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美国故事 SENEWS-2006-1230-Feature

时间:2007-05-14 01:49来源:互联网 提供网友:ahmy88   字体: [ ]
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Jane got up from under her warm bedcovers and faced the cold of her room. It was another New Year's Day. In the bathroom she looked at herself in the mirror. Nothing had changed except the lines around her eyes and mouth looked deeper. Jane was 49 year old. She would be 50 this year. She did not feel old, only tired sometimes. What was age? Jane was simply and always herself she felt. She did what she did every morning, she cleaned her teeth and washed herself, she then shows what to wear among the same five skirts and ten tops. She drank black coffee and went out the door as usual.

Today she was visiting her mother in an old people’s home outside her city. She took the same bus to her mother that she had taken to work everyday for the last 15 years. Jane worked with Butler & Son’s Company. It was not the best job; it was not the worst either. She was now responsible2 for employing new workers. She made telephone calls, answered letters and questioned new people about their skills. She had done this for long enough that she did it without really thinking. The new faces became one young empty face that knew so little. Jane, however, felt it was too late for her to change.

There was Mr. Solomon walking down the street, his back was as straight as a ruler. He came out of his house at exactly the same time Jane did everyday. He wore a black coat and carried a black umbrella everyday as if he lived in London England not Rockwell, Maryland. He moved his head in silent3 greeting. Jane did the same as always. They passed each other by like clock hands moving, like machines. Jane thought to herself: “Where was he going on a holiday? To work? What would happen if she broke the unspoken rule and said good morning to him? Would he answer? Would he smile? Could he smile at all?” She did not think so, but she did not say anything.

Down the road came a red-haired woman walking her dog. Jane did not know her name even though she saw her every day too. The woman always said, “Down doggy, down!” The dog did not listen to its owner, it jumped here and there. Every morning Jane silently4 questioned how someone could name her dog “doggy”? And every morning Jane noted5 she thought that exact thought every time. Why not say “Happy New Year to each other like normal people?” But the woman never looked the way from her restless6 dog so Jane passed by as usual.

It was winter, cold and dry. There was no sign of snow. The tree at the end of the road had no leaves; its branches looked cold and lonely. Jane let out a heavy breath7 and hold her coat closer around her. She did not want to look at the house nearest the bus stop. Old Mr. Overall8 was always there looking out of his window. He never changed from the clothes he wore to bed. He looked like he had felt to sleep and was sad and angry. Jane had learned9 to avoid his hard eyes; they seemed to accuse10 her of having somewhere to go when he did not. Poor old man, Jane thought. He has to live through the start of yet another year. She looked away and walked faster.

Luckily her bus arrived on time. Old Mr. Overall made Jane think of her mother, she was 92 years old. She and Jane were the only ones left in the family. Her father and brother had died five years apart more than ten years ago. Jane’s mother too had grown old and weak. She broke her head bone two years ago and now could not move around easily. Arthritis11 caused two bones to hurt. Her mind moved from idea to idea. She forgot almost everything but her childhood. She needed someone to take care of her all the time, but Jane had to work to support them both, so her mother agreed to live in an old people’s home. Thankfully, she liked it because she was with people her own age.

Jane visited her mother every Sunday afternoon. On Saturdays, Jane saw a movie or a play with her good friend Stella. Jane liked plays about love, marriage and family life. Stella did not. She said “It was all talk”. Jane answered, “Well, what else can a play be?” Stella liked movies with a lot of action, car chasing12 and shooting13. They argued about the violence14. “What is it all for?” Jane asked. “It is only a movie.” Stella replied laughing, “afterwards you feel glad you have a quiet life, don’t you?” They kept on going together to plays and movies so that each one would not feel alone. Staying home would not be considered healthy. Jane made sure her work kept her busy all week. Other than that she read books and watched television. She avoided the silent question at the back of her mind “Was this enough?”

The bus reached Jane’s bus stop. The driver said with lots of energy “Happy New Year, Mam!” Jane wanted to ask him if he liked working on a holiday, She wanted to ask him if he liked to drive down the same roads day after day after day. But she did not.

