- 精华
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Once again, I was caught in the middle of circumstances. The fourth born of six children, it was not uncommon that I was either too young or too old for something. This night I was both. While my two baby brothers slept inside the house, my three older siblings played with friends around the corner, where I was not allowed to go. I stayed with Grampy, and that was okay with me. I was where I wanted to be. My grandfather was baby-sitting while my mother, father and grandmother went out. |
我又一次陷于两头都够不上的中间境遇,作为6个孩子中的老四,很多事情对于我来说不是因为年龄太小,就是太大而不合适。那天夜里就是这样。我的两个小兄弟在屋里睡觉,我的另外3个长兄和姐姐在拐角与小伙伴们玩,而我是不允许去那里的。我与祖父呆在一起,这也挺好,正是我想呆的地方。在父母和祖母外出时,祖父就在家看孩子。 |
Thirsty?" Grampy asked, never removing the pipe from his mouth.
" Yes," was my reply." How would you like to run over to the gas station there and get yourself a bottle of Coke?"
I couldn't believe my ears. Had I heard right? Was he talking to me? On my family's modest income, Coke was not a part of our budget or diet. A few tantalizing sips was all I had ever had, and certainly never my own bottle.
" Okay," I replied shyly, already wondering how I would get across the street. Surely Grampy was going to come with me. |
"渴吗?"祖父烟斗不离口地问我。
"是的。"我回答说。"跑到街对面的加油站去给你自己买瓶可乐怎么样?"
我简直不敢相信自己的耳朵,我没有听错吧?他是在跟我说话吗?就我们家微薄的收入来说,可乐不是我们家庭开销的一部分。我只是迫不及待地啜过几小口,从来没有自己喝过一瓶。
"好的。"我害羞地回答说,已经在想着该怎样穿过马路,祖父当然会跟我一块。 |
Grampy stretched his long leg out straight and reached his huge hand deep into the pocket. I could hear the familiar jangling of the loose change he always carried. Opening his fist, he exposed a mound of silver coins. There must have been a million dollars there. He instructed me to pick out a dime. After he deposited the rest of the change back into his pocket, he stood up.
" Okay," he said, helping me down the stairs and to the curb, " I'm going to stay here and keep an ear out for the babies. I'll tell you when it's safe to cross. You go over to the Coke machine, get your Coke and come back out. Wait for me to tell you when it's safe to cross back." |
祖父将他的长腿伸直,把他的大手伸进口袋。我能听到零钱相碰而发出的熟悉的丁当声,他总是把这些零钱带在身上。他张开手,露出了一堆宝贝似的银币。那里面一定有100万美元!他让我拿出一个1角的硬币。把零钱放回口袋后,他站了起来。
"好吧,"他说,帮着我下楼梯到马路沿儿那儿去,"我站在这儿,听着屋里的两个孩子有没有动静,什么时候穿过马路安全,我会告诉你的。你到对面的可乐机那儿买到你的可乐后再走回来。等着我告诉你什么时候过马路安全。" |
My heart pounded. I clutched my dime tightly in my sweaty palm. Excitement took my breath away.
Grampy held my hand tightly. Together we looked up the street and down, and back up again. He stepped off the curb and told me it was safe to cross. He let go of my hand and I ran. I ran faster than I had ever run before. The street seemed wide. I wondered if I would make it to the other side. Reaching the other side, I turned to find Grampy. There he was, standing exactly where I had left him, smiling proudly. I waved.
" Go on, hurry up," he yelled. |
我的心砰砰地跳着,紧紧地用汗手攥着那枚1角的硬币,兴奋地喘不上气来。
祖父紧紧地拉着我的手,我们一块看了看大街的前后左右。他走下马路沿儿,告诉我现在可以过去了。他放开我的手,我跑了起来。我从没有跑得这么快过。街道似乎很宽,我怀疑自己是否能跑到对面。跑到对面后,我回头寻找祖父,他正站在我离开他的地方,为我自豪地微笑着。我朝他挥了挥手。
"接着走,快点。"他喊道。 | |
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