Chapter TwoSoapy is doomed to failure
Soapy traveled five blocks before he gained enough courage to try again. This time, he found an opportunity that he was sure would end in success. A young, pretty woman was standing before a shopwindow looking at a display of coffee mugs and silverware with great interest.1
Just two meters away, a large policeman with a stern expression leaned against the wall of the building.
Soapy’s plan was to bother the lady and be arrested for harassment. The woman was obviously from the respectable middle class; he would make himself look like a drunken bum. The strict cop would surely arrest him, and soon he would be on his way to a warm cell on the Island with a guaranteed three meals a day.2
Soapy straightened his tie and arranged his pants so that they were easily seen as old and ragged.3 He set his face in an aggressive expression and walked up to the young woman.
Key Words
be doomed to (idiom): bị định đoạt
gain (v): tăng lên
courage (n): dũng cảm
opportunity (n): cơ hội
end in (v): kết thúc trong
silverware (n): đồ bằng bạc
mug (n): cái cốc
stern (adj): nghiêm khắc
expression (n): biểu hiện
bother (v): gây phiền toái
harassment (n): sự quấy rối
obviously (adv): rõ ràng
respectable (adj): đáng kính
middle class: tầng lớp trung lưu
num (n): kẻ vô công rồi nghề
cell (n): phòng ngục
guaranteed (adj): được bảo đảm
straighten (v): chỉnh lại
pants (n): quần tây dài
aggressive (adj): hung hăng
Key Sentences
1 A young, pretty woman was standing before a shopwindow looking at a display of coffee mugs and silverware with great interest.
2 The strict cop would surely arrest him, and soon he would be on his way to a warm cell on the Island with a guaranteed three meals a day.
3 Soapy straightened his tie and arranged his pants so that they were easily seen as old and ragged.
Soapy tried to make eye contact and cleared his throat loudly before speaking. He used different come-on lines with the woman, some of which were almost offensive but not quite.1Out of the corner of his eye, Soapy noticed that the policeman was looking at him steadily.2 The young woman moved away a couple of steps and continued to look at the mugs on display. Soapy followed her, boldly standing right next to her. He said, “Oh come on there, Julie. Don’t you want to come and get a drink with me?”
The policeman was still looking. The harassed young woman only had to raise a finger to call the policeman over, and then Soapy would be on his way to the Island.3 Already, he could feel the warmth of the police station. Suddenly, the young woman faced him and caught his coat sleeve in her hand.
“Sure, Mike,” she said joyfully, “if you’ll buy me a few drinks. I would have spoken to you sooner, but the cop was watching.”
Key Words
make eye contact (idiom): nhìn
clear one’s throat (idiom): hắng giọng
come-on (n): lời mời gọi
line (n): cách thức, phương pháp
offensive (adj): kinh tởm
steadily (adv): vững vàng, đều đặn
continue (v): tiếp tục
boldly (adv): liều lĩnh
harassed (adj): bị quấy rối
warmth (n): sự ấm áp, sự nóng ấm
police station (n): đồn cảnh sát
face (v): đối mặt
sleeve (n): tay áo
joyfully (adv): đầy thích thú
Key Sentences
1 He used different come-on lines with the woman, some of which were almost offensive but not quite.
2 Out of the corner of his eye, Soapy noticed that the policeman was looking at him steadily.
3 The harassed young woman only had to raise a finger to call the policeman over, and then Soapy would be on his way to the Island.
With the young woman clinging to his arm as ivy clings to an oak tree, Soapy walked past the policeman.1 He was overcome with gloom. He seemed doomed to cold, lonely liberty.
At the next corner, he shook the young woman’s hand off his arm and ran. He halted in a district where he knew people were more carefree and lively at night.2 Women in furs and men in nice winter coats moved happily in the winter air.
A sudden fear overcame Soapy. He wondered if some magic spell had made him immune to arrest.3 This sudden thought made him panic a little. At the same time, he came upon another policeman who was standing in front of a brightly-lit theater. Soapy immediately had the idea of being arrested for “disorderly conduct”.
