I was six years old, my sister, Sally Kay, was a submissive three-year-old girl. For some reasons, I thought we needed to earn some money. I decided we should "hire out" as maids. We
visited the neighbors, offering to clean houses for them for a quater cents. Reasonable as our offer was, there were no takers. But one neighbor telephoned my mother to let her know what Mary Alice and Sally Kay were doing.
Mother had just hung up the phone when we came first into the back door into the kitchen of our apartement. "Girls," mother asked, "why were you two going around the neighborhood telling people you would clean their houses?" Mother wasn't angry with us. In fact, we learned afterwards she was amused that we had came up with such an idea.
But, for some reason, we both denied having done any such thing. Shocked and terribly hurt that her dear little girls could be such "boldfaced (厚颜无耻的) liars" . Mother then told us that Mrs. Jones had just called and told her we had been to her house and said we would clean it for a quater cents .
Faced with the truth, we admitted what we had done. Mother said we have fibed, we have not told the truth. She was sure that we knew better. She tried to explain why a fib (小谎) hurt, but she didn't feel that we really understood.
Years later, she told us that the lesson she came up with for trying to teach us to be truthful would probably have been found upon by child psychologists. The idea came to her in a flash, and a tender-hearted mother told us it was the most difficult lesson she ever taught us. It was a lesson we never forgot. After admonishing(警告,劝告) us, mother cheerfully begain preparing for lunch. As we monching on sandwhiches, she asked:" Would you two like to go to see the movies this afternoon?"
"Wow, would we ever?" We wondered what movie would be playing. Mother said:"The Matinee".
"Oh, fatastic! We would be going to see The Matinee, would we lucky?" We got bathed and all dressed up. It was like getting ready for a birthday party. We hurried outside the apartment, not wanting to miss the bus that would take us downtown. On the landing, Mom stunned (使震惊) us by saying, "Girls, we are not going to the movies today." We didn't hear her right.
"What?" we objected. "What do you mean? Aren't we going to The Matinee? Mommy, you said that we are going to the Matinee. " Mother stooped and gathered us in her arms. I couldn't understand why there were tears in her eyes. We still had the time to get the bus, but hugging us, she gently explained this is a fib felt like. "It is important that what we say is true ," Mom said. "I fibbed to you just now and it felt awful to me. I don't ever want to fib again and I'm sure you don't want to fib again either. People must be able to believe each others. Do you understand? "
We assured her that we understood. We would never forget. And since we had learned a lesson, why not go to the movie to see The Matinee. There were still time. Not today. Mother told us. We would go another time. That is how over fifty years ago, my sister and I learned to be truthful. We have never forgotten how much a fib can be hurt.
上一篇: 经典双语美文:另类的咸咖啡
下一篇: 经典双语美文:爱的礼物
川普周二晚些时候前往比利时,参加北约峰会
国内英语资讯:Spotlight: Chinese premier hails China-Germany cooperation on autopilot, pledges further sup
体坛英语资讯:Wolfsburg sign Stuttgarts striker Ginczek
国内英语资讯:China Focus: Top legislature holds joint inquiry meeting on air pollution control
国内英语资讯:China to improve management of state-owned financial capital
科学家傻眼了,这种印度食材居然能治疗癌症
国际英语资讯:Stronger British economic growth points to rate rise in August, but political uncertainty ma
体坛英语资讯:France celebrates victory against Argentina following spectacular match
体坛英语资讯:Spain World Cup exit not linked to off-field turmoil: Hierro
国内英语资讯:China Focus: Affluent Chinese manufacturing base shares opportunities with the world
为何要不惜一切代价避免在夏天怀孕?
体坛英语资讯:Spain coach Hierro says past irrelevant ahead of Russia clash
国内英语资讯:Strategic partnership heralds new chapter of China, Arab states ties: FM
川普提名卡瓦诺出任联邦最高法院大法官
国内英语资讯:China to boost defense, security cooperation with Africa: defense minister
国内英语资讯:Exhibits underline Chinas contribution to world peace 8 decades ago
体坛英语资讯:Colombian Football Federation confirms no muscle tear for Rodriguez
体坛英语资讯:Media expecting Loew to resign
Cultural Differences between the East and the West 东西方文化差异
体坛英语资讯:France send Argentina packing 4-3 at World Cup
体坛英语资讯:Brazils Marcelo to start on bench against Mexico
这个暑假去哪玩?夏季最火的旅游目的地大盘点!
爱做白日梦敌人,更聪明
调查显示 我国约20%的青少年有网络游戏成瘾现象
体坛英语资讯:Didavi rejoins Stuttgart from Wolfsburg
What If Everyone Looks the Same? 如果每个人看起来都一样呢?
体坛英语资讯:Kenya 15s team targets Uganda scalp in hunt for Rugby Africa Gold Cup points
国际英语资讯:Canadian PM pledges commitment to Latvias security
研究表明:这一常见的早晨饮品与皮肤癌相关
国际英语资讯:Czech president appoints new justice minister