新版典范英语7（旧版6）2第二篇NoisyNeighbours1MrFlinchInagrim,greyhouseinagrim,greytownlivedanunhappyman.ItwasnothisgreyhousethatmadeMrFlinchunhappy.Itwasnotthathewaspoor,becausehewasnot.MrFlinchwasamiser.Henevergaveawayapenny.(Henevergaveawayasmileeither.)Hewasameanandmiserableman.MrFlinchwasmiserablebecauseofhisneighbours.OnonesideofMrFlinch’sgrim,greyhousestoodajollyredone.ItbelongedtoCarlClutchwhomendedcars.Carllovedcars–andmotorbikesandvansandlorries.Everymorning,MrFlinchwokeuptohearhammersbanging,spannersclangingandenginesrevving.Thewholestreetshookwiththenoise.Ontheotherside,inabrightbluehouse,livedamusicteachercalledPoppyPlink.Eachmorning,Poppysatdownandplayedgrandtunesonhergrandpiano.Afterbreakfast,herstudentsstartedtoarrive.Violinsscreeched,drumsthunderedandbassoonsbellowed.MrFlinchshuthiswindow,butthenoisestillcamethroughthewall.Brum–brum,tootle–toot,bang!Hiswholehouseshookandshivered.Heputhisfingersinhisears.Herappedonthewall…buthisneighboursdidnothear.Theywerefartoohappy.Theyweremendingcarsandmakingmusic,andtheylovedtheirwork.Brum–brum,tootle–toot,bang!MrFlinchraprappeduntilhemadeholesinhiswallpaper.Itdidnogood.MrFlinchlockedhimselfinacupboard.Hewoundoldtowelsroundhishead.Hewroteangryletters,buttorethemallup.‘Stampscostfartoomuchmoney!’hesaid.Eveninbed,heworeahattokeepoutthenoise.Butthecarsstillrevvedandthemusicstilljangled.MrFlinchwasthegreyfillinginanoisesandwich.‘Thiscan’tgoon,’Flinchthoughttohimself.Heevenshouteditoutloud:2NastyTricksMrFlinchwentnextdoortoCarl’shouse.Carlwasmendingcars.Itwaseasytosneakintohiskitchenandputadeadratinthefridge.‘Thatwillgetridofhim!’saidFlinch,andsmiledanastysmile.‘Nobodywantstoliveinahousewithrats!’Atmidnight,MrFlinchclimbedontohisroofand–carefully,carefully–crawledacrossthetiles.HeputhisheaddownPoppy’schimneyandgavealong,loud,‘Hooowooowoooo!’‘Thatwillgetrideofher,’hesaidwithagrimgrin.‘Nobodywantstoliveinahousewithghosts!’典范英语71Thenheclimbedbackintobed.Nextmorning,MrFlinchwoketoaHUGEnoise.Carsandlorrieswerestoppingoutside.Helookedoutofhiswindow.Carlwassittingoutsideintherood,withatable,akettle,aloafofbreadandabottleoftomatosauce.CarlcalledtoMrFlinch,‘Can’tusemykitchentoday!Rays,urgh!Mymumiscleaningup.Shetoldmetoeatmybreakfastoutside.That’showIgotthisgreatidea!Take–awaybreakfast!Driverscanstophereandbuybreakfast.’Justthen,PoppyPlinkcamerunningoutofherbluefrontdoor.‘Oh,MrFlinch!Oh,Carl!Guesswhathappenedlastnight!’‘Igiveup,’saidMrFlinch,withasumgsmirk.‘Dotell.’Poppybeamedwithjoy.‘Lastnight,anglessangdownmychimney!Theydid,Ipromise!’Shefrowned.‘Butthemusicwasn’tverygood!Ithinktheywantsomenewsongstosing!I’msuretheywantmetowritethem,andIshall!OhIshall!’Shedid.Poppystillhadtoteachmusicallday.Butatnightshewroteanglemusic.Shemadeitniceandloud,withlotsofcymbalsandtrumpets.ItwasalltoomuchforMrFlinch.3MrFlinchhasaPlanMrFlinchwentnextdoortoCarl’shouse.HeshowedCarlafistfulofmoney.‘Thedayyoumovehouse,allthisisyours!’hesaid.‘Anythingyousay,chief,’saidCarl,wipinghisdirtyhandsonarag.‘AslongasIcanmendcars,I’llbehappyanywhere.’Carlwenton,‘I’llmoveoutassoonasIcansellthehouse!’Next,MrFlinchwenttoPoppy’shouseandofferedherahatfulofmoney.‘Thedayyoumovehouse,allthisisyours!’hesaid.‘Ofcourse!Ifthatiswhatyouwant,dearheart!CriedPoppy.Shehadneverseensomuchmoneyinherlife.‘AslongasIhavemymusic,Icanbehappyanywhere!IwillmoveoutjustassoonasIcansellmylittlehouse!’MrFlinchwenthomeahappyman–well,ashappyasamanlikeMrFlinchcaneverbe.Hefeltinhisemptypocketsandgulped.‘Allthatmoneygone!Ah,butsoonthosenoisyneighbourswillbegone,too!’Inafewdays,MrFlinch’sneighbourshadsolduptheirhouses.Now,atlast,hewouldhavepeaceandquiet–nothingbutthenoiseofmicescratchingintheemptycellar.4MovingDayMrFlinchwatchedasPoppyPlinkmovedout.Bo-janglewentthepianoasshepushedandbumpeditdownthesteps.‘Goingalreadyareyou,youpest?’hemutted.‘Ipitythepersonwhohastolivenextdoortoyou!’Seeinghim,Poppywavedupatthewindow.‘Suchluck,MrFlinch!’shecalled.‘Fancy!Afewdaysago,Imetsomeonewhowantstomovehousetoo!Weagreedtoswaphouses!’典范英语72Justthen,Carlcameoutofhisfrontdoorcarryingtwoheavytoolboxes.HesawPoppystrugglingwithaharpandwenttohelpher.‘Allset,Poppy?hesaid.‘Allset,Carl!Isn’tthisfun!’Shereplied.ThenCarlmovedintoPoppy’sbrighthouseandPoppymovedintoCarl’sjollyredone.Theyhelpedeachothertocarrythebigthings,liketablesandsofas.ThenCarlhadahouse-warmingparty.HeandPoppysang,becausetheyweresohappy:‘There’snoplacelikehome!’MrFlinchhearditrightthroughthewallofhishouse…eveninsidehiscupboard,evenwithatowelroundhishead.典范英语73
