疯狂英语阅读版 第41期

疯狂英语阅读版 第41期

The Gift 情暖今生

时间早就过了午夜了，在雄伟威严的纽约医院，我裹在暖暖的羊毛睡袍里，静静地站在九楼病房的窗前凝视窗外。我看着眼前的第59街大桥，它像圣诞树般闪闪发光，美丽动人。在我心中，纽约一直有一个特别的位置，有百老汇的戏院，音乐，和形形色色、档次各异的餐馆。“这个城市本来就应该是这样的，”我想着，对即将到来的一天和它将带来的未知之数感到异常担心。但那天还是来了，就在那天，3月17日的早上9点，我被推进了手术室。11个小时45分钟后，我又被推进了疗养室，在被送回自己的病房后，仅仅几个小时，我就已经能下地行走了——一半是自己在走，一半是被医疗器械和家人推着走。按医嘱，我要在医院的长廊里走一个来回。

就在那时，我第一次看到他。在药物和疼痛的作用下，透过朦胧的双眼，我看到了他，那景象就如同虚幻的梦境，我也不肯定自己究竟看到了什么。他当时正站在一间病房的门口。我当时正处于那种视力模糊的懵懂状态中，而他对我来说，就像个幽灵，而不是一个完整的人影。但我还是能感觉得到这个影像的身体语言中所流露出的对我的同情和鼓励。

在以后的三个星期里，在医院的长廊里行走成了我必做的功课。在我的力气稍微恢复之后，我在家人的陪同下走过他站立的门口，我会看到他站在那里向我微笑、点头。到了第四个星期，我可以自己在长廊上走了，每当我经过他的房间，我这位忠实的朋友都会站在门口。这是一个肤色稍黑，身体瘦小的男人。我停下来与他谈了一会儿。他把我介绍给他的妻子和儿子。他儿子没精打采地躺在病床上。第二天，我又按时地在走廊里走动，他从房间里走出来，陪我走回我的病房。他告诉我，他和他的妻子满怀希望地把他十几岁的儿子从伊朗带到这家医院。尽管现在他们还是抱有希望，但情况确实不容乐观。他告诉我，我手术后第一个

难熬的晚上艰辛的行走使他受到了鼓舞，他也在暗暗为我加油。在接下来的三个多星期里，我们在一起交谈，互相关心，彼此关爱。他很高兴看到我的家人很关心和支持我，而我也为这个三口之家因远离家园而孤立无援而暗自伤感。

就像奇迹一般，终于有一天医生告诉我说，第二天我就可以出院了。那晚，我把这个消息告诉了我的朋友。第二天一早，他来到我的房间。那天，我早早地就起床了，并换好了衣服。我那鲜黄色的衣服给了我希望。我总算看起来又像个人了。我们俩谈了一会儿。我对他说，我会为他的儿子祈祷的。他在感谢我的同时，耸了耸肩，流露出失望之情。我们都知道在这个世界上，我们再也不会见面了。这个忧伤的人很为我感到高兴，我能感受到他对我的关爱。他握着我的手说：“你就是我的妹妹。”我回答道：“你就是我的哥哥。”说完，他转过身，走出了房间。

我的家人来接我了。医生和护士向我道别，嘱咐我出院后该怎么做。所有事情都安排得妥妥当当。在我怀着忐忑不安的心情走进医院的七个半星期后，我终于要离开我的病房了。

就在我沿着走廊向电梯走去时，我哥哥站在他的病房门口，冲我微笑点头，传递着他的祝福。

我进手术室的那天，也就是14年前的今天，1990年3月17日。自从我与我哥哥告别后，这个世界发生了很大的变化。但我还是经常会想起他，他一直都在我的心里，而我相信我也一直在他心中。我记得我们互称兄妹时，他那双真诚的深褐色的眼睛。在那一刻，我知道上帝正在天堂微笑地看着我们，向我们点头，为我们祝福。因为他知道，我们不分彼此。

在过去的岁月里，我不止一次在想，为什么人会在最脆弱的时候认识我们生命中最亲密的朋友，与另一个人结成最紧密的纽带也在这时结成。我认为，这是因为在我们面对危及生

命的疾病、失业，或者其它灾难时，我们所有的伪装都会褪去，我们的心灵都会向周围的人敞开，接受来自他人的关爱和好意，差不多就像孩童那样，毫无芥蒂并心存感激承接爱。这种爱与种族、肤色、信仰无关，也正是这种爱，让那双深褐色的眼睛和那双深蓝色眼睛相遇，并发誓永远彼此关爱。

It was well after mid night, wrapped in my warm 1)fleecy robe I stood silently staring out the ninth floor window of the daunting New York hospital. I was staring at the 59th Street Bridge. It was as sparkling and beautiful as a Christmas tree. New York city has always been special to me; the Broadway theatre, the music, the restaurants from the 2)deli's to the 3)Tavern-On-the-Green. \"This is what the city is supposed to be about, \" I thought, 4)dreading the morning to come and all the uncertainty it held. But the morning did come and at nine a.m. on that March 17th, I was wheeled into an operating room. Eleven hours and forty-five minutes later I was wheeled into a recovery room and a very few hours after being returned to my own hospital room I found myself actually on my feet, half walking, half 5)propelled by medical equipment and members of my family. The orders were to walk the length and back of the long hospital corridor.

It was then that I first saw him. I saw him through a haze of, drugs, pain and the dreamy unreality that this could be happening to me. He was standing in the doorway of a hospital room. In my twilight, unfocused state I saw him almost as a spirit shape rather than a full blown person. Yet the body language of this shape was somehow sending out sympathy and encouragement to me.

