佚名
生活中往往有一些小事对我们的影响反而更为深远。小事也能转变我们的人生观,改变我们做决定的方式,并能在脑海中留下难以磨灭的印迹。
九月中旬的一个傍晚,我三岁的儿子正在婴儿床上小睡,而我整个下午都在收拾威斯康星州的新家。那天虽然下着毛毛雨,但并不冷。
我在客厅内整理玩具和毯子时,无意中从二楼阳台的窗户向外瞥了一眼,发现地上都是水坑,雨也小了。
楼下的草坪与公路交接处有一个大水坑,旁边站着一个四岁左右的男孩。他穿着T恤衫和短裤,脚下是一双红色的橡胶雨鞋。他兴奋地在水坑里踩来踩去,泥水飞溅。他来回走着,踩着,开心地享受着大自然母亲的恩赐。
他的母亲站在离他不到四英尺远的地方,看着儿子探索这个世界,看着飞溅起的水滴落在儿子头上、衣服上和身上。他满身泥浆,她却只是仍然站在那儿看,还面带微笑。在一个不留心观察的路人眼中,他们只不过是在消磨时间。但以我初为人母的喜悦和经验所孕育出的敏感来看,这是一个感人时刻,自此它将改变我对身为人母的理解。
生活中一个小小瞬间,让我驻足思索:小事也意义非凡。小男孩长大后,或许不会记得,妈妈每天下午都带他出门,让他在水坑里踩来踩去,让他停下来摸摸小虫子。也或许不会记得,每天,妈妈都让他探寻这个世界。但他不会忘记,妈妈爱他。他知道,妈妈给他营造了一个舒适且充满乐趣的环境供他学习和成长。
或许,在无忧无虑的童年,我们可以学到:不要把暴风雨看做避之唯恐不及的事情,而应陶醉其中,去研究探索,享受品味。或许,我们应常停下来,在雨中嬉闹。或许,随着为人母的经验的积累,我也会懂得更多,看问题的方式也将有所改变。但有一点,我确信——等儿子一学会走路,我就给他买双橡胶雨鞋。
Raindrops+and+Rubber+Boots
Anonymous
It’s+often+the+simple+things+in+life+that+make+the+most+significant+impact+on+us.+Simple+things+that+change+our+view+of+life,+change+the+way+we+make+decisions,+leave+lasting+memories+in+our+minds.
It+was+late+one+afternoon+in+midSeptember.+My+then+threemonthold+son+was+napping+in+his+crib+and+I+was+spending+the+afternoon+getting+settled+into+our+new+home+in+Wisconsin.+It+was+a+rainy+day.+Not+cold,+but+a+steady+drizzle+had+been+falling+all+morning+and+into+the+afternoon.
As+I+wandered+through+our+living+room,+picking+up+toys+and+blankets,+I+happened+to+glance+out+my+second+story+balcony+window.+Puddles+had+formed+on+the+ground+and+the+rain+had+slowed.
Down+below,+where+the+grass+met+the+pavement+and+a+large+puddle+had+formed,+stood+a+boy+of+about+four.+He+wore+a+Tshirt+and+a+pair+of+shorts+and+up+to+his+knees+he+sported+a+pair+of+red,+rubber+boots.+Filled+with+a+mixture+of+fascination1+and+glee,+he+stomped2+through+the+puddle,+mud+and+water+flying.+Over+and+over+he+walked,+stomped,+splashed3+through+that+puddle,+happily+enjoying+what+Mother+Nature+had+left+for+him.
Not+more+than+four+feet+away+stood+his+mother,+watching+as+her+son+explored+his+world.+She+watched+as+water+droplets,+airborne+because+of+his+stomping,+landed+on+the+boy’s+head,+clothes+and+body.+Mud+flecks+flew+all+around+him+and+still+she+stood+and+watched+with+a+pleasant+smile+on+her+face.+To+an+unnoticing+passerby+it+was+just+two+people+going+about+their+day.+But+from+my+new+found+sensitivity+to+the+joys+and+experiences+of+motherhood,+it+was+a+touching+moment+that+altered+the+way+I+will+forever+view+my+role+as+a+mother.
A+simple+moment+in+my+life+made+me+stop+and+realize+just+how+important+the+simple+things+really+are.+As+the+little+boy+in+the+rubber+boots+grows+up,+he+probably+will+not+remember+each+afternoon+that+his+mother+took+him+outside+and+let+him+stomp+in+the+puddles+or+each+bug+that+she+let+him+stop+to+touch.+He+may+not+remember+each+little+thing+that+his+mother+does+for+him+everyday+—+each+time+she+lets+him+explore+his+world.+But+he+will+remember+that+his+mother+loved+him+and+he+will+know+that+she+helped+him+to+learn+and+grow+in+a+pleasant+and+fun+environment.
Maybe+we+can+all+learn+from+the+innocence4+of+childhood+that+views+a+rainstorm+not+as+something+to+run+through+or+to+avoid,+but+something+meant+to+fascinate,+to+explore+and+to+enjoy.+Maybe+we+should+all+stop+to+play+in+the+rain+more+often.+Maybe+I+will+learn+more+and+my+views+will+change+as+my+experience+of+motherhood+grows+and+evolves5.+But+one+thing+I+know+for+sure.++As+soon+as+my+son+can+walk,+I+am+buying+him+a+pair+of+rubber+boots.
