画像引用：Oil well pump, near Odessa, Texas, United States of America, North America
https://static.amanaimages.com/imgroom/cen3tzG4fTr7Gtw1PoeRer/20062/20062009090.jpg

以下は笑い話で一読後ニヤリとしていればよい類のものですがこれをまじめに英語で解釈してみませんか？英会話の話題としてもご利用ください。

Soon after a Texas oil well caught fire, the company called in expert fire fighters.  The heat was so great, however, that they could get only within 2000 feet of the rig.

In desperation, the management asked the local volunteer fire department for assistance.  Several minutes later, a little old fire truck rattled down the road and came to a stop 50 feet from the fire.  The men jumped off the truck, sprayed each other and then proceeded to put out the flames.

The company president was elated and presented the fire chief with a $2000 check.

When asked what he planned to do with the money, the chief muttered, “Well, first we’re going to fix the brakes on that damn truck.”

（トークラインのご利用者様にお送りしている９月８日付のHANDOUTの一部で、The Reader’s Digestからの転載です）