Story：Rumour is no humour
【明報專訊】BILLY was an ordinary boy. He looked ordinary. He did ordinarily in exams. He was not sociable and had ordinary relationships with others.
One day Billy prepared an envelope, on which it said ''To Daisy''. Fanny saw that. He was always the one who fanned the flames in the class, meaning that he made people fight with each other. Daisy, the class's beauty queen, always boasted of her fair appearance and academic results and thought that people were always looking at her and envied her.
''Bill loves Daisy!''
Fanny stole the envelope and decided to put it on the class's noticeboard, without reading it.
The following day serious things happened. The envelope had been torn down by someone and circulated in the class.
''Rumour has it that Billy wants to date Daisy.'' One said.
''Is Billy silly? Daisy is our beauty queen!'' The other echoed.
''Stop doing this dummies! You're doing Billy harm!'' Another challenged their claims.
''Billy is not silly. I think he knows what is right and wrong. And I support him.'' Billy's best friend Roddick ''defended'' Billy. What was worse was that he found Daisy and said loudly, ''You should treat Billy seriously! He's a nice lad!''
It was still early and the class had yet to start. While Roddick was saying such words, Billy stepped into the room. Not knowing that things had gone that far, he took a wrong step and fell to the floor.
Roddick helped Billy up. ''Hey bro, you should have told me before writing such a letter to Daisy. I'll always stand by your side.''
''What letter?''
''Don't be shy Billy. I know you want to date Daisy.'' Fanny wanted to take the piss out of Billy.
''Did you read it?'' Billy's cheeks were the reddest since he was born. Noticing such a change on Billy's face, Fanny turned excited.
''Let me read it.''
He opened the envelope, ''Dear Daisy, would you mind teaching me English? I did rather poorly in the last exam...'' Now it was Fanny's turn to be embarrassed.
''Rumour is no humour!'' Billy scolded all of them.
■Gear up
Refer to the story and circle the correct answer.
(1) Billy loves Daisy in his heart. ( True / False / Not given )
(2) Billy's latest English exam result is not satisfactory. ( True / False / Not given )
(3) According to the story, Daisy is the school beauty queen. ( True / False / Not given )
(Answers on next text)
■Food for thought
Gossip and rumour may be juicy, but most of the time they are goosey. Before you say something to somebody, think carefully whether it may hurt others. Even if it might not cause them harm, it is still not honest to make people feel uncomfortable.
■Glossary
circulate (v) 傳閱
date (v) 與……談戀愛
juicy (adj) 有趣、刺激的
goosey (adj) 愚蠢的
[Smarties' Power English 第274期]
