Гарри Поттер и тайная комната
The Worst Birthday
TheDursleyshadn’tevenrememberedthattodayhappenedtobeHarry’stwelfthbirthday.Ofcourse,hishopeshadn’tbeenhigh;they’dnevergivenhimarealpresent,letaloneacake-buttoignoreitcompletely...
Atthatmoment,UncleVernonclearedhisthroatimportantlyandsaid, "Now,asweallknow,todayisaveryimportantday."
Harrylookedup,hardlydaringtobelieveit.
"ThiscouldwellbethedayImakethebiggestdealofmycareer,"saidUncleVernon.
Harrywentbacktohistoast.Ofcourse,hethoughtbitterly,UncleVernonwastalkingaboutthestupiddinnerparty.He’dbeentalkingofnothingelsefortwoweeks. SomerichbuilderandhiswifewerecomingtodinnerandUncleVernonwashopingtogetahugeorderfromhim(UncleVernon’scompanymadedrills).
"Ithinkweshouldrunthroughthescheduleonemoretime,"saidUncleVernon."Weshouldallbeinpositionateighto’clock.Petunia,youwillbe-?"
"Inthelounge,"saidAuntPetuniapromptly,"waitingtowelcomethemgraciouslytoourhome."
"Good,good.AndDudley?"
"I’llbewaitingtoopenthedoor."Dudleyputonafoul,simperingsmile."MayItakeyourcoats,Mr.andMrs.Mason?"
"They’lllovehim!"criedAuntPetuniarapturously.
