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《爱要有你才完竣》 作者：《新东方英语》裁剪部

你是我的看管天神

A Child's Angel

Once upon a time there was a child ready to be born. One day the little child asked God, "They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?"

God answered him, "Among the many angels, I have chosen one for you. She will be waiting for you and will take care of you."

"But tell me what I am going to do," asked the child, "here in Heaven, I don't do anything else but sing and smile, which is enough for me to be happy."

"Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you every day. And you will feel your angel's love and be happy." God reassured him.

"And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me, if I don't know the language that men talk?"

"Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak."

"And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you, Lord?"

"Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray."

"I've heard that on earth there are bad men. Who will protect me?"

"Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life."

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from earth could already be heard, and the child in a hurry asked softly, "Oh God, if I am about to leave now, please tell me my angel's name."

"You will call your angel Mother."

(Author Unknown)

孩子的看管天神

从前，一个孩子就要降生到东说念主世。一天，这个小孩问天主：“他们告诉我，你翌日就要把我送到东说念主间去，但我这样小，这样无助，到了那儿我要怎么活命啊？”

天主复兴他说：“天国里有好多天神，我挑选了一个给你。她会在那里一直等着你、照看你。”

“但是在天国里，我每天除了歌附和欢笑，其他什么事也不作念，因为这样我就特别快乐了，”孩子问，“请你告诉我，到了东说念主间我该作念些什么呢？”

“你的天神会每天为你吟唱，还会每天对你含笑。你会嗅觉到她对你的爱，那样你就会快乐了。”天主劝慰他说。

“那如果东说念主们对我讲话，我怎么才气听懂呢？我不懂东说念主类的语言啊。”

“你的天神会对你说一些你所听过的最美艳、最亲切的话语，而且她会特别耐心仔细地教你讲话。”

“然而主啊，当我想和您讲话时，我该怎么办呢？”

“你的天神会把你的双手合在一都，教你如何祈祷。”

“我传说东说念主间有恶东说念主，谁来保护我呢？”

“你的天神会保护你，即使这意味着葬送她我方的人命。”

在那一刻，天国里一派静谧，但来自东说念主间的声息已微辞可闻，孩子迅速轻声问天主：“天主啊，如果我目前就要离开，请告诉我这位天神的名字吧。”

“你不错叫她姆妈。”

（译 / 张玲）

The Mother

The most beautiful word on the lips of mankind is the word "Mother", and the most beautiful call is the call of "My mother". It is a word full of hope and love, a sweet and kind word coming from the depths of the heart. The mother is everything—she is our consolation in sorrow, our hope in misery, and our strength in weakness. She is the source of love, mercy, sympathy, and forgiveness. He who loses his mother loses a pure soul who blesses and guards him constantly.

Everything in naturebespeaksthe mother. The sun is the mother of earth and gives it its nourishment of heat; it never leaves the universe at night until it has put the earth to sleep to the song of the sea and thehymnof birds andbrooks. And this earth is the mother of trees and flowers. It produces them, nurses them, andweansthem. The trees and flowers become kind mothers of their great fruits and seeds. And the mother, theprototypeof all existence, is the eternal spirit, full of beauty and love.

(ByKahlil Gibran)

bespeak vt.露出；裸露

hymn n.欢乐的歌

brook n.溪，小川，小河

wean vt.使断奶；使脱离

prototype n.原型

Kahlil Gibran: 卡里·纪伯伦(1883~1931)，黎巴嫩阿拉伯诗东说念主、作者、画家，被称为艺术天才、黎巴嫩文学界宠儿，是阿拉伯当代演义、艺术和散文的主要奠基东说念主以及20世纪阿拉伯新文体说念路的开垦者之一。其文体作品以散文诗为主，代表作有《先知》《沙与沫》《泪与笑》等。

母亲

东说念主类嘴边最美艳的词语莫过于“母亲”，而最动听的呼叫莫过于一声“我的母亲”。“母亲”这个词满载着但愿和爱，发自东说念主们的内心深处，甜密而又亲切。母亲即是一切——她是我们缅怀时的劝慰，灾祸时的但愿，脆弱时的力量。她是爱、仁慈、羡慕和款待的起源。谁失去了母亲，就失去了恒久如一地庇佑与呵护他的贞洁灵魂。

天然界的万物都是母亲中的一员。太阳是地面的母亲，她用我方的热量柔润着地面；夜晚，太阳母亲会哄地面入睡，让她在海洋的吟唱以及鸟儿与溪流的欢歌中干预梦幻后才会离去。地面是树木和花朵的母亲，她助长了她们，柔润着她们，又让她们离开我方的怀抱独自成长。树木和花朵又成为丰硕果实和饱和种子的慈母。而母亲，那天地万物的原型啊，即是一种充满美艳与爱的不灭精神。

（ 译 / 赵越）

AFive-finger Discount

The Belfast, Maine of my youth was not the coastal tourist village that it is today. At the time, Belfast was still a blue-collar town. McDonald's hadn't yet moved into town. Before the supermarket existed, Cottle's, a food market where my dad worked, was the only place where my mother could do her once-a-week shopping. Because we lived a few miles from Belfast, we'd usually combine the grocery trip with a visit to see my grandmother. Of course, Grammy always had cookies ready for the grandkids.

On one particular shopping day at Cottle's, I stood behind my mother as she was unloading the grocery cart andcheckingher itemsoutat theregister. The candy displays on either side of me were full ofLife Savers, Clark Bars, Tootsie Rolls, Sugar Babies—you name it!

"Can I get some candy?" I asked.

My mother rarelyveeredfrom her list so I wasn't surprised with her response. "No."

This much I knew for certain. "No" always meant "No". There was no sense in me asking a second time. But I really, really wanted that candy!

I reached for a Sugar Baby package. My mother didn't notice. So I figured she probably wouldn't notice if I ever socoylyput them into my pocket. We continued checking out and walked with the bag boy to the car where he loaded the bags into the car's trunk. No one noticed my action—not my mother, not the cashier, not the bag boy—no one! I did it! Wow! My very firstshopliftingexperience! A five-finger discount! How exciting! How easy! How rewarding! Got my candy and didn't need one penny to get it!

I sat in the back seat as my mother drove across the bridge to where my grandmother lived. Slowly, so as not to make any unnecessary noise, I opened my prize and carefullyslippeda Sugar Baby into my mouth. No one piece of candy ever tasted so good! Mom might have said, "No," but I'd said, "Yes," and look who'd won!

When we pulled into my grandmother's driveway, I knew I wasin the clear. Miles and minutes separated me from Cottle's. As I prepared to open my car door, I confidently slipped a few more Sugar Babies into my mouth. They wouldtidemeoveruntil I got to Grammy's cookie jar inside.

Big mistake. "Keith, what have you got in your mouth?" I looked up at therearview mirrorand could see the reflection of my mother's eyes staringintentlyback at me. "I asked you a question! What have you got in your mouth?"

Though I'd recently become skilled in the art of shoplifting, I hadn't quite mastered the art of giving falsetestimony. "Uhhh ... just some Sugar Babies."

"Sugar Babies? Where did you get the money to buy them?" Why was she asking such a foolish question? She knew I hadn't purchased them. It was no big deal. Nobody even saw me take them. It was one little package of Sugar Babies. Let's just go into Grammy's! "I ... uh ... didn't really buy them."

"That's what I thought!" And then, rather than just going into Grammy's house and giving me a good scolding, she began backing out of my grandmother's driveway.

As she drove away from my grandmother's house and then back across the bridge, I knew exactly where we were headed. To Cottle's! This was so stupid! We're talking twenty-five cents here! A return tripall the wayback there was a ridiculous waste of gas and time, if you asked me. Why was she turning this into such an emotional drama? What was she trying to prove?

I didn't have long to find out.

My mother pulled into Cottle's parking lot, cast one more glare my way, and marched me into the store. She proceeded tohunt downMr. Proulx, the store manager! Why would she want to bother an important man like Mr. Proulx about me needing to pay for some candy that any cashier could more easily just take care of?

Once she located him and got his full attention, she said, in a voice that could be heard from three aisles away, "Tell Mr. Proulx what you did!"

I knew Mr. Proulx. I liked Mr. Proulx. But on this day Mr. Proulx was taking all of hiscuesfrom my mother. There was no room for doubt. I was on trial and Mr. Proulx was judge and jury! Through tears, I admitted what I had done and apologized. My mother put a quarter in my hand to give to him. Mr. Proulx listened and accepted my apology along with the twenty-five cents. He then issued asternwarning, explaining what the consequences would be if there was ever a repeat performance.Snuffling, embarrassed, ashamed, I totally understood the significance of my actions and what they might lead to if notnipped in the bud: Sugar Babies today, grand theft auto tomorrow.

To this day, often while in a checkout lane near a candy rack, I think back to the lesson I learned from my mother. Thanks, Mom, for keeping me from a life of crime.

