高中英语课外阅读文章10篇

高中英语推荐课外阅读文章10篇

Alifetimefriendship

ThomasJeffersonandJamesMadisonmetin1776.Couldithavebeenanyotheryear?Theyworked

togetherstartingthentofurtherAmericanRevolutionandlatertoshapethenewschemeofgovernment.

Fromtheworksprangafriendshipperhapsincomparableinintimacylandthetrustfulnessofcollaboration

andinduration.Itlasted50years.Itincludedpleasureandutilitybutoverandabovethem,therewere

sharedpurpose,acommonendandanenduringgoodnessonbothsides.Fourandahalfmonthsbefore

hedied,whenhewasailing,debt-ridden,andworriedabouthisimpoverishedfamily,Jeffersonwroteto

hislongtimefriend.HiswordsandMadison'sreplyremindusthatfriendsarefriendsuntildeath.Theyalso

remindusthatsometimesafriendshiphasabearingonthingslargerthanthefriendshipitself,forhas

thereeverbeenafriendshipofgreaterpublicconsequencethanthisone?

"Thefriendshipwhichhassubsistedbetweenusnowhalfacentury,theharmonyofourpo1iticalprinciples

andpursuitshavebeensourcesofconstanthappinesstomethroughthatlongperiod.Ifevertheearth

hasbeheld6asystemofadministrationconductedwithasingleandsteadfasteyetothegeneralinterest

andhappinessofthosecommittedtoit,onewhich,protectedbytruth,canneverknownreproach,itisthat

towhichourliveshavebeendevoted.Tomyselfyouhavebeenapillarofsupportthroughoutlife.Take

careofmewhendeadandbeassuredthatIshouldleavewithyoumylastaffections."

AweeklaterMadisonreplied-

"Youcannotlookbacktothelongperiodofourprivatefriendshipandpoliticalharmonywithmoreaffecting

recollectionsthanIdo.Iftheyareasourceofpleasuretoyou,whataren'ttheynottobetome?Wecannot

bedeprivedofthehappyconsciousnessofthepuredevotiontothepublicgoodwithWhichwedischarge

thetrustcommittedtousandIindulgeaconfidencethatsufficientevidencewillfindinitswaytoanother

generationtoensure,afterwearegone,whateverofjusticemaybewithheld9whilstwearehere."

★推荐词汇:

1.intimacyn.熟悉;亲近

2.collaborationn.合作

3.impoverishedadj.穷困的；无力的

4.beheldv,注视着（原形为behold）

5.devotedadj.忠诚的；献身的

6.withheldv.克制；隐瞒（原形是而thhold）

GodHadtoBeFair

WealwaysknewourdaughterKendallwasgoingbeaperformerofsomesort.Sheentertainedpeoplein

oursmalltownbyputtingonshowsonourfrontporchwhenshewasonlythreeorfour.Blonde-haired,

blue-eyed,andbeautiful,shesanglikealittleangelandmesmerizedeveryone.

WhenKendallwasfive,webegantonoticethatshewasblinkingalotandclearingherthroatfrequently.

Wehadhertestedforallergies,butthedoctorsaidshewasn'tallergictoanythingatall.Aftertheproblem

worsened,wetookhertoourlocalchildren'shospitalwhereshewasdiagnosedwithTourette'sSyndrome.

Itwasprettydevastatingbecauseotherchildrenconstantlymadefunofher,andsadly,evenateacher

teasedher.Whentheticswereespeciallybad,Kendallhadtowearaneckbrace.Sheonlyhadoneor

twofriends,butthatwasokaybecausetheywere--andcontinuetobe-real,thekindwhostickbyher,

nomatterwhat.Throughallthis,Kendallcontinuedtosingandentertain.Remarkably,herticsdisappeared

whenshesang.

Wetookourdaughterfromdoctortodoctor,butalltheydidwasgivehermedicationthatjustmadeitworse,

sowedecidedtogothenaturalroute.Throughchiropractictherapy,changesinherdiet,andothernatural

treatments,theticsgraduallylessened.

In2005whenKendallwassixteen,wethoughtshewasprettymuchoutofthewoods-oratleastheading

inthatdirection.However,asifTourette'sSyndromewasn'tenoughforabeautifulyounggirltodealwith,

afreakaccidenthappened.

