Adria: Hello, Maria. How're things?

Maria: Fine. What about you? How's work?

Adria: Well, it could be better.

Maria: You're still with the same company, aren't you?

Adria: Oh yes. But business hasn't been too good this year, and I've had to take a cut in salary.

Maria: This is bad news. Still, I suppose we're lucky to have jobs at all these days.

Adria: Mmm.

Maria: You are managing then? For the money, I mean.

Adria: Well it's not always easy. Especially now we've got the baby.

Maria: Oh yes, of course.

Adria: And Sam is not working anymore, so there's even less money coming into the house.

Maria: I can see things must be a bit difficult for you.

Adria: Well, we're certainly feeling the pinch.

緊 縮

艾綴雅：妳好，瑪麗亞，怎麼樣呀？

瑪麗亞：很好，妳呢，工作如何？

艾綴雅：嗯，不算太好。

瑪麗亞：妳還是在同一家公司，不是嗎？

艾綴雅：哦，是啊，但是今年生意不太好，我不得不減薪。

瑪麗亞：這是壞消息。不過，我想我們很幸運目前能有工作。

艾綴雅：嗯。

瑪麗亞：那妳在想辦法嗎？ 我是說錢的方面。

艾綴雅：嗯，這並不容易，尤其是現在我們有了孩子。

瑪麗亞：哦，那是當然。

艾綴雅：山姆不再工作了，所以家裡能用的錢更少了。

瑪麗亞：我看得出妳的情況一定有點困難。

艾綴雅：是啦，我們當然感到手頭拮据。