微笑的世界
佚名
大约10年前,当我还是个在校大学生时,我在学校的自然历史博物馆做实习生。一天,当我正在礼品店的收银台工作时,看到一对老夫妇推着一位坐在轮椅上的小姑娘走进店里。
近看时,我看到她完全是“栖息”在椅子上的。后来我意识到,她没有手臂和双腿,只有头部、颈部和躯干。她穿着一件有红色圆点点缀的白色连衣裙。
当那对夫妇推着她朝我走来时,我正低头看着收银机。我把头转向那个女孩,朝她眨了眨眼。当接过老夫妇的钱时,我回头看了看那个小姑娘,她正朝我微笑,那是我有生以来见到的最可爱、最灿烂的微笑。突然间,她身上的所有缺陷都消失了,我看到的是一个美丽的小女孩。她的微笑感染了我,几乎立即给了我一种全新的关于生命的感觉。她让我这个贫穷、苦闷的大学生进入到她的世界——一个充满微笑、爱和温暖的世界。
那天的事一转眼已过去10年了。如今我已是一位成功的商人。只要我变得沮丧,想到世间的烦恼,我就会想起那个小姑娘,还有她教给我的那一节关于人生的非凡课程。
■心灵小语
微笑能够使陌生的人变得熟悉起来,能够化解冷漠。你无需花一分钱,就可以绽开笑脸,给自己带来幸福的同时,也为别人送去快乐。不要做一个吝啬的人,让自己的生活多一些微笑。
World+of+Smiles
Anonymous
About+ten+years+ago+when+I+was+an+undergraduate+in+college,+I+was+working+as+an+intern+at+my+University’s+Museum+of+Natural+History.+One+day+while+working+at+the+cash+register+in+the+gift+shop,+I+saw+an+elderly+couple+come+in+with+a+little+girl+in+a+wheelchair1.
As+I+looked+closer+at+this+girl,+I+saw+that+she+was+kind+of+perched+on+her+chair.+I+then+realized+she+had+no+arms+or+legs,+just+a+head,+neck+and+torso2.+She+was+wearing+a+little+white+dress+with+red+polka+dots.
As+the+couple+wheeled+her+up+to+me+I+was+looking+down+at+the+register.+I+turned+my+head+toward+the+girl+and+gave+her+a+wink.+As+I+took+the+money+from+her+grandparents,+I+looked+back+at+the+girl,+who+was+giving+me+the+cutest,+largest+smile+I+have+ever+seen.+All+of+a+sudden+her+handicap+was+gone+and+all+I+saw+was+this+beautiful+girl,+whose+smile+just+melted+me+and+almost+instantly+gave+me+a+completely+new+sense+of+what+life+was+all+about.+She+took+me+from+a+poor,+unhappy+college+student+and+brought+me+into+her+world:+a+world+of+smiles,+love+and+warmth.
That+was+ten+years+ago.+I’m+a+successful+business+person+now.+And+whenever+I+get+down+and+think+about+the+troubles+of+the+world,+I+think+about+that+little+girl+and+the+remarkable3+lesson+about+life+that+she+taught+me.
友谊的故事
佚名
上高一时,有一天,在放学路上我看到了同班的一个男孩——凯尔。他好像把所有的书都拿上了,我心想:谁会在周末把书都带回家啊?他一定是个书呆子。我的周末已经有了安排(明天下午和朋友去踢足球,参加聚会),因此我耸耸肩,继续往前走。
正走着,我看到一帮孩子朝他跑去。他们冲过去撞掉他怀中的书,并将他绊倒在泥里。他的眼镜飞了出去,落在离他约10英尺的草地上。他扬起脸朝上看时,我看到了他眼中的悲哀。我有些同情他,于是慢慢走到他身边,当他趴着找眼镜时,我看到了他眼中含着的泪水。我把眼镜递给他,说:“他们简直无聊透顶,真应该受到惩罚。”他看着我说:“嗨,谢谢!”他的脸上带着灿烂的笑容,那笑容代表着真正的感激之情。
我帮他捡起书,问他住在哪里。原来他和我住得很近,于是我便问为什么从未见过他。他说他以前在一家私立学校上学。在此之前,我从不和私立学校的孩子打交道。我帮他抱着一些书,和他聊了一路。他挺帅,挺酷。我问他是否愿意和我们一起踢足球,他回答说好。于是我们度过了一个愉快的周末,而且对凯尔了解得越多,我就越喜欢他,我的朋友们也有同感。
周一早上,凯尔又抱了一大堆书。我拦住他,说:“好家伙,你真要每天抱着这些书锻炼肌肉啊!”他只是微微一笑,把半摞书递给我。接下来的四年中,我们成了最好的朋友。临近毕业时,我们开始考虑上大学的事。凯尔决定上乔治敦大学,而我准备去杜克大学。我知道距离不是问题,我们永远都是朋友。他想当一名医生,而我获得了橄榄球奖学金,准备去学商务。
凯尔将代表我们班致告别辞。我一直取笑他是个书呆子。他得为毕业典礼准备演讲稿,而我也很高兴不用自己去演讲。毕业那天,我看到了凯尔,他简直帅呆了。在高中,他简直如鱼得水。他长大了,戴着眼镜的样子看起来很棒。他的约会比我还多,所有女孩都喜欢他。天啊,有时我真嫉妒他,今天就是。看得出他对演讲有些紧张,于是我拍拍他的背,说:“嗨,棒小伙,你会是最棒的!”他看着我笑了,神情中依然带着那种真诚的感激。“谢谢。”他说。
他准备演讲时,先清了清嗓子,然后开始了。“毕业之际,要感谢那些曾在我们艰难时伸出援手的人。他们是我们的父母、老师、兄弟姐妹,或者是某个辅导员,但大部分还是我们的朋友。在此,我想告诉在座的所有人,做某人真正的朋友是你所给予他的最好的礼物。我想给大家讲一个故事。”我难以置信地看着我的朋友,听他讲起我们初次认识的情形。他曾计划在那个周末自杀。他讲他如何清空锁柜,将所有的东西带回家,以便他妈妈将来不必再清理。他努力看着我,对我微微一笑。“令人感激的是,我得救了。我的朋友救了我,使我没做那种可怕的傻事。”
当这个帅气、受欢迎的男孩讲述了他最脆弱的时刻时,我听到人群中一片惊讶的声音。我看到他的父母在看我,并同样感激地对我微笑着。直到那一刻,我才真正意识到那个微笑的意义。永远不要低估你行为的力量。你不经意间的一个小举动也许就会改变一个人的命运。无论福祸,上帝让我们介入彼此的生活以某种方式影响着对方。从他人身上去寻找上帝的影子。正如你所知的:“当我们的翅膀受伤时,朋友就是天使,会将我们扶起,让我们想起如何飞翔。”
■心灵小语
生命是脆弱的,情感的力量是伟大的。每个人,无论你是智者还是拙人,你肯定拥有自己的独特之处,有自身的价值。永远也不要因为外界因素的评定而低估了自己。只要你有爱,只要你肯付出爱,你就会影响他人的生活。
A+Story+about+Friendship
Anonymous
One+day,+when+I+was+a+freshman+in+high+school,+I+saw+a+kid+from+my+class+walking+home+from+school.+His+name+was+Kyle.+It+looked+like+he+was+carrying+all+of+his+books.+I+thought+to+myself,+“Why+would+anyone+bring+home+all+his+books+on+a+Friday?+He+must+really+be+a+nerd.”+I+had+quite+a+weekend+planned+(parties+and+a+football+game+with+my+friends+tomorrow+afternoon),+so+I+shrugged+my+shoulders+and+went+on.