On the sidewalk, Soapy began to yell drunken gibberish at the top of his harsh voice. He danced, howled, shouted crazily, and tried to disturb passers-by as best as he could.4
Key Words
oak tree (n): cây sồi
be overcome with (idiom): vượt qua
gloom (n): vẻ u sầu
liberty (n): sự tự do
shake (v): lúc lắc
halt (v): tạm nghỉ, dừng chân
carefree (adj): vô tư
fear (n): nỗi sợ hãi
overcome (v): phủ, bao trùm
(overcome - overcame - overcome)
magic spell: câu thần chú ma thuật
panic (n): sự hoảng loạn
come upon: gặp, thấy một cách tình cờ
immediately (adv): ngay lập tức
disorderly (adj): mất trật tự, gây rối
conduct (n): đạo đức, hành vi
sidewalk (n): lề đường
gibberish (n): lời nói lắp bắp
harsh (adj): chói tai
howl (v): la hét
disturb (v): làm xáo trộn
passer-by (n): người qua đường
Key Sentences
1 With the young woman clinging to his arm as ivy clings to an oak tree, Soapy walked past the policeman.
2 He halted in a district where he knew people were more carefree and lively at night.
3 He wondered if some magic spell had made him immune to arrest.
4 He danced, howled, shouted crazily, and tried to disturb passers-by as best as he could.
The policeman twirled his club, turned his back to Soapy, and remarked to a citizen, “It must be one of those Yale students celebrating their victory over Hartford College in football.1 He is noisy, but no harm. We have instructions to leave them be.”
Now more gloomy than ever, Soapy stopped making noise. Would a policeman never arrest him? In his mind, the Island was an unattainable paradise. He buttoned his thin coat against the chill wind and moved on down the street.2
Through a liquor store window, he saw a well-dressed man buying a bottle of wine.3 The man had put his silk umbrella by the door as he entered the store. Soapy stepped in the door, took the umbrella, and walked slowly away.4 The well-dressed man came out of the store in a rush.
“My umbrella,” he said sternly.
Key Words
twirl (v): xoay xoay
remark (v): chú ý
celebrate (v): ăn mừng
victory (n): chiến thắng
noisy (adj): ồn ào
harm (n): gây nguy hiểm
instruction (n): sự hướng dẫn
leave A be: cho phép A làm…
unattainable (adj): không thể đạt đến
button (v): cài nút
chill (adj): lạnh lẽo
liquor store (n): cửa hàng rượu
well dressed (idiom): ăn mặc đẹp
a bottle of: một chai
step in (v): bước vào
in a rush: trong vội vàng
Key Sentences
1 It must be one of those Yale students celebrating their victory over Hartford College in football.
2 He buttoned his thin coat against the chill wind and moved on down the street.
3 Through a liquor store window, he saw a well-dressed man buying a bottle of wine.
4 Soapy stepped in the door, took the umbrella, and walked slowly away.
“Oh, is it?” sneered Soapy, being as mean as he could. “Well, why don’t you call a policeman? I took it. Your umbrella! Why don’t you call a cop? There’s one on the corner.”
The umbrella owner slowed down. Soapy did likewise, thinking that luck would run against him again.1 The policeman looked at the two curiously.
“Of course,” said the umbrella man, “that is . . . well, you know how these mistakes happen. I . . . if it’s your umbrella, I hope you’ll excuse me. I picked it up this morning in a restaurant. If you recognize it as yours, why, I hope you’ll. . . “
“Of course it’s mine,” said Soapy, viciously.
The ex-umbrella man retreated. The policeman hurried to assist a tall blond woman in an opera cloak.2 She was crossing the street in front of a truck that was approaching just down the block.