(By Keith Smith)

five-finger discount: 商店行窃，商店顺遂牵羊

check out: (顾主在结账柜台)对(所购的货品)计价付款

register n.收款机

Life Savers, Clark Bars, Tootsie Rolls, Sugar Babies: 它们均为好意思国知名的糖果品牌。Life Saver是一种圈状的薄荷糖，因其专有的铝箔圈包装而著称；Clark Bar是一种巧克力花生奶油牛轧糖；Tootsie Roll是一种咀嚼糖；Sugar Baby是一种耐嚼的牛奶焦饴糖。

you name it: 凡你说得出的，应有尽有

veer vi.更正标的，转向

coyly adv.假装害羞地

shoplifting n.(混在顾主群中进行的)商店货品扒窃

slip vt.(不惹东说念主真贵地)迅速放手；暗暗塞

in the clear: 无危境(或贫寒)的

tide over: (使)渡过(贫寒时候)，(使)克服(贫寒等)

rearview mirror: (车辆上的)后视镜

intently adv.(认识等)固定不动地

testimony n.证词

all the way: 一直

hunt down: 找寻到，搜寻……直至找到

cue n.示意

stern adj.严厉的

snuffling adj.抽鼻子的；带鼻音讲话的

nip in the bud: 把……灭亡于萌芽状态；重视

顺遂牵“糖”

我小的时候，缅因州的贝尔法斯特还不是如今这样的海滨旅游小镇。阿谁时候，贝尔法斯特照旧一座蓝领小镇，麦当劳都还莫得进驻。在超市出现前，爸爸责任的科特尔食物市集成了姆妈每周一次购物惟一可去的方位。由于我们住得离贝尔法斯特有几英里远，是以我们往往在购物的时候趁机去看望外婆。天然啦，外婆老是为我们这些孩子准备好饼干吃。

有一天去科特尔市集购物时，姆妈在收银台前从购物车里拿出所买的货品逐项结账，我站在她死后。在我两旁的货架上摆满了多样各样的糖果——Life Saver薄荷糖、Clark Bar牛轧糖、Tootsie Roll咀嚼糖、Sugar Baby牛奶焦饴糖——各种品牌，应有尽有！

“能给我买点儿糖吗？”我问姆妈。

姆妈的真贵力险些没从清单上移开，因此她复兴“不行”的时候我并不虞外。

对此我十分细则。“不行”就意味着“不行”。我再问第二遍毫无兴味兴味。但是我真的真的很想吃糖！

我把手伸向一包Sugar Baby糖，姆妈并未真贵到。因此我想，如果我假装害羞然后把它们塞进衣服口袋里，姆妈很可能不会发现。我们络续结账，然后随着打包劳动员一都走到车前，劳动员把购物袋放进后备厢。谁也莫得发现我的偷窃行动——非论是我姆妈、收银员照旧打包劳动员——莫得任何东说念主发现！我凯旋了！哇！我平生第一次体验商店行窃！一次顺遂牵羊！何等令东说念主豪放！何等不费吹灰之力！何等有收货！我分文未花就得到了这些糖！

姆妈开车通过一座桥，向外婆家驶去，我坐在车后座上。为了幸免发出不必要的声息，我逐步地翻开我方的战利品，然后欺压翼翼地把一块Sugar Baby糖暗暗塞进了嘴里。再莫得比这更可口的糖啦！姆妈概况说过“不行”，但是我却说“行”，望望最终是谁赢了！

当我们驶入外婆家的车说念时，我以为我安全了——距离上和时分上我都鉴别了科特尔市集。我一边准备翻开车门，一边温顺地又塞了几块Sugar Baby糖到嘴里。它们甜好意思的滋味会一直追随我干预外婆家直到我提起饼干罐。

这样作念确凿大错特错！“基想，你嘴里在吃什么东西？”我昂首看向后视镜，发现姆妈正从镜子里目不转视地盯着我。“我问你呢！你嘴里在吃什么东西？”

天然我刚刚熟练掌捏了入店行窃术，但我却尚不精于提供假证词。“呃……即是一些Sugar Baby糖。”

“Sugar Baby糖？你哪来的钱买糖？”姆妈怎么会问我这样一个愚蠢的问题？她知说念我根底就没买过。没什么大不了的，根底就没东说念主看见我拿糖了。不即是一小袋Sugar Baby糖嘛。迅速进外婆家吧！“我……呃……其实我并没买。”

“尽然不出我所料！”接着，姆妈既莫得进外婆家，也莫得狠狠月旦我，而是把车倒出了外婆家的车说念。

等姆妈将车驶离了外婆家然后再次穿过那座桥的时候，我了了地知说念我们将赶赴何处。去科特尔市集！确凿太傻了！不外是一包25好意思分的糖辛勤！如果你问我，我会说：开车大老远原路复返真够好笑的，既费油又费时。为什么姆妈要小题大作念呢？她想要讲明什么呢？

没过多久我就找到了谜底。

姆妈把车停入科特尔市集的泊车场，又瞪了我一眼，带着我走进市集。她驱动四处寻找市集司理普罗克斯先生。我要补付糖果钱，任何收银员都能松懈处理，她何苦要贫乏像普罗克斯先生这样紧迫的东说念主呢？

姆妈一发现普罗克斯先生而且让他把真贵力完全滚动到我们身上后，她就用三个过说念除外都能听得见的大嗓门说说念：“告诉普罗克斯先生你的一言一行！”

我相识普罗克斯先生。我心爱他。但是那天他完全长入了姆妈的意图。无须置疑，我在受审，而普罗克斯先生即是法官和陪审团！我流着眼泪承认了之前所作念的一切并说念了歉。姆妈把25好意思分放到我手里，让我交给普罗克斯先生。他听着我的呈报，接收了我的说念歉，收下了那25好意思分。然后，他向我提议严厉教会，告诉我如果再犯后果将会如何。我血泪着，窘态不已，惭愧难当，完全毅力到了我方行动的严重性，也知说念了如果莫得将它抹杀在萌芽中最终会导致什么铁心——今天偷糖小贼，翌日窃车大盗。

直到今天，时时当我站在糖果架隔壁的付款通说念时，我照旧会想起姆妈给我上的这一课。谢谢你，姆妈，是你让我鉴别了罪人的说念路。

（译 / 刘克）

Off the Shelf

When I was ten years old, I lived with my family in a smallranch housein rural South Jersey. I often accompanied my mother to theA&Pto buy groceries. We did not have a car, so we walked, and I would help her carry the bags.

My mother had to shop very carefully, as my father was on strike. She was a waitress, and her salary and tips barely sustained us. One day, while she was weighing prices, apromotionaldisplay for the World Book Encyclopedia caught my eye. The volumes were cream-colored, with forest-greenspinesstamped in gold. Volume I was ninety-nine cents with a ten-dollar purchase.

All I could think of, as we combed the aisles for creamed corn, dry milk, cans of Spam, andshreddedwheat, was the book, which I longed for with all my being. I stood at the register with my mother, holding my breath as the cashierrang upthe items. It came to over eleven dollars. My mother produced a five, somesingles, and a handful of change. As she was counting out the money, I somehow found the courage to ask for the encyclopedia. "Could we get one?" I said, showing her the display. "It's only ninety-nine cents."

I did not understand my mother's increasing anxiety; she did not have enough change and had to sacrifice a large can of peas to pay the amount. "Not now, Patricia," she said sternly. "Today is not a good day." I packed the groceries and followed her home,crestfallen.

The next Saturday, my mother gave me a dollar and sent me to the A&P alone. Two quarts of milk and a loaf of bread—that's what a dollar bought in 1957. I went straight to the World Book display. There was only one first volume left, which I placed in my cart. I didn't need a cart, but took one so I could read as I went up and down the aisles. A lot of time went by, but I had little concept of time, a fact that often got me in trouble. I knew I had to leave, but I couldn't bear to part with the book. Impulsively I put it inside my shirt andzipped upmyplaidwindbreaker. I was a tall, skinny kid, and I'm certain the shape of the book was obvious.

Istrolledthe aisles for several more minutes, then went through the checkout, paid my dollar, swiftly bagged the three items, and headed home with my heart pounding.

Suddenly I felt a heavy tap on my shoulder and turned to find the biggest man I had ever seen. He was the store detective, and he asked me to hand it over. I just stood in silence. "We know you stole something—you will have to be searched." Horrified, I slid the heavy book out from the bottom of my shirt.

He looked at itquizzically. "This is what you stole, an encyclopedia?"

"Yes," I whispered, trembling.

"Why didn't you ask your parents?"

"I did," I said, "but they didn't have the money."

"Do you know it's wrong?"

"Yes."

"Do you go to church?"

"Yes, twice a week."

"Well, you're going to have to tell your parents what you did."

"No, please."

"Then I will do it. What's the address?" I was silent.

"Well, I'll have to walk you home."

"No, please, I will tell them."

"Do you swear?"

"Yes, yes, sir."

My mother was worried when I arrived home. "Where were you? I needed the bread for your father's sandwiches. I told you to come right home."

And suddenly everything went green, like right before a tornado. My ears were ringing, I felt dizzy, and Ithrew up.

My mother tended to me immediately, as she always did. She had me lie on the couch and got a cold towel for my head and sat by me with her anxious expression.

