說出我的愿望

呂 琴

（湖北省恩施市第三高級中學(xué)）

Voicing My Wish

One evening,while writing the first draft of my book,Iattendeda writer’s group for feedback.There were so many people there that discussion was limited to just a few stories.When I arrived home,my thirteen-year-old sonshrugged offmy disappointment and asked me to read theexcerptto him instead.So Isettled intoa chair and read aroughdraft of my reflections on spending myallowanceas a nine-year-old child.

The experience I wrote about was ametaphorfor how choice and risk werehandledby a childaffectedbyalcoholism.Each week at Woolworth’s lunch counter,I dreamed of someday ordering abanana split.Above the countertwirledan umbrella with colorful balloonshangingfrom eachrib.The sign read: Pop a balloon and pay 1 to 63 cents!

Imagine paying one cent for a banana split! But I never had more than fifty cents,and Ishuddered at the thought ofWoolworth’s calling my parents for more money if I got the sixty-three-cent balloon,so I kept my wish to myself.I never thought of asking anyone for more money.It seemed way too risky,and risks were dangerous in a world where alcohol made evenbenignrequests subject torage.

Frankie sat at my feet,listeningintently,as I read the final sentences of the chapter.

Each week as I watched othersselecta balloon to pop,Ifantasizedabout proudlytaking my chance.But it never happened.Pink,blue,orange and yellow balloonscalled outto me,daring me,tauntingme and,eventually,defeatingme.Inevitably,when the waitressstrolledup to my spot at the counter and smiled,indicatingthat she was ready tojotdown my order,Imumbled,“I’ll take a Coke,please,”and thenturned my back onthe umbrella.

Frankie was silent.After thinking for a moment,he said,“So you never got the banana split?”A long discussionensued,and eventually he seemed to understand that it was my own belief that limited me.I never took the chance of voicing my wish.It was a pattern that took years to break.

The next morning,Frankie casuallyannouncedthat he was going out for a little while.When I asked where,he smiled and said,“I can’t say.”

My mother’sinstincttold me he wasn’t up to anything dangerous,so I agreed.Frankie left,and I busied myself upstairs packing for an upcoming camping trip.

In a short time,I heard the back door open and then the sounds of chairsscraping,kitchencabinets slammingandmuffledconversation.Soon my nine-year-old daughter Sarah announced throughgigglesthat I could come downstairs.“Eyes closed —except for stairs,”she said.

Once downstairs,Sarah held my hand and helped mestumblemy way through camping equipment and into the kitchen.

“Open your eyes!”Frankie and Sarah shouted inchorus.

I couldn’t believe what I saw.The kitchen table was covered ina pile ofballoons.Frankie walked up to me and handed me two quarters and a fork.His eyes were lit withanticipation.“Pop one!”

Tearswelled upin my eyes.Istared atthe balloonsin disbeliefand thenjabbedone.When it popped,Frankie and Sarah laughed as Ilet outa loud whoop.A piece of paper fell out of the balloon.I opened it andrecognizedFrankie’sawkwardscrawl.

“What does it say?”heprompted.“Fifty cents,”Iwhispered,toochoked upto speak loudly.

Frankie got business-like and asked,“Well,do you have fifty cents?”I handed him the two quarters he’d given me moments earlier.

“Okay then!”Frankie walked over to the refrigerator,pulled out a homemade banana split on a Tupperware plate and handed it to me.Mounds ofvanillaice cream were covered in chocolate sauce,Cool Whip and peanuts.Underneath it all was a banana,split in two.I hugged Frankie hard and kissed the top of his head,still sweaty from all the effort.My eyesstungwith tears as I held the banana split Frankie lovingly made to right an ancient wrong.

【出處】https://www.gogginroberts.com/voicingmywish

Published in Chicken Soup for the Mother and Son Soul,and Chicken Soup for the Soul: On Being a Parent（Our 101 Best Stories）,and a New Leaf Press Collection Nobody Loves You Like Your Kids

全篇譯文

在撰寫我的書的初稿時(shí)，有一天晚上我去參加了一個(gè)作家小組的討論活動(dòng)，聽取讀后反饋。參加活動(dòng)的人太多，只討論幾個(gè)故事就結(jié)束了。當(dāng)我到家時(shí)，我13 歲的兒子對我的失望不屑一顧，讓我讀一段書里的內(nèi)容給他聽聽。于是我坐了下來，給他讀了我粗略完成的回憶錄初稿中的一段，講的是9 歲的我是怎么花零用錢的。

我是用隱喻的手法寫的這段經(jīng)歷，講了一個(gè)醉鬼家里的孩子如何面對風(fēng)險(xiǎn)，做出選擇。每個(gè)禮拜，在伍爾沃斯的午餐柜臺前，我都夢想著能點(diǎn)一個(gè)香蕉船。柜臺上方有一把旋轉(zhuǎn)的傘，傘骨上掛著五顏六色的氣球。告示牌上寫著：“氣球戳戳樂！購物最低只需1 美分，最高63 美分!”