As+I+was+walking,+I+saw+a+bunch+of+kids+running+toward+him.+They+ran+at+him,+knocking+all+his+books+out+of+his+arms+and+tripping+him+so+he+landed+in+the+dirt.+His+glasses+went+flying,+and+I+saw+them+land+in+the+grass+about+ten+feet+from+him.+He+looked+up+and+I+saw+the+terrible+sadness+in+his+eyes.+My+heart+went+out+to+him.+So,+I+jogged+over+to+him+and+as+he+crawled+around+looking+for+his+glasses,+I+saw+a+tear+in+his+eye.+As+I+handed+him+his+glasses,+I+said,+“Those+guys+are+jerks.+They+really+should+be+punished.”+He+looked+at+me+and+said,+“Hey,+thanks!”+There+was+a+big+smile+on+his+face.+It+was+one+of+those+smiles+that+showed+real+gratitude.
I+helped+him+pick+up+his+books,+and+asked+him+where+he+lived.+As+it+turned+out,+he+lived+near+me,+so+I+asked+him+why+I+had+never+seen+him+before.+He+said+he+had+gone+to+private+school+before+now.+I+would+have+never+hung+out+with+a+private+school+kid+before.+We+talked+all+the+way+home,+and+I+carried+some+of+his+books.+He+turned+out+to+be+a+pretty+cool+kid.+I+asked+him+if+he+wanted+to+play+a+little+football+with+my+friends.+He+said+yes.+We+hung+out+all+weekend+and+the+more+I+got+to+know+Kyle,+the+more+I+liked+him,+and+my+friends+thought+the+same+of+him.
Monday+morning+came,+and+there+was+Kyle+with+the+huge+stack+of+books+again.+I+stopped+him+and+said,+“Boy,+you+are+gonna+really+build+some+serious+muscles+with+this+pile+of+books+everyday!”+He+just+laughed+and+handed+me+half+the+books.+Over+the+next+four+years,+Kyle+and+I+became+best+friends.+When+we+were+seniors,+we+began+to+think+about+college.+Kyle+decided+on+Georgetown,+and+I+was+going+to+Duke.+I+knew+that+we+would+always+be+friends,+that+the+miles+would+never+be+a+problem.+He+was+going+to+be+a+doctor,+and+I+was+going+for+business+on+a+football+scholarship.
Kyle+was+valedictorian+of+our+class.+I+teased+him+all+the+time+about+being+a+nerd.+He+had+to+prepare+a+speech+for+graduation.+I+was+so+glad+it+wasn’t+me+having+to+get+up+there+and+speak.+Graduation+day,+I+saw+Kyle.+He+looked+great.+He+was+one+of+those+guys+that+really+found+himself+during+high+school.+He+filled+out+and+actually+looked+good+in+glasses.+He+had+more+dates+than+I+had+and+all+the+girls+loved+him.+Boy,+sometimes+I+was+jealous.+Today+was+one+of+those+days.+I+could+see+that+he+was+nervous+about+his+speech.+So,+I+smacked+him+on+the+back+and+said,“Hey,+big+guy,+you’ll+be+great!”+He+looked+at+me+with+one+of+those+looks+(the+really+grateful+one)+and+smiled.+“Thanks.”+he+said.
As+he+started+his+speech,+he+cleared+his+throat,+and+began.+“Graduation+is+a+time+to+thank+those+who+helped+you+make+it+through+those+tough+years.+Our+parents,+our+teachers,+our+siblings,+maybe+a+coach+but+mostly+our+friends.+I+am+here+to+tell+all+of+you+that+being+a+friend+to+someone+is+the+best+gift+you+can+give+them.+I+am+going+to+tell+you+a+story.”+I+just+looked+at+my+friend+with+disbelief+as+he+told+the+story+of+the+first+day+we+met.+He+had+planned+to+kill+himself+over+the+weekend.+He+talked+of+how+he+had+cleaned+out+his+locker+so+his+Mom+wouldn’t+have+to+do+it+later+and+was+carrying+his+stuff+home.+He+looked+hard+at+me+and+gave+me+a+little+smile.+“Thankfully,+I+was+saved.+My+friend+saved+me+from+doing+the+unspeakable.”
