Track 8

by anonymous翻译：法比仔

我有个弟弟？

Track 8

by anonymous翻译：法比仔

嘻嘻，自打中国开放生育二胎以来，相信许多家庭都相继增添了一位小小的新成员吧？家里迎来新成员自然是件幸福的事，因为那可是个新生命，是个新希望呢！但这时有个问题来了，家中原来的独苗会怎么想？哈哈，我想刚开始总是会有各种不适应吧，就像文中的这位小作者一样，但亲情的力量是能够克服一切哒！

I met my little brother when I was eight and he was four—our first1）encounter since the day of his birth. Due to family circumstances， my brother had been left in Korea with my grandmother until my parents and I had settled in the U.S. We were reunited with him a few months before I started second grade. My parents had planned a quiet party and invited a few of their close friends. I had no idea why we were hosting a celebration， but I accepted the notion2）wholeheartedly.

The party was in a nearby park， with the sun3）blazing high in the sky. People walked in， enthusiastically congratulating my parents. I made a4）beeline for the snacks， as I do at any party I attend. After a while， I noticed a yellow cab5）pull up in my6）peripheral vision.

I paused and stared， my curiosity sparked.

And then， the door opened.

An old woman with a7）stern expression was holding a small boy by the hand. Despite her age， she walked with a quick，strong8）gait. People immediately congregated around them， with my parents9）in the lead. My mom started to cry， which sparked my attention and an unpleasant feeling of10）confusion. Just as I had resolved to make my way over there， the crowd suddenly went quiet. My dad11）beckoned for me to come closer.

With a sense of dread， I12）shoved past the unknown faces. I stood by my parents and was faced with the mysterious boy. My mom13）stooped down and14）whispered something into my ear.

“What？” I asked， slightly15）miffed.

“He’s your brother，” she repeated.

Brother？ I have a brother？ I16）mouthed the word so as not to be overheard.

I took a closer look at my so-called “brother.” He was small， slightly17）pudgy， and slightly red in the face. His eyes were the same color as mine， but were currently18）winking in frustration.

I refused to meet the little boy’s eyes. My mother19）leaned forward， asking me to speak to him. The bitter taste20）intensified. She asked again. I said no， that I was too tired， that I didn’t even know him. Her eyes21）pleaded with me to try. I22）clenched my fist as I asked him the only thing that came to mind.

“Can I have your23）popsicle？”

The adults24）chuckled.

“No！” He25）reiterated， clearly26）enunciating each syllable， “No， it’s mine.”

27）Fury28）erupted deep within me and I29）slammed his popsicle into the grass. I watched with satisfaction as he burst into tears.

I was brought to my room，30）chastised by my parents and left staring at the31）ceiling as the clock ticked on.

During the night， awoke to the sound of someone crying， I sat up in bed， still32）groggy. The crying intensified in volume. Half asleep， I33）staggered towards it.

“I want Mommy！”

Suddenly， I realized that he was just as34）bewildered as me， forced to be apart from someone he had been with.

With each repetition， the35）wails melted my heart little by little， and when I eventually returned to my bed， I slept peacefully.

Nowadays， the word “brother”36）rolls off my tongue as easily as it can be.

