ESL Podcast 189 – Getting Home Late from School

Dad: Where have you been? Do you know what time it is?

Caitlin: I’m sorry, Dad. I lost track of time.

Dad: Lost track of time? We’ve been worried sick about you. You were supposed to come straight home after school.

Caitlin: I know, but Janet was showing me something in her locker¹ when a fight broke out in the hallway. The vice² principal³, Mr. Lopez, finally came out and broke it up.

Dad: That still doesn’t explain why you’re late. And, I don’t want any excuses.

Caitlin: Well, one of the guys in the fight was Dan, Janet’s brother. Mr. Lopez called their parents and I waited with her until they got there.

Dad: I never liked Dan. He’s trouble. I don’t want you hanging around with him.

Caitlin: I don’t. I’m friends with Janet, not her brother. I didn’t do anything wrong.

Dad: Oh, really? You missed curfew last week and now you’re late again. Just wait until your mother hears about this. You’re grounded for a week.

Caitlin: Dad! That’s not fair! None of my friend’s parents are as strict as you are.

Dad: That’s enough. I won’t have you talking back to me. Now, go to your room.


Script⁴ by Dr. Lucy Tse

1 locker   

n.更衣箱，储物柜，冷藏室，上锁的人

参考例句：

• At the swimming pool I put my clothes in a locker.在游泳池我把衣服锁在小柜里。
• He moved into the locker room and began to slip out of his scrub suit.他走进更衣室把手术服脱下来。

2 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

3 principal   

adj.主要的；n.负责人，校长，资本

参考例句：

• When he saw the principal,he raised his hand in salutation.他看到校长时举手敬礼。
• Their school gave a reception to their new principal.他们学校为新校长举办了一个招待会。

4 script   

n.剧本，广播稿；文字体系；笔迹，手迹

参考例句：

• It's easy to identify his script.他的笔迹容易辨认。
• The script is massaged into final form.这篇稿子经过修改已定稿。