"What is it, Patricia?" she asked. "Did something bad happen?"

"Yes," I whispered. "I stole something." I told her about my lust for the book, my wrongdoing, and the big detective. My mother was a good mother, but she could beexplosive, and I tensed, waiting for thebarrageof verbal punishment, the sentencing that always seemed to outweigh the crime. But she said nothing. She told me that she would call the store and tell the detective I had confessed, and that I should sleep.

When I awoke, sometime later, the house was silent. My mother had taken my siblings to the field to play. I sat up and noticed a brown-paper bag with my name on it. I opened it and inside was the World Book Encyclopedia, Volume I.

(By Patti Smith)

ranch house: (时时建有车库的)牧场式平房住宅

A&P: 大欧好意思和太平洋食物公司，全称为The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company，修复于1859年，是好意思国一家大型连锁超市。

promotional adj.促销的

spine n.书脊

shred vt.撕碎；切碎。此处shredded wheat指早餐吃的脆麦片条。

ring up: 把(钱款)记入(收款机)

single n. 1元纸币

crestfallen adj.颓丧的

zip up: 拉上拉链

plaid adj.有格子图案的

windbreaker n.防风夹克衫

stroll vt.在……踱步

quizzically adv.探访地；疑问地

throw up: 吐逆

explosive adj.烦懑的

barrage n.一连串，接二连三的一大堆

窃布告

我10岁的时候，和家东说念主一都住在南泽西郊区一个低矮的小平房里。我频频陪姆妈到A&P超市去买日用品。我们莫得车，是以都是走着去的，而我都会帮她拎袋子。

姆妈买东西必须量入为用，因为爸爸其时正在歇工。她是一个劳动员，工资和小费加在一都也就免强够保管我们的活命。一天，当她在超市里比较价钱时，《世界百科全书》的促销展示迷惑了我的真贵。那是一套奶白色的书，暗绿色的书脊上头烫着金字。购物满10好意思元就不错用99好意思分买这套书的第一本。

当我们穿梭在超市货架通说念之间寻找着奶油玉米、奶粉、斯帕姆午餐肉罐头和脆麦片条时，我满脑子想的都是那本书，一门心想就想得到它。我和姆妈站在收银台旁，我屏住呼吸，看着收银员输入那些东西的金额结账。总金额跳跃了11好意思元。姆妈拿出一张5好意思元、几张1好意思元和一把零钱。在她数钱的时候，我不知怎的饱读起了勇气问她要那本百科全书。“我们买一本行吗？”我一边说，一边指着阿谁促销展示让她看，“只须99好意思分。”

我其时并不睬解姆妈渐增的烦懑不安——她带的零钱不够，不得不湮灭一大罐豌豆才够付款。“目前不行，帕特里夏，”她厉声说说念，“今天不行。”我把买的杂货都装进袋子里，俯首丧气地随着她回了家。

接下来的阿谁周六，姆妈给了我1好意思元，派我独自去A&P超市买东西。我要买两夸脱牛奶和一长条面包，在1957年，1好意思元不错买到这些。我平直走到了《世界百科全书》的展台。第一本只剩下了一本，我把它放进了我的购物车。我并不需要购物车，但我却推了一个，因为这样我就能一边看书一边推着它在过说念里走来走去。很永劫分夙昔了，但我这个东说念主向来莫得什么时分不雅念——这频频让我惹上贫乏。我知说念我得走了，但又实在舍不得放下那本书。于是我一时冲动，将那本书塞进了我的衬衫内部，然后拉上了我那件印有格子图案的防风夹克的拉链。那时的我长得又高又瘦，我敢细则书的空洞一定寥落显着。

我在过说念里又转悠了几分钟，然后走到收银台，付了1好意思元，迅速将三样东西装进袋子里，然后回家。我的心怦怦直跳。

霎时，我以为有东说念主在我肩膀上重重拍了一下，我转过身去，发现是一个大个子男东说念主，那是我见过的块头最大的东说念主。他是那家超市的保安，他让我把东西交出来。我一声不吭地站在那儿。“我们知说念你偷了东西，你得让我们抄身。”我吓坏了，把那本耐心的书从衬衣下摆处滑了出来。

他大惑不明地看着那本书。“这即是你偷的东西，一本百科全书？”

“是的。”我小声复兴，体魄有点儿发抖。

“为什么不让你的父母买给你呢？”

“我问过，”我说，“但他们莫得钱。”

“你知说念这是不合的吗？”

“我知说念。”

“你去教堂作念礼拜吗？”

“是的，每周去两次。”

“好吧，你得告诉你的父母你都作念了什么。”

“不要，求求你了。”

“那我来告诉他们。你们家住哪儿？”我没复兴。

“好吧，那我就得送你回家了。”

“不要，求你了，我会告诉他们的。”

“你发誓？”

“是的，是的，先生。”

当我到家的时候，姆妈急坏了。“你去哪儿了？我等着用面包给你爸爸作念三明治呢。我告诉过你要直接回家的啊。”

霎时，我嗅觉目下的一切都变暗了，就好像龙卷风行将驾临前相似。我的耳朵嗡嗡作响，我以为头昏脑胀，然后就吐了。

姆妈坐窝驱动照看起我来，就像她频频作念的那样。她让我躺在沙发上，拿了一条冷毛巾敷在我的额头上，然后一脸记挂性坐在我身边。

“怎么了，帕特里夏？”她问，“是不是发生了什么不好的事儿？”

“是的，”我柔声说，“我偷东西了。”我告诉了她我对那本书的渴慕，我犯下的错，还有阿谁大个子保安的事儿。我姆妈是一个好姆妈，不外她秉性火爆，是以我很垂死，等着她痛骂我一顿，等着接收那似乎总比所犯的错要重的刑事牵累。但她什么都没说。她告诉我她会给超市打电话，告诉阿谁保安我还是直快了，然后让我好好睡一觉。

我睡了一段时分醒来后，发现房子里静悄悄的。姆妈带我的伯仲姐妹们去院子里玩了。我坐起身来，看到了一个写着我名字的棕色纸袋。我翻开袋子，内部恰是那本《世界百科全书》第一本。

（译 / 张玲）

The Shaved Eyebrows

It was evening and time for my little sister and me to take our showers and get ready for bed. As I passed the mirror in the bathroom, there it was—a wild hair right in the middle of my forehead, threatening to be the beginning of the third eyebrow. I went into the shower trying to think of a solution, and then I spotted a razor. I took it and started trying to shave off the savage hair.

Usually I would trust my mom's advice about what to do in this sort of situation, but this was just too complicated for her—or so I thought. Well, while I was shaving that hair off, the razor slipped, and I ended up shaving off half my eyebrow! Then I did what any girl would do in this situation—I tried toeventhemout. When I was finished, I looked in the mirror. It was a disaster! I tried to figure out if there was any way to fix this mess. Thankfully, I found a way to hide my mistake. I put mybangsover my eyebrows. It worked perfectly!

Just then my parents called me to come and say good night. Nobody noticed my eyebrows, but they did notice my little sister's eyebrows! It turned out that while I was fighting the stray hair, she had found another razor in the drawer and began copying me. Now her eyebrows were completely missing! My parents were very confused until they finally noticed thathalf my eyebrows were gone as well. After a lot of questioning, Ibroke downand confessed to what had happened.

I thought that my parents would be mad at me until my mom took me aside to tell me that when she was a preteen, she had done a similar thing. In her case, it was herunderarms. While away at camp on a swimming day, she was extremely embarrassed because she had some long hairs in herarmpits. My grandma, her mom, had told her she was too young to shave yet. But she went against her mom's wishes and borrowed her friend's razor and shaved her armpits. Then she wrote her mom a confession letter telling her that she had done a terrible thing and that she was very sorry. At the very end of this long two-page letter, she finally told her mom what she had done. As my grandma read through the letter, she was so worried about this terrible thing that her daughter had done that by the end of the letter she laughed, because she was just sorelievedto find out about what had actually happened. My grandmother totally understood how my mom had felt, just like my mom now understood me.

This ended up bringing my mom and me even closer together. I still wouldn't ever recommend trying to shave your eyebrows. I suggest that you find a different way to get closer to your mom!

As for my little sister, it took a long time for her eyebrows to grow back in. From then on, I've learned to be a better example to her because she still copies everything I do!

