Page 56 - Lavender-B-8

Now, let’s read the story and find out about the narrator’s experience at a bank.

When I go into a bank I get rattled. The clerks rattle me; the wickets rattle me; the sight

of the money rattles me; everything rattles me.
The moment I cross the threshold of a bank and attempt to transact business there, I

become an irresponsible idiot.

I knew this beforehand, but my salary had
been raised to fifty dollars a month and I
felt that the bank was the only place for it.

So I shambled in and looked timidly round
at the clerks. I had an idea that a person

about to open an account must needs
consult the manager.

I went up to a wicket marked ‘Accountant’.
The accountant was a tall, cool devil. The
very sight of him rattled me. My voice was
sepulchral.

‘Can I see the manager?’ I said, and added

solemnly, ‘alone.’ I don’t know why I said
‘alone.’

‘Certainly,’ said the accountant, and fetched him.

The manager was a grave, calm man. I held my fifty-six dollars Which words and
clutched in a crumpled ball in my pocket. phrases reveal the
Just a Minute!
writer’s nervousness?
‘Are you the manager?’ I said. God knows I didn’t doubt it.

‘Yes,’ he said. rattled: worried or nervous

‘Can I see you,’ I asked, ‘alone?’ I didn’t rattle: make (someone) nervous
wicket: a small window or opening in a door, esp one
want to say ‘alone’ again, but without it fitted with a grating or glass pane, used as a means of

the thing seemed self-evident. communication in a ticket office, bank, etc.
threshold: the floor of an entrance to a building or room
The manager looked at me in some transact: to do and complete a business activity
shambled: walked slowly and awkwardly with dragging feet
alarm. He felt that I had an awful secret timidly: in a manner that shows a lack of courage or
to reveal. confidence
accountant: someone who keeps the records of money
‘Come in here,’ he said, and led the way received, paid, and owed by a company or person
sepulchral: gloomy; dismal
to a private room. He turned the key in solemnly: in a formal and dignified manner

the lock. grave: very serious
self-evident: clear or obvious without needing any proof or
explanation

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