Atabirthdayparty,Kendallhoppedonafriendforapiggybackride.Hebentlowerthansheexpected,and

shejumpedhigherthanheexpected.Kendallflewoverhisbackandlandedonthecementfloor-onher

neck.Anambulancerushedhertothehospitalwhereshespentthenextweek,paralyzedfromtheneck

down.Ironically,herbiggestconcernwasn'twhethershewouldwalkagain,butwhethershewouldbeable

toauditionforAmericanIdol.

DoctorssaidKendallhadcentralcordsyndrome.Thepainwasexcruciatingandrequiredmorphineto

controlit.Sometimesitwassounbearableshehadtobitedownonatoothbrushtotakehermindoffit.As

thedaysdraggedon,feelingreturnedtoherleftside,butshewasstillparalyzedontheright.Wedidn't

knowforsurehowmuchofhermovementwouldevercomeback.

IbelieveKendallwantedtheAmericanIdolauditionsomuchthatshewilledherselftomoveagain.Oneof

herfriendsbroughtamicrophonetothehospitalandputitonherbed.Everyday,Kendalltriedhardto

pickitupwithherrighthand.Itwasmoreimportantforhertopickupthatmicthanaspoonorfork.

Sometimesweallcriedbecauseofthepainwewitnessed.ButonthedayKendallwalkedintothestadium

toauditionforAmericanIdol--amerethreemonthsafterheraccident--wecriedtearsofjoy.Andour

tearsturnedintoshoutswhenshewasgivenagoldentickettoHollywood.

Asaparent,youalwaysthinkyourchildisthebestever-that'sjustwhatparentsdo.Butafterseeing

Kendallperform,Iknowshe'soneofthebest,eventhoughshedidn'tmakeitintotheTop24.

Kendalliseighteennow,livingeverydaytoitsfullest.She'srecordedaCDwithsomeofJohn

Mellencamp'sbandmembers.She'salsoonCMT'sMusicCityMadnessforanoriginalsongandvideo,

andishavingsomegoodsuccess.I'mabsolutelysureshe'sgoingtomakeitbigsomeday.Kendalljust

putsitallinGod'shands.

Whenshewasalittlegirltryinghardtobestrong,shelookedupatme,herbigeyesbrimmingwithtears,

andaskedmewhyshehadtohaveTourette'sSyndrome.Myheartachedtomaketheworldrightformy

child.ButIlookedrightbackatherandtoldherthetruthasIseeit.

"Kendall,Godgaveyouapureheart,anangelicvoice,astrongmind,andabeautifulpresence.Withall

ofthat,hehadtomakeitfairforeveryoneelse."

★推荐词汇：

1.mesmerizev.使..着迷

2.allergyn.过敏

3.allergicadj.过敏的（用法：beallergicto对..过敏）

4.devastatingadj.毁灭性的；令人震惊的

5.bracen.支架；括号v.撑住

6.remarkableadj.不同寻常的

7.lessenedadj.减少的

8.hopv.跳

9.idoln.偶像；红人

10.mereadj.仅仅的

TheDollandtheWhiteRose

IhurriedintothelocaldepartmentstoretograbsomelastminuteChristmasgifts.Ilookedatallthepeople

andgrumbledtomyself.IwouldbeinhereforeverandIjusthadsomuchtodo.Christmaswasbeginning

tobecomesuchadrag.IkindofwishedthatIcouldjustsleepthroughChristmas.ButIhurriedthebestI

couldthroughallthepeopletothetoydepartment.OnceagainIkindofmumbledtomyselfattheprices

ofallthesetoys,andwonderedifthegrandkidswouldevenplaywhit4them.Ifoundmyselfinthedoll

aisle5.OutofthecornerofmyeyeIsawalittleboyabout5holdingalovelydoll.

Hekepttouching6herhairandheheldhersogently.Icouldnotseemtohelpmyself.Ijustkeptlooking

overatthelittleboyandwonderedwhothedollwasfor.Iwatchedhimturntoawomanandhecalledhis

auntbynameandsaid,"AreyousureIdon'thaveenoughmoney?"Sherepliedabitimpatiently,"You

knowthatyoudon'thaveenoughmoneyforit."Theaunttoldthelittleboynottogoanywherethatshe

hadtogoandgetsomeotherthingsandwouldbebackinafewminutes.Andthenshelefttheaisle.The

boycontinuedtoholdthedoll.

