the restaurants before Chloe gets home and orders take-out, he can serve that food instead of his bad cooking!
The day arrives. Chloe is still at work while Kevin orders the food, picks it up, and brings it back home.
As he lays down the place settings, lights the candles and puts the music on, Chloe walks in.
"Happy Anniversary!" Kevin tells Chloe. He shows off their romantic dinner setting, smiling.
Chloe looks confused. "Our anniversary is tomorrow, Kevin."
Kevin pauses, looks at the calendar and realizes she's right. He looks back at her.
"I guess it's always good to practice!" he says.
THE END
【关键词】
1. anniversary (n.) 周年
2. pasta (n.) 意大利面
3. espresso (n.) 浓咖啡
4. reservation (n.) 预定
5. available (adj,) 有空的
6. pace (vi.) 踱步
7. picture (vt.) 描绘
8. fancy (adj.) 华丽的
9. screw up (phrase) 搞砸
10. take-out (n.) 外卖
【译文】周年纪念日
克洛伊和凯文喜欢去意大利餐馆。
他们喜欢吃意大利面，分享甜点，喝浓咖啡。
克洛伊和凯文的周年纪念日即将来临。凯文计划在镇上的一家意大利餐馆共度良宵。他打电话给一家餐馆预约，但他们没有空位了。他打电话给另一家餐馆，但他们也没有空位。
凯文在屋子里边踱步边思考。他知道克洛伊最喜欢喜欢意大利菜。他知道没有什么能让她更快乐。但镇上仅有的的那两处意大利餐馆太忙了。
凯文有个主意。如果他为克洛伊做一顿自制的意大利餐会怎么样？凯文在心里这样描绘它：他铺开一张华丽的桌布，点燃一些蜡烛，并播放浪漫的意大利音乐。每当凯文付出努力时，克洛伊都很喜欢。
可问题偏偏是，凯文不是一个好厨师。
事实上，凯文的厨艺很糟糕。做早餐，烧糊鸡蛋；做午饭，搞砸沙拉；做晚餐，邻居家都能感受到它的气味有多难闻。
凯文有了另外一个主意：在克洛伊回家之前，他打电话给一家意大利餐馆订外卖，这样他就可以用外卖来取代自己糟糕的烹饪了！
这一天到了。克洛伊还在工作，而凯文则订购食物，领取食物，然后带回家来。
当他准备就绪，点亮蜡烛并放上音乐时，克洛伊走进来。
“周年快乐！”凯文对克洛伊说。他微笑着展示他们浪漫的晚餐环境。
克洛伊看起来很困惑。 “我们的周年纪念日是明天，凯文。”
凯文停下来，看着日历，意识到她是对的。他回头看着她。
“我想练习练习总是好的！”他说。
（完）