This became my daily routine for the next three weeks. As I gained a little more

strength the man would be standing in the doorway, smiling and nodding as I would pass with one or more members of my family. On the fourth week I was allowed to solo up the corridor. As I passed his room, there was my faithful friend in the doorway. He was a slender dark complexioned man. I stopped a minute to chat. He introduced me to his wife and his son who was lying 6)listlessly in a hospital bed. The next day as I made my scheduled walk, he came out and walked with me to my room. He explained that he and his wife had brought their teenage son to this hospital of hope from Iran. They were still hoping but things were not going well. He told me of how I had encouraged him on that first dreadful night's walking tour and how he was 7)rooting for me. For three more weeks we continued our conversations, each giving the other the gift of caring and friendship. He told me of how he enjoyed seeing my family as they 8)rallied around me and I was saddened by the loneliness of that small family so far from home.

Miraculously, there did come a day when the doctor told me I would be discharged the following morning. That night I told my friend. The next morning he came to my room. I had been up and dressed since dawn. My bright yellow dress gave me hope, and I almost looked human. We talked a bit. I told him I would pray for his son. He thanked me but shrugged his shoulders indicating the hopelessness. We knew we would never see each other again, in this world. This man in his sorrow was so happy for me. I felt his love. He took my hand and said, \"You are my sister.\" I answered back and said, \"You are my brother\". He turned and left the room.

My family came to 9)retrieve me. Doctors and nurses, to say their goodbyes and give orders. All business had been taken care of. After seven and a half weeks I

was leaving the hospital room I had walked into with so much trepidation.

As I turned to walk down the corridor to the elevator, my brother stood in the doorway, smiling, nodding and giving his blessing.

It was 14 years ago today on March 17th 1990 that I entered that operating room and much has happened to the world since my brother and I said our last farewell. Yet I think of him often and he is always in my heart as I feel I am in his. I remember his 10)intense, dark brown eyes as we pledged ourselves as brother and sister. At that moment, I knew without a doubt that the Spirit of God hovered over us smiling, nodding and blessing us with the knowledge that we are all one.

Many times I have pondered over the years why we humans meet our dearest friends or bond so deeply with another person when we are most 11)vulnerable. I think it is because when we face a life threatening illness, job loss, whatever the catastrophe may be; we are left completely without any pretension and our hearts and souls are open to those around us and we are able to accept the love and kindnesses of others, almost freely and thankfully as children accept love. This kind of love is blind to race, color and creed and leads to a pair of dark brown eyes seeking a pair of very blue eyes and pledging a love that will last through time.

HOW COULD YOU? 一只狗狗的临终告白

当我还是一只小狗的时候，我的顽皮滑稽每每惹你发笑，为你带来欢乐。你把我叫做你的孩子，虽然家里许多鞋子和靠枕都被我咬得残缺不全，我依然是你最好的朋友。无论什么

时候我干了“坏”事，你总会对我摇摇手指说：“你怎么可以这样呢？”不过最后你都会原谅我，把我扑倒然后搓我的肚皮。

你非常忙碌，但是我们还是一起努力让我改掉了乱啃家居物品的坏习惯，虽然所花的时间比预期的要长。我依然记得那些夜晚，我总会跳到你的床上用鼻子蹭你，倾听你的知心话和秘密的梦想，那时的我觉得生活简直是完美无瑕。我们常常去公园散步和追逐，乘车兜风，偶尔停下来买雪糕吃（我只能吃到雪糕筒，因为你说“吃雪糕对狗狗的身体不好”）。每天我都会在太阳下长时间地打盹，等待着你傍晚回家。

渐渐地，你把更多时间花在工作和事业上，而花更多时间去找寻你的另一半。而我总会耐心地等你回来，在每一个绝望心碎的日子里给你安慰，永远支持你哪怕是你糟透了的决定。每天只要你一踏进家门，我都会欢快地扑向你，迎接你回家。终于，你和她——也就是你现在的妻子——谈恋爱了。她并不是一个“爱狗之人”，但我还是欢迎她来到我们家，还努力向她表达我的友好，并听她的话。因为你开心，所以我也开心。

后来你们添了几个小娃娃，我也跟你一样万分雀跃。我被他们粉红的小脸、甜甜的气息深深地迷住了，我也想像妈妈一样好好照顾他们。然而你和她却怕我会弄伤他们，大部分时间都把我关在另一个房间里，甚至关到笼子里。唉，我多想好好地爱他们啊，但是我却成了“爱的囚徒”。随着孩子们慢慢长大，我也成了他们的好朋友。他们喜欢抓着我的毛摇摇晃晃地站起来，喜欢用指头戳戳我的眼睛，喜欢研究我的耳朵，也喜欢亲吻我的鼻子。我喜欢他们的一切，尤其喜欢他们的抚摸——因为你现在已经很少触摸我了——如果有必要的话我会用我的生命去保护他们。我会偷偷地溜到他们的床上，倾听他们的忧虑和秘密的梦想，和他们一起等待你的汽车开进家里的车道。

曾几何时，当人们问起你有没有养狗的时候，你总是从钱包里掏出我的照片，向他们讲

述我的轶事。可是近几年，你却只是简单地回答“有”，随即就转换话题。我已经从“你的狗狗”变成“只是一条狗”了，你甚至为在我身上花的每一分钱而生气。现在，你的事业迎来了一个新的机遇，你们要搬到另一个城市去，移居到一幢不许养宠物的公寓里。终于，你为“家庭”做出了正确的抉择，可是曾几何时我就是你唯一的家人？

