今天Larry 和李华要到朋友Bob 家里，Bob 因为要搬家，所以把他的立体音
响卖给Larry.今天李华会学到两个常用语：dibs和shotgun.

    LL： I'm really glad that Bob gave me first dibs on his stereo. He
knows I've always admired it， but I couldn't afford to buy a new one
just like it. LH：我知道你一直很喜欢Bob 的立体音响，可是又买不起全新的。

    现在他要卖给你，怪不得你那么兴奋。哎，可是你说Bob 给了你first dibs，
那是什么意思？是不是说Bob 第一个先卖给你？

    LL： Something like that. To have first dibs on something is to have
the opportunity to decide if you want it before anyone else. LH ：所以
我真猜对了。First dibs就是有优先的机会来决定是不是要买。Bob 让你优先决
定是否要买他的音响设备，也就是给了你first dibs.

    LL： Exactly. For example ： I know that you like my car， so if I
ever decided to sell it ， I would give you first dibs. LH：真的吗？我
可以有优先买你车子的权利？Larry 你真好！这样吧，我记得你爱吃我做的蛋糕，
下回我再做的时候，你可以优先享用，you'll get first dibs on it.

    LL： I like the sound of that. While we're on the subject ， "dibs"
has another use ， too. If I say I have dibs on the last piece of cake，
then that means that I claim it for myself. LH：噢！Dibs还可以用来表示
某种要求或权利。好，那我先说了，这块糖是我的。I have dibs on this candy
bar.

    LL： Hey， that's the last one！ We won't be able to get lunch until
after we bring the stereo back to my apartment. Can't you share it with
me？

    LH：嘿！我已经说了，I have dibs on it.这块糖就是我的。

    LL： That's not very generous. You know I would share it with you.
LH：好啦！好啦！我是开玩笑的。你可以和我一起分这块糖。

    LL： Thank you. You can have first dibs on the next candy bar you
find. LH：对了，Bob 还有那么多东西要卖。他有没有也让你优先决定呢？

    LL： He gave me first dibs on some of his furniture ， too， but I
don't really need anything right now. Well， we're here. Let's go get
my new stereo.

    ******

    LL： I'm sorry， Li Hua ， but you don't get to ride shotgun on the
way home. I need you to sit in back and hold the stereo. LH ：你要我坐
在后座抱住你的音响啊？可以啊！可是你怎么说我不能坐shotgun ？我本来就没
想拿枪呀！

    LL： You don't get to ride shotgun means that you can't sit in the
front passenger seat. The front passenger seat is often referred to as
"shotgun." LH ：原来shotgun 就是指前面驾驶座旁的座位啊？好奇怪！为什么
要用“枪”来形容一个座位呢？

    LL： Have you ever seen an old Western movie about cowboys and Indians？

    LH：西部电影，我当然看过啊！只是我觉得西部电影都挺暴力的，我不是很
喜欢。

    LL： In the old days， it wasn't very safe， so there was often a
person who sat next to the driver of the horse-drawn carriage. This person
carried a shotgun to protect the carriage. LH ：原来如此。过去由于不安
全，所以为了保护马车的安全，坐在马车前排的人手上都拿着枪。前排那个座位
就被称为shotgun.真有意思！

    LL： Exactly. Do you mind if you can't ride shotgun on the way home？

    LH：没问题！我可以坐在后面保护你的音响。反正我经常坐在前座，偶尔换
换坐后面，也没关系！

    LL： Thanks ， Li Hua. From now on， you always have first dibs on
shotgun ， no matter who else is riding with us. LH ： Larry！你说了就
得算数哟！以后不管跟谁一起坐车，我都可以有优先权坐在前座。太好了！Larry
，我们可不可以去吃午饭？那半块糖根本不够，我好饿噢！

    LL： I agree. Let's go.