When I read Paragraph 17 and Paragraph 18, I found there were also some?difficulties for me and some questions confused me.
Firstly, in the first sentence, what’s the function of the phrase---“I certainly know” between the two dashes? According to the meaning of the whole sentence, I suppose the purpose is to emphasize that they are really sure about that if they were that lucky lady, they would have shown off their triumph everywhere. Secondly, the following sentence is a very long sentence. In(when) reading it, I found some difficulties. What does the phrase “lay my cards right on the table” mean(meaning)? I thought it for a while, probably, the meaning is “have a showdown”, which refers to “show the truth to everybody” or in my opinion, it may be the same meaning as confessing. In order to confirm my guess, I consulted some relative books. At last, I’m glad because my guess is right.
After I read the second sentence, I agreed with the author’s opinion. If I were the lucky lady, I think I would do the same thing as him (her)did. I can not be so self-restraint as the woman. But when I read the third sentence, I think what he (she)did is too exaggerative(沒這個詞，加ed). The person just wants to ask the time or direction, he is just a stranger and he doesn’t have(not) the duty to waste his time to listen to your story. Furthermore, if you really do this, you will make the one feel disgusting and give others a bad impression. So I don’t think it is a good idea.
With regard to Paragraph 18, the author talks in a very humorous tone. It means he eventually calmed down, but it was after he telling(told)(或his telling to) everyone the news that he was a Real Live Published Poet.
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