坐在你的车里我充满了期待，然而我们到达的却是一家动物收容所。那里弥漫着猫儿和狗儿的气味，还有恐惧和绝望的气息。你填写好文件后，对那里的人说：“我知道你们一定可以为它找个好归宿的。”他们耸耸肩，露出为难的神情。他们很清楚一只已到中年的狗将要面临的悲惨命运，纵使它有着各种各样的证件。你不得不掰开你儿子紧抓着我项圈的手指，而他哭喊着：“不要！爸爸，求你不要让他们带走我的狗狗！”我很替他担心，因为你刚才教他的人生课程：什么是友情、忠诚、爱、责任，还有对所有生命的尊重，是多么的歪曲错误！

你避开我的目光，最后一次轻轻拍我的头说再见，并礼貌地拒绝带走我的项圈及皮带。我知道你赶时间，而现在我也知道自己的大限将至了。你走后，两位好心的女士说你可能在几个月前就知道自己要搬家了，却从来没有试过要为我另找一个好的家庭。她们摇摇头说：“你怎么可以这样呢？”

虽然这里的人整天忙得团团转，但只要有时间，他们总会尽量照料我们。在这里我不愁食物，可是数日以来我已经食不下咽了。刚开始，每当有人经过这牢笼，我都会满心期待地冲上前去，希望是你来了——以为你回心转意来把我接回去——希望这只是一场噩梦……或者至少是有人来关心我，有人愿意救我出去。当我意识到我永远都不可能争得过那些嬉笑打闹的小狗时，我退到一个偏远的角落，静静地等待着命运的到来，而他们显然对自己将要面对的命运还一无所知。

那天傍晚我听到她向我走来，然后我跟着她轻轻地穿过长廊，走进一间的房间。在

这异常安静的房间里，她把我放在一张桌子上，揉着我的耳朵叫我不要担心。我已料到即将发生的事情，而我的心为此猛烈地跳动着，可是同时也浮现出一种解脱的感觉。爱的囚徒所剩的时日已经不多了，但是本性使然，我更加关心却是她。我能感觉到她肩上的担子十分沉重，就像我能感知到你的每种心情一样。她温柔地为我的前腿绑上止血带，此时她的泪珠滑下了脸颊。我温柔地舐她的手，犹如许多年前我在你悲伤的时候安慰你一样。然后，她熟练地把注射器插入我的静脉里。随着一阵刺痛，一股冷流走遍我的全身。我昏昏沉沉地躺下了，看着她亲切的眼睛，我喃喃地说：“你怎么可以这样呢？”

也许是她听懂了我的话，她对我说：“真是对不起。”她拥着我，急忙向我解释说这是她的工作，她要保证把我带到一个更好的地方，一个充满爱和光明，跟尘世完全不同的世界，在那里我不会再受冷落，遭欺凌，被遗弃，也不需再自谋生存……

我使尽全身最后一丝力气用尾巴重重地敲了一下桌子，竭力想让她知道这句“你怎么可以这样呢？”并不是对她说的，而是对你说的，我最爱的主人。我一直都在想念你，我会永远怀念你，永远等待你。我只希望你生命中的每一个人也可以这么忠诚地对待你。 When I was a puppy, I entertained you with my 1)antics and made you laugh. You called me your child, and despite a number of chewed shoes and a couple of murdered throw pillows, I became your best friend. Whenever I was \"bad,\" you'd shake your finger at me and ask \"How could you?\"-but then you'd 2)relent, and roll me over for a belly rub.

My housebreaking took a little longer than expected, because you were terribly busy, but we worked on that together. I remember those nights of 3)nuzzling you in bed and listening to your 4)confidences and secret dreams, and I believed that life could not be any more perfect. We went for long walks and runs in the park, car

rides, stops for ice cream (I only got the cone because \"ice cream is bad for dogs,\" you said), and I took long naps in the sun waiting for you to come home at the end of the day.

Gradually, you began spending more time at work and on your career, and more time searching for a human mate. I waited for you patiently, comforted you through heartbreaks and disappointments, never 5)chided you about bad decisions, and 6)romped with 7)glee at your homecomings, and when you fell in love. She, now your wife, is not a \"dog person\"-still I welcomed her into our home, tried to show her affection, and obeyed her. I was happy because you were happy.

Then the human babies came along and I shared your excitement. I was fascinated by their pinkness, how they smelled, and I wanted to mother them, too. Only she and you worried that I might hurt them, and I spent most of my time banished to another room, or to a dog 8)crate. Oh, how I wanted to love them, but I became a \"prisoner of love.\" As they began to grow, I became their friend. They clung to my fur and pulled themselves up on wobbly legs, poked fingers in my eyes, investigated my ears, and gave me kisses on my nose. I loved everything about them and their touch-because your touch was now so infrequent-and I would have defended them with my life if need be. I would sneak into their beds and listen to their worries and secret dreams, and together we waited for the sound of your car in the driveway.

There had been a time, when others asked you if you had a dog, that you produced a photo of me from your wallet and told them stories about me. These

past few years, you just answered \"yes\" and changed the subject. I had gone from being \"your dog\" to \"just a dog,\" and you 9)resented every expenditure on my behalf. Now, you have a new career opportunity in another city, and you and they will be moving to an apartment that does not allow pets. You've made the right decision for your \"family,\" but there was a time when I was your only family.

I was excited about the car ride until we arrived at the animal shelter. It smelled of dogs and cats, of fear, of hopelessness. You filled out the paperwork and said \"I know you will find a good home for her\". They shrugged and gave you a pained look. They understand the realities facing a middle-aged dog, even one with \"papers\". You had to 10)pry your son's fingers loose from my collar, as he screamed \"No, Daddy. Please don't let them take my dog!\" And I worried for him, and what lessons you had just taught him about friendship and loyalty, about love and responsibility, and about respect for all life.