Key Words
sneer (v): cười chế nhạo
mean (adj): bần tiện
slow down: chậm lại
likewise (adv): cũng vậy
mistake (n): lỗi lầm (do cố ý gây ra)
excuse (v): thứ lỗi
pick up (v): nhặt được
recognize (v): nhận ra
viciously (adv): một cách hằn học
retreat (v): quay về
hurry (v): vội vàng
assist (v): giúp đỡ
opera cloak (n): áo choàng nhạc kịch
approach (v): tiếp cận
Key Sentences
1 Soapy did likewise, thinking that luck would run against him again.
2 The policeman hurried to assist a tall blond woman in an opera cloak.
Soapy walked eastward along a street that was under construction. He threw the umbrella angrily into an open hole. He cursed the men who wear helmets and carry clubs. Because he wanted to fall into their hands, they seemed to regard him as a king who could do no wrong.1
Finally, Soapy reached one of the avenues to the east where it was much quieter. He walked down this street toward Madison Square. Even though his home was a park bench, he knew instinctively where it was.2
But on an unusually quiet corner, Soapy came to a stop. Here was an old church: old-fashioned and cozy. Through one violet-stained window, a soft light glowed, where an organ player was making soft music.3 He was probably practicing for next Sunday’s mass. Sweet music drifted out to Soapy’s ears. It caught and held him in an iron grip outside the church gate.4
Check up
What does it mean by “the men who wear helmets and carry clubs” in the text?
___________________
Key Words & Sentences
eastward (adv): về hướng đông
under construction: đang xây dựng
curse (v): nguyền rủa
do wrong: làm sai
instinctively (adv): theo bản năng
unusually (adv): bất thường
come to a stop (idiom): dừng lại
old-fashioned (adj): cũ kỹ
cozy (adj): ấm cúng
stained (n): vết bẩn
glow (adj): rực rỡ
practice (v): tập luyện
mass (n): đám đông
drift (v): trôi dạt
grip (n): cái kẹp
gate (n): cửa cổng
1 Because he wanted to fall into their hands, they seemed to regard him as a king who could do no wrong.
2 Even though his home was a park bench, he knew instinctively where it was.
3 Through one violet-stained window, a soft light glowed, where an organ player was making soft music.
4 It caught and held him in an iron grip outside the church gate.
Key Words
vehicle (n): xe cộ
pedestrian (n): khách bộ hành
sparrow (n): chim sẻ
chirp (v): chim kêu chiêm chiếp
for a little while (idiom): trong chốc lát
anthem (n): bài thánh ca
motionless (adj): bất động
contain (v): chứa, có
combination (n): sự kết hợp
experience (v): trải nghiệm
create (v): tạo nên, sáng tạo
to one’s horror (idiom): sự khiếp sợ của ai đó
realize (v): nhận ra
path (n): con đường mòn, nhỏ
degradation (n): sự sa sút
unworthy (adj): không có giá trị
sense (n): ý thức
fulfill (v): đáp ứng
need (n): nhu cầu
grand (adj): cao quý
purpose (n): mục đích
miserable (adj): đáng thương
The moon was above, bright and calm; vehicles and pedestrians were few; sparrows chirped sleepily under the rooftops – for a little while, the scene might have been a country churchyard. And the anthem that the organist played held Soapy motionless, for he had known it well in his younger days.1 Ah, the good old days when his life contained loving parents, good friends, bright ambitions, and new, clean clothes.
The combination of Soapy’s tired but open mind and the feelings he experienced outside the church created a sudden and wonderful change in his heart.2 To his sudden horror, he realized how terrible his life had become. His path was a dead end, full of degradation, unworthy desires, dead hopes, and dull senses. He lived only to fulfill his basic needs. No grander purposes like love, ambition, and the feeling of success even touched upon his lonely, miserable life.
Key Sentences
1 And the anthem that the organist played held Soapy motionless, for he had known it well in his younger days.
2 The combination of Soapy’s tired but open mind and the feelings he experienced outside the church created a sudden and wonderful change in his heart.
In a moment, his mind responded to this new mood. A sudden and strong impulse drove him to fight against his desperate fate.1 He would pull himself up out of his homeless condition; he would make a man out of himself again. He would conquer the evil that had taken possession of him.2 There was time; he was still young. He would remember his old, eager ambitions and pursue them without failing. Those solemn but sweet organ notes had caused a revolution in his mind.3Tomorrow, he would go into the busy downtown district and find work. A fur importer had once offered him a job as a driver. He would find him tomorrow and ask for the position. He would be somebody in the world. He would . . .
Soapy suddenly felt a hand on his arm. He looked quickly around into the broad face of a policeman.
“What are you doing here?” asked the officer.
“Nothing,” said Soapy.
“Then come along,” said the policeman. “You’re under arrest for loitering.”
