Mother&Child妈妈与孩子 　　ItwasChristmas1961.IwasteachinginasmalltowninOhiowheremytwenty-seventhirdgraderseagerlyanticipatedthegreatdayofgiftsgiving. 　　那是1961年的圣诞节.我在俄亥俄州的一个小镇上教小学三年级.班上27个孩子都在积极参加"礼物赠送日"的活动. 　　Atreecoveredwithtinselandgaudypaperchainsgracedonecorner.Inanotherrestedamangersceneproducedfromcardboardandposterpaintsbychubby,andsometimesgrubby,hands.Someonehadbroughtadollandplaceditonthestrawinthecardboardboxthatservedasthemanger.Itdidn'tmatterthatyoucouldpullastringandheartheblue-eyed,golden-haireddollysay,"MynameisSusie.""ButJesuswasaboybaby!"oneoftheboysproclaimed.Nonetheless,Susiestayed. 　　教室的一角被一棵树装点得熠熠生辉,树上缀满了金银丝帛和华丽的彩纸.教室的另一角是一个涂着海报油彩由纸板制成的马槽,这出自孩子们那胖乎乎、脏兮兮的小手.有人带来了一个娃娃,把它放在纸板槽里的稻草上(假装小耶稣).只要拉拉它身上的一条细绳,这个蓝眼睛、金发的娃娃就会说道,"我叫苏西",不过这都没有关系.一个男孩提出："耶稣可是个小男孩呀!"不过苏西还是留了下来. 　　Eachdaythechildrenproducedsomenewwonder--stringsofpopcorn,hand-madetrinkets,andGermanbellsmadefromwallpapersamples,whichwehungfromtheceiling.Throughitallsheremainedaloof,watchingfromafar,seeminglymilesaway.Iwonderedwhatwouldhappentothisquietchild,oncesohappy,nowsosuddenlywithdrawn.Ihopedthefestivitieswouldappealtoher.Butnothingdid.Wemadecardsandgiftsformothersanddads,forsistersandbrothers,forgrandparents,andforeachother.Athomethestudentsmadethepopularfriedmarblesandviedwithoneanothertobringintheprettiestones."Youputtheminahotfryingpan,Teacher.Andyouletthemgetrealhot,andthenyouwatchwhathappensinside.Butyoudon'tfrythemtoolongortheybreak."So,asmygifttothem,Imadeeachofmystudentsalittlepouchforcarryingtheirfriedmarbles.AndIknewtheyhadeachmadesomethingforme:bookmarkscarefullycut,colored,andsometimespastedtogether;cardsandspecialdrawings;liquidembroiderydoilies,hand-fringed,ofcourse. 　　每天孩子们都会做点儿新玩意--爆米花串成的细链子、手工做的小装饰品和墙纸样做的德国式风铃,我们把这些风铃挂在了天花板上.但自始至终,她都是孤零零地远远观望,仿佛是隔了一道几里长的障碍.我猜想着这个沉默的孩子发生了什么事,原来那个快乐的孩子怎么突然变得沉默寡言起来.我希望节日的活动能吸引她,可还是无济于事.我们制作了许多卡片和礼物,准备把它们送给爸爸妈妈、兄弟姐妹、祖父母和身边的同学.学生们在家里做了当时很流行“油炸"玻璃弹子,并且相互比着,要把最好看的拿来."老师,把玻璃弹子放在热油锅里,让它们烧热,然后看看里面的变化.但不要炸得时间过长否则会破裂."所以,我给每个学生做了一个装"油炸弹子"的小袋作为礼物送给他们.我知道他们每个人也都为我做了礼物：仔细剪裁、着色,或已粘集成串的书签；贺卡和特别绘制的图片；透明的镶边碗碟垫布,当然是手工编制的流苏. 　　Thedayofgift-givingfinallycame.Weoohedandaahedoverourhandiworkasthepresentswereexchanged.Throughitall,shesatquietlywatching.Ihadmadeaspecialpouchforher,redandgreenwithwhitelace.Iwantedverymuchtoseehersmile.Sheopenedthepackagesoslowlyandcarefully.Iwaitedbutsheturnedaway.Ihadnotpenetratedthewallofisolationshehadbuiltaroundherself. 　　赠送礼物的那天终于到了.在交换礼物时我们为对方亲手做的小礼品不停地欢呼叫好.而整个过程,她只是安静地坐在那儿看着.我为她做的小袋很特别,红绿相间还镶着白边.我非常想看到她笑一笑.她打开包装,动作又慢又小心.我等待着,但是她却转过了身.我还是没能穿过她在自己周围树起的高墙,这堵墙将她与大家隔离了开来. 　　Afterschoolthechildrenleftinlittlegroups,chatteringaboutthegreatdayyettocomewhenlong-hoped-fortwo-wheelersandbrightsledswouldappearbesidetheirtreesathome.Shelingered,watchingthembundleupandgooutthedoor.Isatdowninachild-sizedchairtocatchmybreath,hardlyawareofwhatwashappening,whenshecametomewithoutstretchedhands,bearingasmallwhitebox,unwrappedandslightlysoiled,asthoughithadbeenheldm