You gave me a good-bye pat on the head, avoided my eyes, and politely refused to take my collar and leash with you. You had a deadline to meet and now I have one, too. After you left, the two nice ladies said you probably knew about your upcoming move months ago and made no attempt to find me another good home. They shook their heads and asked \"How could you?\"

They are as attentive to us here in the shelter as their busy schedules allow. They feed us, of course, but I lost my appetite days ago. At first, whenever anyone passed my 11)pen, I rushed to the front, hoping it was you-that you had changed your mind-that this was all a bad dream…or I hoped it would at least be someone

who cared, anyone who might save me. When I realized I could not compete with the frolicking for attention of happy puppies, oblivious to their own fate, I retreated to a far corner and waited.

I heard her footsteps as she came for me at the end of the day, and I padded along the aisle after her to a separate room. A blissfully quiet room. She placed me on the table and rubbed my ears, and told me not to worry. My heart pounded in anticipation of what was to come, but there was also a sense of relief. The prisoner of love had run out of days. As is my nature, I was more concerned about her. The burden which she bears weighs heavily on her, and I know that, the same way I knew your every mood. She gently placed a 12)tourniquet around my foreleg as a tear ran down her cheek. I licked her hand in the same way I used to comfort you so many years ago. She expertly slid the 13)hypodermic needle into my vein. As I felt the sting and the cool liquid coursing through my body, I lay down sleepily, looked into her kind eyes and murmured \"How could you?\"

Perhaps because she understood my dogspeak, she said \"I'm so sorry.\" She hugged me, and hurriedly explained it was her job to make sure I went to a better place, where I wouldn't be ignored or abused or abandoned, or have to fend for myself-a place of love and light so very different from this earthly place.

And with my last bit of energy, I tried to convey to her with a 14)thump of my tail that my \"How could you?\" was not directed at her. It was you, My Beloved Master, I was thinking of. I will think of you and wait for you forever. May everyone in your life continue to show you so much loyalty.

50 Things That Really Do Matter 关于幸福生活的50个建议

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In my opinion, these things matter…

1. Listening enough to care and caring enough to listen.

2. Being a dreamer but not living in a dream world.

3. Saying \"It doesn't matter\" and meaning it.

4. Being a positive influence in any way possible, to as many as possible, for as long as I possibly can.

5. Balancing justice with mercy and fairness with commonsense.

6. Being patient and patiently enduring.

7. Earning credibility instead of demanding compliance.

8. Valuing the wisdom of discernment（洞察力）, the danger of pleasure without restraint, and the joy of victory with integrity（正直诚实）.

9. Being worthy of trust and trusting what's worthwhile.

10. Enjoying all things small and beautiful.

11. Words that heal.

12. Words that help.

13. And words that encourage.

14. Forgiving myself for what I've done and others for what they haven't.

15. Gaining what I desire without losing what I should gain.

16. Maintaining the passion of purpose while avoiding the pit falls of making hasty decisions with little or no discernment.

17. Watching \"You've Got Mail\" one more time.

18. Enjoying life for all it holds instead of holding out for all it has yet to become.

19. Giving praise without demands and encouragement without expectations.

20. Hugs.

21. Healing wounds.

22. And helping people realize their dreams.

23. Knowing when I can, can't and shouldn't.

24. Laughter for the sake of laughter!

25. Leading while not forgetting how to follow.

26. Honoring the honorable and avoiding the painful errors of the disgraceful.

27. Knowing the power of commitment, the rewards of self-discipline and the meaning of faith in myself and others.

28. Smiles -- lots of them.

29. Learning as much as I can for as long as I can.

30. Standing for what's right when everything's wrong, and saying \"I'm wrong\" when something's not right.

31. Letting the music play.

32. Knowing I can and seeking help when I can't.

33. Just doing nothing at just the right time.

34. Filling my mind with all that is excellent, truthful, full of hope, and worthy of thinking about again.

35. Kisses that say \"I love you\" more than \"I need you.\"

36. Treasuring ideas for their untapped（未发掘的） potential.

37. Caring.

38. Giving.

39. And having fun.

40. Refusing to believe lies about myself or others regardless of the source -- including what I hear from within.

41. Trusting enough to see good in people without blindly trusting in the goodness of all people.

42. Success without self-absorption.

43. Showing I know the difference between keeping the rules and listening with understanding.

44. Winning with dignity.

45. Losing with grace.

46. And learning from both.

47. Believing in all my possibilities -- and yours too!

48. Appreciating the wisdom of maturity and the beauty of childhood.

49. Avoiding the bondage（束缚） of bitterness, the deceit（欺骗） of wealth without character, and the vanity of pride without gratefulness.

