ACT 3-3 我無論如何都不會錯過這個聚會

【故事梗概】

在享受老友重聚的歡樂的同時，大家都對Pete所說的驚喜非常好奇，并急于知道答案。

Lillian: Remember me, Malcolm?

Grandpa: Oh, beautiful as ever, Lillian. How’s Donald? [He suddenly realizes that he has said the wrong thing.]

Lillian: That’s OK, Malcolm. Donald passed away a couple of years ago.

Arnold: Sorry to hear that, Lillian.

Peggy: Oh, I’m so sorry.

Arnold: I would not have missed this get-together for the world!

Grandpa: And your little surprise, Pete? You really surprised me by having us all come together.

Pete: You don’t know what the surprise is yet? Come on! We’ll tell you the big surprise.

[They walk back to the table with Pete. Pete pours iced tea for them. ]

Pete: I’ve invited you here for the weekend to help celebrate.

Peggy: Celebrate?

Grandpa: Our fiftieth reunion?

Arnold: No.

Lillian: No. Pete wants to tell you ...

Pete: Now, let me have the honor, Lillian.

【語言點精講】

1. Oh, beautiful as ever, Lillian.

噢，Lillian，你還是那么美麗。

as ever: 一直，依舊。

2. I would not have missed this get-together for the world!

我無論如何都不會錯過這個聚會。

I would not have missed … for the world! : 這是個非正式的說法。當你要表達樂于參加某一活動時，可以用這種表達方式。

for the world: 是強調語，用在否定句中時表示“無論如何”，用在肯定句中時表示“每一方面都，從各方面來看都”，也可以說“for all the world”。

3. I’ve invited you here for the weekend to help celebrate.

我請你們大家到這兒來度周末，是想讓你們幫助慶祝一下。

for the weekend: 度周末。

celebrate: 慶祝。

4. Our fiftieth reunion?

reunion: 在美國，同班同學通常都會聚會。這種聚會一般是從高中或大學畢業后的五或十年開始，以后每隔五年聚一次，通常在6月份，即學校舉行畢業典禮的時候進行。很多人都喜歡和老同班同學聚會，來重溫友誼，緬懷過去。不過，也有人因久不相見怕會感到不自在而回避這種聚會。

5. Now, let me have the honor, Lillian.

let me have the honor: 請讓我有做這件事的榮幸，請允許我來做這件事。這是非常客氣的話。have the honor:榮幸地，有幸地。