想象一下，花1 美分就能買一個(gè)香蕉船!但是我的零用錢從來沒有超過50 美分。一想到如果我戳到63 美分的氣球，伍爾沃斯會打電話問我父母要更多的錢，我就不寒而栗。所以我把我的愿望藏在了心里，也從未想過向任何人要更多的錢。這似乎太冒險(xiǎn)了。面對一幫醉鬼，再合情合理的要求也會換來他們的暴怒。

當(dāng)我讀這一章的最后幾句話時(shí)，弗蘭基就坐在我的腳邊，聚精會神地聽著。

每個(gè)禮拜，看著別人戳氣球，我都幻想著自己也能驕傲地一試身手。但這從未發(fā)生過。粉色、藍(lán)色、橙色和黃色的氣球召喚我，挑釁我，嘲弄我，最后讓我一敗涂地。每當(dāng)女服務(wù)員走到柜臺前，微笑著示意我點(diǎn)單時(shí)，我總是咕噥一句，“請給我一杯可樂?！闭f完便轉(zhuǎn)過身去，不再看那把傘。

弗蘭基沉默了。他想了一會兒，說:“所以你從來沒有嘗過香蕉船？”隨后我們討論了很久，最終他似乎明白了，真正阻礙我的是我的內(nèi)心。我從來沒有碰碰運(yùn)氣說出自己的愿望。打破這個(gè)模式，需要花費(fèi)很多年。

第二天早上，弗蘭基隨口說要出去一會兒。我問他去哪兒，他笑了笑：“不告訴你?！?/p>

母親的直覺告訴我，他不會做什么危險(xiǎn)的事，于是我就同意了。弗蘭基走后，我忙著上樓為即將到來的野營打包行李。

不一會兒，我聽到后門開了，然后有人拖動(dòng)椅子、翻找櫥柜和私語。不久，我九歲的女兒薩拉咯咯地笑著讓我下樓。她說：“走下樓梯后，要一直閉上眼睛哦?！?/p>

一下樓，薩拉就拉著我的手，牽著我繞過一堆野營裝備，走進(jìn)了廚房。

“睜開眼睛吧！”弗蘭基和薩拉齊聲喊道。

我簡直不敢相信自己的眼睛。廚房的桌上堆滿了氣球。弗蘭基走向我，遞給我兩個(gè)25 美分硬幣和一把叉子，閃閃發(fā)亮的眼中充滿了期待：“戳戳看！”

眼淚盈滿了我的雙眼。我難以置信地盯著氣球，猛地戳了下去，氣球爆炸時(shí)，我大叫了一聲，弗蘭基和薩拉哈哈大笑起來。一張紙從氣球里掉了出來。我打開它，認(rèn)出了弗蘭基笨拙潦草的字。

“上面寫著什么？”他提示道?！?0 美分，”我低聲說，嗓子哽咽得發(fā)不出聲來。

弗蘭基擺出一副生意人的模樣，問道:“那你有50 美分嗎？”我把他剛才給我的兩個(gè)25 美分的硬幣遞給了他。

“好吧！”弗蘭基走到冰箱前，拿出一個(gè)裝在特百惠盤子里的自制香蕉船，并把它遞給了我。香草冰淇淋堆得像小山一樣，上面澆著巧克力醬、鮮奶油和花生碎，最下面是一根切成兩半的香蕉。我緊緊地?fù)肀еヌm基，吻了吻他因忙碌還在冒汗的腦瓜。他做這個(gè)香蕉船只是為了彌補(bǔ)母親的一個(gè)塵封多年的遺憾。我端著它，任淚水刺痛雙眼。