Jane got off the bus and walked into the prime15 of life home. Her mother smiled widely when she saw her.
“Happy New Year! I’m so happy to see you.” Her mother said.
“You knew I was coming.” Jane answered.
Her mother continued happily, “It’s such a lovely morning, isn’t it? I never thought I would live this long into a whole new century.”
“Why not? You are the most healthy person I know.”
“Oh, Jane, Jane. You make it sound like that is a bad thing. Aren't you glad to be alive?”
“Well, I suppose so!” Jane would not force herself to be happy just because her mother was. “Anyway, you have seen quite a lot of New Years, haven’t you?”
Her mother laughed like a young girl. “No, no, my age is my secret.”
“Don’t be silly, I know how old you are and calling today New Year does not make a difference, it is just another day.”
“Oh, Jane, you are just like your father. I had to teach him how to smile. Come, come outside, I want to show you something.”
“It really is cold outside, mom, you will get sick.”
“The nurse let me go out, come on!” her mother leaned1 on to Jane and they walked out slowly.

The cold air was fresh, the sun was shining bright and clear.
“Oh, look!” her mother said pointing to the sky. Her eyes were shining like a child. “Where? What?”
“Did you see that huge wide bird, so high and still against the blue sky, it looked so balanced.” Her mother led out a soft breath. Jane looked around, “I missed it.”
“Stop,” her mother said.
“What now?”
Her mother tried to reach down. “Pick up that stone for me, that big blue one.”
“This one? It looks great to me.” Jane picked it up and gave it to her mother. She rubbed the stone clean with her coat then held it up to the sun.
“Look, Jane, have you ever seen this kind of blue?”
“It’s just a stone.”
“Of course not. It does not look like any other. How do you think it got here? Well, it must come from far away, across oceans right here to us. Imagine that, it looks so pure, it must be valuable. ”
“Oh, I see, you think you can sell it.” They both laughed. “Mom really the cold is going to kill us.” Jane tried to pull her mother toward16 the door.
“Wait, Jane, close your eyes.” Her mother had always like these childish17 games, but Jane thought she was getting worse. The only way to stop her was to do what she asked.
“OK, they are closed. So what?”
“Wait. Now open them.” Her mother had placed the stone right in front of Jane’s face. The sun shone just behind it. That close for a moment it looked like a jewel, shining and smooth. Jane could not stop herself, “Oh!” She forgot herself and got lost in the blue light.
“This is a new kind of blue, isn’t it?” her mother said softly18. They continued looking in wonder, “There are so many new things around us.”
“OK, mom,” Jane said, “let us look for them inside, please, before we die of cold.” They walked back into the home laughing. Jane kept the blue stone tight19 in her hand. It was like a secret.

You have just heard a special story for New Year’s Day “A New Kind of Blue”. It was written by Dowling Bangana, the story is copyrighted20. All rights reserved21. Your storyteller was Barbara Klein. The producer was Lawan Davis. The VOA Special English staff wishes all of you a very Happy New Year!

