向着友谊迈进

向着友谊迈进

Track 5

by Ava Pennington翻译：德孟

Life with Mom， Dad， and two sisters had always been peaceful. But then came a news that would change my world. We were moving，before the beginning of my sixth grade， leaving the only town I had ever known. Not only would I not be able to graduate elementary school with my friends， but I also would have to start middle school with a class full of kids who had known each other since1）kindergarten.

Making friends didn’t come easily to me， and it didn’t help being the eldest child of2）immigrant parents. The fear of starting a new school hung over me like a black cloud，3）tainting each summer day.

At the first day of school， I entered my new classroom trying very hard not to appear as scared as I felt， but it wasn’t easy. Twenty-eight faces turned to look up at me as I followed the teacher into the room. They all looked so cool， and some of the girls even wore make-up. How would I ever fit in？ I was4）out of touch in every way possible. I wasn’t allowed to wear make-up or5）nail polish. I wore6）leotards instead of7）stockings， and much of my wardrobe was handmade，8）sewn by my mother and grandmother.

1） kindergarten ［,kɪndə'gɑːtən］ n. 幼儿园

2） immigrant ［'ɪmɪgrənt］ adj. 移民的，移来的

3） taint ［teɪnt］ v. 玷污，败坏

4） out of touch 孤陋寡闻，不了解某事

5） nail polish 指甲油

6） leotards ［'liːətɑːdz］ n. 紧身下装，裤袜

7） stocking ［'stɒkɪŋ］ n. 长袜

8） sew ［səJ］ v. 缝制

Mr. Bernstein introduced me to the class and directed me to an empty seat in the back of the room， next to another girl. Her name was Janet.

Mr. Bernstein began to rapidly9）detail the requirements for the class. I10）stole peeks at my seatmate from time to time while writing down what the teacher said. What was she like？ Was she part of the in-crowd注？ Did she hate11）being saddled with the new girl？

After class we walked to the canteen， sat together， and opened our lunch bags. Between bites of our sandwiches， we began to ask each other questions. Sisters？ We both had two， although I was the oldest and she was the youngest. Home？ It turned out that we lived about a fifteen-minute walk apart. Upbringing？ Her parents were as strict as mine： no make-up or stockings， and similar early12）curfews and bedtimes.

The smiles on both of our faces13）broadened with each new exchange. On this first day in a new school， I still didn’t know if the in-crowd would accept me. I did know， however， that it was going to be a good year after all.

和爸爸、妈妈及两个妹妹在一起的生活素来平静。但一个突如其来的消息改变了我的生活。我们要搬家了，在我上六年级之前就要搬了，要离开我唯一熟知的这个城镇了。我不仅不能够和朋友们一起从小学毕业，还要和一大群陌生的孩子们一起开始中学生活，而他们每个人自幼儿园时起就互相认识了。

交朋友对我来说不是件容易的事，尽管我是移民夫妇膝下的长女也于事无补。对新学校的恐惧就像一朵黑云，污染了我的每一个明媚夏日。

在开学的第一天，我走进了陌生的教室，十分努力地不让心底的恐惧表现出来，但这并不容易。我跟着老师走进教室的时候，全班28张面孔都转过来看着我。他们看起来都是那么的酷，其中一些女生甚至还化了妆。我怎么能融入他们呢？我在方方面面都跟不上形势。家里不许我化妆、涂指甲。我穿紧身裤，不穿长筒丝袜，我衣橱里的很多衣服都是由我母亲和外婆手工缝制的。

伯恩斯坦老师向全班人介绍了我，然后指引我到教室后面的空座位上，紧邻着一名女生坐下。那位女生名叫珍妮特。

伯恩斯坦老师开始滔滔不绝地细说起班级规则来。我一边记录着老师说的话，一边时不时地偷瞄几眼我的同桌。她是个怎样的人呢？她是那群前卫的人中的一个吗？她会不会讨厌担负照顾新来女生的这个责任呢？

课后我们一起去了饭堂，坐在了一桌，打开了我们的午餐盒吃饭。我们一边吃着三明治，一边互问对方问题。姐妹？我们各自都有两个，虽然我是最年长的姐姐，而她是最年幼的妹妹。家住哪儿？原来我俩的家只隔十五分钟的步行路程。家庭教育？她的父母也和我的父母一样严格：不许化妆，不许穿长筒丝袜，宵禁和睡觉的时间都很早。

每互相了解多一点，我们脸上的笑容就多了一分灿烂。在新学校度过的第一天，我还不知道那群前卫的人是否会接纳我，但我确切地知道，这终究会是美好的一学年。

9） detail ［dɪ'teɪl］ v. 详述，细说

10） steal peeks at 偷看

11） be saddled with 使承担、负担

12） curfew ［'kʒːfjuː］ n. 宵禁时间

13） broaden ［'brɔːdən］ v.（使）变宽

注：指大众眼中时尚、消息灵通或是受欢迎的一小群人。

Moving into Friendship