語篇解讀

【文章題材】

本文的主題語境是“人與自我”中的“家庭生活”。主要內(nèi)容：“我”小時(shí)候有個(gè)心愿，夢想著有一天能在伍爾沃斯的午餐柜臺前點(diǎn)一個(gè)香蕉船。柜臺上方旋轉(zhuǎn)著一把掛著許多氣球的傘。戳爆一個(gè)氣球，就可以根據(jù)里面小紙條上的金額來抵付香蕉船，金額從1 到63 美分不等！但是我的零花錢從來沒有超過50 美分，于是“我”就把愿望一直藏在心里?！拔摇钡膬鹤痈ヌm基得知“我”從來沒有吃過香蕉船，就悄悄地給“我”準(zhǔn)備了一個(gè)驚喜，重現(xiàn)了“我”童年時(shí)伍爾沃斯柜臺的場景，讓“我”如愿以償?shù)氐玫搅讼憬洞?。通過此事“我”明白了，愿望要表達(dá)出來，才會得以實(shí)現(xiàn)。

【選文依據(jù)】

本文選自（美）坎費(fèi)爾德等編著的《心靈雞湯·親情系列》。母愛，是人類亙古不變的一個(gè)主題，本文通過描寫日常生活中的小事充分展現(xiàn)了兒女們回報(bào)母愛的一份赤子之心。通過閱讀此文，學(xué)生可以學(xué)會知恩、感恩。在閱讀中滲透感恩教育，落實(shí)了立德樹人根本任務(wù)。本文體裁為記敘文，文本難度適中，故事內(nèi)容貼近生活，符合中學(xué)生認(rèn)知水平，主題積極向上，可用于“讀后續(xù)寫”教學(xué)，具體教學(xué)設(shè)計(jì)詳見“教學(xué)運(yùn)用”板塊。

語言積累

Ⅰ.Words for understanding（黑體單詞為課標(biāo)單詞，其他認(rèn)識即可）：

續(xù)表

Ⅱ.Read to appreciate: Fill in the blanks according to Chinese translations

1.不可避免地，當(dāng)柜臺的女服務(wù)員走到柜臺前，微笑著示意我下單時(shí)，我總是咕噥一句：“請給我一瓶可樂?！闭f完便轉(zhuǎn)過身，不再看那把雨傘。（讀后續(xù)寫之動(dòng)作描寫）

Inevitably,when the waitress _______ up to my spot at the counter and smiled,_______ that she was ready to jot down my order,I _______,“I’ll take a Coke,please,”and then turned my back on the umbrella.（Action）

2.一下樓，薩拉就拉著我的手，牽著我繞過一堆野營裝備，走進(jìn)了廚房。（讀后續(xù)寫之動(dòng)作描寫）

Once downstairs,Sarah held my hand and helped me _______ my way through camping equipment and into the kitchen.（Action）

3.他做這個(gè)香蕉船，只是為了彌補(bǔ)母親的一個(gè)塵封已久的遺憾。我端著它，任淚水刺痛雙眼。（讀后續(xù)寫之動(dòng)作描寫和情緒描寫）

My eyes _______ with tears as I held the banana split Frankie lovingly made to right an ancient wrong.（Action+Emotion）

4.他閃閃發(fā)亮的眼中充滿了期待。（讀后續(xù)寫之情緒描寫）

His eyes ________ ________ with anticipation.（Emotion）

5.眼淚盈滿了我的雙眼。（讀后續(xù)寫之情緒描寫）

Tears ________ ________ in my eyes.（Emotion）

6.“50 美分”我低聲說，嗓子哽咽得發(fā)不出聲來。（讀后續(xù)寫之動(dòng)作描寫和情緒描寫）

“Fifty cents,”I whispered,too ________ up to speak loudly.（Action+Emotion）

7.粉色、藍(lán)色、橙色和黃色的氣球召喚我，挑釁我，嘲諷我，最后讓我一敗涂地。（讀后續(xù)寫之動(dòng)作描寫）

Pink,blue,orange and yellow balloons___________to me,_________ me,__________ me and,eventually,_____me.（Action）

Keys:1.strolled;indicating;mumbled 2.stumble 3.stung 4.were lit 5.welled up 6.choked 7.called out;daring;taunting;defeating

Ⅲ.Application of the key words: Fill in the blanks according to the Chinese sentences

1.我每次出席會議都發(fā)表了意見。

I’ve voiced my opinion at every meeting I’ve_____.

2.晚飯后，我們舒舒服服地坐在電視機(jī)前。

After dinner we ________ in front of the television for the evening.

3.校長很好地處理了情況。

The headmaster ________ the situation very well.

4.父母的離異使她深受打擊。

She had been deeply ________ by her parents’ divorce.

5.他聳了聳肩，好像在說他對此無能為力。

He ________ his shoulders as if to say that there was nothing he could do about it.