AfterabitIaskedtheboywhothedollwasfor.Hesaid,"Itisthedollmysisterwantedsobadlyfor

Christmas.ShejustknewthatSantawouldbringit."ItoldhimthatmaybeSantawasgoingtobringit.He

said,"No,Santacan'tgowheremysisteris....IhavetogivethedolltomyMamatotaketoher."Iasked

himwherehissisterwas.Helookedatmewiththesaddesteyesandsaid,"Shewasgonetobewith

Jesus.MyDaddysaysthatMammaisgoingtohavetogobewithher."

Myheartnearlystoppedbeating.Thentheboylookedatmeagainandsaid,"ItoldmyDaddytotellmy

Mamanottogoyet.ItoldhimtotellhertowaittillIgotbackfromthestore."ThenheaskedmeifIwanted

toseehispicture.ItoldhimI'dloveto.Hepulledoutsomepicturehe'dhadtakenatthefrontofthestore.

Hesaid,"IwantmyMamatotakethiswithhersothedoesn'teverforgetme.IlovemyMamasovery

muchandIwishshedidnothavetoleaveme.ButDaddysaysshew川needtobewithmysister."

Isawthatthelittleboyhadloweredhisheadandhadgrownsoquiet.WhilehewasnotlookingIreached

intomypurseandpulledoutahandfulofbills.Iaskedthelittleboy,"Shallwecountthatmoneyonemore

time?"Hegrewexcitedandsaid,"Yes,Ijustknowithastobeenough."SoIslippedmymoneyinwithhis

andwebegantocountit.Ofcourseitwasplentyforthedoll.Hesoftlysaid,"ThankyouJesusforgiving

meenoughmoney."Thentheboysaid,"IjustaskedJesustogivemeenoughmoneytobuythisdollso

Mamacantakeitwithhertogivemysister.Andheheardmyprayer.Iwantedtoaskhimgiveforenough

tobuymyMamaawhiterose,butIdidn'taskhim,buthegavemeenoughtobuythedollandarosefor

myMama.Sheloveswhiterosesomuch."InafewminutestheauntcamebackandIwheeledmycart

away.

IcouldnotkeepfromthinkingaboutthelittleboyasIfinishedmyshoppinginatotallydifferentspiritthan

whenIhadstarted.AndIkeptrememberingastoryIhadseeninthenewspaperseveraldaysearlierabout

adrunkdriverhittingacarandkillingalittlegirlandtheMotherwasinseriouscondition.Thefamilywas

decidingonwhethertoremovethelifesupport.Nowsurelythislittleboydidnotbelongwiththatstory.

TwodayslaterIreadinthepaperwherethefamilyhaddisconnectedthelifesupportandtheyoungwoman

haddied.Icouldnotforgetthelittleboyandjustkeptwonderingifthetwoweresomehowconnected.

Laterthatday,IcouldnothelpmyselfandIwentoutandboughtsomewhiterosesandtookthemtothe

funeralhomewheretheyoungwomanwas.Andthereshewasholdingalovelywhiterose,thebeautiful

doll,andthepictureofthelittleboyinthestore.Ileftthereintears,theirlifechangedforever.Thelove

thatlittleboyhadforhislittlesisterandhismotherwasoverwhelming.Andinasplitsecondadrunkdriver

hadrippedthelifeofthatlittleboytopieces.

★推荐词汇

1.grabv.抓住；理解

2.grumblev.抱怨；嘟嚷

3.mumblev.嘟嘎；含糊的说

4.whitn一点;丝毫

5.touchingadj.令人感动的

6.splitv劈开；adj.分开的

7.ripv.撕开

8.rippedadj.喝醉的；吸毒的（美国俚语）

APlateofPeas

MygrandfatherdiedwhenIwasasmallboy,andmygrandmotherstartedstayingwithusforaboutsix

monthseveryyear.Shelivedinaroomthatdoubledasmyfather'soffice,whichwereferredtoas"the

backroom."Shecarriedwithherapowerfularoma.Idon'tknowwhatkindofperfumesheused,butitwas

thedouble-barreled,ninety-proof,knockdown,render-the-victim-unconscious,moose-killingvariety.She

keptitinahugeatomizerandapplieditfrequentlyandliberally.Itwasalmostimpossibletogointoher

roomandremainbreathingforanylengthoftime.Whenshewouldleavethehousetogospendsixmonths

withmyAuntLillian,mymotherandsisterswouldthrowopenallthewindows,stripthebed,andtakeout

thecurtainsandrugs.Thentheywouldspendseveraldayswashingandairingthingsout,tryingfrantically

tomakethepungentodorgoaway.