(By Ariel Subrahmanyam)

even out: 使平，拉平

bang n.前刘海

half my eyebrows were gone as well: “我”在失慎刮掉半条眉毛后，试着将双方的眉毛修成相似的，铁心失败了，但双方的眉毛都少了一半，是以此处用eyebrows。

break down: 哀泣起来

underarm n.腋下部(尤指腋窝)

armpit n.腋窝

relieved adj.省心的，宽慰的

眉毛刮掉以后

某一天晚上，我和妹妹是时分去洗个澡，准备上床寝息了。当我从浴室的镜子前走逾期，我看到了它——我前额正中间的那绺乱发，似乎要长成我的第三条眉毛了。我一边洗沐，一边尽力想着解决目标，然后我看见了剃刀。我提起它，驱动试着把那绺乱发剃掉。

时时，我都会听从姆妈对于如何处理这类问题的建议，但这个问题对她来说太复杂了——或者我是这样认为的。联系词就在我剃那绺头发的时候，剃刀一行，铁心我的半条眉毛被剃掉了！然后，我作念了任何一个女孩在这种情况下都会作念的事——我试图将双方的眉毛修成相似的。弄完后，我照了照镜子，却发现惨绝人寰！我尽力想找个方法贬责这一团糟。谢天谢地，我找到了一个目标来隐敝这个乌有。我用前额的刘海遮住了眉毛。效率好极了！

就在那时，父母喊我去和他们说念晚安。谁都莫得真贵到我的眉毛，但他们却都真贵到了妹妹的眉毛！原本，就在我处理那绺缭乱的头发时，妹妹在抽屉里又找了把剃刀，驱动照着我的方式作念。目前，她的眉毛完全没了！父母特别困惑，直到他们最终发现我的一半眉毛也不见了。流程一番追问，我哭了，坦承了发生的一切。

我以为父母会生我的气，但姆妈却把我带到一边，告诉我她在十一二岁时也作念过近似的事情。只不外她那次是发生在腋下。在外出露营游水的时候，她以为特别难为情，因为她的腋毛太长了。她的姆妈，也即是我的外婆曾告诉过她，她还没到该刮腋毛的年龄。但她抵抗外婆的意愿，借了一又友的一把剃刀，把我方的腋毛刮掉了。然后，她给外婆写了一封忏悔信，说我方作念了一件很可怕的事，感到特别抱歉。在那封长达两页的信的末尾，她才最终告诉外婆我方作念了什么。外婆读那封信时，一直在记挂我方女儿所作念的那件可怕的事情，但读到信的罢了时，她笑了。因为她终于知说念到底发生了什么，长长地松了联络。外婆完全解析姆妈那时的感受，就像姆妈目前解析我相似。

这件事让我和姆妈变得更亲密了。我仍然非论何时都不会赞扬你试着刮掉我方的眉毛。建议你另找一个标准来拉近你和姆妈之间的距离！

至于我的小妹妹，过了很长一段时分她的眉毛才长回原样。从那时起，我学会了为她建设一个更好的榜样，因为她仍然会效法我作念的一切！

（译 / 朱孝萍）

Oh, to Be Rich with Mom's Cake!

I lay on my bed, legspropped upagainst the wall, desperately wishing my mother would call. But I remembered the last time I'd seen her, right before the train for Providencepulled outof the station, "You know how expensive it is to call," she said, then squeezed me tight and said good-bye.

This was my first birthday away from home. I missed my mom, missed my sister, and most certainly missed the specialpound cakemy mother always made for my birthday. Since getting to college that year, I would watch jealously as the other freshmen received care packages from their parents on their birthdays—and even on ordinary days. Big boxes containing summerslacksand blouses, packages ofM&M's and Snickers, things they needed and things they didn't. Instead of feeling thrilled about my upcoming eighteenth birthday, I felt empty. I wished my mom would send me something, too, but I knew that she couldn't afford presents or the postage. She had done her best with my sister and me—raising us by herself. The simple truth was there just was never enough money.

But that didn't stop her from filling us with dreams. "You can be anything you want to be," she would tell us. "Politicians, dancers, writers—you just have to work for it; you have to get an education."

For a long time, because of my mother'sresourcefulness, I didn't realize that we were poor. She did so much with so little. She owned and took care of our house. She clothed and fed us. She found ways to get us scholarships so that we could take violin, piano andviolalessons from some of the best teachers in Philadelphia. She never missed an opportunity to have atête-à-têtewith our schoolteachers, and she attended all our plays and musical performances. My mother had high hopes for my sister and me. She saw the way out of poverty for us was education. We didn't play with the other children on the street, didn't jumpdouble-dutchor stay out late on the porch laughing and talking with our neighbors. We were inside doing our homework and reading books. She sat with us while we did our work and taught us how to learn what she didn't know byplowing throughthe World Book Encyclopedia or visiting the library.

She did it all on 800 dollars a month and what a struggle it was for her.

"Please, Mom, can we go to the movies?" We'd beg.

"No, we can watch a movie at home," she'd say, turning to the movie channel.

"Can't we get nicer pants than these ugly green things?" We'd say as we went through the black plastic bag filled withhand-me-downsfrom our cousins.

"These willdo you finefor now," Mom would say.

"Why can't I have money to buy French fries after school?" I would plead, my nostrils full with the remembered smell ofsizzlinggrease and freshly salted potatoes.

"No, you don't need that mess. Besides, I've made pea soup with carrots and potatoes."

She never bought anything that she could make herself.

I felt our lack most deeply after Christmas, when the other kids talked about the new games and expensiveoutfitsthey had found tucked under their live Christmas trees. I didn't mention our silver tree that we unpacked and repacked every year, or that there were only a couple of items for me under the tree: some books, socks, maybe a pair of shoes that I needed. And because my dad wasn't around, Mompressed me into service—I would wrap my younger sister's gifts so that she could wake up excitedly, believing that Santa had left gifts for her under the tree.

Thanks to my mom's sacrifices and big dreams, I'd made it to the Ivy League: Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Yet I was afraid that I wouldn'tmeasure up tothe other students. They seemed toexudeconfidence and the smell of money. I felt so lost, so far away, as if my mom had said, "Well, if you're old enough to go six hours away, you're old enough to take care of yourself."

As I was recalling these things, my roommate joined me on the bed. "Hey. After we study, let's buy ice cream and cake." I nodded, closed my eyes, and imagined the cake Mom would have made. She would take out her mixer and thechromebowl, then add the butter that she'd letsit outuntil it was soft. She would pour in thesugargrainsin a narrow stream. Mmm. I could see the golden yellow of each of the twelve eggs, swallowed under the rapid blur of the spinning beaters, and I could almost smell the vanilla and nutmeg filling the house while the cake baked.

As I daydreamed, there was a knock on the door. My roommate opened it to find a deliveryman asking for me. He handed her a large box, which she carefully placed on the desk near my bed. "Open it." I did, and inside was a vanilla cake with chocolate frosting. In icing were the words: "Happy Birthday, Sande! Love, Mom." My skintingledwith excitement, as if Mom were right there hugging me close. How had she managed to afford it? I felt as if I were back at home with her, safe and secure while she sang and told me how much she loved having me in her life. I ran out to the hall and knocked on my dormmates' doors. "Birthday cake," I called. As I cut cake for the students gathered in my room, then watched their faces as they ate, I didn't need to eat to feel both full and rich inside.

(By Sande Smith)

prop up: 把……靠着

pull out: (火车)离站

pound cake: 重糖重油蛋糕。这个名字源于这种蛋糕率先烘焙时的配方，即1磅面粉配1磅糖、1磅黄油和好多鸡蛋。

slack n.便裤，宽松长裤

M&M's and Snickers: 两大巧克力品牌。M&M's是世界第一大巧克力豆品牌，1941年降生于好意思国；Snickers (士力架)则是世界巧克力家眷中的巨头，1930年在好意思国上市，主打能量型巧克力糖果。

resourcefulness n.鬼计百端

viola n.中提琴

tête-à-tête n.两东说念主间的密谈

double-dutch: 交叉绳：一种跳绳通顺，最早在好意思国兴起。这种通顺的公法条目两根跳绳同期向相背的标的摇，因此需要很高的跳绳手段。

plow through: 辛勤地阅读

hand-me-down: 旧衣服

do sb. fine: 妥贴某东说念主

sizzling adj.发咝咝声的

outfit n.全套服装

press sb. into sth./doing sth.: 坚忍地让某东说念主作念某事

measure up to: 适合，达到，够得上

exude vt.(使)流出，(使)渗出，发散开来

chrome n.铬，铬合金

sit (sth.) out: 耐心比及收场；熬到收场。此处指让黄油逐步放软。

sugar grain: 细砂糖

tingle vi.(由于清冷、拍击或兴奋)产生一种灼痛的嗅觉，感到刺痛

姆妈的蛋糕

我躺在床上，双腿靠在墙上，拚命但愿姆妈会打电话来。但我想起了我上一次见她时——就在开往普罗维登斯的火车行将驶出车站时——她对我说：“你知说念打电话有多贵。”然后牢牢地抱了抱我就说念差别开了。

这是我离开家过的第一个寿辰，我想念姆妈，想念妹妹，天然，我最想念的照旧我过寿辰时，姆妈总会为我作念的阿谁寥落的重糖重油蛋糕。自从那年上大学后，我总会嫉恨地注目着其他荣达在过寿辰的时候，致使是通俗的日子里，收到他们的父母寄来的爱心包裹。一大盒一大盒的夏日长裤和逍遥衫，一包包的M&M's巧克力豆和士力架——他们需要的和不需要的东西。对于行将到来的18岁寿辰，我不但莫得感到兴奋，反而以为笼统。我但愿姆妈也会寄些东西给我，但我知说念她买不起礼物，也付不起邮资。她独自奉养我和妹妹还是尽了全力了。事实很肤浅：我们的钱弥远不够花。

