“Mum,whatdoesitmeanwhensomeonetellsyouthattheyhaveaskeleton(骨骼)inthecloset(衣橱)?”Jessicaasked.“Askeletoninthecloset?”hermotherpausedthoughtfully.“Well,it’ssomethingthatyouwouldrathernothaveanyoneelseknowabout.Forexample,ifinthepast,someoneinDad’sfamilyhadbeenarrestedforstealingahorse,itwouldbe‘askeletoninhisfamily’scloset’.Hereallywouldn’twantanyneighbortoknowaboutit.”
“Whypickonmyfamily?”Jessica’sfathersaidwithanger.“Yourfamilyhistoryisn’tsogood,youknow.Wasn’tyougreat-greatgrandfatheraprisonerwhowastransportedtoAustraliaforhiscrimes?”“Yes,butpeoplethesedayssaythatyouarenotarealAustralianunlessyourancestorsarrivedasprisoners.”“Gosh,sorryformyasking.IthinkIunderstandnow,”Jessicacutinbeforethingsgrewworse.
Afterdinner,thehousewasveryquiet.Jessica’sparentswerestillquiteangrywitheachother.Hermotherwasironingclothesandeverynowandthensheglaredatherhusband,whohidbehindhisnewspaper,pretendingtoread.Whenshefinished,shegatheredthefreshlypressedclothesinherarmsandwalkedtoJessica’scloset.Justassheopenedthedoorandreachedintohangaskirt,abonyarmstuckoutfromthedarkdepthsandabundleofwhitebonesfelltothefloor.Jessica’smothersankintoafaint(晕倒),wakingonlywhenJessicaputacold,wetclothonherforehead.Shelookeduptoseetheworriedfacesofherhusbandanddaughter.
“Whathappened?WhereamI?”sheasked.“Youjustdestroyedtheschool’sskeleton,Mum,”explainedJessica.“Ibroughtithometohelpmewithmyhealthproject.Imeanttotellyou,butitseemedthatassoonasImentionedskeletonsandclosets,itcausedaproblembetweenyouandDad.”Jessicalookedinamazementasherparentsbegantolaughmadly.“They’rebothcrazy,”shethought.
小题1:AccordingtoJessica’smother,“askeletoninthecloset”means______.