【明報專訊】FELIX'S DAD was a plumber (水喉匠) and the main breadwinner in his family. As a plumber, he fixed toilets and water pipes.

He worked day and night to make ends meet. However, Felix didn't appreciate his dad's effort and felt inferior to his classmates.

Felix had a friend called Alex. "Hey Felix, let's come to my home! I've bought many video games recently!"

After school, Alex was home. He heard a steady drip from the toilet. He followed the sound and found out the cause. It was the leaky faucet (漏水的水龍頭)."Oh it's really the faucet," Mum felt annoyed and turned to Alex, "Son please call the plumber."

Alex was given a business card. No sooner had he finished the calling did he hear the doorbell ring. "Hi Alex!" It's Felix. "What's that piece of paper? May I have a look?" Felix wanted to have a look at the business card. "Oh nothing important. I just called a plumber to fix the faucet."

They started their video game journey. Felix drank a lot of water that day and would like to go to the toilet. But you know, when it comes to esports (電競) , it's easy to get yourself killed in the blink of an eye.

"Oh I'm bursting!" Felix looked painful and scampered into the toilet like a puppy. When he was just about to leave the toilet after finishing his "business", Felix heard a familiar voice.

"It's Dad!"

"This way." Alex was leading Felix's dad to the toilet. "Hey Felix. Are you done?" Alex asked impatiently. "Almost! Almost!" Felix replied. He grabbed a towel and wrapped his head with it. He then opened the door.

"Terrorist!" Alex screamed. "Oh kid, it's not Halloween. Don't dress like that." Felix's dad laughed. He started working on the dripping faucet.

Felix wanted to leave. "You terrorist!" Alex roared and hugged Felix tightly.

Some ten odd minutes passed. Felix's dad finished the work. Alex's mum checked on the faucet. "Brilliant, brilliant! So much better than the last plumber we hire! I think you excel in this field! Oh aren't you Felix's dad? Your son's here!"

Of course Alex's mum spotted Felix the terrorist immediately. "What are you hiding from, Felix? Your dad's an excellent plumber!" Her words hit Felix where it hurts. Not expecting such a compliment to his dad, Felix was consumed with guilt.

He took off the towel and smiled, "Yes, my dad is an excellent plumber!"

◆Food for thought

Every job in the world is sacred. That might sound like an old clich�m. But think about this: Felix's dad works hard for Felix and the whole family. Had it not been for your dad and mum, you wouldn't be enjoying your life.

■Gear up

According to the story, answer the following questions.

(1) Alex and Felix are in the same school. ( True / False / Not given )

(2) Felix likes his dad's job. But at the end he hates it. ( True / False / Not given )

(3) Felix wraps his head with a towel because he wants to give a surprise to his dad. ( True / False / Not given )

(Answers on next text)

■Glossary

breadwinner (n) 家庭支柱

make ends meet (idiom) 勉強維持生計

inferior to sb/sth (adj) 比……低級的

consumed with sb/sth (v phr) 被……吞噬

[Smarties' Power English 第260期]