I+heard+the+gasp+go+through+the+crowd+as+this+handsome,+popular+boy+told+us+all+about+his+weakest+moment.+I+saw+his+Mom+and+Dad+looking+at+me+and+smiling+that+same+grateful+smile.+Not+until+that+moment+did+I+realize+its+depth.+Never+underestimate+the+power+of+your+actions.+With+one+small+gesture+you+can+change+a+person’s+life.+For+better+or+for+worse.+God+puts+us+all+in+each+other’s+lives+to+impact+one+another+in+some+way.+Look+for+God+in+others.+As+you+can+see,+“Friends+are+angels+who+lift+us+to+our+feet+when+our+wings+have+trouble+remembering+how+to+fly.”
另类英雄
托尼&#8226卢纳
当古尔利克森博士正在为实验心理学课安排研究小组时,我默默地祈祷他能够把我与一个可爱的女生,至少是一个志趣相投的同学分在一组。总而言之,我希望他不要让我与一个具有强烈竞争意识、异常严肃的家伙做搭档,这种人个性十足,并且总爱穿着深颜色的衣服。经过一番深思熟虑之后,古尔利克森博士公布了分组决定,宣布我与一个我最想躲避的人成为一组,这就像命中注定似的。
我走到自己的实验搭档面前,作了自我介绍。他看着我的样子,仿佛我并不存在似的。我感觉到,他似乎认为我会阻碍他进步,并且很可能导致他的平均成绩直线下降。他并不完全怀有恶意,只是给了我这样的印象,无论什么实验,如果他独自去做就会做得更好。我的加入似乎只会妨碍他的研究,只能成为他不得不花时间和精力应付的麻烦,因为他是一个能够独立完成任务的人,他有重要的事情要做。
当然,我不想把整个学期都荒废掉,为了不让事情变得更加糟糕,我什么也没说,只是尽力把实验做好。根据计划,每个实验小组要提出假设、作实验检验假设、作统计学分析、介绍研究结果。小组所取得的成绩就是每个小组成员的成绩。我每次都忐忑不安地与同伴讨论实验的问题,他的专注和优秀的成绩是出了名的,他是一个勇于挑战的人。正相反,我与他相差甚远,事实上,我心里曾经闪现过逃课的念头,然而,我不想被他看扁,所以很快放弃了这种想法。我向那些忙于工作的朋友请教我该如何去做,他们的答复全部是,无论发生什么,你都要坚持到最后。
经过长时间讨论之后,我们终于达成一致,决定做一项关于空间触觉和动觉感知的研究。我们已经确定了题目,虽然我并不明白这是一项什么研究。为了制定计划,我们定期碰面,每次讨论决定之后,我都觉得是他制定了计划。我们碰面的次数越多,我对他的才智和直击问题核心的能力就越憎恨。我逐渐意识到,他的水平比我高很多。他很了解技术方面的知识,并且能够带着非常明确的目标去处理细节问题。
另一方面,我能提出的建议微乎其微,看起来似乎很幼稚。有一次,我鼓起勇气问他,他为什么那么紧张严肃。他回答我说,他没有闲聊的时间,对他来说,无聊的人和事情只是浪费时间,这令我感到惊讶。他甚至告诉我,那些所谓的朋友只会令人分心,因此,他没有结交很多朋友。不过,他补充说,一旦选择某人作为自己的朋友,他就会把他们当作一生的朋友。他的冷淡和愤世嫉俗,令我感到非常震惊。当时,我恨不得这个学期马上结束。
时光荏苒,我们尝试设计了一个非常出色的实验,而且实验操作也很简单。挑选志愿做实验对象的学生成为了我们工作的一部分,我决定致力于招募研究对象,他负责阐述科学方法。我抓住一切可能的机会陈述自己的意见,然而,我仍然有一种感觉:他才是整个实验的推动力量。
有一天,我得知他生病住进了医院。很显然,他是因为溃疡出血才住进医院的。他想取得最好的成绩,想找一份工作,想帮助生病的女朋友度过危险期,他背负的这些压力把他压垮了。
当去医院看望这个坚忍克己的实验伙伴时,我第一次发现,他脸上有了一种脆弱的表情。我知道,他是担心我会把实验搞砸,担心他非常高的总平均成绩会被小组实验成绩给毁掉,甚至会突然失掉进研究院的机会。我告诉他应该一心一意恢复健康,并保证我一定会付出最大的努力,不会让他失望的。我们都很清楚,我必须比最好做得还要好。
任务非常艰巨,我埋头整理统计资料,这些资料已经超出了我的理解范围。我有生以来所做的任何作业,都不曾付出这么多的时间和精力。我不能让他看到我失败,不愿意因为我而影响他的成绩。为了能够利用一切安静的时间进行研究,我把工作时间调整到夜里,从午夜一直干到凌晨六点。我被工作吸引住了,感觉自己全身心地投入到了一场挑战之中。仍然还有问题,我能解决吗?
在本学期即将结束的时候,各个小组终于要在所有组合小组前陈述自己的研究成果了。轮到我们组的时候,我使用自己的表演技巧阐述了他的科学方法,我竭尽了全力。我们得了“A”,这令我感到异常惊喜!