This,then,wasmygrandmotheratthetimeoftheinfamouspeaincident.

IttookplaceattheBiltmoreHotel,which,tomyeight-year-oldmind,wasjustaboutthefanciesplaceto

eatinallofProvidence.Mygrandmother,mymother,andIwerehavinglunchafteramorningspent

shopping.IgrandlyorderedaSalisburysteak,confidentintheknowledgethatbeneaththatfancyname

wasagoodoldhamburgerwithgravy.Whenbroughttothetable,itwasaccompaniedbyaplateofpeas.

Idonotlikepeasnow.Ididnotlikepeasthen.Ihavealwayshatedpeas.Itisacompletemysterytome

whyanyonewouldvoluntarilyeatpeas.Ididnoteatthemathome.Ididnoteatthematrestaurants.And

Icertainlywasnotabouttoeatthemnow."Eatyourpeas,"mygrandmothersaid.

"Mother,"saidmymotherinherwarningvoice."Hedoesn'tlikepeas.Leavehimalone."

Mygrandmotherdidnotreply,buttherewasaglintinhereyeandagrimsettoherjawthatsignaledshe

wasnotgoingtobethwarted.Sheleanedinmydirection,lookedmeintheeye,andutteredthefateful

wordsthatchangedmylife:"I'llpayyoufivedollarsifyoueatthosepeas."

Ihadabsolutelynoideaoftheimpendingdoom.Ionlyknewthatfivedollarswasanenormous,nearly

unimaginableamountofmoney,andasawfulaspeaswere,onlyoneplateofthemstoodbetweenme

andthepossessionofthatfivedollars.Ibegantoforcethewretchedthingsdownmythroat.

Mymotherwaslivid.Mygrandmotherhadthatself-satisfiedlookofsomeonewhohasthrowndownan

unbeatabletrumpcard."IcandowhatIwant,Ellen,andyoucan'tstopme."Mymotherglaredather

mother.Sheglaredatme.Noonecanglarelikemymother.IftherewereaglaringOlympics,shewould

undoubtedlywinthegoldmedal.

I,ofcourse,keptshovingpeasdownmythroat.Theglaresmademenervous,andeverysinglepeamade

mewanttothrowup,butthemagicalimageofthatfivedollarsfloatedbeforeme,andIfinallygagged

downeverylastoneofthem.Mygrandmotherhandedmethefivedollarswithaflourish.Mymother

continuedtoglareinsilence.Andtheepisodeended.OrsoIthought.

MygrandmotherleftforAuntLillian'safewweekslater.Thatnight,atdinner,mymotherservedtwoofmy

all-timefavoritefoods,meatloafandmashedpotatoes.Alongwiththemcameabig,steamingbowlofpeas.

Sheofferedmesomepeas,andI,intheverylastmomentsofmyinnocentyouth,declined.Mymother

fixedmewithacoldeyeassheheapedahugepileofpeasontomyplate.Thencamethewordsthatwere

tohauntmeforyears.

"Youatethemformoney,"shesaid."Youcaneatthemforlove."

Oh,despair!Oh,devastation!Now,toolate,camethedawningrealizationthatIhadunwittinglydamned

myselftoahellfromwhichtherewasnoescape.

"Youatethemformoney.Youcaneatthemforlove."

WhatpossibleargumentcouldImusteragainstthat?Therewasnone.DidIeatthepeas?YoubetIdid.I

atethemthatdayandeveryothertimetheywereservedthereafter.Thefivedollarswerequicklyspent.

Mygrandmotherpassedawayafewyearslater.Butthelegacyofthepeaslivedon,asitlivesontothis

day.IfIsomuchascurlmylipwhentheyareserved(because,afterall,Istillhatethehorridlittlethings),

mymotherrepeatsthedreadedwordsonemoretime:"Youatethemformoney,"shesays."Youcaneat

themforlove."

