The Tales of Uncle Remus / Сказки дядюшки Римуса. Книга для чтения на английском языке

“Is that you, Brer Fox? If it is, please run and get the doctor. I ate some parsley this morning, and it ain’t setting too well on my stomach. Please, Brer Fox. Run and get the doctor.”

“I’m sho’ sorry to hear that, Brer Rabbit. Miz Meadows asked me to come tell you that she and the girls are having a party today. They said it wouldn’t be a party worth a dead leaf[36 - it wouldn’t be a party worth a dead leaf – (разг.) вечеринка будет совсем неинтересная] if you weren’t there.

They sent me to come get you.”

Brer Rabbit allowed as to how he was too sick, and Brer Fox said he couldn’t be too sick to go partying. (God knows, that’s the truth! I ain’t never been too sick to party. Even when I’m dead, I’ll get up out of the grave to party. And when I get sick, the blues are the best doctor God put on earth. The blues can cure athlete’s foot, hangnail, and the heartbreak of psoriasis.)

Well, Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox got to arguing back and forth and forth and back about whether he was too sick to come to the party.

Finally, Brer Rabbit said, “Well, all right, Brer Fox. I don’t want to hurt nobody’s feelings by not coming to the party, but I can’t walk.”

Brer Fox said, “That’s all right. I’ll carry you in my arms.”

“I’m afraid you’ll drop me.”

“I wouldn’t do a thing like that, Brer Rabbit. I’m stronger than bad breath.”

“I wouldn’t argue with you there, but I’m still afraid.

I’ll go if you carry me on your back.”

“Well, all right,” Brer Fox said reluctantly.

“But I can’t ride without a saddle.”

“I’ll get the saddle.”

“But I can’t get in the saddle without a bridle.”

Brer Fox was getting a little tired of this, but he agreed to get a bridle.

“And I can’t keep my balance unless you got some blinders on. How I know you won’t try to throw me off?”

That’s just what Brer Fox was planning on doing, but he said he’d put the blinders on.

Brer Fox went off to get all the riding gear[37 - to get all the riding gear – (разг.) собрать все необходимое для верховой езды], and Brer Rabbit combed his hair, greased his mustache, put on his best suit (the purple one with the yellow vest), shined his toenails, and fluffed out his cottontail[38 - fluffed out his cottontail – (разг.) распушил хвостик].