但那并莫得结巴她给我们真贵渴望。“你们想成为什么样的东说念主就能成为什么样的东说念主，”她会这样告诉我们，“政事家、跳舞家、作者——你们只需要为之尽力欣喜，你们必须受栽培。”

很长一段时分，因为母亲的鬼计百端，我并莫得毅力到我们的清寒。她用那么少的钱却作念了那么多的事。她买下并收拾着我们的房子。她让我们有衣穿，有饭吃。她想目标让我们拿到奖学金，好让我们去上费城一些最佳的本分老成的小提琴、钢琴和中提琴课。她从来不会错过和我们的本分暗里沟通的契机。她不雅看我们通盘的比赛和音乐演奏会。姆妈对我和妹妹委用了厚望。她明白只须栽培才气让我们开脱清寒。我们不和其他孩子一都在街上玩耍，不跳交叉绳，也不在屋外的门廊上和邻居们谈笑到很晚。我们都待在家里作念功课、看书。我们作念功课的时候，姆妈就坐在一旁，教我们如何通过查阅《世界百科全书》或者去藏书楼学习她不懂的内容。

她每个月只用800好意思元就作念成了通盘这些事。对她来说，这何等辞谢易啊！

“求你了，姆妈，我们不错去看电影吗？”我们会这样央求。

“不行。我们不错在家看电影。”她会这样复兴，同期把电视调到电影频说念。

我们翻着黑塑料袋里亲戚们穿过的那些旧衣服时，会说：“这些绿裤子太难看了，难说念我们就弗成穿比这雅瞻念小数的裤子吗？”

“这些衣服你们目前穿正合适。”姆妈会这样说。

“为什么弗成给我点儿钱，让我下学后买薯条吃呢？”我会这样央求，鼻子里尽是记挂中咝咝作响的热油和新炸出来的加盐薯条的香味。

“不，你不需要吃那些参差不齐的东西。而且，我还是作念了加胡萝卜和土豆的豌豆汤给你喝。”

但凡她能我方入手作念的东西，她从来不会用钱去买。

最让我真切地感到我们物资匮乏是在圣诞节之后，阿谁时候别的孩子都在大谈特谈他们在的确的圣诞树下找到的那些新玩物和腾贵的套装。我从不跟别东说念主说起我们那棵每年过圣诞节时阻隔包装、过了圣诞节再包起来的银色圣诞树，也不提圣诞树下为我准备的只须几个稀疏小物件：几本书、袜子，也许还有我需要的一对鞋。因为爸爸不在身边，是以姆妈就硬让我帮着干活——给妹妹包装礼物，好让她在第二天早上兴奋地醒来，服气圣诞老东说念主在圣诞树下给她留了礼物。

感谢姆妈的葬送和她的那些大渴望，我考上了常春藤盟校：位于罗得岛州普罗维登斯的布朗大学。但我记挂我弗成和其他学生比拟。他们似乎全身险峻飘溢着自信和钱的滋味。我感到那么迷惘、那么鉴别东说念主群，就好像姆妈曾说过：“唔，如果你还是长大了，能到六小时路程除外的方位去，那你也就到了能照看好我方的年齿了。”

在我淡雅这些的时候，我的室友坐到了我床上。“嗨，自习后，我们去买冰淇淋和蛋糕吃吧!”我点了点头，闭上眼睛，瞎想着姆妈会作念的那种蛋糕。她会取出她的搅动器和那只铬碗，然后把她早已放在一边变得松软的黄油加入其中。然后，她会将细砂糖如小溪流般倒进去。嗯。我仿佛看见那12个鸡蛋的每一个金黄色的蛋黄在那高速旋转的搅动器的搅动下被吞没。我险些能够闻到正在烘焙的蛋糕发出的香草和肉豆蔻的香味，充满了通盘房子。

刚直我作念着白天梦的时候，传来了一阵叩门声。我的室友翻开门，看到一个邮递员，是找我的。他递给我的室友一个大大的盒子，她欺压翼翼地将它放在我床边的桌上。“翻开它。”我翻开盒子，内部是一个撒着巧克力糖霜的香草味蛋糕。蛋糕的糖衣上写着：“寿辰快乐，桑德！爱你的姆妈。”我的皮肤因兴奋而感到一阵阵发麻，好像姆妈就站在这儿牢牢地抱着我相似。她是怎么设法付的钱呢？我感到我方好像又回到了家，和姆妈在一都，姆妈为我唱着寿辰歌，而且告诉我她何等欢乐这辈子有我这个女儿，我感到祥瑞无忧。我跑到大厅里，敲开舍友们的门。“寿辰蛋糕！”我喊说念。当我为都集在我寝室里的同学们切好蛋糕，然后看着她们吃的时候，我不需要吃蛋糕就以为肚子饱饱的，心里满满的。

（译/李荷卿）

The Best Mother

Terri Wilsonstompedher foot. She was the only student left in the schoolyard. And it was raining. Finally, her mother's car turned into the parking lot.

"You're late!" Terri said as she got in the car.

"Sorry. I had to take Snowball to theveterinarianfor his shots," her mother said. "I almost didn't come. I thought you'd be walking home. Then I remembered you wouldn't wear your raincoat this morning."

Terriscowled. No one in sixth grade wore raincoats!

Their small white dog pawed at her knee. "Snowball! Get down! Bad dog! You're getting hair all over me."

"Terri, he's just glad to see you."

Terri sighed and patted the trembling animal. "Sorry, boy. I didn't mean to yell."

Mrs. Wilson stopped the car in the driveway. Terri helped carry the groceries into the kitchen.Grumblingto herself, she pulled a carton of milk, some cans of apple juice, and a box of oatmeal from a bag. Why couldn't her mother buy chocolate milk andcarbonateddrinks and sugar-frostedpuffs like Mrs. Hanson bought for Laurie?

Her two older brothers trooped into the kitchen. "We're starving. Is there anything to eat?"

Mrs. Wilson pointed to the fruit bowl and the boys grabbed the last two apples. Half a dozen oranges remained in the bowl. Terriclenchedher fists. She hated peeling oranges. Wishing she were an only child like Jill MacDonald, she stomped off to her room.

Where was her tape player? She pawed aimlessly through the scattered piles of papers, books, and tapes littering her floor. Her mother refused to clean her bedroom; she said eleven-year-olds should be responsible for their own things. Terri snorted. Susan Brown was twelve, and her mother still picked up for her.

That evening Terri turned her basket of clean clothes upside down. The only pajamas she could find were the red flannel ones. She loved the soft feel of the material, but she hated the bright color. She called down the hall. "Did you do a wash today?"

"Yes."

"Did you wash my blue pajamas?"

"I don't think so. In fact, I don't think I washed anything of yours. Did you put your clothes in thehamper?"

Terri ground her teeth. She hated carrying her dirty clothes to the stupid hamper in the utility room. Why couldn't her mother gather up her laundry? After all, she walked by Terri's room at least fifty times a day. Amanda Cummings' mother always made sure her favorite clothes were clean. Once Amanda wore the same purplecaprisevery day for two weeks. She said her mom washed it every night and had it ready for her to wear the next day.

Terri pulled on the red pajamas andsnuggledup to Buster, her teddy bear. Mom will have to sew his poor arm on again, she thought, closing her eyes.

Moments later, she heard a noise. Someone wasvacuuming. She opened one eye, thenboltedupright. There was Susan Brown's mother, cleaning the bedroom in the middle of the night?

Terri looked around the room, confused. Mrs. Brown had picked up all her clothes and toys and lined her shelves with books and tapes.

"I can't sew thisthreadbarething!" yelled Mrs. Brown. She was swinging Buster Bear around her head by one ragged ear. "We'll just have to throw it away!"

"I can't throw out Buster. He's my friend. I've had him since I was six months old."

"Then you've had him long enough. You'll sleep much better without this piece of rubbish. And remember, Snowball stays in his doghouse. If I find one white hair on your bed, it's off to thepoundwith him." Mrs. Brown sniffed and disappeared in a flash of light.

"Terri, I have a present for you." Amanda Cummings' mother appeared, holding a pair ofdesignerjeans. Terri whooped with delight. She tried to hug Mrs. Cummings, but the woman pushed her away. "Be careful! You'llwrinklemy blouse!"

The pants fit perfectly, but they didn't feel right. "Uh, Mrs. Cummings, they'restiff."

"Well, of course. That's the very latest fashion."

"But I like only soft clothes. Couldn't you do what my mother does and run them through the washing machine a few times before I start to wear them?"

"Certainly not. What's the point of buying the newest styles if you're going to ruin them right away? As soon as you get home, change clothes so you don't ruin those jeans."

Terri noddedmiserably. She hated changing clothes after school. Then she heard Jill MacDonald's mother call her to supper. Holding the jeans, Mrs. Cummings vanished.

Terri looked down and found herself at the kitchen table. She sawscallopedpotatoes, broccoli with ayuckycheese sauce, and a chicken cutlet on her plate. Mrs. MacDonald asked her what was wrong.

