تنها در خانه
Home Alone
I remember the first time that my parents left me home alone.
I was very grown up, and I thought that I would be just fine.
I was fine for a while.
I watched television and had something to eat.
I called my friend on the phone, and we talked for a while.
Then, I sat down to read a book.
The house was quiet, very quiet.
I found myself listening very carefully.
I heard a tap, tap tapping noise.
I wondered where it was coming from.
It seemed to be coming from the window.
I turned out the lights so that nobody would see me, and I peeked out the window carefully.
I was expecting to see a robber tapping at my window.
There was nobody there.
It was just a tree branch sway ing in the breeze and tapping at my window.
I felt silly.
I turned on the lights and sat back down to read my book.
A few minutes later, I heard some creaking noises.
I listened carefully.
Then, I heard a clunking noise.
I think it might have been the furnace.
Then there was a whirring noise.
My imagination began to play tricks on me.
I was imagining that there were all kinds of creatures in the house.
I told myself to grow up.
I wouldn’t let my imagination run away with me.
I was glad when my parents got home.
I told them about all the noises that I had heard.
My parents laughed and said that all houses make noises.
We’re usually just so busy that we don’t hear all the noises that go on.
I have stayed home alone many times now.
I just ignore all the little creaks and noises that I hear.
I am still alert and listen for anything suspicious, but I know that there are lots of noises that are harmless.
That tree that taps on my window still frightens me sometimes, but I’m a lot braver now
than I was the first time that I stayed home alone.
grown up:
fully developed as an adult
Before you know it, the children will be grown-up and leaving home.
*I’ve got two grown-up sons.
* I need you to think like a grown up now.
find:
▶DO SOMETHING WITHOUT MEANING TO◀
to be in a particular state or do a particular thing, or to realize that this is happening, especially when you did not expect or intend it
After wandering around, we found ourselves back at the hotel. find yourself/your mind etc doing something When he left, Karen found herself heaving a huge sigh of relief.She tried to concentrate, but found her mind drifting back to Alex.
find (that)
He found he was shivering.
tap:
hit sound
to hit your fingers lightly on something, for example to get someone’s attention
tap somebody on the shoulder/arm/chest etc He turned as someone tapped him on the shoulder.
tap on
I went up and tapped on the window.
tap something on/against/from etc something
Mark tapped his fingers on the tabletop impatiently.She tapped ash from her cigarette.
robber:
someone who steals money or property
ￚsee also thief, burglar
*Armed robbers broke into the shop and demanded money from the till.
*a bank robber
sway:
to move slowly from one side to another
*The trees swayed gently in the breeze.
*the boat swayed and tipped
clunk:
a loud sound made when two solid objects hit each other
the clunk of the car door being shut
ￚclunk verb [intransitive and transitive]
furnace:
1
a large container for a very hot fire, used to produce power, heat, or liquid metal
2
a piece of equipment used to heat a building
whirr
past tense and past participle whirred present participle whirring
[intransitive]
to make a fairly quiet regular sound, like the sound of a bird or insect moving its wings very fast
Helicopters whirred overhead.
ￚwhirr noun [countable usually singular] the whirr of an electric motor