6.有些時(shí)候，創(chuàng)作如此宏大的一部小說所面臨的挑戰(zhàn)幾乎把她給難倒了。

There were times when the challenges of writing such a huge novel almost ________ her.

7.她向激動(dòng)的觀眾宣布了比賽的獲勝者。

She ________ the winner of the competition to an excited audience.

8.我20 年沒見她了，但我還是一眼就認(rèn)出了她。

I hadn’t seen her for 20 years,but I ________ her immediately.

9.她探過身去附耳跟他說了些什么。

She leaned over and ________ something in his ear.

10.當(dāng)他哽咽著說出這幾個(gè)字的時(shí)候，心在怦怦直跳。

His heart hammered as he ________ out the words.

Keys:1.attended 2.settled 3.handled 4.affected 5.shrugged 6.defeated 7.announced 8.recognized 9.whispered 10.choked

2.What does“the ancient wrong”refer to in the last paragraph? What message does the story convey?

___________________________________________

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閱讀小練

1.What did Frankie do when he learned that his mother had not got the banana split for not voicing her wish?

___________________________________________

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答案和解析

1.Frankie imitated the scene at Woolworth’s lunch counter years ago,and prepared a surprise for his mother to get the banana split,making her wish come true.

2.（1）It refers to the fact that the author never took the chance to voice her wish.

（2）The story conveys it’s not a good idea to keep the wish to oneself.To voice the wish is a better choice.

教學(xué)運(yùn)用

閱讀下面材料，根據(jù)其內(nèi)容和所給段落開頭語續(xù)寫兩段，使之構(gòu)成一篇完整的短文。續(xù)寫的詞數(shù)應(yīng)為150 左右。

One evening,while writing the first draft of my book,I attended a writer’s group for feedback.There were so many people there that discussion was limited to just a few stories.When I arrived home,my thirteen-year-old son got rid of my disappointment and asked me to read the excerpt to him instead.So I settled into a chair and read a rough draft of my reflections on spending my pocket money as a nine-year-old child.

The experience I wrote about was a metaphor for how choice and risk were handled by a child affected by alcoholism.Each week at Woolworth’s lunch counter,I dreamed of someday ordering a banana split.Above the counter spun an umbrella with colorful balloons hanging from each rib.The sign read: Pop a balloon and pay 1 to 63 cents!

Imagine paying one cent for a banana split! But I never had more than fifty cents,and I trembled at the thought of Woolworth’s calling my parents for more money if I got the sixty-three-cent balloon,so I kept my wish to myself.I never thought of asking anyone for more money.It seemed way too risky,and risks were dangerous in a world where alcohol made even gentle requests subject to anger.

Frankie sat at my feet,listening attentively,as I read the final sentences of the chapter.

Each week as I watched others select a balloon to pop,I imagined about proudly taking my chance.But it never happened.Pink,blue,orange and yellow balloons called out to me,daring me,laughing at me and,eventually,defeating me.As you would expect,when the waitress came up to my spot at the counter and smiled,indicating that she was ready to write down my order,I said in a low voice,“I’ll take a Coke,please,”and then turned my back on the umbrella.

Frankie was silent.After thinking for a moment,he said,“So you never got the banana split?”A long discussion followed,and eventually he seemed to understand that it was my own belief that limited me.I never took the chance of voicing my wish.It was a pattern that took years to break.

Paragraph 1:

The next morning,Frankie casually announced

that he was going out for a little while.________

Paragraph 2:

I couldn’t believe what I saw.________________

Key:

Paragraph 1:

The next morning,Frankie casually announced that he was going out for a little while.When I asked where,he smiled and said,“I can’t say.”In a short time,I heard the back door open and then the sounds of chairs scraping,kitchen cupboards slamming .Soon Frankie announced that I could come downstairs with eyes closed except for stairs.Once downstairs,he held my hand and helped me move in an unsteady way into the kitchen.“Open your eyes!”Frankie shouted in excitement.

Paragraph 2:

I couldn’t believe what I saw.The kitchen table was covered with balloons.Frankie handed me two quarters and a fork.I popped one and a piece of paper fell out of it,saying“Fifty cents.”“Do you have fifty cents?”,Frankie got business-like and asked.I handed him the two quarters he’d given me moments earlier.Then Frankie walked over to the refrigerator,pulled out a homemade banana split and handed it to me.My eyes stung with tears,holding the banana split Frankie lovingly made to right an ancient wrong.（155 words）