"My brothers and I don't like scalloped potatoes, so my mom doesn't make them. We don't like cheese sauce either, so she just gives us plain broccoli."

Mrs. MacDonald raised an eyebrow. "Well, my husband and I like scalloped potatoes and cheese sauce. I'm not going to change our diet just toaccommodateone child. You may leave the table if you don't wish to eat what is being served."

Suddenly, Mrs. Hanson was in the kitchen. For breakfast she put out frosted puffs and soda. They tasted terrific. Terri had two big bowls of the cereal and three tall glasses of the drink. But, later, at gym class, she couldn't finish the relay race. Her legs feltwobblyand her stomach wasqueasy. Shegroaned.

"Terri, honey! Wake up!"

Terri opened her eyes. Snowball was standing on her chest, licking her face, and Buster Bear was lying on her pillow.

Her mother leaned over the bed. "I heard you call out. Were you having a dream?"

Terrishuddered. "It was more like a nightmare."

"Shall I make you some warm milk?"

Terri shook her head. She reached up and hugged her mother. "Could you just stay with me for a minute?"

Mrs. Wilson smiled and sat down, her arms around her daughter. "This is nice. Lately, I've been thinking you were all grown-up and didn't want hugs anymore."

"Oh, Mom! I'll never be so grown-up that I won't need hugs from you. You're the best mother in the world."

(By Liddell Sharen)

stomp vt.跺(脚)

veterinarian n. (= veterinary surgeon) 兽医

scowl vi.蹙眉

grumble vi.咕哝；发哼声

carbonated adj.(饮料）含二氧化碳的

frosted adj.(糕饼)撒有糖霜的

clench vt.攥紧(拳头等)

hamper n.有盖(柳条)大筐

capris n.(= capri pants) 卡普里裤(一种行为便装的长至足踝上端的紧身裤，一般为妇女所穿)

snuggle vi.称心地蜷伏；偎依；躺下

vacuum vi.使用真空吸尘器

bolt vi.跳起来；迅速迁徙

threadbare adj.(衣服等)破烂不胜的

pound n.(走失或无派司六畜的)认领栏，官设兽栏

designer adj.(居品)由遐想师专门遐想的；标出遐想师姓名的

wrinkle vt.起皱

stiff adj.硬的，挺的，不宜抨击的

miserably adv.灾祸地，苦恼地；令东说念主难受地

scallop vt.在(食物)上浇上调味汁、牛奶及面包屑后烘焙；用扇贝壳(或扇贝状碟)烘烤

yucky adj.令东说念主反感的，令东说念主厌恶的

accommodate vt.给……提供便捷，通融

wobbly adj.摇晃的，扭捏的

queasy adj.(想)吐逆的，(感到)恶心的

groan vi.呻吟；发哼声

shudder vi.(东说念主)打颤，颤栗，发抖

最棒的姆妈

特丽·威尔逊用力跺着脚。校园里只剩下她一个学生了。天还不才着雨。终于，她姆妈的车转进了泊车场。

“你来晚了！”特丽边上车边说。

“抱歉。我得带雪球去兽医那儿注射，”她姆妈解释说，“我差点就不来了。我以为你会我方走回家呢。其后想起来你今天早上外出时不肯意穿雨衣。”

特丽皱了蹙眉头。六年级生中才没东说念主穿雨衣呢！

他们家的小白狗把爪子搭在她的膝盖上。“雪球！下去！你这只臭狗！你弄得我周身都是狗毛。”

“特丽，它仅仅很欢乐看见你。”

特丽叹了语气，轻轻拍了拍吓得瑟瑟发抖的小狗。“抱歉，小家伙。我不是特意朝你吼的。”

威尔逊浑家把车停在了家门口的车说念上。特丽帮手把买的食物拿进厨房。她一边从袋子里拽出一盒牛奶、几罐苹果汁和一盒燕麦片，一边嘀咕哝咕地发着恼恨。她的姆妈怎么就弗成像汉森浑家给劳丽买东西那样，买些巧克力牛奶、碳酸饮料还有糖霜泡芙呢？

她的两个哥哥一都走进厨房。“我们饿死了。有莫得吃的啊？”

威尔逊浑家指了指果盘，两个男孩抢走了终末两个苹果。果盘里就剩下六个橙子了。特丽气得攥紧了拳头。她讨厌剥橙子皮。她用力跺着脚，回到了我方的房间。她何等但愿我方和吉尔·麦克唐纳相似是家里的独生女啊！

她的灌音机在哪儿呢？她像一只没头苍蝇似的在地板上左一堆右一堆的纸啊、书啊、磁带里翻找起来。她的姆妈断绝为她打扫房间，说11岁大的孩子应该我方持重我方的事情了。特丽不屑地哼了一声。苏珊·布朗都12岁了，她姆妈还帮她收拾房间呢。

那天晚上，特丽把她那一篮干净衣服翻了个底朝天，然而只找到了那套红色法兰绒寝衣。她很心爱法兰绒那种优柔的嗅觉，但她不心爱那种鲜亮的热枕。她朝楼下客厅喊说念：“你今天洗衣服了吗？”

“洗了啊。”

“那你洗我的蓝色寝衣了吗？”

“好像没洗。现实上，我洗的衣服里莫得一件是你的。你把衣服放到洗衣篮里了吗？”

特丽气得拍案而起。她讨厌把脏衣服拿到杂物间，放到那只丑得要命的洗衣篮里。姆妈为什么就弗成帮她收一下要洗的衣服呢？不管怎么说，她一天至少要途经特丽的房间50次。阿曼达·卡明斯的姆妈老是确保阿曼达最心爱的衣服是干净的。有一次阿曼达贯串两个星期每天都穿归拢条紫色的紧身裤。她说她姆妈每天晚上帮她把裤子洗好，准备好第二天给她穿。

特丽套上红色寝衣，然后依偎在她的泰迪熊巴斯特把握。姆妈得再把巴斯特可怜的胳背缝一下了，她一边想着，一边闭上了眼睛。

过了一刹，她听到一阵声响，是有东说念主在用吸尘器。她睁开一只眼睛，然后迅速坐直了身子。是苏珊·布朗的姆妈，她怎么漏尽夜阑打扫卧室啊？

特丽看了看房间四周，困惑不已。布朗浑家把她的通盘衣服和玩物都收拾好了，还把她的书和磁带整整都都地摆在了书架上。

“这破玩意儿我可缝不了！”布朗浑家喊说念。她拎着大熊巴斯特的一只破耳朵，在她脑袋边晃来晃去。“我们把它扔掉算了！”

“我可弗成把巴斯特扔掉。他是我的一又友。我六个月大的时候他就随着我了。”

“那他陪你的时分也够长的了。莫得这件垃圾陪着你，你会睡得更好。还有记住，雪球必须待在它的狗屋里。如果我在你床上发现一根白色的狗毛，我就速即把这根狗毛和雪球一都送到动物收留所去。”布朗浑家很不屑地说完这番话，然后隐没在一说念光里。

“特丽，我有份礼物给你。”阿曼达·卡明斯的姆妈出现了，手里拿了一条出自名遐想师之手的牛仔裤。特丽欢乐地欣喜起来。她想抱抱卡明斯浑家，可这个女东说念主一下子把她推开了。“欺压点儿！你会把我的衣服弄皱的！”

裤子很称身，但穿戴嗅觉有点不合劲。“唔，卡明斯浑家，裤子有点儿硬。”

“对啊，那天然。那才是最新流行名堂啊。”

“但我只心爱优柔的衣服。你就弗成像我姆妈那样，在我穿新衣服之前把它们放到洗衣机里转几次吗？”

“天然不行。如果像你这样买回顾之后速即就把衣服毁了，那我们买最新款的衣服还有什么兴味兴味啊？你一趟到家就要换衣服，这样才不会把牛仔裤弄坏。”

特丽灾祸地点了点头。她讨厌下学回家后就换衣服。然后她又听见吉尔·麦克唐纳的姆妈叫她吃晚饭。而卡明斯浑家拿着牛仔裤隐没不见了。

特丽低头看了看，发现我方坐在了餐桌前。她看见我方的盘子里摆着加味烤土豆，浇了令东说念主厌恶的芝士酱的西兰花，还有鸡排。麦克唐纳浑家问她何处不合劲。

“我哥哥和我都不心爱吃加味烤土豆，是以我姆妈不作念。我们也不心爱芝士酱，是以她给我们作念的西兰花什么也不放。”

麦克唐纳浑家竖起眉毛，说：“但是，我先生和我都心爱加味烤土豆和芝士酱。我可不盘算为了伺候一个小孩而更正我们的饮食民俗。你如果不想吃桌上的这些东西，不错离开餐桌。”

霎时，汉森浑家出目前了厨房里。她端出糖霜泡芙和苏取水当早餐。太好意思味了！特丽吃了两大碗麦片粥，喝了三大杯饮料。但是其后，在体育课上，她都没法跑完竭力于赛了。她双腿发颤，胃里感到一阵阵恶心。她哼哼起来。

“特丽，宝贝儿！醒醒！”

特丽睁开眼睛。雪球趴在她胸口上舔她的脸，而大熊巴斯特则躺在她的枕头上。

她姆妈站在床边，俯下身来。“我刚才听见你高声叫唤。你是不是作念梦了？”

特丽打了个寒噤。“更像是个恶梦。”

“要不要我给你倒点热牛奶？”

特丽摇摇头。她起身搂着姆妈。“你能弗成就陪我待一分钟？”

威尔逊浑家微微一笑，坐下来，双手搂着她的女儿。“真好啊。最近我还一直以为，你们都还是长大了，都不想再要我抱了呢。”

“哦，姆妈！不管我长多大，我都需要你的拥抱。你是世界上最棒的姆妈！”

（译 / 雷起凤）

How the Moon Was Kind to Her Mother

Once upon a time, a long, long while ago, the Sun, the Wind, and the Moon were three sisters, and their mother was a pale, lovely Star that shone, far away, in the dark evening sky.

