英语小说网

He's coming over to talk about it.

Morning, Grandpa.

But there's the old community center on Elm Street.

Is it that serious a problem, Grandpa?

which has been vacant for over a year now,

was supposed to be made into a community center

to serve the senior citizens

He lives alone

and for the furniture needed,

Is something the matter, Grandpa?

for the repainting of the interior of the building

the plans for the community center

have been postponed indefinitely."

It is.

"The old library building on Chestnut Street,

It's too noisy for some older people like Nat.

to be with people -- people his own age.

and the problem is that it's set up primarily for kids to play.

Due to lack of funds

The editorial in this paper has my friend Nat Baker real upset.

He doesn't have any family with him.

Ah! I'll read it to you.

Ping-Pong tables, soda machines, and lots of music.

It's small,

Nat's not as lucky as I am, Robbie.

as well as the younger people of Riverdale.

and depends on places like a community center

My final exam is next Tuesday.

It's hard for some older people to take all that noise.

Part of the building for older people,

He'll do anything to avoid getting down to math lessons,

It could be Alexandra.

That's why the new community center is a good idea.

I thought that was Nat Baker who rang the front doorbell.

I was the same way.

Hi, Mr. Stewart.

She's coming over this morning to help me with my math.

I really appreciate you coming over to help me with my math.

I never realized that.

You're so good in all your other subjects.

That must be Nat.

Do you want something cold to drink?

We're just having some cola

why you have so many problems with math.

Mr. Stewart.

I just can't understand

Hi, Alexandra.

Really. I didn't like math.

before getting to the tough stuff -- math.

Cola coming up.

Hi, Robbie.

Don't let me interrupt you.

part of the building for younger people.

I see what you mean.

No problem, Grandpa.

Hi, Alexandra. Come on in.

Really, Grandpa?

I'd love some cola, please.

I wasn't good at it, and I didn't like studying it.

I did.

I was. But not in high school.

It's a serious matter for a lot of us.

I'd like you to meet my friend Nat Baker.

That must be Nat.

I know you want to get to it.

Hi, Mr. Baker. We met before.

if you skip it now.

Then, in college, I became good at it.

Stay… stay.

You graduated from engineering school.

I can't wait.

I told you. He'll use any excuse to avoid math.

In town. At the hardware store.

whom I think you've met once or twice before.

Where?

A serious matter.

For some reason, I couldn't get a handle on it.

You think I can just skip it now and get to it at college?

I remember now. Right. Hi.

Then there's hope for Robbie.

But you had to be good at math.

Sit down, Robbie. Let's get to work.

Hello, Alexandra.

Don't let us keep you from your math tutoring, Robbie.

You'll never get to college to find out, Robbie,

Did you read the story in the paper, Malcolm?

This is Alexandra Pappas, and this is my grandson Robbie,

Nice to meet you, Mr. Baker.

We might need you to come through with your friends, Robbie.

I'll find the people to help do it.

Not just to go around the neighborhood asking for furniture,

I'll help too, Mr. Baker.

If you would supervise the refurbishing,

I'll do it. I'll talk to them.

I'll help.

Sure.

I could probably tell what it requires to fix it up.

It is. Come on out to the patio.

If I could take a look at the place,

Can we help?

It's certainly a good idea.

We'll talk about it out there.

Thanks. Nice to meet you… again.

There is a way, Malcolm.

We get our friends to roll their sleeves up and get to work.

and collect the furniture we need.

And tomorrow morning we'll all meet here to discuss the plan?

I'd really like to.

That's what I came to ask you to do, Malcolm.

Come on! You'll hear about it.

Tomorrow. Yes. We'll meet tomorrow morning, right here.

but to help with the paint job.

What's the problem?

That's backbreaking work and may be too much for us.

I can get some of my friends to go around the neighborhood

How much paint, how many hours of work…

Weren't they going to be here this morning?

Robbie left early this morning to meet Alexandra.

Frankly, I thought they'd be here, but…

I thought so, too.

My pleasure, Malcolm.

Sit down, sit down. Have some coffee.

It's OK. I'm sure they meant well,

I understand you used to be in the construction business,

and make sure that it is in good condition

Hello, Mr. Stewart.

and used to play drums with the jazz band on weekends.

Malcolm.

