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Take My Hand一篇好文(摘自心灵鸡汤)2 By Charlotte A. Lanham We strolled through the aisles of the Venture Store in downtown St. Mary's, her little hand tucked in mine. The weather had turned cold abruptly as a southerly forced its way across New South Wales, Australia. It was time for winter clothes, warm pajamas and woolly underwear. She was barely seven years old but was catching up with me overnight, it seemed. I still towered over her . . . but not for long, I thought. In the bottom of my bag was a detailed shopping list, and we only had one day to get it all done. School was starting tomorrow. Scarcely had we entered the store when she needed to go potty. I groaned but made the detour, thinking, What's with these kids, anyway? Playing the patient mother, I stood outside the cubicle, then turned watchdog to be sure she washed her hands thoroughly before we continued our excursion. It was promising to be a long day. First we tried on sweats and then footed pajamas, followed by cotton knit jerseys and corduroys. She begged for new boots and a warm jacket with a hood. We took turns hauling our packages around the store . . . me more than she . . . slipping sweaters over her head and trying on shoes. At seven years old, she was beginning to exercise her own tastes in clothing. I was careful to put several of her selections back on the shelf, opting for quality over fashion. It was amusing to watch her as I observed from the "mommy chair" just outside the dressing rooms - but she tired quickly. What had started out as a fun fall shopping spree became a chore by late afternoon, and she fought going one step further. "Mummy, let's sit down somewhere, my legs are tired," she complained. We found a kiosk near the front of the store, dropped our bags into a heap, and ordered hot chocolate for two. She was fading fast, so we did not linger. I emptied my change on the table, buttoned up her sweater, and we headed for the parking lot. It was a mother-daughter kind of day. I, the mother . . . she, the daughter. We strolled through the glass entrance to the Galleria in the suburbs of St. Louis . . . my hand tucked in hers. The leaves were turning and a cold spell had hit town overnight. It was time for winter clothes, warm pajamas, new sweaters and boots. She was barely twenty-seven years old, but had definitely caught up with me, and I noticed for the first time that she was the taller. Perhaps it was her shoes, I observed. Somewhere in my bag was a detailed shopping list, and we only had today to get it all done. I was leaving town tomorrow. Scarcely had we arrived at the Galleria when I had to go potty. She rolled her eyes but smiled and made the detour with me, thinking, What's with these old people, anyway? Playing the patient daughter, she waited outside the cubicle, then turned watchdog to be sure I hadn't forgotten to pick up my purse after drying my hands. It was promising to be a long day. First stop was Dillards . . . second floor . . . sweaters. Each of us grabbed an armload of turtlenecks, cardigans and pullovers. She was careful to put several of my selections back on the shelf, saying that in her opinion, I needed to buy a different style . . . a more fitting size. "Try this one," she encouraged me. "It makes you look thinner." Then she plopped down in the "mommy chair" just outside the dressing room. From this position she could monitor my every purchase. Round and round the stores we walked . . . trying on khakis, cotton blouses and the latest in sweater sets. We took turns carrying the shopping bags, she more than me. But I tired quickly, and what had started out as a fun, fall shopping spree soon became a chore. By late afternoon, I fought going one step further. "Honey, let's go sit down somewhere, my feet are aching," I complained. So we loaded our bags into the trunk of the car, found a California Pizza near the entrance to the mall and ordered Diet Cokes and dinner for two. I was fading fast, so we did not linger. She whipped out her credit card to pay for the meal, then helped me collect my purse and sweater from the booth before we strolled back to our car in the parking lot. It was a mother-daughter kind of day. She the mother, I the daughter. |
可不可以附上汉语!!!!? |