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 leaned 725f4ee64e460865d2a6749276d2ed06     
v.(使)倾斜,屈身( lean的过去式和过去分词 );倚;依赖;使斜靠
参考例句:
  • He leaned forward, his hands clasped tightly together. 他俯身向前,双手十字交错地紧握着。
  • He leaned back, exulting at the success of his plan. 他向后一靠,为自己计划成功而得意扬扬。
2 responsible LWGx7     
adj.有责任的,应负责的;可靠的,可信赖的;责任重大的;vi.休息,睡;静止,停止
参考例句:
  • He must be responsible to me for this matter.这件事他必须对我负责。
  • The police are responsible for the preservation of law and order.警察负责维持法律与秩序。
3 silent eEVz8     
adj.安静的,不吵闹的,沉默的,无言的;n.(复数)默剧
参考例句:
  • Immediately on his beginning to speak,everyone was silent.他一讲话,大家顿时安静下来。
  • The boys looked at the conjuror in silent wonder. 孩子们目瞪口呆地看着那魔术师。
4 silently 6iDz4H     
adv.沉默地,无声地
参考例句:
  • She sat in the car,silently fuming at the traffic jam.她坐在汽车里,心中对交通堵塞感到十分恼火。
  • He didn't shout,he just glared at me silently.他没有喊叫,只是默默地怒视着我。
5 noted 5n4zXc     
adj.著名的,知名的
参考例句:
  • The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
  • Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。
6 restless nWWx3     
adj.焦躁不安的;静不下来的,运动不止的
参考例句:
  • He looks like a restless man.他看上去坐立不安。
  • He has been very restless all day and he awoke nearly all last night.他一整天都心神不定,昨夜几乎一整夜没有合眼。
7 breath 9SCyv     
n.呼吸,气息,微风,迹象,精神,一种说话的声音
参考例句:
  • I'm just going out for a breath of fresh air.我正要出去呼吸新鲜空气。
  • While climbing up the stairs the old man always loses his breath.那老人上楼时总是气喘吁吁的。
8 overall vJQxS     
n.工作服,工装裤;全面的,全体的
参考例句:
  • The shop assistant was wearing a white overall.那店员穿着白色的工作服。
  • How much will it cost overall?一共多少钱?
9 learned m1oxn     
adj.有学问的,博学的;learn的过去式和过去分词
参考例句:
  • He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
  • In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里,他被视为有学问的人。
10 accuse kJGye     
vt.指责,控告,归咎于;vi.指责,控告
参考例句:
  • I've been wrong to accuse him.我指责他是不正确的。
  • Make sure of your facts before you accuse him.在指责他以前要把材料核实一下。
11 arthritis XeyyE     
n.关节炎
参考例句:
  • Rheumatoid arthritis has also been linked with the virus.风湿性关节炎也与这种病毒有关。
  • He spent three months in the hospital with acute rheumatic arthritis.他患急性风湿性关节炎,在医院住了三个月。
12 chasing 8fde1d7175bfd43e3953dc8f79f4dcdf     
n.雕镂术,雕刻工作;车螺丝;抛光;螺旋板
参考例句:
  • My dog likes chasing rabbits. 我的狗喜欢追捕兔子。
  • The children were having fun, chasing each other's shadows. 孩子们追逐着彼此的影子,玩得很开心。
13 shooting 5iFzcD     
n.射击,发射;猎场,狩猎场
参考例句:
  • The soldiers began shooting away at the enemy positions.战士们开始朝敌人的阵地不断地射击。
  • I was in the act of shooting him when I suddenly recognized him.我正要向他开枪时,突然认出了他。
14 violence 0hewn     
n.暴力,暴虐,暴行,猛烈,强烈,强暴
参考例句:
  • It was an absolutely senseless act of violence.这是毫无意义的暴力行为。
  • They attacked with violence.他们猛烈攻击。
15 prime lBVyB     
adj.首要的,主要的;最好的,第一流的
参考例句:
  • The prime minister spoke of the general insecurity in the country.总理谈到了全国普遍存在的不安全。
  • He met with the Prime Minister of Japan for an hour.他和日本首相会见了一个小时。
16 toward on6we     
prep.对于,关于,接近,将近,向,朝
参考例句:
  • Suddenly I saw a tall figure approaching toward the policeman.突然间我看到一个高大的身影朝警察靠近。
  • Upon seeing her,I smiled and ran toward her. 看到她我笑了,并跑了过去。
17 childish rrmzR     
adj.孩子的,孩子气的,幼稚的
参考例句:
  • The little girl spoke in a high childish voice.这个小女孩用尖尖的童声讲话。
  • We eventually ran out of patience with his childish behaviour.我们终于对他幼稚的行为忍无可忍。
18 softly HiIzR4     
adv.柔和地,静静地,温柔地
参考例句:
  • He speaks too softly for her to hear.他讲话声音太轻,她听不见。
  • She breathed her advice softly.她低声劝告。
19 tight toCwI     
adj.紧的;难解的;紧密的
参考例句:
  • Time is going to be tight,so you'd better hurry.时间很紧,你最好抓紧一点。
  • The box is so tight that I can't open it.这个盒子太紧,我打不开。
20 copyrighted 32701401a789dc816ef17a1195e74c82     
获得…的版权( copyright的过去式 )
参考例句:
  • That magazine usurped copyrighted material. 那杂志盗用了版权为他人所有的素材。
  • Why is it common for students to download copyrighted music? 为什麽学生下载有版权的音乐如同家常便饭?
21 reserved NSczV     
adj.预订的;矜持的;储藏着的v.保留[储备]某物( reserve的过去式)
参考例句:
  • The star has a ski slope reserved exclusively for her. 这位明星有一个专门留给她的滑雪场地。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He is very reserved. He does not say much. 他是个拘谨的人,不爱多说话。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
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