“Mumwhatdoesitmeanwhensomeonetellsyouthattheyhaveaskeleton(骨骼)inthecloset(衣橱)?”Jessicaasked.“Askeletoninthecloset?”hermotherpausedthoughtfully.“Wellit’ssomethingthatyouwouldrathernothaveanyoneelseknowabout.ForexampleifinthepastsomeoneinDad’sfamilyhadbeenarrestedforstealingahorseitwouldbe‘askeletoninhisfamily’scloset’.Hereallywouldn’twantanyneighbortoknowaboutit.”
“Whypickonmyfamily?”Jessica’sfathersaidwithanger.“Yourfamilyhistoryisn’tsogoodyouknow.Wasn’tyourgreat-great-grandfatheraprisonerwhowastransportedtoAustraliaforhiscrimes?”“YesbutpeoplethesedayssaythatyouarenotarealAustralianunlessyourancestorsarrivedasprisoners.”“GoshsorryIasked.IthinkIunderstandnow”Jessicacutinbeforethingsgrewworse.
Afterdinnerthehousewasveryquiet.Jessica’sparentswerestillquiteangrywitheachother.Hermotherwasironingclothesandeverynowandthensheglaredatherhusbandwhohidbehindhisnewspaperpretendingtoread.WhenshefinishedshegatheredthefreshlypressedclothesinherarmsandwalkedtoJessica’scloset.Justassheopenedthedoorandreachedintohangaskirtabonyarmstuckoutfromthedarkdepthsandabundleofwhitebonesfelltothefloor.Jessica’smothersankinafaint(晕倒)wakingonlywhenJessicaputacoldwetclothonherforehead.Shelookeduptoseetheworriedfacesofherhusbandanddaughter.
“Whathappened?WhereamI?”sheasked.“Youjustdestroyedtheschool’sskeletonMum”explainedJessica.“Ibroughtithometohelpmewithmyhealthproject.ImeanttotellyoubutitseemedthatassoonasImentionedskeletonsandclosetsitcausedaproblembetweenyouandDad.”Jessicalookedinamazementasherparentsbegantolaughmadly.“They’rebothcrazy”shethought.
【小题1】AccordingtoJessica’smother“askeletonintheclose”means______.