191. The anal-retentive retailer保留肛门性格的零售商 restrictive-revision
There was a retailer who specialized in selling reversible clothing. Being anal-retentive, his personality was somewhat restrictive, which tended to retard his sales. Every time a customer approached him about his reversible clothing, he would become nervous, his anus would tighten, and he would retreat from the sales room immediately. Things being as they were, the retailer decided to retire from the retail business, choosing only to retain a few items of clothing for himself.
On the night that he made the decision for his retirement as he was sleeping, the heavens opened up to reveal God sitting in his heavenly glory. God spoke in a mighty voice saying, “Reversible Clothing Retailer!” God’s voice reverberated through the heavens. The retailer dropped to the floor covered in golden heavenly light, kneeling reverently. “I command you to revise your attitude and reverse your decision about retirement. You shall continue to sell reversible clothing.” The retailer replied, “But Your Holiness, I am anal-retentive and I retreat from the sales room when customers approach.” “Do you revere me?” retorted God. “Make a revision in your opinion and retract your statement!” The retailer said, “Your Holiness, I know you are all powerful. I beg you to retool my personality and enable me to fulfill your commands.” God replied, “In retrospect, you have been a good man. Your only fault is that you are anal-retentive. As a sign of my retrospective decision, I shall send you a golden retriever. Every time you see him, you will have confidence.”
The next morning, the retailer wasn’t sure whether his revelation was real or just a dream. Nevertheless, when he opened his front door, he saw a golden retriever sitting there with the morning paper in his mouth. The retriever followed him everywhere and gave him confidence. The retailer was no longer anal-retentive, and his reversible clothing sold very well. In addition, the retriever retrieved the paper for him every morning.
restrictive adj.限制性的
retail adj.零售的
retailer n.零售商人
retain vt.保持,保留
retard vt.延迟,阻碍
retentive adj.保留的,有记忆力的
retire vi.退休,引退
retirement n.退休
retool vt.将机械重新整备,重组
retort v.反击,反驳
retract vt.缩回,缩进,撤回,收回
retreat n.消退,退却,隐退处vi.撤退,退却
retrieve v.重新找回,取回,找回猎物
retriever n.能把猎物找回来的一种猎狗
retrospect n.反顾,回顾
retrospective adj.回顾的,怀旧的
reveal vt.展现,揭露
revelation n.显示,揭露,新发明,启示
reverberate v.回声,(使)回响
revere vt.尊崇,尊敬
reverently adv.虔诚地
reverse vt.颠倒,翻转,彻底改变adj.相反的,倒转的n.背面
reversible adj.可逆的,可翻转的,可正反两面使用的
revise vt.修改,修订
revision n.修订,校订 |