In fifth grade, Brett liked me. I knew because he teased me relentlessly. One day, he stole the hat from my head and used it in a game of catch with his friends. Later, I received a note that said: Sorry I took your hat. I like you. Do you like me? —Brett. My ten-year-old brain couldn’t process the strange feelings I had, so I did what any girl who might like a boy would do when faced with this dilemma. I wrote back: No. After Brett read the note, he immediately ran off and started joking with his friends as if nothing had happened, but the teasing stopped. Permanently. Almost 20 years later, I’m sure his heart has mended, but mine never has. It’s a little-known fact I learned that day in fifth grade: when you break someone’s heart, a part of yours goes missing, too.
在小学五年级时，勃莱特喜欢我，因为他无情地取笑我。一天，他从我头上摘掉我的帽子拿它和朋友去做接帽子的游戏。后来，我收到一个便条，上面写道“对不起，我拿了你的帽子。我喜欢你，你喜欢我吗？——勃莱特”。那时我还是个十岁的女孩，无法应对这种异样的感觉。面对站着个进退维谷的情况，我选择了任何一个喜欢一个男孩的女孩的方式。我的回信就一个字“不”。 勃莱特读过以后，他飞快跑出去，并且开始和他的朋友开玩笑，仿佛上面都没有发生一样，但是对我的取笑到此永远地结束了。几乎20年后，我确信他已经走了出来，但是我从来没有走出来。这是一个我五年级时悟出的鲜为人知的事实：你伤了别人的心，你自己也会伤心。
“These Boots Were Made for Walking”
制造这些靴子的用途就是走路
The local department store had a shiny pair of white boots on display in the window. Everyday on my way home from school, I would admire these boots. The cost of the boots was not in our budget. I wanted them so badly but knew we could not afford them. One day after school, the boots were gone when I went by the store. It made me so sad. I moped and felt sorry for myself all the way home. Can you imagine my surprise when I got home and found the shiny, new, white boots sitting on the table? Nancy Sinatra had a popular song at that time and I would walk everywhere (in my new boots) singing, “these boots are made for walking and that is what I’ll do” I believe I had to be the happiest 10 year old on the planet!
当地百货商店的橱窗里摆着一双光亮的白靴子。每天放学回家我都会赞赏它们。对我们而言，这双靴子太贵，我是多么渴望拥有它们啊，但是我知道我们买不起。一天放学后，我走到商店旁发现它们不见了。这快逼的我发疯了，我愁眉苦脸，一路上独自感到伤心难过。当我回到家后，我发现了这双崭新的、光亮的白靴子放在桌子上，你能够想象我愉快的心情吗？我联想到那时南希•辛纳屈的一首流行歌曲，走到何处我都将穿着我的新靴子唱歌，“这些靴子是用来走路的，这也是我讲要做的”。我相信我曾经是地球上最幸福的十岁儿童。
“My Life in 150 Words”
150个字描述我的生活
My life in one word is easy — blessed. My life in 150 words is a little harder. Here are some words from the beginning; poor, afraid, abused, hungry, but that was only part of it. Mix in laughter, love, family, and adventure and the picture becomes a little clearer. Words have always played a big part in my life. Reading was my escape, writing my reprieve. School was my refuge. Fast forward twenty years and I still love words, family is even more important, but those first words have changed to happy, joyous, strong, and hopeful. Now I’m saved, set free, in love with Tommy and with life. Jacob is growing and Shelby and Haley soon became our daughters. Life isn’t perfect, it’s not supposed to be, but the love of God is and that is enough. Never give up; your words can change too
谢天谢地，以一词概括我的生活就是简单。150个字描述我的生活就是有点艰难。一开始有一些这样的词：贫穷、害怕、伤害和饥饿，但是这只是其中的一部分。同时还伴有欢乐、喜欢、家人和冒险，画面变得稍微清晰了一点。文字经常在我生命中发挥着重大作用。阅读是我的逃避，写作使我得到暂时挽救，学校是我的庇护所。向前数20年，我依然喜欢文字，家人更加重要，那些第一批的文字（快乐、坚强和希望）带来了快乐。现在，我活的了解脱，获得了自由，和汤米相爱，并热爱着生活。雅各布正在成长，我们很快又有了两个女儿——谢尔比和哈利。生活部完美，生活本来就应该如此。上帝的眷顾犹在，这就足够了。从来不要放弃，文字可以改变生活。
“Eddie”
埃迪
By Anne Sawan
安妮•沙旺
His name is Eddie. The big, tall maple that lived in our front yard. We named it Eddie because momma always said there was a refreshing eddy of a breeze that would come right around that tree in the sticky, hot summer. Eddie is in all our family photographs, the first day of school: “Go stand near Eddie so I can take a picture.” Easter: “Kids line up near Eddie. Quick, before you go get your church clothes all dirty!” Prom: “Why don’t you and George go stand over near Eddie? Ya’ll look so grownup!” Eddie was the home base for our massive neighborhood games of hide and seek “I gotcha ya!” “No way. I tagged Eddie first!” Eddie is still the first thing I see when I pull up to my parents’ house. A few less leaves, bending perhaps a bit more, but standing proud, delivering his cool breeze.
我家前院的枫树又大又高，我们叫它埃迪。我们将它命名为埃迪，是因为母亲经常说，“湿热的夏季里，它的四周总是涌动着清新的微风 ”。我们家所有的照片上都离不了它，上学的第一天：“站在埃迪身旁，我可以拍一张照片”；复活节：“孩子们在埃迪旁边排成一队，快点，不然你就把新衣服弄脏了”。 正式舞会：“为什么不和乔治站在埃迪旁边哪？你已经长大成人了。”埃迪曾经是我们邻居间大型的捉迷藏游戏的基地。“我抓住你了！”“不可能，我把埃迪看作第一。”我开车去我父母家，我看到的第一个东西也是埃迪。一些少许的叶子，轻微地弯曲了一点点，但是仍然骄傲地长着，传递着它凉爽的微风。
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