50. Loving for all I'm worth because in the end it's worth it all.

Letting Go of Yesterday 让昨日随风

2000年2月12日，星期六，那天发生的两件事改变了我的此后的生活。第一件是小妹妹那天结婚了。当时她已经26岁了，但对我来说，她还是我的小妹妹。我总是把她看作小女孩，也把她当一个小女孩来对待。我想这是因为我希望通过这种方式来永葆青春。直到看到她身着婚纱的那一刻，浮现在我脑海的还是那个小圆脸蛋，长长的褐色马尾巴在风中摆动的小女孩；也许还有一块巧克力总是粘在她那粉红色的嘴唇上。我想人总是看见自己想看的东西。眼前这位容光焕发、线条优美的女人是谁呢？

那天我既高兴又伤心。过去我对她呼来唤去，告诉她生活应该怎样过的日子已经一去不回了。因为独断蛮横我得到了露西这个外号。如果你也喜欢看《花生》这部动画片，那你一定可以想象我作为一个大姐姐的样子。我不觉得这个外号是一种侮辱，反倒很喜欢它。我有时还想，强大的露西自信得令人难以置信，虽然她有时也让人难以忍受。我努力向这个生气

勃勃的卡通形象看齐。

我离开了婚礼现场，到外面去呼吸些新鲜空气。我突然伤感不已，因为自己已经不再是个孩子了。我走到外面，来到附近的一个运动场边，小孩子正在那里玩滑梯、荡秋千、玩泥沙。有个小女孩正在一个杠上快速地转动，一条腿紧紧地勾在杠上。而我所能做的只是坐在那里看看，我也想跟她一起玩，看看能否再重现当年自己转圈的最高记录（五年级时一次达到99次）。但我很清楚，这样我可能会扭断脖子。再说我正穿着伴娘服，不适合运动。于是我只好坐在那里看孩子们玩耍。不知过了多久，妹妹来到我身边。我们谈起自己已经长大了，并为逝去的孩童时光流下了泪。她替我擦干眼泪，充满爱意地说：“你永远都是我的露西。” 我们拥抱在了一起。

表弟迈克走过来告诉妹妹该切蛋糕了。接着他给我扔下了第二颗。“嘿，你们知道查尔斯·舒尔兹今天去世了吗？”他说得很轻松，然后挽着妹妹的手臂向婚礼现场走去。“来吗？”他们问道。“等会儿，”我回答说，又在椅子上坐了下来，他刚刚告诉我的消息让我眩晕。

去世了？查尔斯·舒尔兹怎么可能会去世呢？是他创造了我！虽然我从来没和他见过面，但对于我来说，他一直都像是一位看不见的父亲一样。他毕竟为我创造了一个有名的角色。就在那一天，我失去了那么多东西，童真就像一个在夜里行窃的小偷一样，无声无息地溜走了：在我还来不及做点什么的时候就已经走了，带走了我心底深处最宝贵的财富。就在那一刻，我意识到自己已经长大了。现实像暴风浪一样向我袭来。我无处可逃。我只能坐在那里，看着它把刚刚还存在的东西毁掉，接着又重塑。我不再是个孩子。我不再是知道那个神通广大的露西了。我第一次意识到真正的我——一个有自己的丈夫，很快会有我们的孩子的三十岁的女人。

我任由巨浪带走我的悲伤，送到大海中去。因为它对于我的生命来说再没什么意义了。我从椅子上站了起来，比我坐着时高了一些。我转身向婚礼现场走去，希望没错过切蛋糕的场面。今天是妹妹展翅出巢一天，也是露西死去，我得到新生的一天。 On Saturday, February 12 two thousand, two things happened that changed everything in my life. The first was that on this day my baby sister was married. She was twenty-six this day, and yet to me she was still my baby sister. I suppose that I pictured her as a little girl, and treated her like one in order to hold onto and 1)preserve my own youth. Until I saw her in her wedding dress I still had a vision of her with 2)chubby little cheeks and long, dark-brown 3)pigtails blowing in the wind, perhaps even a 4)permanent 5)smudge of chocolate around her pink lips. I guess it's true that you see only what you want to see. Where did this beautiful woman with the glowing 6)complexion and gentle curves come from?

I was happy that day, and also sad. Gone were the days of me bossing her around and telling her what she should do with her life. My bossy behavior had earned me the nickname Lucy. If you are a Peanuts fan then you can clearly imagine my behavior as an older sister. To me it wasn't an 7)insult; I rather like the nickname Lucy. I happen to think that Lucy is strong and has incredible self-confidence, although she is a little 8)overbearing at times. I did my best to 9)live up to the standards 10)set forth by this dynamic cartoon character.

I left the reception to get some air because suddenly I was overcome with grief at the realization that I was no longer a child. I went outside and walked to a nearby playground where there were children playing on the slide, the swings and digging in the dirt. There was a little girl 11)twirling around on a bar, one knee wrapped

tightly around the bar and fashioned behind her knee. It was all I could do to sit there and just watch, for I too wanted to get on that bar with her and see if I could still hold the all-time twirling record (ninety-nine times in fifth grade). Somewhere inside I knew that I would break my neck, and I was wearing a 12)bridesmaid dress. Not exactly play ground material. And so I sat watching the children play. I'm not sure how long I sat there before my sister came and joined me. We talked about how we are grown up now and shed a few tears for our childhood days gone by. As she wiped a tear from my eye she lovingly said, \"you'll always be Lucy to me.\" We hugged.

My cousin Mike walked over and told my sister that it was time to cut the cake. And then he dropped bomb number two on me. \"Hey, did you guys hear that Charles Schultz died today?\" He said it like it was no big deal. He took my sister's arm and turned to head back for the reception hall. \"Coming?\" They asked. \"In a minute.\" I replied, and sat back down on the bench, 13)dizzy from what he had just told me.

Dead? How could Charles Schultz be dead? He was my creator! And though I have never met the man personally, he has always been like an invisible father to me. He did, after all, fashion a famous character after me. I lost so many things on this day. Innocence slipped away from me like a thief in the night: come and gone before I could do anything about it, taking with it all the treasures that I held most valuable in my heart. I felt myself grow up, all in one moment. Reality rushed in around me like a hurricane tide. There was nowhere to run to. All I could do was sit there and watch it destroy and reshape what had existed only a moment before. I

was no longer a child. I was no longer Lucy who knew what was best for everyone else. I saw, for the first time, what I really was—a thirty-year old woman with a husband of my own, and soon, a child of my own.

