时差N小时 酗酒妻子对大嘴丈夫的不满

Dear Annie:

亲爱的安妮：

My 21-year-old niece has been dealing¹ with a drinking problem since high school. I also have a drinking problem that only my husband and kids know about. My husband, who was having a serious talk with my niece, decided² it was in her best interest to tell her about my problem.

我21岁的侄女在高中就染上了酗酒恶习。我也有酗酒的毛病，但只有我的丈夫和孩子知道这一点。我的丈夫和我的侄女进行了一次严肃的谈话，决定告诉她我酗酒的秘密。他认为这样做对她有好处。

I am very private and want no one to know about my drinking because of the stigma³ attached. I don't want my parents or siblings⁴ to have to worry about me or look at me differently.

我非常自私。我希望没有人知道我的酗酒恶习，因为我认为那是一种耻辱。我不希望我的父母或兄弟姐妹们为我担心，也不希望他们以异样的眼光看我。

I can't be certain my niece will blab this information to everyone, but somehow, I think she will eventually. Do you think my husband had good reason to tell her? I don't see how it would help, and it sure made me angry. Shouldn't such personal information come directly from me? － Upset Wife

我不知道我侄女会不会把我的这个秘密告诉每个人。但我觉得她最终会的。你认为我的丈夫有权利告诉她我的秘密吗？我不知道这对我的侄女会否有所帮助，但这肯定让我很生气。这样的个人秘密难不应只属于我一人吗？ —— 一个忐忑不安的妻子

Dear Upset:

亲爱的忐忑女士：

Your husband should have asked you first if it was okay to give your niece this information, but you can't put the cat back in the bag. It is very possible that learning her aunt has a similar problem was comforting to your niece and will inspire her to work harder. We think having this information will do more good than harm, and we hope you will forgive your husband so you can be a source of encouragement to your niece.

你的丈夫在向你侄女透露这个秘密之前，确实应该征询你的意见。但另一方面，你总不能把秘密守一辈子吧？也许当你的侄女知道她的婶婶也有同样的困扰时，她会稍感平衡，并将激励她更加努力地工作。我们认为，将这个秘密告诉你的侄女，总会利大于弊。我们希望你会原谅你的丈夫，还希望你可以给你的侄女予以鼓励。

1 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

2 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 stigma   

n.耻辱，污名；(花的)柱头

参考例句：

• Being an unmarried mother used to carry a social stigma.做未婚母亲在社会上曾是不光彩的事。
• The stigma of losing weighed heavily on the team.失败的耻辱让整个队伍压力沉重。

4 siblings   

n.兄弟，姐妹( sibling的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• A triplet sleeps amongst its two siblings. 一个三胞胎睡在其两个同胞之间。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• She has no way of tracking the donor or her half-siblings down. 她没办法找到那个捐精者或她的兄弟姐妹。 来自时文部分