When my father was getting ready for work, our house was
ruled by knocks and words. He used to come downstairs to breakfast.
The morning paper lay beside his plate. He always read the "Deaths"
first; and then he knocked once on the table. One of my sisters brought his
toast(烤面包片), already buttered for him. Usually he said nothing, but once I heard
him say, "I love you very much, Edith. I would love you more if you buttered my
toast on both sides." He read the paper all through breakfast.
Two knocks on the table meant "I am ready for my tea." If a single knock
followed, that meant "More toast, please." After breakfast he
said, "Boot". The paper was spread for him over the back of an armchair.
Yesterday’s paper was put on the chair for his feet, and his boots were brought
to him, freshly cleaned. He read standing, at the same time putting on his boots
and tying the laces. With one boot finished, he said, "Bus." At
that point one of the girls went outside to the garden gate and waited there.
Her job was to stop the bus when it came. It came early sometimes, and it had to
wait for my father. "Overcoat, hat." One of my sisters had already brushed his
overcoat. Now she held it open for him and guided his arms into it. Then she
pulled his jacket down under the coat. Another girl came with his hat, nicely
brushed. "Handkerchief, pipe." They were brought and put, with his tobacco, into
his pockets. He looked out of the window and said either "Walking stick" or
"Umbrella". It was handed to him. Ready now, he was still reading the
paper. He did not put it down until he heard the shout "Bus
coming!" Then he kissed my mother and went out. The girls breathed
freely. How lucky a man is to have a wife and five daughters at
home! This passage tells a story about ______.
A. a family of five daughters
B. a house ruled by knocks
C. a lucky man
D. an early morning