One of my students could not take college final exam because of a funeral. “No problem,” I told him. “Make it up the following week.” That week came, and again he couldn't take the test due to another funeral. “You'll have to take the test early next week,” I insisted. “I can't keep postponing it.” “I'll take the test next week if no one dies,” he told me. By now I was suspicious. “How can you have so many people you know pass away in three weeks?” “I don't know any of these people,” he said. “I'm the only gravedigger in town.”
我的一個(gè)學(xué)生因?yàn)樵岫Y而不能參加大學(xué)期末考試。我對(duì)他說(shuō):“沒(méi)問(wèn)題。下個(gè)星期補(bǔ)考好了?!毕聜€(gè)星期,他因?yàn)榱硪粋€(gè)葬禮而不能參加考試。我堅(jiān)持說(shuō):“你下個(gè)星期初必須得參加考試,我不能一直拖下去?!彼f(shuō):“下個(gè)星期如果沒(méi)有人死,我就來(lái)考?!边@時(shí)候,我有點(diǎn)懷疑了:“你怎么能有那么多認(rèn)識(shí)的人在三個(gè)星期里去世?”他說(shuō):“我并不認(rèn)識(shí)這些人。可我是小鎮(zhèn)上唯一的掘墓人。”