当我告诉实验伙伴,我们共同的努力取得了成功时,他笑着感谢我完成了实验。那一刻,某些东西将我们联系在了一起。这些特别的东西,与信赖有关,与分享获奖的喜悦有关。
这些年来,我们仍然保持着密切的关系。通过不断学习,他获得了博士学位,并与大学女友建立了家庭。
那个学期,我学到了更多的东西,而不仅仅是统计学分析和实验过程。他是我生活中的另类英雄,我的生活因他而面临挑战,因他而变得广阔。
事实证明,他是正确的,我们成了终生的朋友。
An+Unlikely+Hero
Tong+Lu
When+Dr.+Gullickson+was+assigning+project+mates+for+his+introduction+to+experimental+psychology+class,+I+secretly+hoped+he+would+pair+me+with+a+cute+coed+or+at+least+a+classmate+I+could+have+some+fun+with.+Above+all,+I+hoped+he+wouldn’t+assign+me+to+work+with+the+intense,+fiercely+competitive,+singularly+serious+fellow+who+always+wore+dark+clothes+and+apparently+had+a+personality+to+match.+As+fate+would+have+it,+Dr.+Gullickson+very+deliberately+matched+everyone+in+class+and+announced+that+I+would+be+working+with+the+one+person+in+class+I+wanted+to+avoid.+
I+went+up+to+my+new+lab+mate+and+introduced+myself.+He+looked+at+me+as+though+I+weren’t+there.+I+felt+he+treated+me+as+though+I+would+hold+him+back+and+probably+cause+his+gradepoint+average+to+take+a+nosedive1.+He+wasn’t+outright+mean+or+abusive2.+He+just+gave+me+the+impression+he+could+do+whatever+project+we+dreamed+up+better+if+he+did+it+alone.+He+was+a+loner,+and+I+could+only+impede3+his+research.+He+had+important+things+to+do,+and+I+was+going+to+be+something+of+an+annoyance+he’d+have+to+deal+with.+
Needless+to+say,+I+didn’t+look+forward+to+an+entire+semester+of+being+brushed+off,+but+I+tried+to+make+the+best+of+it+and+didn’t+say+anything,+lest+I+make+things+worse.+
The+project+required+each+lab+team+to+develop+a+hypothesis,+set+up+an+experiment+to+test+the+hypothesis,+run+the+tests,+do+the+statistical+analysis+and+present+the+findings.+Whatever+grade+the+team+received+would+be+shared+by+both+students.+When+my+lab+mate+and+I+met+to+discuss+our+project,+I+was+uneasy.+Here+was+this+challenging+student+who+had+a+reputation+for+singlemindedness+and+good+grades—the+et+opposite+of+me.+I+was+outmatched.+I+actually+wanted+to+drop+the+class+at+one+point,+but+stopped+short+because+I+didn’t+want+to+give+him+the+satisfaction+of+my+chickening+out.+I+asked+my+friends+at+work+what+I+should+do,+and+the+overall+response+was+to+stick+it+out+no+matter+what.+htTΡδ://WwW.ЪǐQiKǔ.йēT
After+lengthy+discussions,+we+somehow+agreed+to+do+a+study+on+the+tactilekinesthetic+perception+of+space.+I+wasn’t+sure+what+it+meant,+but+at+least+we+had+a+topic.+We+started+to+meet+regularly+to+formulate4+our+plans,+and+every+time+I+felt+the+project+was+more+his+than+mine.+The+more+we+met,+the+more+I+resented+his+intelligence+and+his+ability+to+cut+through+to+the+core+issues.+And+I+was+aware+he+was+much+more+advanced+than+I.+He+knew+technical+things+and+approached+every+detail+with+great+singularity+of+purpose.+
I,+on+the+other+hand,+must+have+seemed+naive,+with+little+to+offer.+At+one+point+l+summoned+up+my+courage+and+asked+him+why+he+seemed+so+uptight+and+serious.+To+my+surprise,+he+replied+that+he+didn’t+have+time+for+small+talk+or+petty+people+and+things+that+would+waste+his+time.+He+even+went+on+to+say+that+he+didn’t+have+any+friends+because+most+socalled+friends+were+just+a+distraction.+But,+he+added,+when+he+did+choose+someone+to+be+his+friend,+they+would+be+a+friend+for+life.+I+was+floored+by+his+cold+and+cynical+response.+Right+then+and+there,+I+realized+the+end+of+the+semester+couldn’t+come+soon+enough.+
As+the+semester+wore+on,+we+tried+to+fashion+a+simple+yet+elegant+experiment.+Part+of+our+job+was+to+‘+students+who+had+voluneered+to+be+subjects+for+our+project.+I+decided+to+devote5+myself+to+the+task+of+working+with+the+subjects,+while+he+developed+the+scientific+model.+I+put+in+my+two+cents’+worth+whenever+I+could,+but+I+still+felt+he+was+the+driving+force.+
Then+one+day+I+got+word+that+he+was+in+the+hospital.+Apparently,+he+had+been+admitted+for+a+hemorrhaging+ulcer.+The+stress+of+getting+the+best+grades,+holding+down+a+job+and+helping+his+girlfriend+through+the+medical+crisis+she+was+going+through+had+taken+its+toll+on+him.+
When+I+visited+him+in+the+hospital,+I+noticed+for+the+first+time+a+sense+of+vulnerability+on+the+face+of+my+stoic+lab+mate.+I+knew+that+he+was+aware+that+I+could+blow+the+experiment,+and+our+shared+grade+would+shatter+his+lofty+G.+P.+A.+and+possibly+derail+his+chances+for+graduate+school.+I+assured+him+I+would+not+let+him+down+and+he+should+only+concentrate+on+getting+better.+I+would+do+my+best.+We+both+knew+I’d+have+to+do+better+than+my+best.+
I+had+a+formidable+task+ahead+of+me.+I+was+in+over+my+head,+running+the+statistical+data.+I+poured+more+time+and+energy+into+that+project+than+I+had+ever+done+on+any+assignment+in+my+life.+I+was+not+going+to+let+him+see+me+fail+and+have+it+reflect+on+him.+I+was+working+the+graveyard+shift+at+my+job,+so+I+used+whatever+quiet+time+from+midnight+to+6+A.+M.+to+work+on+the+project.+The+work+consumed+me.+There+was+a+sense+of+challenge+that+completely+overtook+me.+The+question+remained:+Was+I+up+to+it?+
Eventually,+the+semester+came+to+a+close,+and+each+team+had+to+present+its+findings+in+front+of+the+assembled+class.+When+it+was+our+turn,+I+did+my+level+best+to+present+his+scientific+methodology+with+my+showmanship6.+To+my+amazement,+we+were+awarded+an+A!+
When+I+told+my+lab+mate+about+our+shared+triumph,+he+smiled+and+thanked+me+for+carrying+on.+Something+connected+then.+Something+special.+It+had+to+do+with+trust+and+the+exhilaration+of+sharing+a+common+prize.+
We+have+stayed+close+throughout+the+years.+He+went+on+to+achieve+a+doctorate.+He+also+went+on+to+marry+his+college+girlfriend.+
I+learned+more+than+statistical+analysis+and+experimental+procedures+that+semester.+My+life+has+been+enhanced+by+our+encounter+and+challenged+by+this+man,+who+became+my+unlikely+hero.+
And+in+the+end,+he+was+right:+we+have+become+friends+for+life.
