英语翻译
CeliaBehindMe
TherewasalittlegirlwithlargesmoothcheeksandverythickglasseswholivedupthestreetwhenIwasinpublicschool.HernamewasCelia.Itwasfartoorareandgrownupaname,sowealwayslaughedatit.Andwelaughedatherbecauseshewasachubby,diabeticchild,madepeevishbyourteasing.
Mymotheralwayssaid,“YoumustbenicetoCelia,shewon’tliveforever,”andevenasearlyassevenIcouldseetheunfairnessofthatposition.Everybodydiedsoonerorlater,I’ddietoo,butthatdidn’tmeaneverybodywasnicetomeortoeachother.Ialreadyknewaboutmortalityandwaspreparedtogotoheavenwithmytwoauntswhohaddiedtogetherinacarcrashwiththeirheadssmashedlikeoverripemelons.Ioverheardthebitaboutthemelonswhenmymotherwasonthetelephone,repeatingthatphraseandsobbing.Iusedtothingaboutitoften,repeatingthewordstomyselfasIdidotherthingssothatIgotanicerhythm:“Theirheadssmashedlikemelons,likemelons,likemelons.”Iimaginedthepulpyinsidesofmuskmelonsandwatermelonsallovertheroad.