One day their uncle and aunt, who were the Thunder and Lightning, asked the three sisters to have supper with them, and their mother said that they might go. She would wait for them, she said, and would not set until all three returned and told her about their pleasant visit.

So the Sun in her dress of gold, the Wind in atrailingdress thatrustledas she passed, and the Moon in a wonderful gown of silver started out for the party with the Thunder and Lightning. Oh, it was a supper to remember! The table was spread with a cloth of rainbow. There were ices like the snow on the mountain tops, and cakes as soft and white as clouds, and fruits from every quarter of the earth. The three sisters ate their fill, especially the Sun and the Wind, who were very greedy, and left not so much as acrumbon their plates. But the Moon was kind and remembered her mother. She hid a part of her supper in her long, white fingers to take home and share with her mother, the Star.

Then the three sisters said good-bye to the Thunder and Lightning and went home. When they reached there, they found their mother, the Star, waiting and shining for them as she had said she would.

"What did you bring me from the supper?" She asked.

The Suntossed her headwith all its yellow hair indisdainas she answered her mother.

"Why should I bring you anything?" She asked. "I went out for my own pleasure and not to think of you."

It was the same with the Wind. She wrapped her flowing robes about her and turned away from her mother.

"I, too, went out for my own entertainment," she said, "and why should I think of you, mother, when you were not with me?"

But it was very different with the Moon who was not greedy and selfish as her two sisters, the Sun and the Wind, were. She turned her pale sweet face toward her mother, the Star, and held out herslenderhands.

"See, mother," cried the Moon, "I have brought you part of everything that was on my plate. I ate only half of the feast for I wanted to share it with you."

So the mother brought a gold plate and the food that her unselfish daughter, the Moon, had brought her heaped the plate high. She ate it, and then she turned to her three children, for she had something important to say to them. She spoke first to the Sun.

"You were thoughtless and selfish, my daughter," she said. "You went out and enjoyed yourself with no thought of one who was left alone at home. Hereafter you shall be no longer beloved among men. Your rays shall be so hot and burning that they shallscorcheverything they touch. Men shall cover their heads when you appear, and they shall run away from you."

And that is why, to this day, the Sun is hot andblazing.

Next the mother spoke to the Wind.

"You, too, my daughter, have been unkind and greedy," she said. "You, also, enjoyed yourself with no thought of anyone else. You shall blow in theparchingheat of your sister, the Sun, and wither and blast all that you touch. No one shall love you any longer, but all men will dislike and avoid you."

And that is why, to this day, the Wind, blowing in hot weather, is so unpleasant.

But, last, the mother spoke to her kind daughter, the Moon.

"You remembered your mother, and were unselfish," she said. "To those who are thoughtful of their mother, great blessings come. For all time your light shall be cool, and calm, and beautiful. You shallwane, but you shallwaxagain. You shall make the dark night bright, and all men shall call you blessed."

That is why, to this day, the Moon is so cool, and bright, and beautiful.

(By Carolyn Sherwin Bailey)

trailing adj.拖尾的，曳尾的

rustle vi. (如枯叶、绸衣、纸张等相擦时)沙沙作响，发出窸窣声

crumb n.碎片；面包屑；糕饼屑

toss one's head: (尤指鄙薄地或不耐性地)把头一甩

disdain n.轻慢，蔑视，鄙弃

slender adj.纤细的；细长的

scorch vt.把……烧焦，把……烤焦；把……烤(或烫、晒)得变色

blazing adj.炽烈的

parching adj.焦干的；灼热的

wane vi.(月)缺

wax vi.(月亮)渐圆，渐满

月亮对母亲的爱

从前，在很久很久以前，太阳、风和月亮是三姐妹，她们的母亲是黯澹夜空中远方地明慧着的一颗很淡却又很美艳的星星。

有一天，三姐妹的叔叔和婶婶，也即是雷公和电母，邀请三姐妹去和他们共进晚餐，母亲也允许她们去赴约。她说她会等着她们，在她们归来之前不会落下，还要听她们聊聊此次满足的走访。

于是，太阳穿上金色的衣服，风穿上一件拖尾裙，走逾期发出沙沙的声响，月亮穿上一件漂亮的银色长投降，三姐妹开赴赶赴雷公和电母的饮宴。哦，这确凿一顿令东说念主记起的晚餐！餐桌上铺着彩虹桌布。冰块好似山顶上的白雪，蛋糕似云朵相似优柔、洁白，还有来自世界各地的生果。三姐妹吃得很饱，尤其是太阳和风两个贪馋鬼，盘子里连面包屑也莫得剩下。只须矜恤的月亮惦记取她的母亲。她把我方晚餐的一部分藏在了纤长、白净的手指里，准备带回家和她的星星母亲共享。

然后，三姐妹向雷公和电母说念别回家。她们到家时，看见星星母亲还在那里明慧着，等着她们，正如她之前所承诺的相似。

她问：“你们都从晚宴上给我带回顾什么可口的了？”

太阳把满头的金发鄙薄地一甩，复兴我方的母亲。

“我为什么要给你带吃的？”她问，“我出去玩是为了我方甘愿，不会意想你。”

风的格协调太阳的如出一辙。她裹上飘拂的长袍，回身背对着我方的母亲。

“我亦然为了我方甘愿才出去玩的，”她说，“母亲，你又没和我在一都，为什么我要意想你呢？”

但月亮和她两个谋划自利的姐姐人大不同。她将白净甜好意思的脸庞转向母亲，向她伸出纤长的手。

“母亲，你看，”月亮高声说，“我把盘子里的每一种好意思食都给你带了一部分。我只吃了一半，因为我想和你一都共享。”

于是母亲端来一个金盘子，将她忘我的女儿月亮带回顾的食物堆得高高的。母亲吃完食物，转过身面向她的三个孩子，她有紧迫的话要对她们说。她首先对着太阳讲话了。

“你缺欠又自利，我的女儿，”她说，“你出去只顾着我方玩乐，却不会意想有东说念主独自留在家中。今后不会再有东说念主爱你了。你的后光会变得滚热和灼热，任何东西遭遇它都会被灼伤。当你出现的时候，东说念主们都抱着我方的头，跑得远远地躲着你。”

这即是为什么直到今天，太阳滚热且盛暑的原因。

接下来，母亲对风说：

“你也相似，我的女儿，一直以来都冷凌弃且谋划，”她说，“你也只顾着我方甘愿，不会洽商到其他任何东说念主。你将在你太阳姐姐的灼热里刮刮风来，你所碰触到的万物都将凋谢、枯萎。不但从此莫得东说念主会心爱你，而且通盘东说念主都会讨厌你并躲着你。”

这亦然为什么直到目前，天气酷暑时刮起的炎风令东说念主如斯不舒心的原因。

但是终末，母亲对着她眷注的女儿月亮说：

“你记念着母亲，小数都不自利，”她说，“那些惦记取我方母亲的东说念主会得到好意思好的祝愿。你的后光将一直凉爽、静谧而美艳。你会亏缺，但也会再转盈。你照亮暮夜，通盘东说念主都认为你是结拜的。”

正因为如斯，今天的月亮才气如斯清凉、亮堂和美艳。

（译 / 黄德宗）

The Meanest Mother

I had the meanest mother in the whole world. While other kids ate candy for breakfast, I had to havecereal, eggs ortoast. When others had cokes and candy for lunch, I had to eat a sandwich. As you can guess, my supper was different from the other kids' also. But at least, I wasn't alone in my sufferings. My sister and two brothers had the same mean mother as I did.

My mother insisted upon knowing where we were at all times. You'd think we were on a chaingang. She had to know who our friends were and where we were going. She insisted if we said we'd be gone an hour, that we be gone one hour or less—not one hour and one minute.

We had to wear clean clothes and take a bath . The other kids always wore their clothes for days. We reached the height ofinsultsbecause she made our clothes herself, just to save money.

The worst is yet to come. We had to be in bed by nine each night and up at eight the next morning. We couldn't sleep till noon like our friends. So while they slept—my mother actually had thenerveto break the Child Labor Law. She made us work. We had to wash dishes, make beds, learn to cook, all sorts of cruel things. I believe she laid awake at night thinking up mean things to do to us.

