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Hi ,There
It was Sunday，Christmas．Our family had spent the holidays in San Francisco with my husband's parents．But in order for us to be back at work on Monday，we found ourselves driving the 400miles back home to Los Angeles on Christmas Day．We stopped for lunch in King city．The restaurant was nearly empty．We were the only family and ours were the only children．I heard Erik，my one－year－old，squeal with glee：“Hi there．Hi there．”He pounded his fat baby hands－－whack，whack－－on the metal highchair tray．His face was alive with excitement，eyes wide，gums bared in a toothless grin．He wriggled1)，and chirped，and giggled，and then I saw the source of his merriment2)．．．and my eyes could not take it all in at once．
A tattered3) rag of a coat obviously bought by someone else eons4) ago －－dirty，greasy5)，and worn．．．baggy1 pants，spindly body－－toes that poked2 out of would－be shoes．．．a shirt that had ring－around－the－color all over，and a face like none other．．．gums as bare as Erik's．“Hi there，baby；hi there，big boy．I see ya，buster．”My husband and I exchanged a look that was a cross between “What do we do？”and “Poor devil．”
Our meal came，and the cacophony3 continued．Now the old bum6) was shouting from across the room：“Do ya know patty cake？Atta boy．．．Do ya know peekaboo7)?Hey，look he knows peekaboo．”Erik continued to laugh and answer，“Hi，there．”Every call was echoed．Nobody thought it was cute．The guy was a drunk and a disturbance4．I was embarrassed．My husband，Dennis，was humiliated5．Even our six－year－old said，“Why is that old man talking so loud？”
Dennis went to pay the check，imploring me to get Erik and meet him in the parking lot．“Lord，just let me out of here before he speaks to me or Erik．”I bolted for the door．It soon was obvious that both the Lord and Erik had other plans．As I drew closer to the man，I turned my back，walking to sidestep him－－and any air he might be breathing．As I did so，Erik，with his eyes riveted6 on his new friend，leaned far over my arm，reaching with both his hands in a baby's “pick me up” position．In a split second of balancing my baby and turning to counter his weight，I came eye to eye with the old man．Erik was lunging for him，arms spread wide．The bum's eyes both asked and implored，“Would you let me hold your baby？”There was no need for me to answer because Erik propelled himself from my arms into the man's．Suddenly a very old man and a very young baby consummated7 their love relationship．Erik laid his tiny head upon the man's ragged8 shoulder．The man's eyes closed，and I saw tears hover9 beneath his lashes10．His aged11 hands full of grime，and pain，and hard labor－－gently，so gently，cradled8) my baby's bottom and stroked his back．
I stood awestruck9)．The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms for a moment，and then his eyes opened and set squarely on mine．He said in a firm commanding voice，“You take care of this baby．”Somehow I managed，“I will，”from a throat that contained a stone．He pried12 Erik from his chest－－unwillingly，longingly－－as though he were in pain．I held my arms open to receive my baby and again the gentleman addressed me．“God bless you，ma'am．You've given me my Christmas gift．”I said nothing more than a muttered10) thanks．With Erik back in my arms，I ran for the car．Dennis wondered why I was crying and holding Erik so tightly and why I was saying，“My God，my God，forgive me．”
