61: Watching a Show

The circus finally arrived in the town. Dad booked tickets for the first show on Thursday evening, which was the only show for which he could easily make himself free. The family arrived at the show and was in their seats in good time. Dad sat on a seat next to the aisle, with Mary two seats away next to Mother.

Then, with a blare of trumpets and a banging of drums, the show began. For the next two hours there were up-turned faces and gasps of astonishment, roars of laughter as water splashed about and balloons popped. People laughed and clapped their hands as the horses and the lion tamer performed. The show was over after two hours. "Which did you like best?"asked the mother as they made their way home. "Oh, the dogs"act,"cried Mary. "I had no idea that they could be so clever.

circus 马戏团 aisle 走廊，过道 blare 大而刺耳的声音

trumpet 喇叭 drum 鼓 up-turned 朝上的，翻过来的

gasp 喘气，喘息 astonishment 惊讶 splash 使四处飞溅

pop 爆裂 clap 鼓掌，轻拍 tamer 驯服手 perform 表演

观 看 演 出

马戏团终于到镇上了。爸爸预定了星期四晚上首场演出的票，这是他唯一能保证自己有空观看的一场演出。一家子到了演出现场，迅速地在座位上坐好。爸爸坐在过道旁边的位子上，玛丽和他隔两个位置，和妈妈挨着。

接着，随着刺耳的喇叭声和鼓的重击声，演出开始了。接下来的两个小时里，那里有仰面大笑，惊讶的喘息声，以及水花四溅和气球爆裂时的哄堂大笑。当驯马和驯狮者表演时，人们笑着拍手鼓掌。

两个小时后表演结束了。“你最喜欢什么表演？”回家的路上，妈妈问。“哦，狗的表演。”玛丽叫起来，“我以前从不知道它们会这么聪明。”