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　　homer sat chewing the dry candy while the mexican woman talked. "it is our own candy," she said, "from cactus. i made it for my juanito when he come home, but you eat it. you are my boy, too."
　　now suddenly she began to sob, holding herself in as if weeping were a disgrace. homer wanted to get up and run, but he knew he would stay. he even thought he might stay the rest of his life. he just didn't know what else to do to try to make the woman less unhappy, and if she had asked him to take the place of her son, he would not have been able to refuse, BECause he would not have known how. he got to his feet, as if by standing he meant to begin correcting what could not be corrected and then he knew the foolishness of this intention and became more awkward than ever. in his heart he was saying over and over again, "what can i do? what the hell can i do? i'm only the messenger."

　　new words

　　soften　
　　v.　(cause to) become soft(er) or gentle （使）软化；（使）温和
　　tragic　
　　a.　very sad, unfortunate; of or related to tragedy 悲惨的；悲剧的
　　messenger
　　n.　a person employed to deliver telegrams, letters or parcels 送信人，电报投递员
　　gently
　　ad. softly 轻轻地
　　immediately　
　　a.　at once
　　immediate
　　a.
　　eager　
　　a.　marked by strong interest or impatient desire 热切的，渴望的
　　hinge　
　　n.　铰链
　　whoever
　　pron. no matter who 无论谁，不管谁
　　saintly
　　a.　like a saint; very holy 像圣徒一样的；圣洁的
　　implication　
　　n.　含义
　　imply　
　　vt.
　　shock　
　　vt. cause unpleasant or angry surprise to (sb.)　使（某人）震惊
　　deliver
　　vt. take (sth.) to the place where it esp. sth. bad 交付，递送
　　awkward
　　a.　uncomfortable　尴尬的
　　responsible
　　a.　having done or been the cause of esp. sth. bad（应）负责的
　　mexican
　　n %26amp; a. 墨西哥人；墨西哥（人）的
　　extend　
　　vt. hold out 伸出
　　pause　
　　vi. stop for a short time　暂停，中止
　　interrupt
　　vt. stop (sb. speaking) by breaking in 打断（某人讲话）
　　nervous　　　　　　
　　a.　神经质的；紧张的
　　ma'am　
　　madam (used in direct address)　夫人，太太，小姐
　　smooth　
　　vt. make smooth or smoother　把...弄平
　　department
　　n.　部门；系
　　swiftly
　　ad. rapidly, quickly　快速地；敏捷地
　　swift
　　a.
　　chocolate 　　　　
　　n.　巧克力（糖）
　　chew　　
　　vt. crush (food) with the teeth 咀嚼
　　cactus　
　　n.　仙人掌
　　sob　　
　　vi. cry with short, quick breaths 啜泣；呜咽
　　disgrace
　　n.　shame 耻辱；丢脸的人（或事）
　　unhappy
　　a.　not happy
　　hell　　
　　n.　地狱

　　phrases %26amp; expressions

　　hear of　　
　　have knowledge of or receive information about 听到，听说
　　be responsible for
　　be the cause of　应对...负责的
　　come out (with)　　
　　speak out 大声地说，清楚地说
　　smooth out　
　　make smooth(er)
　　hold oneself in　
　　control one's feelings
　　take the place of　
　　act or be used instead of, replace 代替，取代
　　get to one's feel　
　　stand up
　　over and over again
　　very often, repeatedly 反复地，再三地

　　proper names

　　rosa sandoval　　
　　罗莎.桑多瓦尔
　　homer
　　霍默
　　mexico city
　　墨西哥城（墨西哥首都）
　　juan domingo
　　胡安 多明哥
　　the war department
　　（美国）陆军部（旧称）
　　juanito　　　　　
　　胡安尼特（juan的昵称）