I allowed the tide to carry my sadness out with it. Take it out to sea, for it serves no purpose in my life. I stood up from the bench; a little taller than I was when I sat down. I turned and headed back to the hall, hoping I didn't miss the cutting of the cake. It was the day my sister grew wings of her own and left the nest. It was the day that Lucy died, and I was born.

Peter Pan 彼得·潘

战争很短，但很激烈。第一个使敌人流血的是约翰，他英勇地爬上小艇，扑向斯塔奇。经过激烈的搏斗，海盗斯塔奇手中的弯刀被打掉了。他挣扎着跳到水里，约翰也跟着跳下去。

水面上不时冒出一个脑袋，钢铁的寒光一闪，跟着是一声吼叫，或一声呐喊。在混战中，有些人打了自家人。斯密的开瓶钻捅着了图图的第四根肋骨，而他自己被卷毛刺伤了。在远离岩石的地方，斯塔奇正在进逼着斯莱特利和孪生兄弟。

这一阵子彼得又在哪儿呢？他在寻找更大的猎物。

其他的孩子都很勇敢，他们躲开海盗船长胡克是无可责怪的。胡克的铁钩把周围的水变成了死亡地带，孩子们像受惊的鱼一样，逃开这块地方。

可是有一个人不怕胡克，有一个人正准备走进这个地带。

说来也奇怪，他们并没有在水里相遇。胡克爬到岩石上喘息，同时，彼得也从对面爬上来。岩石光滑得像一只球，他们没法攀缘，只能匍匐着爬上来，彼此都不知道对方也正在爬上来。两个人都在摸索着想抓住一块能着力的地方，不料竟碰到了对方的手臂。他们惊讶得抬起头来，几乎贴到了对方的脸，就这样，他们相遇了。

有些大英雄承认，临交手前，他们的心都不免有些往下沉。可是彼得的心没有往下沉，他只有一种感觉：高兴。他兴奋地咬紧了他那口好看的小牙。像转念一样快，他从胡克的皮带上一把夺过刀，正要狠狠地刺过去，这时，他看到自己在岩石上的位置比敌人高，这会是不公平的战斗。于是，他伸手去拉那海盗一把。

就在这时，胡克咬了他一口。

彼得惊呆了，不是因为疼，而是因为不公平。他变得不知所措，只是愣愣地望着，吓傻了。每个孩子第一次遇到不公平的待遇时，都会这样发呆。所以，彼得现在遇到不公平，就像初次遇到一样，他只能愣愣地望着，不知所措。胡克的铁钩又抓了他两次。

几分钟以后，别的孩子看见胡克在水里发狂似的拼命向小艇游去。这时，他那瘟神般的脸上，已经没有了得意的神色，只有惨白的恐惧，因为那只鳄鱼正在他后面穷追不舍。在平时，孩子们就会一边在旁游泳，一边欢呼；可是，这次他们感到很不安，因为他们与彼得和温迪失散了，只好在湖里喊着他们的名字，到处寻找他们。他们找到那只小艇，一边划着，一边高喊：“彼得，温迪。”可是没有回答，只听到人鱼嘲弄的笑声。“他们准是游回去了，要不就是飞回去了。”孩子们断定。他们并不很着急，因为他们很相信彼得。他们格格地笑，因为，今晚可以迟一点睡了，这全是温迪妈妈的错。

当他们的笑语声渐渐消失以后，湖面上一片冷清的寂静，然后传来一声微弱的呼叫。

“救命啊，救命啊！”

两个小小的人体正朝着岩石游来，女孩已经昏过去，躺在男孩子的臂上。彼得使出了最后一点力气，把温迪拽上岩石，然后在她身边躺下。虽然他自己也昏迷了，他却知道湖水正在上涨。他知道他们很快就要淹死，可是他实在为力了。

他们并排躺在岩石上时，一条人鱼抓住温迪的脚，轻轻地把她往水里拽。彼得感觉到她正在往下滑，突然惊醒了，及时把她拉回来；不过，他不得不把实话告诉温迪。

“我们正在岩石上，温迪，”他说，“可是这岩石越来越小了，不多久，水就要把它淹没。”

但是温迪这时还没明白过来。

“我们得走。”她相当开朗地说。

“是的。”彼得虚弱地回答。

“彼得，我们是游泳还是飞？”

彼得不得不告诉她：

“温迪，你以为没有我的帮助，你能游泳或是飞那么远，到岛上去吗？”

温迪不得不承认，她是太累了。

彼得呻吟了一声。

“你怎么啦？”温迪问，立刻为彼得着急了。

“我帮不了你，温迪。胡克把我打伤了，我既不能飞，也不能游泳。”

“你是说，我们两个都要淹死吗？”

“你瞧，水涨得多快。”

他们用手捂住眼睛，不敢去看，他们心想很快就要完了。他们这样坐着的时候，一样东西在彼得身上轻轻触了一下，轻得像一个吻，随后就停在那儿不动了，仿佛在怯生生地说：“我能帮点忙吗？”

那是一只风筝的尾巴，这风筝是迈克尔几天前做的。它挣脱了迈克尔的手，飞走了。

“迈克尔的风筝。”彼得不感兴趣地说，可是紧接着，他突然抓住风筝的尾巴，把它拉到身边。

“这风筝能把迈克尔从地上拉起来，”他喊道，“为什么不能把你带走呢？”

“把我们两个都带走！”

“它带不动两个人，迈克尔和卷毛试过了。”

