美国国家公共电台 NPR--A mother remembers when her daughter wrote her own bill of rights

A mother remembers when her daughter wrote her own bill of rights

Transcript¹

In this week's StoryCorps, Folashade Alao reminisces with her mother about the bill of rights she created for herself as a child.

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

It's Friday, and that means it's time for StoryCorps. Growing up, Folashade Alao wanted more than anything to make her mom proud. Now 43 years old, she came to StoryCorps with her mom to talk about their relationship and the bill of rights she drafted as a kid.

MARGARET POWELL: I grew up in a rural community where we had to walk maybe a mile to school. I was the eighth child. I just had to defend me. It developed a toughness in me...

FOLASHADE ALAO: Yeah.

POWELL: ...That I have always had.

ALAO: I was just awestruck, how assertive² you were, you being this really bold, bold woman.

POWELL: Looking backward, do you feel like you missed a lot?

ALAO: I think maybe the thing I missed was, like, messing up more (laughter), because I did not want to disappoint you, and I could see how hard you were working. Although, I do remember one moment where I was rebellious³.

POWELL: Yes.

ALAO: Was I in the third grade? I drafted out my amendments⁴ about what I thought was fair and not fair. Everyone else was getting allowance, and I was like, I want allowance.

POWELL: I did give you some allowance at one point.

ALAO: You did, but it was not for washing dishes. I think you gave me things for excelling in school. What came out of it was you telling me that you're not my friend; you're my mama; and that we each have an important role in supporting our household.

POWELL: I was more charitable than what I thought.

ALAO: One of the things I remember you saying was I have to be in charge of my education, and I need to speak up.

POWELL: I wanted to give you every opportunity as I could as a single person, buying books and putting you in programs.

ALAO: I feel like you poured into me so much.

POWELL: You have been everything that a parent could ask for. You're compassionate⁵, and you're wise beyond your years. We don't have playbooks by - what we do as parents. It's up to you to guide this miracle that you've been entrusted⁶ with.

ALAO: Mommy, I love you to the moon and back.

POWELL: And I love you, too, to the moon and all the galaxies⁷ beyond.

MARTIN: That was Folashade Alao and Margaret Powell for StoryCorps in Decatur, Ga. Their conversation will be archived at the Library of Congress.

(SOUNDBITE OF BLUE DOT SESSIONS' "VITTORO")

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 assertive   

adj.果断的，自信的，有冲劲的

参考例句：

• She always speaks an assertive tone.她总是以果断的语气说话。
• China appears to have become more assertive in the waters off its coastline over recent years.在近些年，中国显示出对远方海洋的自信。

3 rebellious   

adj.造反的，反抗的，难控制的

参考例句：

• They will be in danger if they are rebellious.如果他们造反，他们就要发生危险。
• Her reply was mild enough,but her thoughts were rebellious.她的回答虽然很温和，但她的心里十分反感。

4 amendments   

（法律、文件的）改动( amendment的名词复数 )； 修正案； 修改； （美国宪法的）修正案

参考例句：

• The committee does not adequately consult others when drafting amendments. 委员会在起草修正案时没有充分征求他人的意见。
• Please propose amendments and addenda to the first draft of the document. 请对这个文件的初稿提出修改和补充意见。

5 compassionate   

adj.有同情心的，表示同情的

参考例句：

• She is a compassionate person.她是一个有同情心的人。
• The compassionate judge gave the young offender a light sentence.慈悲的法官从轻判处了那个年轻罪犯。

6 entrusted   

v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He entrusted the task to his nephew. 他把这任务托付给了他的侄儿。
• She was entrusted with the direction of the project. 她受委托负责这项计划。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 galaxies   

星系( galaxy的名词复数 )； 银河系； 一群（杰出或著名的人物）

参考例句：

• Quasars are the highly energetic cores of distant galaxies. 类星体是遥远星系的极为活跃的核心体。
• We still don't know how many galaxies there are in the universe. 我们还不知道宇宙中有多少个星系。