★推荐词汇

1.aroman.香气

2.applyv.运用；申请

3.franticallyadv.坦诚地

4.pungentadj.刺激性的；刺鼻的

5.infamousadj.声名狼藉的

6.providencen.深谋远虑；节俭

7.jawn.下巴

8.impendingadj.即将到来的

9.doomn厄运v.注定要发生的

AnAngelAmongUs

Iwokeupearlytoday,excitedoverallIgettodobeforetheclockstrikesmidnight.Ihaveresponsibilities

tofulfilltoday.Iamimportant.

MyjobistochoosewhatkindofdayIamgoingtohave.

TodayIcancomplainbecausetheweatherisrainyorIcanbethankfulthatthegrassisgettingwatered

forfree.

TodayIcanfellsadthatIdon'thavemoremoneyorIcanbegladthatmyfinancesencouragemetoplan

mypurchaseswiselyandguidemeawayfromwaste.

TodayIcangrumbleaboutmyhealthorIcanrejoicethatIamalive.

TodayIcanlamentoverallthatmyparentsdidn'tgivemewhenIwasgrowinguporIcanfeelgratefulthat

theyallowedmetobeborn.

TodayIcancrybecauseroseshavethornsorIcancelebratethatthornshaveroses.

TodayIcanmournmylackoffriendsorIcanexcitedlyembarkuponaquesttodiscovernewrelationships.

TodayIcanmurmurdejectedlybecauseIhavetodohouseworkorIcanfeelhonoredbecausetheLord

hasprovidedshelterformymind,bodyandsoul.

Todaystretchesaheadofme,waitingtobeshaped.AndhereIam,thesculptor6whogetstodothe

shaping.

Whattodaywillbelikeisuptome.IgettochoosewhatkindofdayIwillhave!

★推荐词汇

1.fulfillv.实现；履行

2.lamentn.悲哀;v.哀悼

3.embarkv.上船；开始做

4.murmurv./n.低声说；耳语

5.sculptorn.雕塑家

11BenefitstobeSingle

1.SINGLEPEOPLEEXERCISEMORE...

Ifyou'resingle,there'sagoodchanceyou'rehittingthegymmoreoftenthanyourmarriedpeers:A2011

studyfoundthatmenandwomenwhohaveneverbeenmarriedexercisedmorethanpeopleinanyother

marital1category(includingcurrentlymarriedmenandwomen,aswellasdivorceesandwidowers).

2....ANDMAINTAINAHEALTHIERW日GHT.

You'realsomorelikelytomaintainahealthyweight.Multiplestudieshavefoundthatmenandwomentend

topackonthepoundsaftertheygetmarried.Onestudyfoundthatmarriedmenaremorelikelytobe

overweightthantheirsinglepeers,whileanotherfoundthatwomenwholostweightinpreparationfortheir

weddingshadatendencytogainweightinthesixmonthsfollowingtheceremony.

3.THEYSLEEPBETTER.

Itshouldcomeaslittlesurprisethatsharingabedwithanotherhumanbeingcanaffecthowmuchsleep

youget.Afterall,havingsomeonetossingandturning,snoring,andtalkingintheirsleepbesideyoucan

affecteventhedeepestsleepers.Beingsinglecutsdownonnighttimedisruptionsandcanhelpyougeta

morepeacefulnighfssleep.

4.THEYDOLESSHOUSEWORK.

Ifyouhatedoingchores,singlelifemightberightforyou.A2008studyfoundthatsinglemenandwomen

spendfewerhoursaweekdoingbasichouseworkthantheirmarriedcounterparts.

5.THEY'RECLOSERTOFRIENDSANDFAMILY.

Singlepeoplearethegluethatkeepsfamiliestogether.Accordingtoonestudy,singlesiblingsaremore

likelytokeepintouchwith,andreachoutto,theirsiblingsthanthosewhoaremarried.Anotherstudy

foundthatsinglepeoplealsospendmoretimewithfriendsthanthoseinlong-termrelationships.

6.THEYHAVELESSDEBT.

Beingsingledoesn'tjustbenefityourwaistlineandsociallife:Italsobenefitsyourwallet.Researchers

havefoundthatmarriedpeoplehavemorecreditcarddebtthansinglepeople,andpeoplewhoaremarried

withchildrenhavethemostdebtofall.