Through the years, things didn't improve a bit. We could not lie in bed, "sick" like our friends did, and miss school. Our marks in school had to beup to par. Our friends' report cards had beautiful colors on them, black for passing, red for failing. My mother, being as different as she was, wouldsettle fornothing less thanugly black marks.

As the years rolled by, first one and then the other of us was put to shame. We were graduated from high school. With our mother behind us, talking, hitting and demanding respect, none of us was allowed the pleasure of being a drop-out.

My mother was a complete failure as a mother. Out of four children, a couple of us attained some higher education. None of us have ever been arrested or divorced. Each of my brothers served his time in the service of this country.

She forced us to grow up into God-fearing, educated, honest adults. Using this as a background, I am now trying to raise my three children. I am filled with pride when my children call me mean. Why? Because now I thank God every day for giving me the meanest mother in the whole world.

(By Bobbie Pingaro)

cerealn.谷类食物，谷类

toast n.烤面包(片)，吐司

gang n.(匪贼、伏莽的)一伙，(囚犯的)一群

insult n.侮辱

nerve n.胆量，勇气

up to par: 达到预期圭臬

settle for: 欢娱于

nothing less than: 简直，全然

最冷凌弃的母亲

我有全世界最冷凌弃的母亲。别的孩子早餐吃糖果，我必须吃谷类食物、鸡蛋或吐司。别的孩子午餐喝可乐、吃糖果，我必须吃三明治。了然于目，我的晚餐也和别的孩子不同。不外，好在我不是一个东说念主受这些苦。我还有一个姐姐和两个哥哥，他们和我相似有一个冷凌弃的母亲。

我的母亲宝石要随时对我们的踪迹了如指掌。你一定以为我们是一帮被拴在归拢条链子上的囚犯。她必应知说念我们的一又友们是谁、我们盘算去何处。她宝石认为如果我们说要出去一小时，就只可在外面待一小时或少于一小时——弗成是一小时零一分。

我们必须每天都穿干净的衣服，而且每天洗沐。而其他孩子的衣服老是一穿就好几天。最让我们感到出丑的是，为了省钱，我们的衣服都是她我方作念的。

最糟的还在后头呢。我们每晚都必须9点以前寝息，第二天朝晨8点起床。我们弗成像一又友们相似睡到中午才起床。是以当他们在寝息时，我的母亲现实上正在勇敢地违背童工法。她让我们干活。我们得洗盘子、铺床、学作念饭和其他各种各样灾祸的事情。我服气她一定是整宿守夜地皮算着如何冷凌弃地折磨我们。

这样多年来，这样的情景莫得得到涓滴改善。我们弗成像一又友们相似，躺在床上装病来逃课。我们在学校的成绩必须达标。一又友们的成绩单上老是有各种漂亮的热枕，玄色露出合格，红色露出不足格。而我的母亲在这小数上仍是名满宇宙，她只欢娱于那些难看的黑魆魆的分数。

时分一年年地夙昔，母亲的一言一行让我们各个伯仲姐妹感到无地自容。我们都备高中毕业了。由于母亲在死后不休地罗唆、打骂并条目得到尊重，我们中没东说念主享受到辍学的乐趣。

行为母亲，我的姆妈是一个彻心刺骨的失败者。我们四个孩子中，有两个赢得了接收高档栽培的契机。我们中莫得东说念主被捕，也莫得东说念主区分。我的哥哥们都服了兵役，为国遵守。

她迫使我们成长为虔敬的、有教授的、淳厚的成年东说念主。期骗这样的东说念主生配景，如今的我正在尽力奉养我的三个孩子。当我的孩子们说我很冷凌弃时，我的心中充满了骄矜。为什么呢？因为目前我每天都会感谢天主，谢谢他赐予了我一个世界上最冷凌弃的母亲。

（译/雷起凤）

The Potato Puppy

My four-year-old son, Shane, had been asking for a puppy for over a month, but his daddy kept saying, "No dogs!"

One day I waspeelingpotatoes for dinner, and Shane was sitting on the floor at my feet asking for the thousands time, "Why won't Daddy let me have a puppy?" "Because they'll bring us trouble. Don't cry. Maybe Daddy will change his mind someday," I encouraged him. "No, he won't, and I won't have a puppy in a million years," Shane cried. I looked at his dirty, tearful face and said, "I know a way to make Daddy change his mind." "Really?" Shane wiped away his tears.

I handed him a potato. "Take this and carry it with you until it turns into a puppy," Iwhispered. "Keep it with you all the time, and on the third day, tie a string around it and take it around the yard and see what happens!"

Shane took the potato with both hands. "Mama, how do you turn a potato into a puppy?" He turned it over and over in his little hands.

"Shh! It's a secret!" I whispered and sent him on his way. I knew what I must do to keep peace in my home.

Shane carried his potato around everywhere for two days. He slept with it, bathed with it and talked to it. www.15vwxy3.cc

On the third day I said to my husband, "We really should get a pet for Shane." "What makes you think he needs a pet?" my husband asked. "Well, he's been carrying a potato around with him for days. He calls it Wally and says it is his pet. He sleeps with it on his pillow and right now he has a string tied to it and he's dragging it around the yard," I said. "A potato?" My husband asked and looked out of the window and watched Shane taking his potato for a walk." It will break his heart when the potato goes bad," I said and started getting lunch ready. "Besides, every time I try to peel potatoes for dinner, Shane cries because he says I'm killing Wally's family." My husband asked, "My son has a pet potato? That's crazy!" "Maybe you're right, but explain to me why he is taking that potato around the yard on a string," I said. My husband watched our son for a few more minutes. "I'll bring home a puppy tonight. It's better than a potato."

That night Shane's daddy brought home a puppy. Everyone was happy. My husband thought he'd saved his son from going crazy. Shane had a puppy and believed that his mother had magical powers that could change a potato into a puppy. And I was happy because I got my potato back and cooked it for dinner. www.35wxyz8.cc

Everything was perfect until one evening when I was cooking dinner, Shane asked, "Mama, do you think I could have a horse for my birthday?" I looked into his sweet little face and said, "Well, first we have to take a watermelon...."

(Author Unknown)

peel vt.剥，削

whisper vi.耳语，密谈

土豆小狗

一个多月以来，我四岁的犬子沙恩一直条目养一只小狗，但他爸爸老是说：“不许养狗！”

一天，我在削土豆准备作念饭，沙恩坐在我脚边的地板上，他第一千次问我：“为什么爸爸不让我养小狗呢？”“因为小狗会给我们带来贫乏。不要哭了，说不定爸爸哪天就会更正主意呢。”我饱读舞他说念。“不，他不会的，再过一百万年我也不会有一只小狗。”沙恩哭着说。我望着他脏兮兮、泪汪汪的小脸说说念：“我知说念一个标准，不错让爸爸更正主意。”“真的？”沙恩这才抹掉眼泪。

我递给他一个土豆。“拿着这个土豆，随身带着，直到它酿成一只小狗，”我柔声说说念，“非论什么时候都带在身上，比及第三天，往上头拴一根细绳，然后带着它在院子转圈，望望会怎么！”

沙恩双手接过土豆。“姆妈，你怎么把土豆酿成小狗啊？”他的小手拿着土豆，番来覆去地看。

“嘘！这是神秘！”我柔声说说念，然后让他拿着土豆走了。为了感触家里的安靖，我知说念我必须要作念的事情。

随后的两天里，沙恩非论到何处都带着他的土豆。他跟土豆一都寝息，一都洗沐，还跟它讲话。

第三天，我对丈夫说：“我们真的该给沙恩买只小狗了。”“你为什么认为他需要一只小狗呢？”我丈夫问说念。“呃，他和一颗土豆坐卧不离，都好几天了。他管土豆叫沃利，还说它是我方的宠物。他寝息时把土豆放在枕头上，目前他还给土豆拴了根绳，正拉着它在院子里遛弯呢。”我说。“一颗土豆？”我丈夫问说念，并向窗外望了望，看到沙恩正牵着他的土豆漫衍。“比及土豆烂了，他会伤透心的，”我说着便驱动准备午饭，“还有，每次我要削土豆准备作念饭时，沙恩就哭，他说我在粉碎沃利的家东说念主。”我丈夫问说念：“我犬子有一个宠物土豆？太离谱了！”“也许你说得对，但解释一下为什么他用绳索拽着土豆在院子里遛弯。”我说说念。我丈夫又盯着犬子看了几分钟。“我今晚会带回顾一只小狗，它总比一颗土豆好。”

那天晚上，沙恩的爸爸带回家一只小狗。一家东说念主都很欢乐。我丈夫认为他补救了将近发疯的犬子。沙恩领有了一只小狗，而且服气他姆妈具有把土豆酿成小狗的魅力。我也很欢乐，因为我拿回了土豆，而且用它作念了饭。

一切都很完竣欧洲杯体育，直到一天晚上我正在作念饭的时候，沙恩问说念：“姆妈，你以为我过寿辰的时候能得到一匹马吗？”我望着他可儿的小脸说：“呃，首先我们得买个西瓜……”