“我们抽签吧。”温迪勇敢地说。

“不行，你是女士，你一定要先离开。”彼得已经把风筝尾系在她身上。温迪抱住他不

放，没有他一道，她不肯离开。可是，彼得说了一声“再见，温迪”，就把她推下了岩石；不多会儿，她就飘走看不见了。彼得独自留在了湖上。

海水渐渐涨上来了，正一小口一小口地吞噬彼得的脚；在海水把他整个吞没以前，为了消磨时间，他凝视着漂游在礁湖上的唯一一件东西。他想那大概是一张漂浮着的纸片，或许是那风筝的一部分。他闲得无聊，估算着那东西漂到岸边需要多少时间。

其实，那不是一张纸片，那是永无鸟。她正坐在巢上拼命地向彼得靠近。自从她的巢掉落到水上后，她就学会了怎样通过扇动翅膀来驾驶她那只奇异的“小船”。可是，在彼得认出她来时，她已经非常疲乏了。她是来救彼得的，她要把巢让给他，尽管巢里头有鸟蛋。

那鸟向彼得喊道，她来是为了救他的；彼得也大声问那鸟，她在那儿干什么；不过，当然他们彼此都听不懂对方的话。

“我——要——你——到——巢——里——来，”那鸟叫道，尽量说得慢些，清楚些，“那——样，你——就——可——以——漂——到——岸——上——去，可——是——我——太——累——了 ， 不——能——再——靠——近——了，你——得——想——法——自——己——游——过——来。”

“你叽叽喳喳地叫些什么呀？”彼得回答说，“你为什么不像往常一样，让你的巢随风漂流？”

“我——要——你——”鸟说，又重复了一遍刚才的话。

接着，彼得也又慢又清楚地说：

“你——叽——叽——喳——喳——地——叫——些——什——么——呀？”等等。

永无鸟暴躁起来了，这种鸟脾气是很急的。

“你这个呆头呆脑、罗里罗嗦的小傻瓜，”她尖声叫道，“你为什么不照我的吩咐去做？”

彼得觉出了她是在骂自己，于是他气冲冲地回敬了她一句：

“骂你自己呢！”

然后说也奇怪，他们竟互相对骂起同一句话来：

“闭嘴！”

“闭嘴！”

不过，这鸟决心尽力救彼得，她作了一次最后的努力，终于使巢靠上了岩石。然后她飞了起来，舍弃了她的蛋，为的是使她的用意明了。

彼得终于明白了，他抓住了鸟巢，向空中飞着的鸟挥手表示谢意。永无鸟在空中飞来飞去不是为了领他的谢意，也不是要看他怎样爬进巢里，她是要看看他怎样对待她的蛋。

巢里有两只大白蛋，彼得把它们捧了起来，心里盘算着。那鸟用翅膀捂住了脸，不敢看她的蛋的下场，可她还是忍不住从羽毛缝里窥望。

我不记得告诉过你们没有，岩石上有一块木板，是很久以前海盗钉在那儿，用来标志埋藏财宝的位置的。木板还在那儿，斯塔奇把他的帽子挂在了上面，那是一顶宽边的、高高的防水油布帽。彼得把蛋放在帽子里，把帽子放在水上，它就平平稳稳地漂起来了。

永无鸟立刻看清了彼得的妙策，高声欢叫，向他表示钦佩；彼得也应声欢呼起来。然后他跨进巢去，把木板竖起来当桅杆，又把他的衬衣挂在上面当帆。同时，那鸟飞落到帽子上，又安安逸逸地孵起蛋来。鸟向这边漂去，彼得向那边漂去，皆大欢喜。

彼得上岸以后，自然是把他曾坐过的鸟巢放在一处鸟容易看见的地方；可是，那顶帽子太可心了，那鸟竟放弃了原来的巢。巢漂来漂去，直到完全散架；后来，斯塔奇每次来到湖边，总看见那鸟孵在他的帽子上，心里很是不爽！ The fight was short and sharp. First to draw blood was 1)John, who 2)gallantly climbed into the boat and held Starkey. There was fierce struggle, in which the 3)cutlass was torn from the pirate's grasp. He wriggled overboard and John leapt after him.

Here and there a head bobbed up in the water, and there was a flash of steel followed by a cry or a whoop. In the confusion some struck at their own side. The 4)corkscrew of Smee got Tootles in the fourth rib, but he was himself 5)pinked in turn by Curly. Farther from the rock Starkey was pressing Slightly and the twins hard.

Where all this time was Peter? He was seeking bigger game.

The others were all brave boys, and they must not be blamed for backing from the pirate captain. His iron claw made a circle of dead water round him, from which

they fled like affrighted fishes.

But there was one who did not fear him: there was one prepared to enter that circle.

Strangely, it was not in the water that they met. Hook rose to the rock to breathe, and at the same moment Peter 6)scaled it on the opposite side. The rock was slippery as a ball, and they had to crawl rather than climb. Neither knew that the other was coming. Each feeling for a grip met the other's arm: in surprise they raised their heads; their faces were almost touching; so they met.

Some of the greatest heroes have confessed that just before they fell to began combat they had a sinking feeling in the stomach. But Peter had no sinking, he had one feeling only, gladness; and he 7)gnashed his pretty teeth with joy. Quick as thought he snatched a knife from Hook's belt and was about to drive it home, when he saw that he was higher up the rock that his foe. It would not have been fighting fair. He gave the pirate a hand to help him up.

It was then that Hook bit him.

Not the pain of this but its unfairness was what dazed Peter. It made him quite helpless. He could only stare, horrified. Every child is affected thus the first time he is treated unfairly. So when he met it now it was like the first time; and he could just stare, helpless. Twice the iron hand clawed him.