“Three months on the Island,” said the Judge in the Police Court the next morning.
Check up
What is appropriate to describe the last part of the text?
a. Instructive
b. Ironic
c. Critical
Key Words
respond to (v): đáp lại
impulse (n): sự thôi thúc
desperate (adj): tuyệt vọng
fate (n): định mệnh
condition (n): thân phận
conquer (v): khuất phục
evil (n): quỷ dữ
eager (adj): háo hức
pursue (v): đeo đuổi
solemn (adj): sự trang nghiêm
note (v): nốt nhạc
revolution (n): cuộc cách mạng
importer (n): nhà nhập khẩu
offer (v): đề nghị
position (n): vị trí
broad (adj): rộng
under arrest (idiom): bị bắt
loiter (v): la cà, lảng vảng
Key Sentences
1 A sudden and strong impulse drove him to fight against his desperate fate.
2 He would conquer the evil that had taken possession of him.
3 Those solemn but sweet organ notes had caused a revolution in his mind.
Comprehension Quiz
A. Connect the characters and their lines.
1. Soapy • • a. Three months on the Island.
2. A policeman • • b. If it’s your umbrella, I hope you’ll excuse me.
3. The well-dressed man • • c. Sure, Mike, if you’ll buy me a few drinks.
4. The pretty woman • • d. Well, why don’t you call a policeman?
5. The judge • • e. It must be one of those Yale students.
B. Which best describes Soapy’s feeling or attitude when he did followings?
gloomy - aggressive - vicious - ambitious
1. Soapy took the umbrella from the man in the liquor store. _____________
2. Soapy decided to change his life outside the church. _____________
3. Soapy was mistaken for a Yale student. _____________
4. Soapy came on to the young woman. _____________
C. Choose the correct answers to the questions.
1. Why didn’t the cop arrest Soapy for harrassing the young woman?
(a) She pretended to know him.
(b) The cop was only interested in burglars.
(c) The cop was distracted by a traffic accident.
2. Why didn’t the cop arrest Soapy for singing on the street?
(a) Because the cop liked the song Soapy was singing.
(b) Because the cop thought Soapy was a celebrating college student.
(c) Because the cop was a kind man.
D. Put the words in order to complete the sentences.
1. A large policeman with a stern expression ________________.
(against / the building / the wall / leaned / of)
2. Soapy walked along a street that was under construction and _________________.
(open / the umbrella / into / threw / an / hole)
3. To his sudden horror, _________________.
(had / how / he / terrible / realized / life / become / his)
Understanding the Story
The setting for O Henry’s best works is New York. What relationships do his life and his works have?
The Life of O. Henry
O. Henry was actually born as William Sydney Porter in Greensboro, North Carolina. He moved out west, to Texas, when he was fifteen years old to work in a drugstore and then on a ranch. He was an avid reader, and because of this influence, he tried to start a magazine. However, it soon failed. He then found work as a reporter for a newspaper in a large Texan city: the Houston Post. He got married and had a daughter. However, he was convicted of embezzling money from the newspaper, and was sent to prison in Ohio. There was much debate over his actual guilt. While in prison, he started to write short stories to support his family.
After leaving prison, he changed his name to O. Henry and moved to New York. He lived there for eight years. He wrote hundreds of short stories, many of them based in places he had lived in or visited. His stories can be divided by the regions of their settings: South, West, Latin America, and New York. However, he is most famous for his short stories that feature life in New York City. These stories usually focus on the lives of ordinary people who experience ironic or circumstantial twist of fate at the end of the story. These surprise endings illustrate the random and unexpected events in life that bring out the best and worst of our human traits.
ranch (n): trại nuôi súc vật
avid (adj): khao khát, ngấu nghiến
influence (n): sự ảnh hưởng
be convicted of: bị tống giam
embezzle (v): biển thủ
debate (n): tranh cãi
support (v): hỗ trợ
divide (v): phân chia
region (n): lãnh thổ
setting (n): bối cảnh
feature (v): khắc họa
focus on: tập trung vào
ordinary (adj): bình thường
circumstantial (adj): bất ngờ
illustrate (v): minh họa
trait (n): nét, đặc điểm