It was Christmas 1961. I was teaching in a small town in Ohio where my twenty seven third graders eagerly anticipated the great day of gifts giving.
那是1961年的(de)圣誕節。我在俄(e)亥俄(e)州的(de)一個小鎮上教小學三年級。班上27個孩子(zi)都在熱切盼望著這個互贈禮品、激動人心的(de)日子(zi)到(dao)來(lai)。

Each day the children produced some new wonder—strings of popcorn, hand made trinkets, and German bells made from wallpaper samples, which we hung from the ceiling. Through it all she remained aloof, watching from afar, seemingly miles away. I wondered what would happen to this quiet child, once so happy, now so suddenly withdrawn. I hoped the festivities would appeal to her. But nothing did.
每天(tian)孩子們(men)都會做點兒新玩意(yi)——爆米花串成的(de)細鏈(lian)子、手(shou)工(gong)做的(de)小裝飾品和墻紙(zhi)做的(de)德國式風鈴(ling)，我(wo)們(men)把(ba)這些風鈴(ling)掛在了(le)天(tian)花板(ban)上。但自(zi)始至終，她都是孤(gu)零(ling)零(ling)地遠遠觀望，仿佛是隔了(le)一道幾(ji)里長的(de)障礙。我(wo)猜想著這個安靜的(de)孩子發(fa)生(sheng)了(le)什么(me)事(shi)，原(yuan)先是那么(me)快樂，怎么(me)突(tu)然變得沉(chen)默寡言起(qi)來。我(wo)希望節日的(de)活動(dong)能(neng)吸(xi)引她，可還是無濟于事(shi)。

The day of gift giving finally came. We oohed and aahed over our handiwork as the presents were exchanged. Through it all, she sat quietly watching. I had made a special pouch for her, red and green with white lace. I wanted very much to see her smile. She opened the package so slowly and carefully. I waited but she turned away.
贈送禮(li)物(wu)的那天終于到(dao)了(le)。在交換(huan)禮(li)物(wu)時我們為(wei)對方親(qin)手做的小(xiao)禮(li)品不(bu)停地歡呼(hu)叫(jiao)好。而整個(ge)過程中，她(ta)(ta)(ta)只是安靜地坐在那兒看著。我為(wei)她(ta)(ta)(ta)做的小(xiao)袋(dai)很特(te)別，紅綠相間還鑲著白(bai)邊。我非常想(xiang)看到(dao)她(ta)(ta)(ta)笑一笑。她(ta)(ta)(ta)打(da)開包裝，動作又(you)慢又(you)小(xiao)心。我等待著，但是她(ta)(ta)(ta)卻轉過了(le)身。

After school the children left in little groups, but she lingered, watching them go out the door. I sat down to catch my breath, hardly aware of what was happening when she came to me with outstretched hands, bearing a small white box, unwrapped and slightly soiled, as though it had been held many times by unwashed, childish hands. "For me?" I asked with a weak smile. She said not a word, but nodded her head. I took the box and gingerly opened it. There inside, glistening green, lay a golden chain. In a flash I knew—she had made it for her mother, a mother she would never see again, a mother who would never hold her or brush her hair or share a funny story, a mother who would never again hear her childish joys or sorrows. A mother who had taken her own life just three weeks before.
放學后(hou)，學生們三三兩(liang)兩(liang)地離開了(le)，但她(ta)(ta)磨磨蹭(ceng)蹭(ceng)，看(kan)著大家走(zou)出門外。我(wo)坐下來(lai)稍稍松了(le)口氣(qi)，對要發生的(de)(de)(de)(de)事沒(mei)有一(yi)點(dian)準備。這(zhe)時她(ta)(ta)向我(wo)走(zou)來(lai)，雙手拿著一(yi)個(ge)白(bai)色(se)的(de)(de)(de)(de)盒子(zi)向我(wo)遞過(guo)來(lai)。盒子(zi)沒(mei)有打包(bao)裝，稍微有些臟，好像是(shi)(shi)被孩子(zi)未(wei)洗過(guo)的(de)(de)(de)(de)小手摸過(guo)了(le)許多遍。“給我(wo)的(de)(de)(de)(de)嗎？”我(wo)微微一(yi)笑。她(ta)(ta)沒(mei)出聲，只是(shi)(shi)點(dian)點(dian)頭。我(wo)接過(guo)盒子(zi)，非常小心(xin)地打開它。盒子(zi)里(li)面(mian)有一(yi)條金色(se)的(de)(de)(de)(de)鏈子(zi)，閃閃發光。我(wo)在一(yi)瞬(shun)間明白(bai)過(guo)來(lai)——這(zhe)是(shi)(shi)她(ta)(ta)為媽(ma)媽(ma)做的(de)(de)(de)(de)項鏈，她(ta)(ta)再(zai)也見不到(dao)的(de)(de)(de)(de)媽(ma)媽(ma)，再(zai)也不能抱她(ta)(ta)、給她(ta)(ta)梳(shu)頭或(huo)一(yi)起講故(gu)事的(de)(de)(de)(de)媽(ma)媽(ma)。她(ta)(ta)的(de)(de)(de)(de)媽(ma)媽(ma)再(zai)也不能分享(xiang)她(ta)(ta)童年時光的(de)(de)(de)(de)快樂和憂傷(shang)。就在三個(ge)星期(qi)前她(ta)(ta)的(de)(de)(de)(de)媽(ma)媽(ma)離開了(le)人世。

I held out the chain. She took it in both her hands, reached forward, and secured the simple clasp at the back of my neck. She stepped back then as if to see that all was well. I looked down at the golden chain, then back at the giver, "Maria, it is so beautiful. She would have loved it." Neither of us could stop the tears. She stumbled into my arms and we wept together. And for that brief moment I became her mother, for she had given me the greatest gift of all: herself.
我(wo)(wo)(wo)拿起(qi)那條鏈子(zi)。她(ta)用雙手接過它，向前探了探身，在(zai)我(wo)(wo)(wo)的(de)(de)脖子(zi)后把簡易的(de)(de)項鏈鉤系好。然(ran)后她(ta)向后退了幾步，好像(xiang)在(zai)看(kan)(kan)看(kan)(kan)是否合適。我(wo)(wo)(wo)低下頭(tou)看(kan)(kan)著金色的(de)(de)鏈子(zi)，然(ran)后抬起(qi)頭(tou)望著她(ta)，說(shuo)道：“瑪麗亞，這鏈子(zi)真漂亮(liang)。你媽媽一(yi)(yi)定會喜歡的(de)(de)。”我(wo)(wo)(wo)們已(yi)無(wu)法抑制住淚水。她(ta)踉踉蹌蹌地撲進我(wo)(wo)(wo)的(de)(de)懷(huai)里(li)，我(wo)(wo)(wo)們都哭了。在(zai)那短暫(zan)的(de)(de)一(yi)(yi)刻我(wo)(wo)(wo)成(cheng)為她(ta)的(de)(de)媽媽，因為她(ta)把一(yi)(yi)份最珍(zhen)貴的(de)(de)禮物(wu)送給了我(wo)(wo)(wo)：她(ta)自己(ji)。