It was Christmas 1961 I was teaching in a small town in Ohio where my twenty-seven third graders eagerly anticipated①the great day of gifts giving.
A tree covered②with tinsel and gaudy paper chains gracd one corner. In another rested a manger scene produced from cardboard and poster paints by chubby③， and sometimes grubby④， hands. Someone had brought a doll and placed it on the straw in the cardboard box that served as the manger. It didn’t matter that you could pull a string and hear the blue-eyed， golden-haired dolly say， “My name is Susie.” “But Jesus was a boy baby！” one of the boys proclaimed. Nonetheless， Susie stayed.
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 I wondered what would happen to this quiet child， once so happy， now so suddenly withdrawn.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. We made cards and gifts for mothers and dads， for sisters and brothers， for grandparents， and for each other. At home the students made the popular fried marbles and vied with one another to bring in the prettiest ones. “You put them in a hot frying pan， Teacher. And you let them get real hot， and then you watch what happens inside. But you don’t fry them too long or they break.” So， as my gift to them， I made each of my students a little pouch for carrying their fried marbles. And I knew they had each made something for me： bookmarks carefully cut， colored， and sometimes pasted together； cards and special drawings； liquid embroidery doilies， hand-fringed， of course.
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. I had not penetrated the wall of isolation she had built around herself.
After school the children left in little groups， chattering⑤about the great day yet to come when long-hoped for two wheelers and bright sleds would appear beside their trees at home. She lingered， watching them bundle up and go out the door. I sat down in a child-sized chair 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. She said nothing. “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， a fried marble hung from a golden chain. Then I looked into that elderly eight-year-old face and saw the question in her dark brown eyes. 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.
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 shiny piece of glass and the tarnished⑥golden chain， then back at the giver. I meant it when I whispered，“Oh， 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.
① anticipatedadj. 预先的，预期的
② coveredadj. 有隐蔽的，盖着的；涂抹了的，有盖的，戴着帽子的
③ chubbyadj. 圆胖的，丰满的
④ grubbyadj. 污秽的，肮脏的
⑤ chatterv. 饶舌，喋喋不休地闲聊；振动，打颤
⑥ tarnishedadj. 污损的
妈妈与孩子
那是1961年的圣诞节。我在俄亥俄州的一个小镇上教小学三年级。班上27个孩子都在积极参加“礼物赠送日” 的活动。
教室的一角被一棵树装点得熠熠生辉，树上缀满了金银丝帛和华丽的彩纸。教室的另一角是一个涂着海报油彩由纸板制成的马槽，这出自孩子们那胖乎乎、脏兮兮的小手。有人带来了一个娃娃，把它放在纸板槽里的稻草上（假装小耶稣）。只要拉拉它身上的一条细绳，这个蓝眼睛、金发的娃娃就会说道，“我叫苏西。” 不过这都没有关系。一个男孩提出：“耶稣可是个小男孩呀！” 不过苏西还是留了下来。
每天孩子们都会做点儿新玩意——爆米花串成的细链子、手工做的小装饰品和墙纸样做的德国式风铃，我们把这些风铃挂在了天花板上。但自始至终，她都是孤零零地远远观望，仿佛是隔了一道几里长的障碍。我猜想着这个沉默的孩子发生了什么事，原来那个快乐的孩子怎么突然变得沉默寡言起来。我希望节日的活动能吸引她，可还是无济于事。我们制作了许多卡片和礼物，准备把它们送给爸爸妈妈、兄弟姐妹、祖父母和身边的同学。学生们在家里做了当时很流行“油炸” 玻璃弹子，并且相互比着，要把最好看的拿来。“老师，把玻璃弹子放在热油锅里，让它们烧热，然后看看里面的变化。但不要炸得时间过长否则会破裂。” 所以，我给每个学生做了一个装“油炸弹子” 的小袋作为礼物送给他们。我知道他们每个人也都为我做了礼物：仔细剪裁、着色，或已粘集成串的书签；贺卡和特别绘制的图片；透明的镶边碗碟垫布，当然是手工编制的流苏。
赠送礼物的那天终于到了。在交换礼物时我们为对方亲手做的小礼品不停地欢呼叫好。而整个过程，她只是安静地坐在那儿看着。我为她做的小袋很特别，红绿相间还镶着白边。我非常想看到她笑一笑。她打开包装，动作又慢又小心。我等待着，但是她却转过了身。我还是没能穿过她在自己周围树起的高墙，这堵墙将她与大家隔离了开来。
放学后，学生们三三俩俩地离开了，边走边说着即将到来的圣诞节：家中的圣诞树旁将发现自己心系已久的自行车和崭新发亮的雪橇。她慢慢地走在后面，看着大家拥挤着走出门外。我坐在孩子们的小椅子上稍稍松了口气，对要发生的事没有一点准备。这时她向我走来，双手拿着一个白色的盒子向我伸过来。盒子没有打包装，稍有些脏。好像是被孩子未洗过的小手摸过了好多遍。她没有说话。“给我的吗？” 我微微一笑。她没出声，只是点点头。我接过盒子，非常小心地打开它。盒子里面有一条金色的链子，上面坠着一块闪闪发光的“油炸” 玻璃弹子。然后我看着她的脸，虽只有8岁，可却是成人的表情。在她深棕色的眼睛里我找到了问题的答案。我在一瞬间明白过来——这是她为妈妈做的项链，她再也见不到的妈妈，再也不能抱她、给她梳头或一起讲故事的妈妈。她的妈妈已再也不能分享她充满童稚的快乐，分担她孩子气的忧伤。就在3个星期前她的妈妈离开了人世。
我拿起那条链子。她用双手接过它，向前探了探身，在我的脖子后把简易的项链钩系好。然后她向后退了几步，好像在看看是否合适。我低下头看着闪闪发亮的玻璃珠和已失去光泽的金色链子，然后抬起头望着她。我很认真地轻声说道：“哦，玛丽亚，这链子真漂亮。你妈妈一定会喜欢的。” 我们已无法抑制住泪水。她踉踉跄跄地扑进我的怀里，我们都哭了。在那短暂的一刻我成了她的妈妈，而她送给了我一份最珍贵的礼物：她的信任和爱。