1） encounter ［ɪn'kaJntə］ n. 邂逅，相逢

2） wholeheartedly ［həJl'hɑːtɪdlɪ］ adv. 全心全意地

3） blaze ［bleɪz］ v. 照耀，发光

4） beeline ［'biːlaɪn］ n. 捷径

5） pull up 停下来

6） peripheral vision 周围视觉，余光

7） stern ［stʒːn］ adj. 严厉的

8） gait ［geɪt］ n. 步态

9） in the lead 占主导地位，带头

10） confusion ［kən'fjuːʒən］ n. 混乱

11） beckon ［'bekən］ v.（用头、手等动作）示意

12） shove ［ʃʌv］ v. 挤，推，撞

13） stoop ［stuːp］ v. 屈身，弯腰

14） whisper ［'wɪspə］ v. 低声说，耳语

15） miffed ［mɪft］ adj. 生气的

16） mouth ［maJθ］ v. 喃喃地说

17） pudgy ［'pʌdʒɪ］ adj. 圆胖的

18） wink ［wɪŋk］ v. 眨眼

19） lean ［liːn］ v. 倾斜

20） intensify ［ɪn'tensɪfaɪ］ v. 使强烈，加强

21） plead with 向……恳求

22） clench ［klentʃ］ v. 捏紧（拳头）

23） popsicle ［'pɒpsɪkl］ n. 冰棍，棒冰

24） chuckle ［'tʃʌkl］ v. 低声轻笑

25） reiterate ［riː'ɪtəreɪt］ v. 反复讲，重申

26） enunciate ［ɪ'nʌnsɪeɪt］ v.（清晰）发音

27） fury ［'fjJərɪ］ n. 愤怒

28） erupt ［ɪ'rʌpt］ v. 爆发

29） slam ［slæm］ v. 猛推，猛摔

30） chastise ［tʃæs'taɪz］ v. 惩戒

31） ceiling ［'siːlɪŋ］ n. 天花板

32） groggy ［'grɒgɪ］ adj. 无力的，摇摇晃晃的

33） stagger ［'stægə］ v. 蹒跚，摇晃

34） bewildered ［bɪ'wɪldəd］ adj. 困惑的

35） wail ［weɪl］ n. 痛哭

36） roll off 滚落

八岁的时候，我和我那年仅四岁的小弟弟相遇了—要知道，这是自他出生后我们的第一次相见。出于家庭原因，在我和父母在美国安顿下来以前，弟弟和祖母一直生活在韩国。在我上二年级以前的几个月，我们终于和弟弟重逢了。我的父母准备了一个低调的派对，还邀请了一些密友。我不明白为什么要举行庆祝会，但我还是诚心诚意地接受了这个安排。

派对是在家附近的公园里举行，那天烈日当空，阳光明媚。人们陆续走来，热情地祝贺着我的父母。而我呢，则像参加其他任何派对一样，径直走向摆放零食的地方。不久后，我用余光瞄到了一辆正往边上停靠的黄色出租车。

我停了下来，好奇地盯着那辆出租车。

随后，车门打开了。

眼前是位表情严肃的老妇人，一手抱着个小男孩。尽管年事已高，老妇人依然健步如飞。我的父母立马带头，和其他人一齐涌上前去迎接。我的母亲开始哭了起来，这引起了我的注意，搞得我摸不着头脑。就在我决定要过去看看发生了什么事的时候，所有人瞬间安静了下来。我的父亲示意我再靠近一点。

我怀揣着一颗不安的心，推挤着穿过这些陌生的面孔。我站在我的父母身旁，面向着这个神秘的男孩。母亲弯下腰，在我耳边轻声地说了些话。

“什么？”我问道，还有点儿恼火了。

“他是你的弟弟呀，”母亲又重复了一遍。

弟弟？我有个弟弟？我喃喃地说着，不想让别人听到。

我凑上前去仔细地打量了一下我那所谓的“弟弟”。他很小，有点胖，脸色微红，他眼睛的颜色和我是一样的。但此时此刻，我的“弟弟”也在失望地眨着双眼。

我逃避着来自“弟弟”的目光。母亲将身体前倾过来，叫我去和弟弟说说话。我心里更不是滋味了。母亲接着又催促了一遍。我说“不”，我说我太累了，我说我根本就不认识他。母亲用眼神恳求着我去迈出第一步。我握紧拳头，说出了那时唯一浮现在我脑海中的问题。

“我能吃你的冰棒吗？”

大人们都咯咯地笑了起来。

“不！”他重申了一遍，清晰地发出了每一个音节，“不，这是我的。”

我内心深处的怒火一下子爆发了，随即便把他的冰棒摔到了草坪上。看到他放声大哭的样子，我内心得到了满足。

父母把我带回房间，责骂了我一顿。我被留在了房间里，听着嘀嗒嘀嗒的钟声，一直盯着天花板。

夜里，我被某个人的哭声吵醒，无力地从床上爬了起来。哭声越来越强烈，于是在半睡半醒的状态下，我摇摇晃晃地朝着哭声走去。

“我要妈妈！”

顿时，我意识到弟弟被迫离开了一起生活的人，其实和我一样困惑。

他的每一声恸哭一点一点地融化了我的心，而当我最终再一次回到自己的被窝，我睡得很踏实。

现在，我很轻松地就能说出“弟

弟”这个词了。

Brother？