365个英语简短小故事-294. It Only Rings

（单词翻译）

Uncle Harry¹ had² no answering machine³ because hardly⁴ anyone⁵ ever⁶ called. Most of his friends and relatives⁷ were already⁸ dead⁹. He had outlived them all, even¹⁰ though¹¹ he smoked and drank most of his life¹². So much for all their talk about clean living¹³, he sometimes thought¹⁴.

The only person¹⁵ who talked to Uncle Harry regularly¹⁶ was¹⁷ his nephew¹⁸ Teddy. Teddy called several¹⁹ times a week, just for a few²⁰ minutes to say hello and see if everything was OK. Some days Teddy had to call twice²¹ or more because Uncle Harry didn't answer the first phone call. When he finally²³ did²² get through, Uncle Harry would²⁴ chastise²⁵ Teddy for his bad timing²⁶. “How do you always manage²⁷ to call me when I'm in the bathroom?” he would ask.

Tuesday morning, Teddy let the phone ring ten times. He then hung²⁸ up and went back to work. That afternoon he called Uncle Harry again. Again, no answer. A couple²⁹ of hours later³⁰, he called again. Still no answer. He called Ira, Uncle Harry’s next-door neighbor³¹.

“Hello,” said³² Ira.

“Hi, Ira, this is Teddy.”

“Hi, Teddy. How are you?”

“Oh, I’m fine, Ira. But I’m a little worried³³ about Uncle Harry. I called him three times today and he didn’t answer once. I don’t think he could³⁴ have been in the bathroom all three times, do you?”

“No, I don’t think so,” laughed Ira. “He does complain³⁵ about that, doesn’t he? Anyway³⁶, I’ll go next door and see what’s up. If he doesn’t open the door, I know where he hides³⁷ his spare key. I’ll call you back in a bit³⁸, okay³⁹?”

“Okay, Ira. Thanks a lot,” Teddy said.

A while⁴⁰ later, Teddy’s phone rang. It was Ira. He sounded shaken⁴¹. “Teddy, I’m sorry it took⁴² so long. I have bad news⁴³. Harry didn't answer the door, so I used⁴⁴ his spare key. He was dead, Teddy. I’m sorry.”

“Oh, my gosh! That’s terrible⁴⁵!”

“I called the hospital, and they told me to call the coroner’s office. The coroner said they were busy, and wouldn’t be able⁴⁶ to make it here until⁴⁷ tomorrow or the day after.”

“What happened? Did he fall? Did he die⁴⁸ in his sleep? Is he lying⁴⁹ on the bed with a peaceful⁵⁰ look on his face?”

“Not exactly⁵¹, Teddy. He’s lying on the bathroom floor with a look of surprise on his face. We can move him to his bed later. But right now I’ve got⁵² to go home, Teddy. I think I might⁵³ be in shock⁵⁴ or something. I don’t feel right.”