7.THEY'RELESSSTRESSED.

Stayingsinglecanhelpyoupreventcertainkindsofstressanddepression.One2014studyfoundthat

maritalstressmaymakecouplesmorepronetodepression,whilecoupleswhoexperiencesevere,

ongoing5maritalstresswerelessabletoenjoypositiveexperiences.

8.THEY'RELESSLIKELYTOGETDIVORCEDDOWNTHEROAD.

Stayingsinglenowcanbenefityourromanticrelationshipsinthefuture.Ingeneral,peoplewhowaitlonger

togetmarriedhavelowerratesofdivorce.

9.THEYCANAVOIDCONFLICTS.

Forpeoplewhotrulyhateconflicts,stayingsinglecanhaverealpsychologicalbenefits.Accordingtoa

2015study,peoplewhoareconflict-averse(thoseforwhomrelationshipfightsandargumentscancause

severestress)mayexperiencelessanxietywhenthey'resingle.

10.THEREARESURPRISINGHEALTHBENEFITSTOSINGLEDOM.

Awiderangeofstudieshavelookedattheimpactmarriageandsingledomcanhaveonhealth.While

beingsingleisn'tnecessarilyhealthieracrosstheboard,thereareplentyofsituationswherebeingsingle

seemstobebeneficial.Singlemen,forinstance,werefoundtoexperiencelessheartdisease,whilesingle

womenarelesslikelytotakesickdaysandvisitedthedoctorlessfrequentlythanmarriedwomen.Being

singlecanevenhelpyourchancesofkeepingoffweightaftersurgery:Onestudyfoundthatunmarried

menandwomenwere2.7timesmorelikelytokeeptodietandexercisegoalsafterweightlosssurgery.

11.ALONETIMEISGOODFORYOU,

Beingalonedoesn'tnecessarilymeanbeinglonely.Spendingtimeonyourowngivesyoutimetoclear

yourmind,identifyyourowngoalsandpriorities,andparticipateinactivitiesthatinterestyou.Research

hasevenfoundthatabitofalonetimecanhelpusbecomemoreempathetic,fostercreativity,andeven

improveourrelationships.

★推荐词汇

1.maritaladj.婚姻的；夫妻的

2.sleepersn.卧铺（经常用复数）

3.siblingsn.兄弟姐妹（表亲或堂亲）

4.proneadj.有倾向的（用法为beproneto）

5.ongoingadj.持续的；进行中的

FreetoSoar

Onewindyspringday,Iobservedyoungpeoplehavingfunusingthewindtoflytheirkites.Multicolored

creationsofvaryingshapesandsizesfilledtheskieslikebeautifulbirdsdartinganddancing.Asthestrong

windsgustedagainstthekites,astringkeptthemincheck.

Insteadofblowingawaywiththewind,theyaroseagainstittoachievegreatheights.Theyshookand

pulled,buttherestrainingstringandthecumbersometailkeptthemintow,facingupwardandagainstthe

wind.Asthekitesstruggledandkeptthemintow,facingupwardandagainstthewind.Asthekites

struggledandtrembledagainstthestring,theyseemedtosay,"Letmego!Letmego!Iwanttobefree!"

theysoaredbeautifullyevenastheyfoughttherestrictionofthestring.Finally,oneofthekitessucceeded

inbreakingloose."Freeatlast,"itseemedtosay."Freetoflywiththewind."

Yetfreedomfromrestraintsimplyputitatthemercyofanunsympatheticbreeze.Itflutteredungracefully

tothegroundandlandedinatangledmassofweedsandstringagainstadeadbush."Freeatlast",free

toliepowerlessinthedirt,tobeblownhelplesslyalongtheground,andtolodgelifelessagainstthefirst

obstruction.

Howmuchlikekiteswesometimesare.Theheavengivesusadversityandrestrictions,rulestofollow

fromwhichwecangrowandgainstrength.Restraintisanecessarycounterparttothewindsofopposition.

Someofustugattherulessohardthatweneversoartoreachtheheightswemighthaveobtained.We

keeppartofthecommandmentandneverrisehighenoughtogetcurtailsofftheground.

Letuseachrisetothegreatheights,recognizingthatsomeoftherestraintsthatwemaychafeunderare

actuallythesteadyingforcethathelpsusascendandachieve.