朋友就该这么做
T.苏珊&#8226埃勒
杰克把文件扔到我桌上,皱着眉头,气愤地瞪着我。
“怎么了?”我问道。
他指着计划书狠狠地说道:“下次想作什么改动前,先征求一下我的意见。”然后转身走了,留下我一个人在那里生闷气。
他怎么能这样对我!我想,我只是改了一个长句,更正了语法错误,但这都是我的分内之事啊。
其实也有人提醒过我,上一任在我这个职位上工作的女士就曾大骂过他。我第一天上班时,就有同事把我拉到一旁小声说:“已有两个秘书因为他而辞职了。”
几周后,我逐渐有些鄙视杰克了,而这又有悖于我的信条——别人打你左脸,右脸也转过去让他打;爱自己的敌人。但无论怎么做,总会挨杰克的骂。说真的,我很想灭灭他的嚣张气焰,而不是去爱他。我还为此默默祈祷过。
一天,因为一件事,我又被他气哭了。我冲进他的办公室,准备在被炒鱿鱼前让他知道我的感受。我推开门,杰克抬头看了我一眼。
“有事吗?”他突然说道。
我猛地意识到该怎么做了。毕竟,他罪有应得。
我在他对面坐下:“杰克,你对待我的方式很有问题。还从没有人像你那样对我说话。作为一个职业人士,你这么做很愚蠢,我无法容忍这样的事情再度发生。”
杰克不安地笑了笑,向后靠靠。我闭了一下眼睛,祈祷着,希望上帝能帮帮我。
“我保证,可以成为你的朋友。你是我的上司,我自然会尊敬你,礼貌待你,这是我应做的。每个人都应得到如此礼遇。”我说着便起身离开,把门关上了。
那个星期余下的几天,杰克一直躲着我。他总趁我吃午饭时,把计划书、技术说明和信件放在我桌上,并且,我修改过的文件不再被打回来。一天,我买了些饼干去办公室,顺便在杰克桌上留了一包。第二天,我又留了一张字条,在上面写道:“祝你今天一切顺利。”
接下来的几个星期,杰克不再躲避我了,但沉默了许多,办公室里再也没发生不愉快的事情。于是,同事们在休息室把我团团围了起来。
“听说杰克被你镇住了,”他们说,“你肯定大骂了他一顿。”我摇了摇头,一字一顿地说:“我们会成为朋友。”我根本不想提起杰克,每次在大厅看见他时,我总冲他微笑。毕竟,朋友就该这样。
一年后,我32岁,是三个漂亮孩子的母亲,但我被确诊为乳腺癌,这让我极端恐惧。癌细胞已经扩散到我的淋巴腺。从统计数据来看,我的时间不多了。手术后,我拜访了亲朋好友,他们尽量宽慰我,都不知道说些什么好,有些人反而说错了话,另外一些人则为我难过,还得我去安慰他们。我始终没有放弃希望。
就在我出院的前一天,我看到门外有个人影。是杰克,他尴尬地站在门口。我微笑着招呼他进来,他走到我床边,默默地把一包东西放在我旁边,那里边是几个球茎。
“这是郁金香。”他说。
我笑着,不明白他的用意。
他清了清嗓子,“回家后把它们种下,到明年春天就长出来了。”他挪挪脚,“我希望你知道,你一定看得到它们发芽开花。”
我泪眼朦胧地伸出手。
“谢谢你。”我低声说。
杰克抓住我的手,生硬地答道:“不必客气。到明年长出来后,你就能看到我为你挑的是什么颜色的郁金香了。”之后,他没说一句话便转身离开了。
转眼间,十多年过去了,每年春天,我都会看着这些红白相间的郁金香破土而出。事实上,今年九月,医生已宣布我痊愈了。我也看着孩子们高中毕业,进入大学。
在那绝望的时刻,我祈求他人的安慰,而这个男人寥寥数语,却情真意切,温暖着我脆弱的心。
毕竟,朋友之间就该这么做。
■心灵小语
成长中,每个人都在与形形色色的人打交道。有一种人,他们坦诚以待,相互鼓励,我们称之为朋友。
That’s+What+Friends+Do
+++++
T.+Suzanne+Eller
Jack+tossed+the+papers+on+my+desk—his+eyebrows+knit+into+a+straight+line+as+he+glared+at+me.
