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“Listen.” The staring eyes came closer. “How long d’you think it took me to make the five dollars?”
The merchant wanted to order him out of the shop. But, oddly enough, he couldn’t. He heard himself dutifully asking, “Why—why, how long did it take you?”
The other laughed. “Ten years—at hard labour. Ten years to earn five dollars. Fifty cents a year.”
It was best, Purcell decided, to humour him. “My, my; ten years. That’s certainly a long time. Now...”
The merchant wanted to order him out of the shop. But, oddly enough, he couldn’t. He heard himself dutifully asking, “Why—why, how long did it take you?”
The other laughed. “Ten years—at hard labour. Ten years to earn five dollars. Fifty cents a year.”
It was best, Purcell decided, to humour him. “My, my; ten years. That’s certainly a long time. Now...”
“They give you five dollars,” laughed the man, “and a cheap suit, and tell you not to get caught again.”
Explanation:
After hearing the storekeeper’s response, the man’s staring eyes moved closer to him and said, “Listen.” The man asked him whether he knew how long it took him to make the five dollars. After hearing this, the storekeeper thought of sending him out from the shop. He was unable to do so because the man was his customer. Furthermore, if he behaved rudely with the customer, it was not good for his profession. So the storekeeper inquired him, “Why—why, how long did it take you?”
Later, in response to Mr Purcell’s question, the man smiled and claimed it took him ten years to earn these five dollars. Furthermore, he stated that he had worked hard for ten years to earn five dollars and only made fifty cents per year. After hearing that the man had worked ten years to earn five dollars, Mr Purcell thought it would be better to humour him. Mr Purcell's usage of the term "humour" in this context implied that he agreed with the strange man's views because he didn't want his customer to become upset or irritated. Later Mr Purcell said, “My, my; ten years. “That’s certainly a long time. Now...” It implies that “Oh my goodness, it took ten years to earn five dollars,” and that was undoubtedly a long time. The reason behind Mr Purcell’s statement was probably he might not have believed the man, or else he would have thought the man had been telling lies or else he would not want his customer to become annoyed.
Later the man laughed after hearing the response from the shopkeeper and said, “They give you five dollars.” Here “They” refers to the policemen. He then claimed that he had spent ten years of confinement in prison. He further stated that the policemen had given him a cheap, ill-fitting cloth when released from prison. According to the statement, the man had been recently freed from ten-year prison confinement, and the cop had given him a new suit and five dollars at the time of release. In addition, he had directly come to the pet shop for purchasing something in a cage with the money he earned from prison. He also added that the policemen had told him not to get caught again. At last, the storekeeper came to know that the man had come from the prison.
Later, in response to Mr Purcell’s question, the man smiled and claimed it took him ten years to earn these five dollars. Furthermore, he stated that he had worked hard for ten years to earn five dollars and only made fifty cents per year. After hearing that the man had worked ten years to earn five dollars, Mr Purcell thought it would be better to humour him. Mr Purcell's usage of the term "humour" in this context implied that he agreed with the strange man's views because he didn't want his customer to become upset or irritated. Later Mr Purcell said, “My, my; ten years. “That’s certainly a long time. Now...” It implies that “Oh my goodness, it took ten years to earn five dollars,” and that was undoubtedly a long time. The reason behind Mr Purcell’s statement was probably he might not have believed the man, or else he would have thought the man had been telling lies or else he would not want his customer to become annoyed.
Later the man laughed after hearing the response from the shopkeeper and said, “They give you five dollars.” Here “They” refers to the policemen. He then claimed that he had spent ten years of confinement in prison. He further stated that the policemen had given him a cheap, ill-fitting cloth when released from prison. According to the statement, the man had been recently freed from ten-year prison confinement, and the cop had given him a new suit and five dollars at the time of release. In addition, he had directly come to the pet shop for purchasing something in a cage with the money he earned from prison. He also added that the policemen had told him not to get caught again. At last, the storekeeper came to know that the man had come from the prison.
Meanings of the difficult words:
| S.No | Words | Meanings |
1 | Labour | Work, especially hard physical work |
2 | Merchant | A person whose job is to buy and sell products in large amounts, especially by trading with other countries |
3 | Humour | To do or accept what someone says so that they do not become annoyed or upset |
4 | My, my | An interjection expressing surprise, incredulity, or pleasure |
Reference:
National Council of Educational Research and Training (2007). Supplementary. I Want Something in a Cage - L E Greeve (36-42). Published at the Publication Division by the Secretary, National Council of Educational Research and Training, Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi.
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