A few moments afterwards the other boys saw Hook in the water striking wildly for the ship; no 8)elation on the 9)pestilent face now, only white fear, for the crocodile was in dogged pursuit of him. On ordinary occasions the boys would have swum alongside cheering; but now they were uneasy, for they had lost both Peter and Wendy, and were scouring the lagoon for them, calling them by name. They found the dinghy and went home in it, shouting \"Peter, Wendy\" as they went, but no answer came save mocking laughter from the mermaids. \"They must be swimming back or flying,\" the boys concluded. They were not very anxious, because they had such faith in Peter. They chuckled because they would be late for bed; and it was all mother Wendy's fault!

When their voices died away there came cold silence over the lagoon, and then a feeble cry.

\"Help, help!\"

Two small figures were beating against the rock; the girl had fainted and lay on the boy's arm. With a last effort Peter pulled her up the rock and then lay down beside her. Even as he also fainted he saw that the water was rising. He knew that they would soon be drowned, but he could do no more.

As they lay side by side a 10)mermaid caught Wendy by the feet, and began pulling her softly into the water. Peter, feeling her slip from him, woke with a start, and was just in time to draw her back. But he had to tell her the truth.

\"We are on the rock, Wendy,\" he said, \"but it is growing smaller. Soon the water will be over it.\"

She did not understand even now.

\"We must go,\" she said, almost brightly.

\"Yes,\" he answered faintly.

\"Shall we swim or fly, Peter?\"

He had to tell her.

\"Do you think you could swim or fly as far as the island, Wendy, without my help?\"

She had to admit that she was too tired.

He moaned.

\"What is it?\" she asked, anxious about him at once.

\"I can't help you, Wendy. Hook wounded me. I can neither fly nor swim.\"

\"Do you mean we shall both be drowned?\"

\"Look how the water is rising.\"

They put their hands over their eyes to shut out the sight. They thought they would soon be no more. As they sat thus something brushed against Peter as light as a kiss, and stayed there, as if saying timidly, \"Can I be of any use?\"

It was the tail of a kite, which Michael had made some days before. It had torn itself out of his hand and floated away.

\"Michael's kite,\" Peter said without interest, but next moment he had seized the tail, and was pulling the kite toward him.

\"It lifted Michael off the ground,\" he cried; \"why should it not carry you?\"

\"Both of us!\"

\"It can't lift two; Michael and Curly tried.\"

\"Let us draw lots,\" Wendy said bravely.

\"And you a lady; never.\" Already he had tied the tail round her. She clung to him; she refused to go without him; but with a \"Good-bye, Wendy,\" he pushed her from the rock; and in a few minutes she was borne out of his sight. Peter was alone on the lagoon.

Steadily the waters rose till they were nibbling at his feet; and to pass the time

until they made their final gulp, he watched the only thing on the lagoon. He thought it was a piece of floating paper, perhaps part of the kite, and wondered idly how long it would take to drift ashore.

It was not really a piece of paper; it was the Never bird, making desperate efforts to reach Peter on the nest. By working her wings, in a way she had learned since the nest fell into the water, she was able to some extent to guide her strange craft, but by the time Peter recognised her she was very exhausted. She had come to save him, to give him her nest, though there were eggs in it

She called out to him what she had come for, and he called out to her what she was doing there; but of course neither of them understood the other's language.

\"I - want - you - to - get - into - the -nest,\" the bird called, speaking as slowly and distinctly as possible, \"and - then - you - can - drift - ashore, but - I - am - too - tired - to - bring - it - any - nearer - so - you - must - try - to - swim - to - it.\"

\"What are you quacking about?\" Peter answered. \"Why don't you let the nest drift as usual?\"

\"I - want - you - \" the bird said, and repeated it all over.

Then Peter tried slow and distinct.

\"What - are - you - quacking - about?\" and so on.

The Never bird became irritated; they have very short tempers.

\"You 11)dunderheaded little 12)jay,\" she screamed, \"Why don't you do as I tell you?\"

Peter felt that she was calling him names, and at a venture he retorted hotly:

\"So are you!\"

Then rather curiously they both snapped out the same remark:

\"Shut up!\"

\"Shut up!\"

Nevertheless the bird was determined to save him if she could, and by one last mighty effort she 13)propelled the nest against the rock. Then up she flew; deserting her eggs, so as to make her meaning clear.

Then at last he understood, and clutched the nest and waved his thanks to the bird as she fluttered overhead. It was not to receive his thanks, however, that she hung there in the sky; it was not even to watch him get into the nest; it was to see what he did with her eggs.

There were two large white eggs, and Peter lifted them up and reflected. The bird covered her face with her wings, so as not to see the last of them; but she

could not help peeping between the feathers.

I forget whether I have told you that there was a 14)stave on the rock, driven into it by some 15)buccaneers of long ago to mark the site of buried treasure. The stave was still there, and on it Starkey had hung his hat, a deep 16)tarpaulin, watertight, with a broad brim. Peter put the eggs into this hat and set it on the lagoon. It floated beautifully.

The Never bird saw at once what he was up to, and screamed her admiration of him; and, alas, Peter crowed his agreement with her. Then he got into the nest, reared the stave in it as a mast, and hung up his shirt for a sail. At the same moment the bird fluttered down upon the hat and once more sat snugly on her eggs. She drifted in one direction, and he was borne off in another, both cheering.

Of course when Peter landed he beached the nest in a place where the bird would easily find it; but the hat was such a great success that she abandoned the nest. It drifted about till it went to pieces, and often Starkey came to the shore of the lagoon, and with many bitter feelings watched the bird sitting on his hat.