“What’s+wrong?”+I+asked.
He+jabbed+a+finger+at+the+proposal.+“Next+time+you+want+to+change+anything,+ask+me+first,”+he+said,+turning+on+his+heels+and+leaving+me+stewing1+in+anger.
How+dare+he+treat+me+like+that,+I+thought.+I+had+changed+one+long+sentence,+and+corrected+grammar—something+I+thought+I+was+paid+to+do.
It’s+not+that+I+hadn’t+been+warned.+The+other+women,+who+had+served+in+my+place+before+me,+called+him+names+I+couldn’t+repeat.+One+coworker+took+me+aside+the+first+day.+“He’s+personally+responsible+for+two+different+secretaries+leaving+the+firm,”+she+whispered.
As+the+weeks+went+by,+I+grew+to+despise+Jack.+It+was+against+everything+I+believed+in—turn+the+other+cheek+and+love+your+enemies.+But+Jack+quickly+slapped+a+verbal+insult+on+any+cheek+turned+his+way.+I+prayed+about+it,+but+to+be+honest,+I+wanted+to+put+him+in+his+place,+not+love+him.
One+day,+another+of+his+episodes2+left+me+in+tears.+I+stormed+into+his+office,+prepared+to+lose+my+job+if+needed,+but+not+before+I+let+the+man+know+how+I+felt.+I+opened+the+door+and+Jack+glanced+up.
“What?”+he+said+abruptly.
Suddenly+I+knew+what+I+had+to+do.+After+all,+he+deserved+it.+
I+sat+across+from+him.+“Jack,+the+way+you’ve+been+treating+me+is+wrong.+I’ve+never+had+anyone+speak+to+me+that+way.+As+a+professional,+it’s+wrong,+and+it’s+wrong+for+me+to+allow+it+to+continue,”+I+said.
Jack+snickered3+nervously+and+leaned+back+in+his+chair.+I+closed+my+eyes+briefly.+God+help+me,+I+prayed.
“I+want+to+make+you+a+promise.+I+will+be+a+friend,”+I+said.+“I+will+treat+you+as+you+deserve+to+be+treated,+with+respect+and+kindness.+You+deserve+that,”+I+said.+“Everybody+does.”+I+slipped+out+of+the+chair+and+closed+the+door+behind+me.
Jack+avoided+me+the+rest+of+the+week.+Proposals,+specs,+and+letters+appeared+on+my+desk+while+I+was+at+lunch,+and+the+corrected+versions+were+not+seen+again.+I+brought+cookies+to+the+office+one+day+and+left+a+batch+on+Jack’s+desk.+Another+day+I+left+a+note.+“Hope+your+day+is+going+great,”+it+read.
Over+the+next+few+weeks,+Jack+reappeared.+He+was+reserved,+but+there+were+no+other+episodes.+Coworkers+cornered+me+in+the+break+room.
“Guess+you+got+to+Jack,”+they+said.+“You+must+have+told+him+off4+good.”+I+shook+my+head.+“Jack+and+I+are+becoming+friends,”+I+said+in+faith.+I+refused+to+talk+about+him.+Every+time+I+saw+Jack+in+the+hall,+I+smiled+at+him.+After+all,+that’s+what+friends+do.
One+year+after+our+“talk,”+I+discovered+I+had+breast+cancer.+I+was+32,+the+mother+of+three+beautiful+young+children,+and+scared.+The+cancer+had+metastasized5+to+my+lymph+nodes+and+the+statistics+were+not+great+for+longterm+survival.+After+surgery,+I+visited+with+friends+and+loved+ones+who+tried+to+find+the+right+words+to+say.+No+one+knew+what+to+say.+Many+said+the+wrong+things.+Others+wept,+and+I+tried+to+encourage+them.+I+clung6+to+hope.
The+last+day+of+my+hospital+stay,+the+door+darkened+and+Jack+stood+awkwardly+on+the+threshold.+I+waved+him+in+with+a+smile+and+he+walked+over+to+my+bed+and,+without+a+word,+placed+a+bundle+beside+me.+Inside+lay+several+bulbs.
“Tulips,”+he+said.
I+smiled,+not+understanding.
He+cleared+his+throat,+“If+you+plant+them+when+you+get+home,+they’ll+come+up+next+spring.”+He+shuffled+his+feet.+“I+just+wanted+you+to+know+that+I+think+you’ll+be+there+to+see+them+when+they+come+up.”
Tears+clouded+my+eyes+and+I+reached+out+my+hand.
“Thank+you,”+I+whispered.
Jack+grasped+my+hand+and+gruffly7+replied,“You’re+welcome.+You+can’t+see+it+now,+but+next+spring+you’ll+see+the+colors+I+picked+out+for+you.”+He+turned+and+left+without+a+word.
I+have+seen+those+red+and+white+striped+tulips+push+through+the+soil+every+spring+for+over+ten+years+now.+In+fact,+this+September+the+doctor+will+declare+me+cured.+I’ve+seen+my+children+graduate+from+high+school+and+enter+college.
In+a+moment+when+I+prayed+for+just+the+right+word,+a+man+with+very+few+words+said+all+the+right+things.
After+all,+that’s+what+friends+do.