Oh, sure I do. Hi, Abe.

He ran the drugstore

And this is Abe Lucas. You must remember Abe.

I wonder if you would take a look at the old library

Come in, come in. Please, come in.

And I've got some delicious Danish pastry for you.

I'm surprised they're not here.

so that we don't have to worry about any structural problems.

Where's your grandson Robbie and his friend Alexandra?

Hello, Malcolm.

Malcolm, please.

but they probably had other things on their minds.

Hello, Joanne. Nice to meet you.

I was, indeed.

Malcolm, this is Joanne Thompson.

I'd like you to meet my friend Malcolm Stewart.

Tomorrow morning it is.

Then we have to furnish it.

If only Robbie and Alexandra were here.

That's fine with me. I can do it either day.

And a good paint job.

Tuesday or Wednesday.

during the week --

As I said, mostly the building just needs a good cleaning.

I think the building just needs a good cleaning.

I wish Robbie and Alexandra had come to this meeting.

That's an idea I like.

And programs that don't leave anyone out.

This place can be developed

Go ahead, Joanne.

OK.

let me give you some additional thoughts and ideas I have.

When can I do that? I'd be happy to.

Don't be upset, Malcolm.

That would be very helpful.

It's asking a lot.

with the kinds of programs that fit everyone.

Finding out what they want.

We've got permission to go inside the old building

Perhaps they'll show up. In the meantime,

A community center

But we can't do it without talking to the young people.

with one real intergenerational program.

They had some ideas about getting the place fixed up.

We'll have a chance to talk to them later.

who's responsible for this meeting,

Hi, Mr. Stewart.

Robbie and Alexandra told me

I wonder what the problem is.

He wrote some nice articles on Mom

From what Robbie and Alexandra have told me,

You remember Charles Maxwell, Grandpa?

have been busy at work this morning

on the community-center project.

who used to run the drugstore in town.

If he says he's going to be here, he's here.

And we brought someone along who can help.

Hope to be a bigger help on the new community-center project.

you people are making one big story.

OK. Now, I have… first… a couple of questions here.

Hi, everyone. Sorry I'm late.

I am planning to write an editorial that I think will help you.

what you need to fix up the old library.

But Alexandra and I

Let me introduce you, Mr. Maxwell.

It's not like Robbie.

Let's go. What are your questions?

and this is Joanne Thompson -- and Abe Lucas,

when she was running for the school board.

This is Nat Baker,

He's the editor of the Riverdale paper.

Yes, I remember. You were a great help.

Have you talked to the community council?

Are there any special requirements that I should list in the paper?

To do what?

These items shouldn't be difficult to come by

To help scrub the building interior clean.

Let's see. Four desks.

And you also need bodies to do repainting?

That's right.

So that we can repaint it.

Eight straight-back chairs. Thirty folding chairs.

once I print the article in the paper.

Six table lamps. Three end tables. One piano.

How about furnishings?

I've got the council to agree

And we'll also need some ladders

People power.

When do you need the volunteers,

Yes.

And have you had an engineer come in to do an inspection?

and some brushes and some paint.

to open the building for us on the next four weekends.

Men and women, young and old, to give us their time.

Here is a copy of all the things we need to start with.

and where do they report?

This is a good start.

OK, what do you need most of all?

This community has always been very generous.

I agree, Mr. Maxwell.

there's no way we can complete this project.

The original plan by the council

"At the Stewart family home on Linden Street yesterday,

a group of caring Riverdale citizens gathered

Oh, here. On the ground floor we have the reception area…

I've got it. Now give me some information about

how you see the building being used.

A list of these items and a volunteer form

from the various generations of future users.

And without their energy and stamina,

and making it a new community center.

It's here, Robbie.

And it needs your contributions of furniture,

What you're saying is, in order for this center to succeed,

Charles Maxwell, Editor."

was tabled because of lack of funds.

The new plan needs you.

By working together,

paint, brushes, ladders, lamps, et cetera.

can be picked up at the Riverdale Press offices.

You could call it a community unity plan.

Charles Maxwell lived up to his word.

It needs your time, and it needs your energy.

to plan the refurbishing of the old library

this community can do anything to benefit its citizens,

and we know you will all work together

we need to put together volunteers

towards refurbishing the old library

to transform it into a new community center.

That's right.