My mom's paper tiger妈妈的纸老虎

安徽 张 岚

妈妈的折纸动物饱含着对“我”的深爱，而“我”却一直嫌弃它们，直到她去世后，“我”才发现纸老虎中藏着的“秘密”。

1When I was young,Mom liked making paper animals like little tigers for me.At my request,Mom also made a goat,a deer and even a shark.

2Mark,one of the neighborhood boys,came over with his Star Wars action figure.I brought out the paper tiger.“That doesn't look like a tiger.Is it a toy?” Mark asked.Looking at Mom's paper tiger,I realized that it was really just a piece of wrapping paper.

3Later,Dad bought me a full set of Star Wars action figures.I packed the paper animals in a shoebox and put them into the corner of the attic(阁楼).Once in a while,I would see Mom at the kitchen table making new paper animals.I caught them,pressed them and then put them away in the box in the attic.For years,I paid no attention to Mom until one day my dad called and told me that Mom was in hospital.Mom turned to me,“Jack,just keep that box with you,and you will find it so important.”

4Mom died several days later.Dad aged more after that.The house was too big for him and had to be sold.My girlfriend Susan and I went to help him pack and clean the place.

5Susan found the shoebox in the attic.It was covered with dust.Susan cleaned and removed the cover.The paper animals hidden in the darkness of the attic for so long had been dusty and the bright paper patterns had faded.Susan held the paper animals carefully.She was amazed at them,“I have never seen such creative works.Your mom was an amazing artist.”

6I unfolded the paper tiger and found several lines written by my mother.I knew it was a letter to me written by my mother.Reading the letter,I couldn't help sobbing.Through my misty eyes,I read,“I love you,my son.” I cried out,“I love you,Mom.I miss you,Mom.”

Reading Check

Fill in each blank with only one word

C h a r a c t e r s P l o t s a n d e m o-t i o n s M o r a l l e s s o n/T h-e m e M o m,D a d a n d I M a r k:o n e o f m y n e i g h b o r h o o d b o y s S u s a n:m y 1.●W h e n I w a s y o u n g M o m l i k e d m a k i n g p a p e r 2. l i k e l i t t l e t i g e r s f o r m e.M a r k's w o r d s m a d e m e r e a l i s e d t h a t w h a t M o m g a v e m e w a s j u s t a p i e c e o f w r a p p i n g p a p e r.L a t e r,I p u t M o m's p a p e r a n i m a l s i n t h e b o x i n t h e a t t i c.I f e l t 3. .●B e f o r e M o m w a s d e a d M o m w a s i n h o s p i t a l a n d t o l d m e t o k e e p t h e 4. w i t h m e.●A f t e r M o m w a s d e a d M y g i r l f r i e n d S u s a n f o u n d t h e p a p e r a n i m a l s h i d d e n i n t h e d a r k n e s s o f t h e a t t i c.A n d t h e n I f o u n d a 5. t o m e f r o m M o m.I t w a s f u l l o f M o m's l o v e.I f e l t 6. .M o t h e r s o f t e n l o v e t h e i r c h i l d r e n i n a s i l e n t b u t p r o f o u n d w a y.A s t h e i r c h i l d r e n,w e s h o u l d 7. t h e i r l o v e b e f o r e i t i s t o o l a t e.

Language Study

Memorize some text-centered chunks

at one's request应某人的请求

bring out拿出

look like看起来像

a full set of一整套的

once in a while偶尔

put away收起来（放好）

pay attention to注意

in hospital住院

turn to转向

be covered with覆盖着

be amazed at对……感到惊讶

cry out大叫