书城外语当英语成为时尚:我与妈妈有个约会
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第34章 A Beruffled Essay Paper 一张褶皱的作业纸

Jane Lindestarm

本章内容导读

在汤米的书桌里面,我找出了一张褶皱的满是泪痕的纸,那是一张英语作业纸。正反两面都写满了字——不是布置的作业,而是一句话,他反反复复地写了好多遍。

此刻,我又想起了那张写满小汤米痛苦和烦恼的黄色作业纸。

那上面写着:“亲爱的妈妈……亲爱的爸爸……

我爱你们……我爱你们……我爱你们。”

A gray sweater hung limply1 on Tommy's empty desk,a reminder of the dejected boy who had just followed his classmates from our third-grade room.Soon Tommy’s parents,who had recently separated,would arrive for a conference on his failing schoolwork and disruptive2 behavior.Neither parent knew that I had summoned the other.

Tommy,an only child,had always been happy,cooperative and an excellent student.How could I convince his father and mother that his recent failing grades represented a broken-hearted child's reaction to his adored parents' separation and pending3 divorce.

Tommy's mother entered and took one of the chairs I had placed near my desk.Soon the father arrived.Good!At least they were concerned enough to be prompt4.A look of surprise and irritation passed between them,and then they pointedly5 ignored each other.

As I gave a detailed account of Tommy's behavior and schoolwork,I prepared for the right words to bring these two tighter,to help them see what they were doing to their son.But somehow the words wouldn't come.Perhaps if they saw one of his smudged6,carelessly done papers……

I found a crumpled tear-stained sheet stuffed in the back of his desk,an English paper.Writing covered both sides—not the assignment,but a single sentence scribbled over and over.

Silently I smoothed it out and gave it to Tommy's mother.She read it and then without a word handed it to her husband.He frowned.Then his face softened.He studied the scrawled7 words for what seemed an eternity.

At last he folded the paper carefully,placed it in his pocket,and reached for his wife's outstretched hand.She wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled up at him.My own eyes were brimming8,but neither seemed to notice.He helped her with her coat and they left tighter.

In his own way God had given me the words to reunite that family.He had guided me to the sheet of yellow copy paper covered with the anguished outpouring of a small boy's troubled heart.

The words,'Dear Mom……Dear Daddy……I love you……I love you……I love you.'

杰恩·林得史多姆

一件灰色的羊毛衫放在汤米空空的课桌上,这让人想起了那个沮丧的小男孩,他刚刚跟随同学一起走出了三年级的教室。一会儿,汤米刚刚分手的父母就要来学校了,来讨论一下汤米日趋退步的学习成绩,还有一些不良表现。不过,他的父母都不知道对方也要来。

汤米是一个独生子,一直生活得很幸福,他很有合作精神,是名优秀的学生。我怎么才能让他的爸爸妈妈相信,他最近学习成绩的下降正是一个心碎了的小男孩对他深爱着的父母已分居并要离婚这一事实的一种反抗呢?

汤米的妈妈来了,坐在了我办公桌旁边的一把椅子上,这是我事先为她准备的。不一会儿,他的爸爸也来到了。太好了!他们都能够准时到达,至少说明他们还是关心汤米的。他们用惊讶与愤怒的眼神看了看对方,既而又表现出对彼此不屑一顾的神情。

我详细地叙说着汤米的表现,还有他的功课,内心却祈求着能够找到什么恰当的话语使他们二人能重归于好,并帮他们意识到自己的所作所为对汤米意味着什么。可不知什么原因,我就是没有想到合适的言语。或许该让他们看看汤米脏兮兮的字迹,还有他心不在焉时完成的作业……

在汤米的书桌里面,我找出了一张褶皱的满是泪痕的纸,那是一张英语作业纸。正反两面都写满了字——不是布置的作业,而是一句话,他反反复复地写了好多遍。

我默默的将纸抚平,并将它递给汤米的妈妈。她看了看,一句话也没说,又把它递给了汤米的爸爸。他皱起了眉头,脸色却慢慢地变得柔和了。他仔细盯着纸上反复写着的那句话,一遍又一遍。

最后,他小心翼翼地把纸叠了起来,放进了口袋里,然后把手伸向了他的妻子。她拭去了脸上的泪水,抬头对着她的丈夫,露出了温柔的笑容。此时,我已被感动得热泪盈眶,只是没有让他们注意到。他帮他妻子穿好大衣,两人便一块离开了。

上帝用他自己的方式赐予我让这个家庭重归于好的语言。此刻,我又想起了那张写满小汤米痛苦和烦恼的黄色作业纸。

那上面写着:“亲爱的妈妈……亲爱的爸爸……我爱你们……我爱你们……我爱你们。”

生词空间 New Words

1.limply adv.柔软地,蓬松地

2.disruptive adj.捣乱的;破坏性的;制造混乱的

3.pending adj.待定的;迫近的

4.prompt adj.及时的,准时的

5.pointedly adv.显然的

6.smudged adj.弄脏的,模糊的

7.scrawl v.潦草地写,乱涂

8.brim v.注满,充溢

妙语连珠:Beautiful Sentences

How could I convince his father and mother that his recent failing grades represented a broken-hearted child's reaction to his adored parents' separation and pending divorce.

我怎么才能让他的爸爸妈妈相信,他最近学习成绩的下降正是一个心碎了的小男孩对他深爱着的父母已分居并要离婚这一事实的一种反抗呢?

心灵感悟:

父母是儿女的一面镜子。父母之间相互关怀、体贴、宽容,能让孩子充分感受到爱的存在,会对生活有着美好的憧憬,即使在遇到挫折时也能乐观面对;但是天天争吵没有温情的家庭会让孩子幼小的心灵受到伤害,他们会在困难中怨恨周围的一切……爱是孩子健康快乐成长的保证。