第2章 The Heart-Shaped Pillow 心形枕头

Anonymous

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她在一块红布上绣上“我爱你”三个字……

这个枕头里面倾注了她多少爱啊！我将永远珍爱它。

我不知道这个枕头是否藏有什么魔力，但我能肯定，这么多年来，这枕头给我带来了说不尽的喜悦。

Valentine's Day had arrived and like every other day of the year，I was very busy.

My romantic husband，Roy，planned a date like we had never had before.A reservation at an expensive restaurant was made.A beautifully wrapped present had been sitting on my dresser for a few days prior to the heart-filled holiday.

After a hard day at work，I hurried home，ran into the house and jumped into the shower.When my sweetheart arrived，I was dressed in my finest outfit and ready to go.He hugged me，just as the sitter1 arrived.We were both excited.

Unfortunately，the littlest member in our household wasn't so happy.

'Daddy，you were going to take me to buy Mamma a present.'Becky，my eight-year-old daughter said，as she sadly walked over to the couch and sat down beside the babysitter.

Roy looked at his watch and realized that if we were to make our reservation，we had to leave right away.He didn't even have a few minutes to take her to the corner drugstore，to buy a heart-shaped box of chocolate candy.

'I'm sorry，I was late getting home，honey，'he said.

'That's OK，'Becky replied，'I understand.'

The entire evening was bitter sweet

2.I couldn't help being concerned about the disappointment in Becky's eyes.I remembered how the joyful Valentine's Day glow had left her face，just before the door closed behind us.She wanted me to know how much she loved me.She didn't realize it，but I already knew it very well.

Today，I couldn't remember what was wrapped in that beautiful box，which I swooned3 over for several days，but I'll never forget the special gift，which I received when we arrived，back home.

Becky was asleep on the couch，clutching a box，which was sitting on her lap.When I kissed her cheek，she awoke.'I've got something for you，Mamma.'She said，as a giant smile covered her tiny face.

The little box was wrapped in newspaper.As I tore the paper off and opened the box，I found the sweetest Valentine gift that I had ever received.

After Roy and I left for our date，Becky got busy.She raided4 my fabric and cross-stitch box.She stitched5 the words'I Love Ya'on a piece of red fabric，cut the fabric in the shape of a heart，stitched the two pieces together，adorned6 it with lace and stuffed it with cotton.It was a heart-shaped pillow，filled with love，which I'll cherish forever.

My wonderful Valentine gift has a special place in my bedroom today，some thirteen years later.As she was growing up into a young woman，many times I held that pillow close to my heart.I don't know if a pillow can hold magic，but this pillow has surely held a great deal of joy for me over the years.It has helped me through several sleepless nights since she left home for college.I not only cherish the gift，but the memory，as well.

I know that I am a very lucky mother，indeed，to have such a wonderful little girl，who wanted so desperately to share her heart with me.As long as I live，there will never be another Valentine's Day，which will be any more special to me.

情人节到了，跟往常一样，我的日程表依然安排得满满的。我的丈夫罗伊是个很浪漫的人，策划好了一个我们从未有过的约会。他在一家高档餐厅预订了桌位，在情人节到来的前几天，他还在我的梳妆台上留下了一份包装精美的礼品。

一天繁忙的工作过后，我匆匆赶回家，跑进屋，一头便扎进了浴室。等丈夫到家的时候，我已经穿上自己最漂亮的衣服，只等出发了。他拥抱了我，此时帮我们照看小孩的人也正好到了。我们俩都很高兴。

遗憾的是，我们家里最小的成员却不那么高兴。

“爸爸，你不是要带我去给妈妈买礼物的吗？”我那8岁的女儿贝姬一边说着，一边沮丧地走向沙发，坐在了那位临时过来照顾她的女士旁边。

罗伊看了一下手表，他意识到如果我们想要按时到达我们预订的餐厅，必须立即动身。他甚至都抽不出几分钟时间带女儿去街角小店买盒鸡心形盒装巧克力糖。

“对不起，宝贝，今天回家会晚点儿。”他说。

“没事儿，”贝姬回答道，“我明白。”

整个晚上可以说是既甜蜜，却又有几分苦涩。我总会情不自禁地想到贝姬眼里流露出的失望。我忘不了就在我们关上房门的那一刹那，贝姬脸上那原本因情人节而散发出的兴奋的光芒一下子消失了。她想让我知道她是多么爱我。她或许并没有意识到，我心里已经很清楚了。

今天，我已记不得那个精美的盒子里装的是什么礼物了，尽管我因它兴奋了好几天，但是当晚我们回到家时收到的另一份特殊的礼物让我永生难忘。

贝姬在沙发上睡着了，但双手还紧握着一个放在她腿上的盒子。当我亲吻她的脸颊时，她醒了。“妈妈，我有样东西要送给您。”说着，小脸蛋上绽放出灿烂的笑容。

小盒子用报纸包裹着。当我把报纸撕开，打开盒子时，我看到了一份最甜美的情人节礼物，这是我从未收到过的。

在罗伊和我离开家去约会后，贝姬便忙了起来。她把我的织品和十字绣盒子都找了出来。先在一块红布上绣上“我爱你”三个字，然后把布料按照心的形状剪了下来，再把剪下来的两块布缝在一起，缀上了一圈花边，最后在里面塞满棉花。一个心形的枕头就这样做成了。这个枕头里面倾注入了她多少爱啊！我将永远珍爱它。

如今13年过去了，我那珍贵的情人节礼物依然放在卧室的一个特殊位置。女儿已经长大成人，这期间有多少次我紧紧地将这枕头贴在心窝。我不知道这个枕头是否藏有什么魔力，但我能肯定，这么多年来这枕头给我带来了说不尽的喜悦。女儿离开我进入大学时，它帮助我度过了无数个不眠之夜。我不仅珍爱这礼物，也珍爱这美好的记忆。

我知道我自己的确是位非常幸运的母亲，有这么一个值得称道的女儿，她是那么渴望与我分享她心中的爱！对我来说，有生之年，恐怕再也不会有比这更特殊的情人节了。

生词空间 New Words

1.sitter n.临时看孩子的人

2.bittersweet adj.又苦又甜的，苦乐参半的

3.swoon v.昏晕，晕倒.（本文指使兴奋、陶醉）

4.raid v.突然袭击，突击搜捕（本文指搜寻）

5.stitch v.缝，绣

6.adorn v.装饰，使生色

妙语连珠：Beautiful Sentences

1）After a hard day at work，I hurried home，ran into the house and jumped into the shower.

一天繁忙的工作过后，我匆匆赶回家，跑进屋，一头便扎进了浴室。

2）'I've got something for you，Mamma，'she said，as a giant smile covered her tiny face.

“妈妈，我有样东西要送给您。”说着，小脸蛋上绽放出灿烂的笑容。

心灵感悟：

小小的心形枕头对母亲来讲就是有着无限的魔力，其中包含的女儿的爱足以帮助母亲度过无数个不眠之夜；即使女儿不在身边也能感受到那份体贴与情谊。