第13章 爱战胜一切Love Conquers All

Chapter3 If You've Never Come假如你不曾来过

假如我的世界你不曾来过，

我的心将如一池静水，

波澜不惊；

没有春的温馨，

夏的热烈，

秋的落寞，

更不会满世界打听幸福的下落。

佚名 /Anonymous

Mrs. Thompson stood in front of her 5th grade class on the f irst day of school and told them a lie. She said she loved them all the same. She did love most of the students more or less the same-except for one. That exception was a boy named Teddy.

Teddy did not play well with others, his clothes were always messy, and he always needed a bath. He was also failing every test and assignment. It had taken Mrs. Thompson several weeks to review each child's past records. She had put Teddy's off until last.

When she f inally reviewed his f ile, she was surprised. Teddy's f irst grade teacher had written, “Teddy is a bright child. He does his work neatly and has good manners. He is a joy to be around.” His second grade teacher had written, “Teddy is an excellent student who is well liked by his classmates. He is troubled because of his mother's terminal illness.” His third grade teacher had written, “His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best but his father doesn't show any interest in him.” Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, “Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have any friends.” By now, Mrs. Thompson was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper. Teddy's present was clumsily wrapped in a grocery bag. Mrs. Thompson opened it. She found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing and a half empty bottle of perfume. Mrs. Thompson ignored the cruel laughter of the other students and exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was. She put it on and dabbed some perfume on her wrists. After school, Teddy said, “Mrs. Thompson, now you smell just like my mom used to.” From that point on, she decided to quit teaching reading, writing and math. She started teaching children.

Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class. A year later, she found a note from Teddy under her classroom door. He wrote that she was the best teacher he had ever had. Six years went by. She got another note from Teddy.

He wrote that he had f inished high school at the top of his class and that she was still the best teacher he had ever had. Four years later, she got another letter saying he would soon graduate from college. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best teacher he had ever had.

Years passed and another letter came. This time he explained that he had decided to go to school to become a doctor that she was still the best teacher he had ever had.

There was another letter that spring. Teddy wrote that he was going to be married. His father had died two years ago. He asked if Mrs. Thompson would sit at the wedding in the place that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom. Mrs. Thompson did. She wore the bracelet with the missing rhinestones and the perfume.

As she was leaving, Dr. Ted Smith whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear, “Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference.” Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. “Teddy, you were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you.”

开学的第一天，汤普森太太站在她五年级的那一班学生面前，对他们撒了一个谎。她说她对他们每个人都同样喜爱。她对大部分学生的关爱程度的确都差不多，只有一名学生例外，是一个叫泰迪的小男孩。

泰迪和其他学生互动不好，衣服总是脏兮兮的，看起来好像没洗过澡一样；而且，他任何考试都不及格，作业也完不成。汤普森太太用了好几个星期的时间检查每个小孩过去的学习记录。她把泰迪的记录留到最后才看。

等她看到泰迪的档案时，吃了一惊。泰迪的一年级老师在上面写着：“泰迪是个机灵的孩子，不仅功课好而且很有礼貌。他总是能给周围的人带来欢乐。”他的二年级老师在上面写着：“泰迪是一个优秀的学生，同学们都很喜欢他。不过他因为母亲得了重病而显得很烦恼。”他的三年级老师在上面写着：“他母亲的去世对他来说是一个严重的打击。他虽然试着努力振作，可他的父亲却对他漠不关心。”泰迪的四年级老师在上面写着：“泰迪变得很孤僻，在学校里对任何事都没有兴趣，而且一个朋友也没有。”看到这里，汤普森太太自己感到很羞愧，当学生们带来漂亮饰带和鲜艳纸张包装的圣诞礼物时，她心里更觉得难受。泰迪的礼物用杂货店的袋子包得很丑，汤普森太太打开后，看到一只掉了几颗石头的莱茵石手镯，还有半瓶香水。尽管其他学生的笑声很伤人，但汤普森太太像没听见一样，反而叫喊着说这只手镯有多么美丽。她把手镯戴上，又轻轻地在手腕上擦了一点香水。放学后泰迪对她说：“汤普森太太，您现在的气味闻起来和我妈妈以前一样。”从那时起，她便决定自己要教的并不是读书、写字和数学，孩子才是她要教育的对象。

汤普森太太特别注意泰迪。她越鼓励他，他就会越快地做出回应。到了学期末，泰迪已经变成班上最聪明的小孩之一。一年后，她在教室门口下面发现了一张泰迪的纸条，上面写着她是他遇到过的最好的老师。六年过去了，她又收到了泰迪的纸条。

上面说他以高三第一名的优异成绩毕业了，而她仍然是他遇到过的最好的老师。又过了四年，她收到泰迪的信说他即将大学毕业，说她仍然是他遇到过的最好的老师。

几年后，泰迪再度来信。这回他说他决定继续念书并成为一名医生，而她仍然是他遇到过的最好的老师。

那年春天，泰迪来信说他即将结婚，而他的父亲也在两年前过世了。他问汤普森太太是否愿意以新郎母亲的身份来参加他的婚礼。汤普森太太答应了。她戴着那只掉了几颗石头的莱茵石手镯，还搽了那瓶香水。

到了散场时，泰迪·史密斯医生在汤普森太太的耳旁轻声说道：“谢谢您对我的信任，更谢谢您对我的重视，让我明白我可以做出改变。”汤普森太太红着眼眶，也低声对他说道：“泰迪，你才是教我如何做出改变的那个人。直到遇见你我才真正明白该怎样做一名教师。”

记忆填空

1.Teddy did not play_______with others, his clothes were always messy, and he_______needed a bath. He was also failing every_______ and assignment. It had taken Mrs. Thompson several weeks to review each child's_______ records. She had put Teddy's off until_______.

2.There was another_______ that spring. Teddy wrote that he was going to be_______. His father had died two years ago. He asked if Mrs. Thompson would_______at the wedding in the place that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom. Mrs. Thompson_______. She wore the bracelet with the_______rhinestones and the perfume.

佳句翻译

1.她对大部分学生的关爱程度的确都差不多，只有一名学生例外，是一个叫泰迪的小男孩。

译_______________________________________________________________

2.他以高三第一名的优异成绩毕业了，而她仍然是他遇到过的最好的老师。

译_______________________________________________________________

3.直到遇见你我才真正明白该怎样做一名教师。

译_______________________________________________________________

短语应用

1.By now, Mrs. Thompson was ashamed of herself.

be ashamed of：为……而感到羞愧

造_______________________________________________________________

2.Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy.

pay attention to：关心，注意，重视

造_______________________________________________________________