★推荐词汇

1.restrictionn.限制

2.tanglev.纠缠

3.lodgen.临时住宿；躲避n.传达室；小旅馆

4.obstructionn.阻塞；障碍

5.oppositionn.反对

6.cumbersomeadj.笨重的；不便携带的

7.tugV.拖；拉n.苦力

8.ascendv.上升

Mom'sSmile

It'sanoldphotographwithbadcompositionandlousycolor.Theedgesarecurledupandbrown.Butnone

ofthatmatters.Thephotoislacedwithpoignantmemoriessovividthatwhenmygazeslidesacrossit,

tearsprickatthebacksofmyeyes.Iamimmediatelytransportedtoaplacewhereonlygoodandbeautiful

imagescanbefound,aplacewhereliferevolvesaroundlazyafternoonsspentonthebeach.Inthis

magicalplacemotherssharesecretswithdaughters,andgrandchildrengleanimmeasurablebitsof

wisdomfromthecadenceofthewavesandthesofttonesofthewomentheylove.

Ameremomentofourlives,tuckedneatlyintoasmallrectangleandpreservedforever-yearsbefore

anythingbadcamecalling.

Inthephoto,thebeachspreadsoutoneitherside,afishingdocktotheleft,oneofCalcite'sgreatlimestone

boatsfaroutonthehorizon,andontheright,milesandmilesofundisturbedbeach.Thephotoisalive

withchildrenandwomen:mothers,sisters,sonsanddaughters,niecesandnephews,grandchildren.The

lonemaninthephotoismyfather.Hisshadowstretcheslongandleanacrosstherestlessbluewatersof

LakeHuron.Withimmensepatience,hecastshisline,againandagain.Mytoddlerson,hisblondcurls

bleachedwhite,peersacrosstheendlessstretchofsand.Mesmerizedbyhisgrandfather,hejetsdown

thewetbeachasfastashischubbylegscancarryhim.Hissistersgivechase.

Amilliondancingwhitecapsbecomemyriaddiamonds,strainingtooutshineoneanother.Theglimmering

trailsparklesonthevastandseeminglyendlessbodyofwaterthatstartsatmyfeetanddisappearsinto

thesky,whereseagullsdipandswirl,callingtooneanotherasananxiousmothercallstoawaywardchild.

Achaiseloungedominatesthephoto.Initawoman-mymother-reclines.Momisspreadoutinthechair

likethick,sweetfrostingonacake.Languid,herarmsraisedaboveherhead,herlegssplayed,pantlegs

rolleduptoexposeagoodlylengthofpaleskin.Herarmsarebare,theundersidespastyincomparison

tothetops.Hersmileinreposeistender,sweet,unassuming,andpeaceful.

Tomyknowledge,Momneverownedabathingsuit.Idon'trecalleverseeingherstepintothelake,and

neverbeforehadshesunbathed17.Thatday,however,wasdifferent.Itwasasifallhercareshadfloated

outtodeepwatersliketheunattendedbeachballhaddonejustminutesbefore.

Wearealargefamily.WhenmysiblingsandIwereyoung,Dadwastheonewhotookustothebeach.

Hesatinthecarandwatchedaswefrolickedintheshallows.Momstayedhometoensurewehadahot

mealwhenwereturned.PerhapsMomwashappyforthefewmomentsofalonetimeathomeinthe

kitchen,aswasDad,aloneinthecar.

Onthisday,theirgrownchildren,withchildrenofourown,treatthemtodinneronthebeach.Dadfishes

offthedock,neverswayingfromhispleasantries.And,foronce,Momforgetsaboutmakingdinner.

Itisadayofmemories,adaynevertobeforgotten.

Mythreechildrenareinthephoto,andDadisinthebackground,asaretwoofmysistersandtheirchildren,

buteveryonewhogazesatthepoorlydevelopedphotoisdrawninexplicablytoMom'ssmile.Inthephoto,

herfaceisraiseduptothesky.TothesunortoourCreator,shealoneknows.Hereyesareclosed.

Irememberhowwarmitwasthatdayandhowshehadsquintedupatme,shieldinghereyeswithboth

hands.

"Aremylegsgettingred?"she'dasked.

MyeyesbrimwithunshedtearsasIrememberthefeel