The Children's Theater was actually an old mill building with big staircases. Everything smelled of mothballs, metal, and old grease.
兒童劇院其實就是一間有著大大的階梯的舊磨坊,裡面的東西散發著樟腦丸、金屬以及陳油脂的味道.
One afternoon, my eight-year-old sister Brittany and I were with the drama group rehearsing A Little Princess. "Take your places for act one, please, everyone!" called the director, a woman with blond hair and rings on every finger.
一天下午,我和八歲的妹妹布蘭特妮同話劇組一起排練《小公主》."請大家各就各位,我們開始排練第一幕!"導演叫道.她有著金色的頭髮,每個手指上都戴著戒指.
The lights went out and the rehearsal began. Halfway through the first act, Brittany finished her part and went backstage. Suddenly, something wet exploded on the back of Brittany's head! Spinning around, she saw a tall girl with a bottle of Febreze in her hand. She aimed it at Brittany's ear, grinning widely. Splat! Gooey blue liquid slid down Brittany's face. The older girl laughed and looked to the other girls for a reaction. Brittany glanced at them, expecting them to speak up and defend her. Instead, they shrieked with laughter and pointed mocking fingers at Brittany, who ran out of the make-up room in dismay.
燈光熄滅,排練開始.第一幕排練到一半的時候,布蘭特妮排完了她那部分,於是去了後臺.突然,某種溼溼的東西爆炸了,濺到她腦後!她猛地轉身,看見一個高個女生手拿一瓶除味劑,對著她的耳朵,正誇張地笑著.啪嗒!黏黏的藍色液體從布蘭特妮臉上滑下來.那個年長女孩狂笑起來,並看向其他的女孩們,看她們的反應.布蘭特妮盯著她們,期待她們能為她說話,維護她.相反,女孩們尖聲歡笑,嘲笑的手指直指布蘭特妮.布蘭特妮沮喪地跑出了化妝室.
Ten minutes later, Brittany met me backstage. "A big girl just sprayed me with this stuff and laughed at me," she said, trying to wipe the chemical out of her curly hair. "All the other girls laughed, too." I didn't even know the girl's name, and she was bullying my sister!
十分鐘之後,布蘭特妮在後臺遇見了我."一個年長的女孩剛剛用這個東西噴我,還嘲笑我."她邊說邊努力擦去捲髮上的化學劑."其他所有的女孩也嘲笑我."我甚至不知道那個女孩的名字,但她在欺負我的妹妹!
When we got home, we looked at the cast list and found that the girl's name was Jessica. Our mom e-mailed the director, who said she would talk to Jessica and arrange time for an apology right before the next rehearsal. Nobody really expected a heartfelt apology from Jessica, but Brittany was prepared to forgive her.
回到家,我們查看演員表,發現那個女孩的名字叫傑西卡.媽媽給導演發了封郵件,導演說她會找傑西卡談談,然後在下次排練之前安排時間讓傑西卡道歉.沒有人指望傑西卡會真心誠意地道歉,但布蘭特妮卻準備好了去原諒她.
Next rehearsal, the director met Brittany and announced that "Jessica swears that she was never even near you yesterday." But Brittany knew the truth. As she glanced across the room full of young actors, she glimpsed Jessica in a folding chair. For a split second, their eyes met. Jessica quickly whirled away to stare in the opposite direction. For weeks afterwards, no matter how hard Brittany tried to talk to her, Jessica refused to look her way. It was very difficult for Brittany to work with Jessica every rehearsal.
下一次排練時,導演遇到布蘭特妮,她說："傑西卡發誓說她昨天從未靠近過你."但布蘭特妮知道真相.她掃了一眼擠滿演員的屋子,瞥見傑西卡坐在摺疊椅裡.有那麼一會兒她們四目相對,傑西卡匆忙轉頭看向反方向.之後的幾個星期裡,不管布蘭特妮怎樣試圖去和她說話,她都視而不見.每次和傑西卡一起排練,布蘭特妮都覺得很困難.
Finally, we were ready to perform. Brittany and I were glad that the ordeal was almost over. After the first show, Brittany and I each got a beautiful bouquet. Jessica didn't get a single flower. The second night, we received flowers from our grandparents. Again, Jessica received nothing.
終於,我們可以上場表演了.布蘭特妮和我都很高興磨難就快到頭了.第一場表演結束,布蘭特妮和我各收到一束美麗的花,傑西卡一朵花都沒.第二晚,我們又收到爺爺奶奶送的花,傑西卡依舊兩手空空.
On the way home, Brittany spoke up: "Mommy, I decided I want to buy some flowers for Jessica." Mom smiled in surprise. "That would be very nice."
回家路上,布蘭特妮開口說道："媽媽,我決定買些花送給傑西卡."媽媽大吃一驚,笑著回答："那將會很棒."
Before the last performance, Brittany met Jessica on the way into the theater. She handed the older girl a big bunch of yellow roses, bought with her own savings. "Great job with the show last night, Jessica. These are for you."
最後一場表演之前,布蘭特妮在去劇場的路上遇見傑西卡.她將一大束黃玫瑰遞給那個年長的女孩,那些花是她用自己攢的錢買的."祝你最後一晚演出成功,傑西卡.這些是送給你的."
Jessica's eyes popped in astonishment. "For me?" she faltered, squinting incredulously at Brittany's warm smile. "These flowers are for me? Are you sure?"
傑西卡大為震驚,睜大了眼睛."給我?"她結結巴巴地問,難以置信地看著布蘭特妮暖暖的笑容."這些花是送給我的?你確定?"
"Yes, I want you to have them!" Brittany skipped towards the dressing room, leaving Jessica staring after her with a bewildered look on her face and a bouquet of beautiful flowers in her arms. That night, Jessica finally received some flowers from her dad. She pulled out a sprig of carnations and smiled shyly as she gave it to Brittany.
"是的,我希望你收下!"布蘭特妮說著便朝更衣室跑去,留下傑西卡迷惑地看著她的背影,手中捧著一束美麗的鮮花.那一晚,傑西卡收到爸爸送的花,她抽出一朵康乃馨,害羞地笑著將它送給布蘭特妮.
Maybe Jessica will never apologize to Brittany. Maybe she won't ever even admit her wrongdoing. But she is just beginning to realize that wonderful things do exist in people like Brittany.
或許傑西卡永遠不會向布蘭特妮道歉,或許她甚至從未承認自己的錯誤,但是她開始意識到,在像布蘭特妮這樣的人身上,美好的事物真實地存在著.
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