你一定会有好运
佚名
八月一个闷热的下午,我实在是倒霉透顶:开始是机场安检时的一场闹剧,然后是抽样药检,最后因天气和机械故障造成航班误点。
在登机口的一片混乱中,我注意到一个五岁的小男孩,他站在他妈妈身边,盯着我。他的目光在我和我的包之间来回游移。
他小心地离开他妈妈,慢慢朝我走来,不时瞟一眼他妈妈的和我的包。待他靠近我时,我才奇怪地发现他不是冲我来的,而是冲着我的帽子。
我正打算告诉他别动我的东西,但某种因素阻止了我,我继续看着他。他在我的提包前停下来,盯着我的帽子,然后,抬起头来,看着我。
他睁着大大的眼睛,轻轻地抚摩我的帽檐,食指慢慢地移动,然后仔细地摸着徽章。
他又抬起头来看我,微笑着,一句话也不说。我问他是不是想戴上我的上尉军帽。他兴奋地点点头,仍然面带微笑。我把帽子放在他头顶上,但帽子很快滑到他耳朵下,他毫不在意,用两只小手把帽子举到合适的位置。跑过去给他妈妈看,又笑呵呵地跑回来。
带着无比的敬意,他以某种礼节的方式,两只手举着帽子递还给我,如同交还王冠。
我戴上帽子,递给他一张明信片,他仍然充满敬畏地用两只手捧着。
交换过后,他仍一言不发,我知道他很激动。他驱散了我心情的烦闷,我也因此感到很开心。
他两只手仍小心地托着明信片,抬起头来,看着我说,“先生,您一定会有好运的。”
“是的,”我说,“我会有好运的。”
我最后一个坐上返乡的飞机,在飞机上,我思考着这个五岁孩子的智慧。
You+Sure+Are+Lucky
Anonymous
It+was+a+hot,+muggy+August+afternoon,+and+I+had+every+reason+to+feel+sorry+for+myself.+A+comedy+of+hassles+began+with+the+normal+airport+security+gauntlet,+followed+by+a+random+drug+test,+and+a+missed+flight+home+due+to+a+number+of+mechanical,+weather+problems.
During+the+usual+pandemonium+at+the+gate,+I+noticed+a+5yearold+boy+standing+by+his+mother+and+watching+me.+He+looked+at+me,+then+my+bag,+then+back+at+me.
Cautiously,+he+left+his+mother’s+side+and+slowly+began+to+walk+toward+me,+glancing+among+my+bag,+his+mother,+and+me.+As+he+came+closer,+I+was+both+relieved+and+alarmed+that+it+wasn’t+me+he+was+after.+It+was+my+hat.+
I+started+to+tell+him+not+to+bother+my+things,+but+something+made+me+stop+and+watch.+He+stopped+in+front+of+my+bag,+looking+at+my+hat,+then+up+at+me.
With+wide+eyes,+he+gently+touched+the+bill+of+my+hat.+Running+his+index+finger+slowly+along+the+edge,+carefully+touching+the+emblem.
Again,+he+looked+up+at+me,+now+smiling,+but+saying+nothing.+I+asked+him+if+he+would+like+to+wear+my+captain+hat.+He+excitedly+nodded+his+head,+still+smiling.+I+placed+my+hat+on+his+head,+but+it+fell+down+around+his+ears.+He+didn’t+seem+to+mind+and+held+it+up+in+the+proper+position+with+both+hands.+He+ran+to+show+his+mother,+then+back+to+me+still+smiling+from+ear+to+ear.
With+much+reverence+and+ceremony,+he+slowly+removed+my+hat+with+both+hands+and+presented+it+to+me+as+though+it+were+the+crown+jewels.
I+put+my+hat+on+and+gave+him+an+airplane+card.+This,+too,+he+held+with+both+hands+in+awe.
After+this+exchange,+he+still+hadn’t+spoken,+although+I+knew+he+was+excited,+I+also+was+happy+that+I+had+been+briefly+distracted+from+my+selfpity+fester.
Still+holding+the+card+carefully+with+both+hands,+he+looked+up+at+me+and+said,+“Mister,+you+sure+are+lucky,”
“Yes,”+I+said,+“I+sure+am.”
I+contemplated+the+wisdom+of+a+5yearold,+as+I+got+the+last+seat+on+that+flight+home 无尽的昏迷过后,时宇猛地从床上起身。想要看最新章节内容,请下载星星阅读app,无广告免费阅读最新章节内容。网站已经不更新最新章节内容,已经星星阅读小说APP更新最新章节内容。
他大口的呼吸起新鲜的空气,胸口一颤一颤。
迷茫、不解,各种情绪涌上心头。
这是哪?
随后,时宇下意识观察四周,然后更茫然了。
一个单人宿舍?
就算他成功得到救援,现在也应该在病房才对。
还有自己的身体……怎么会一点伤也没有。
带着疑惑,时宇的视线快速从房间扫过,最终目光停留在了床头的一面镜子上。
镜子照出他现在的模样,大约十七八岁的年龄,外貌很帅。
可问题是,这不是他!下载星星阅读app,阅读最新章节内容无广告免费
之前的自己,是一位二十多岁气宇不凡的帅气青年,工作有段时间了。
而现在,这相貌怎么看都只是高中生的年纪……
这个变化,让时宇发愣很久。
千万别告诉他,手术很成功……
身体、面貌都变了,这根本不是手术不手术的问题了,而是仙术。
他竟完全变成了另外一个人!
难道……是自己穿越了?
除了床头那摆放位置明显风水不好的镜子,时宇还在旁边发现了三本书。
时宇拿起一看,书名瞬间让他沉默。
《新手饲养员必备育兽手册》
《宠兽产后的护理》
《异种族兽耳娘评鉴指南》
时宇:???
前两本书的名字还算正常,最后一本你是怎么回事?
“咳。”
时宇目光一肃,伸出手来,不过很快手臂一僵。
就在他想翻开第三本书,看看这究竟是个什么东西时,他的大脑猛地一阵刺痛,大量的记忆如潮水般涌现。
冰原市。
宠兽饲养基地。
实习宠兽饲养员。网站即将关闭,下载星星阅读app为您提供大神方雪梅的美丽英文
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