by Nancy Dalburg
嘿， 你好
正值星期天，圣诞节。我们全家是在旧金山与公婆一起过的节。但为了星期一能赶去上班，我们在圣诞节当天驱车４００英里赶回洛杉矶的家。我们在金市停下来吃午饭。餐馆里空荡荡的。用餐的只有我们一家，也没有别家的孩子。突然我听到１岁的儿子艾瑞克兴奋地大叫着“嘿，你好。嘿，你好。”并用他那胖小手“梆”“梆”响地拍击着高椅上的金属托盘。他神色激动，眼睛瞪得圆圆的，咧嘴而笑，露出那还没长牙的牙龈。他先是扭着身子，接着发出啧啧咂嘴声，随后又咯咯傻笑，这时候我才找到了他快乐的源泉---但我的眼睛一时间竟难以接受。
一件碎布片似的、显然是由别人在很久之前买的外衣---脏兮兮、油乎乎的、又破又旧……松垮垮的裤子---麻竿似的身子---脚趾头露在了那还算鞋子的外面---衬衣上的污疵斑斑点点，奇特无比的脸……像艾瑞克一样光光的牙龈。“嘿，你好，宝宝；嘿，你好，小伙子。我看见你了，老朋友。”我丈夫和我交换了一下眼神，我们在用眼神相互传递“我们怎么办？”和“可怜的家伙”。
我们的饭菜上来了。那刺耳的声音仍在继续。现在那乞丐从屋子的另一头叫喊着：“你知道小馅饼吗？好小子……你会玩躲躲猫吗？嘿，瞧，他会玩躲躲猫。”艾瑞克继续大笑着回答：“嘿，你好。”他们俩就这样一呼一应。没人觉得这有什么意思。那家伙是个令人讨厌的醉鬼。我觉得很尴尬。我丈夫丹尼斯感到丢尽了脸。连我们６岁的孩子都说：“那老人怎么那么大嗓门？”丹尼斯去付款，恳求我带着艾瑞克到停车场等他。“上帝，让我在他和我或艾瑞克说话前离开这儿吧。”我匆匆向门口冲过去。可我很快发现上帝和艾瑞克都另有打算。当我走近那个人时，我转身侧步而行以离他和他呼出来的空气远一点。就在这时，艾瑞克两眼直勾勾地盯着他的新朋友，身子从我手臂里使劲往外探，伸出双手，摆出小孩的“抱抱我”的姿势。在转身抱住孩子使身体保持平衡的那一刹那，我和那老人的眼神相遇了。艾瑞克张开双臂朝他扑过去。乞丐的眼睛里带着询问和恳求，“你能让我抱抱你的宝宝吗？”我已经没有必要回答，因为艾瑞克自己已经从我的手臂投入到他的怀中。突然，一个年纪非常大的老人和一个非常小的孩子之间的爱达到了水乳交融的境界。艾瑞克将小小的头靠在那老人瘦骨嶙峋的肩上。老人的双目紧闭着，泪珠在睫毛上晃动。他一只手非常轻柔地搂着孩子的屁股，另一只手轻轻地拍着他的背。他苍老的手满是尘垢，饱经痛苦，历尽磨难。
我站在那儿目瞪口呆。那老人把艾瑞克抱在怀里摇了一会儿，之后他睁开了眼睛，正视着我，以一种坚定的命令般的口气说：“你好好照看这孩子。”我不知道自己是怎么说出来的，“我会的”，我的嗓子里像哽着一块石头。他费劲地从胸口把艾瑞克拉开---既不情愿又充满渴望，似乎处在痛苦之中。我张开双臂接回孩子，他又对我开口说话：“愿上帝保佑你，夫人。你已经给了我一份圣诞礼物。”除了一声喃喃的“谢谢”，我什么也说不出来。艾瑞克回到了我怀里，我朝车奔去。丹尼斯很纳闷我为什么在哭，为什么把艾瑞克抱得那么紧，为什么会说“我的上帝，我的上帝，请宽恕我。”
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收听单词发音
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1
baggy
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| adj.膨胀如袋的，宽松下垂的 | |
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2
poked
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| v.伸出( poke的过去式和过去分词 )；戳出；拨弄；与（某人）性交 | |
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3
cacophony
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| n.刺耳的声音 | |
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4
disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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5
humiliated
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| 感到羞愧的 | |
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6
riveted
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| 铆接( rivet的过去式和过去分词 )； 把…固定住； 吸引； 引起某人的注意 | |
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7
consummated
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| v.使结束( consummate的过去式和过去分词 )；使完美；完婚；（婚礼后的）圆房 | |
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8
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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hover
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| vi.翱翔，盘旋；徘徊；彷徨，犹豫 | |
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10
lashes
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| n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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11
aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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12
pried
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| v.打听，刺探（他人的私事）( pry的过去式和过去分词 )；撬开 | |
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