Mary Lou
瑪麗路
It was my first day as a newcomer to the school. Past "newcomer" experiences had been difficult, so I was very anxious to fit in. Being introduced to the class, I bravely put on a smile and took my seat, expecting to be shunned.
那是我來到這所學校的第一天。以前幾次“當新同學”的經歷都不是很順利，所以我對能否適應新的環境憂心忡忡。在班上被介紹給大家後，我鼓足勇氣，面帶微笑坐到座位上，希望這次能夠躲過劫難。
Lunchtime was a pleasant surprise when the girls all crowded around my table. Their chatter was friendly, so I began to relax. It wasn't long before the class nerd was pointed out to me: Mary Lou. Actually she called herself Mary Louise, a prim, prissy young girl with dark eyes, brown skin, a stern visage and old-fashioned clothing. The girls' whispers and giggles got louder and louder. Mary Lou directly strode past our table, chin held high with iron determination. She ate alone.
午餐時間對我而言是個驚喜，女孩子們圍在我桌子周圍，她們言談友好，我鬆了一口氣。過了一會，她們把班上的老古板指給我看：瑪麗路。她的真名是瑪麗路易斯，一個整潔、拘謹的女孩，黑眼睛、棕色皮膚、表情堅定、衣著過時。女孩們竊竊私語，哈哈的笑聲越來越大。瑪麗路大步走過我們的桌子，下巴高揚，意志堅定。她獨自吃飯。
After school, the girls invited me to join them in front of the school. For what, I didn't yet know. Oh, how I wish I had gone home, but I had a lesson to learn.
放學後，女孩子邀我在學校門口加入她們的行列。女孩為什麼要我去，我不知道。噢，我是多麼希望回家去啊，可我人生中要吸取的一個教訓就要開始了。
Then, Mary Lou came down the school steps. The taunting began. I paused, then joined right in. My momentum began to pick up as I approached her. Nasty, mean remarks fell unabated from my lips. No one could tell I'd never done this before. The other girls stepped back and became my cheerleaders. Emboldened, I yanked the strap of her backpack and then pushed her. The strap broke, Mary Lou fell and I backed off. Everyone was laughing and patting me.
接著，瑪麗路從學校的臺階上走下來。女孩子們的辱罵開始了。我猶豫了一下，加入了她們的行列。當我走近她時，我的勢頭開始加強。卑鄙、尖酸刻薄的話脫口而出。而沒有人知道，以前我從未做過這樣的事。其他的女孩退到後邊，成了我的啦啦隊。我壯了壯膽，猛拽她揹包的帶子，然後往前一推。書包帶子斷了，瑪麗路跌倒了。我退了回來。女孩子們大笑，輕拍著我。
I was not proud. Something inside me hurt. If you've ever picked a wing off a butterfly, you know how I felt.
我沒有感到驕傲，我內心受到了傷害。如果你曾經有過把蝴蝶翅膀揪下來的經歷，你就會懂得我當時的感受。
Mary Lou got up, gathered her books and-without a tear shed or retort given-off she went. She held her head high as a small trickle of blood ran down from her bruised knee. I watched her limp away down the street.
瑪麗路站起來，拾起她的書走了，沒有流一滴眼淚，也沒有反擊。她高高揚起頭，青腫的膝蓋上一滴血慢慢流下來。我望著她一瘸一拐地沿著大街走去。
I noticed a man standing beside his car. His brown skin, dark hair and handsome features told me this was her father. Respectful of Mary Lou's proud spirit, he remained still and watched the lonely girl walk toward him. Only his eyes—shining with both grief and pride—followed. As I passed, he looked at me in silence with burning tears that spoke to my shame and scalded my heart. He didn't speak a word.
注意到有一個男人站在自己的車旁，從他棕色的皮膚、黑色的頭髮和英俊的面部特徵我斷定他是瑪麗的父親。他很讚賞瑪麗路所表現出的高傲的精神，靜靜地站在那裡，看著他的孩子向他走過去，目光中充滿悲傷和自豪。我從他身邊經過時，他靜靜地看著我，熱淚盈眶，讓我為自己可恥的行為深受譴責。他一個字也沒說。
No scolding from a teacher or preaching from a parent could linger as much as that hurt in my heart from the day a father's eyes taught me kindness and strength and dignity. I never again hurt someone for my own gain.
沒有哪一個老師的責備或者父母的說教像那天我心靈受到的傷害一樣讓我刻骨銘心。那位父親的眼神教會了我善良、堅強和尊嚴。我從未再為一己的私利而傷害過他人。
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