Susan 想请自己的老板John Marchetta帮忙，为Grandpa 找点事做。她叫来
了自己的助手Sam “商量”这个想法是否可行。

    Susan ： Sam， would you come in， please ？

    Sam ： You sound like something's bothering you ， Susan. The sketches
for the cover of the new doll book？

    Susan ： That's not it. Please sit down. Sam： Sure. Susan： I need
your advice on a personal matter， but it's not about me. Sam ： You need
my advice on a personal matter， and it's not about you. OK. Susan： It's
about my grandfather. Sam ： What's the problem ？

    Susan ： It won't sound like a big deal ， but it is. I had dinner
with him Saturday ， and he's very unhappy about not working. Sam ： I
thought he was retired and pleased to be living with the family. Susan
： He is， but there's so much energy and talent in the man ， and he
doesn't get to use it. Sam： But what can I do？ What kind of advice are
you looking for ？

    Susan ： Simply this. John Marchetta runs this company. Sam ： He
founded this company. Susan ： Right. John Marchetta gave me my start
here six years ago， when I first graduated from college. He gave me the
chance to use my talents and made me feel more confident. Sam ： Right.
Maybe he can do the same thing for your grandfather. Susan： Or at least
give him some advice. Sam ： Right. Then I‘ve solved you problem. Susan
： I can always depend on you ， Sam. Sam ： I'm glad to help. Shall I
call Mr. Marchetta for you？

    Susan ： No ， no. I'll do that. Thanks.

    「语言点精讲」

    1. You sound like something's bothering you.听起来好像有什么事使你
心烦。这是一种关心别人，询问别人怎么了、是不是有麻烦了的说法。bother：
使烦恼，打扰。

    2. I need your advice on a personal matter， but it's not about me.
我有一件私事需要听你的意见，可并不是关于我自己的。Susan 的话有些表面上
的矛盾，这显然让Sam 有点摸不着头脑，所以他说“You need my advice on a
personal matter ， and it's not about you.”这里Sam 重复了Susan 的话。

    重复别人的话是确认对方意图的一种方式。

    a personal matter ：个人的事情，私事。

    3. It won't sound like a big deal ， but it is. 听起来不像是一件重
要的事情，可事实上是的。

    sound like：听起来好像…

    a big deal：指的是something very important（很重要的事情）。

    4. I had dinner with him Saturday ， and he's very unhappy about not
working.我星期六和他一起吃的晚饭，他因为没有工作很不高兴。

    I had dinner with him Saturday：正式的说法应该在Saturday前面加上一
个on. 但是在美国英语中，这个on常被省略。

    be unhappy about：因为……而不高兴。

    5. Simply this. 简单说就是这样的。

    6. He gave me the chance to use my talents and made me feel more confident.
他给了我使用我的才能的机会，使我更有信心。

    give sb. the chance to do sth.：给某人机会做某事。

    made me feel more confident ：使我更有信心。 make sb. do sth. 是make
加不带to的不定式作宾补，其他类似的动词还有feel， let， see， watch， have
等。

    7. Then I ‘ve solved you problem.那么说我已经解决了你的问题了。

    solve the problem ：解决问题。这是个常用的搭配。

    8. I can always depend on you.我总是可以信赖你的。可以用这句话来感
谢对方对自己的协助，这里的“对方”应该是和自己比较熟悉的人。

    depend on ：依靠；信赖。也可写作“depend upon ”。

    9. Shall I call Mr. Marchetta for you ？

    要不要我给Mr. Marchetta 打电话？

    表示主动为某人做某事时，如果主语是I 或we时，一般用shall ，例如：
“Shall I/we wait for you ？”。主语是you 时则用would ，例如：“Would
you like me to help you ？”。