oops! coping - pasting it I forgot the introduction:

This is a part of my translation of a story by a recent emigrant. I think this might be interesting for all of you to read. All suggestions concerning grammar, style and word use are welcomed. [welled] For example, I know that "simpleton" is a bit old fashioned [ but the only synonym that comes to my mind
is "punter" [punting] I think I saw it in "The wasp factory" by Ian Banks, but my Collins dictionary gives the other meanings.
Remember I mean no offence ] to anybody -I am just translating