The Wemmicks were small wooden people. Every Wemmick was different. Some had big noses； others had large eyes. Some were tall and others were short. Some wore hats； others wore coats. But all were made by the woodcarver Eli and all lived in the village. And all day， every day， the Wemmicks did the same thing： they gave each other stickers2）.

The pretty ones， those with smooth wood and fine paint， always got stars. But if the wood was rough or the paint chipped3）， the Wemmicks gave dots. The talented ones got stars， too. Some could lift big sticks high above their heads or jump over tall boxes. Still others knew big words or could sing very pretty songs. Everyone gave them stars. Some Wemmicks had stars all over them！ Every time they got a star it made them feel so good that they did something else and got another star. Others， though， could do little. They got dots.

Punchinello was one of these. He tried to jump high like the others， but he always fell. And when he fell， the others would gather around and give him dots. Sometimes when he fell， it would scar4） his wood， so the people would give him more dots. He would try to explain why he fell and say something silly， and the Wemmicks would give him more dots. After a while he had so many dots that he didn't want to go outside. He was afraid he would do something dumb5） such as forget his hat or step in the water， and then people would give him another dot. In fact， he had so many gray dots that some people would come up and give him one without reason.

\"He deserves lots of dots，\" the wooden people would agree with one another. \"He's not a good wooden person.\"

After a while Punchinello believed them. \"I'm not a good Wemmick，\" he would say.

The few times he went outside， he hung around with other Wemmicks who had a lot of dots. He felt better around them.

One day he met a Wemmick who was unlike any he'd ever met. She had no dots or stars. She was just wooden. Her name was Lulia.

It wasn't that people didn't try to give her stickers； it's just that the stickers didn't stick. Some admired Lulia for having no dots， so they would run up and give her a star. But it would fall off. Some would look down on her for having no stars， so they would give her a dot. But it wouldn't stay either.

\"That's the way I want to be，\" thought Punchinello. \"I don't want anyone's marks.\" So he asked the stickerless Wemmick how she did it.

\"It's easy，\" Lulia replied. \"Every day I go see Eli.\"

\"Eli？\"

\"Yes， Eli. The woodcarver. I sit in the workshop with him.\"

\"Why？\"

\"Why don't you find out for yourself？ Go up the hill. He's there.\" And with that the Wemmick with no marks turned and skipped away.

\"But he won't want to see me！\" Punchinello cried out. Lulia didn't hear.

So Punchinello went home. He sat near a window and watched the wooden people as they scurried6） around giving each other stars and dots.

\"It's not right，\" he muttered7） to himself. And he resolved8） to go see Eli.

He walked up the narrow path to the top of the hill and stepped into the big shop. His wooden eyes widened at the size of everything. The stool was as tall as he was. He had to stretch on his tiptoes to see the top of the workbench. A hammer was as long as his arm. Punchinello swallowed hard. \"I'm not staying here！\" And he turned to leave. Then he heard his name.

\"Punchinello？\" The voice was deep and strong. Punchinello stopped. \"Punchinello！ How good to see you！ Come and let me have a look at you.\" Punchinello turned slowly and looked at the large bearded craftsman. \"You know my name？\" the little Wemmick asked.

\"Of course I do. I made you.\" Eli stooped9） down and picked him up and set him on the bench. \"Hmm，\" the maker spoke thoughtfully as he inspected the gray circles. \"Looks like you've been given some bad marks.\"

\"I didn't mean to， Eli. I really tried hard. I came because I met someone who had no marks.\"

\"I know. She told me about you.\"

\"Why don't the stickers stay on her？\"

\"The stickers only stick if you let them.\"

\"What？\"

\"The stickers only stick if they matter to you.\"

\"I'm not sure I understand.\"

\"You will， but it will take time. You've got a lot of marks.\"

Eli lifted Punchinello off the bench and set him on the ground. \"Remember，\" Eli said as the Wemmick walked out the door， \"you are special.\"

Punchinello didn't stop， but in his heart he thought， \"I think he really means it.\" And when he did， a dot fell to the ground.

微美克人是一群小木頭人，長(zhǎng)得各不相同。有的長(zhǎng)著大鼻子，有的長(zhǎng)著大眼睛。有的高大，有的矮小。有的戴著帽子，有的穿著外套。但是，他們都是木匠伊萊雕刻出來(lái)的，都住在一個(gè)村莊。微美克人整天都做著同樣的事情，就是給彼此貼貼紙，而且天天如此。

那些木質(zhì)光滑、油漆精美的漂亮木頭人總能得到星星貼紙。而如果是木質(zhì)粗糙或油漆脫落的木頭人，微美克人就會(huì)給他們貼上圓點(diǎn)貼紙。當(dāng)然那些有才能的木頭人也能得到星星貼紙。有些人能將粗大的木棒高高舉過(guò)頭頂，或是跳過(guò)高高的箱子。還有一些人懂得一些高深的詞語(yǔ)，或是會(huì)唱一些動(dòng)聽(tīng)的歌曲。大家會(huì)給他們貼上星星貼紙。有的微美克人渾身貼滿了星星貼紙。每得到一個(gè)星星貼紙，他們都會(huì)開(kāi)心得不得了，就會(huì)做別的事情來(lái)再得到一個(gè)星星貼紙。而其余的人能做的事卻很少，只能得到圓點(diǎn)貼紙。

怕丑哥就是其中之一。他試圖像其他人一樣跳很高，但卻總是摔下來(lái)。而當(dāng)他摔下來(lái)的時(shí)候，其他人就會(huì)圍過(guò)來(lái)給他貼好多圓點(diǎn)貼紙。有時(shí)他摔下來(lái)后木質(zhì)身體會(huì)留疤，于是大伙又會(huì)給他貼更多的圓點(diǎn)貼紙。他想試著解釋為什么會(huì)摔下來(lái)，然而說(shuō)出來(lái)的卻盡是一些蠢話，結(jié)果大家又會(huì)給他貼上更多的圓點(diǎn)貼紙。不久以后，他身上的圓點(diǎn)貼紙多得他都不想出門(mén)了。他擔(dān)心他會(huì)做蠢事，諸如忘記戴帽子或是踩到水里，那樣的話人家就會(huì)給他再多貼一張圓點(diǎn)貼紙。實(shí)際上，他身上灰色的圓點(diǎn)貼紙?zhí)嗔?，結(jié)果有些人走過(guò)來(lái)毫無(wú)理由地就給他貼一張圓點(diǎn)貼紙。

“他就該被貼上很多圓點(diǎn)貼紙，”木頭人們會(huì)相互認(rèn)同彼此的看法，“他不是一個(gè)好木頭人。”

不久以后，怕丑哥也相信了大家的話?！拔也皇且粋€(gè)好微美克人啊。”他會(huì)說(shuō)。

他出門(mén)的次數(shù)不多，每次他總是和別的也被貼滿了圓點(diǎn)貼紙的微美克人一起溜達(dá)。和他們?cè)谝黄?，他才覺(jué)得舒服點(diǎn)。

有一天，他遇到一個(gè)微美克人，這個(gè)人和他以前見(jiàn)過(guò)的微美克人都不一樣。她身上既沒(méi)有圓點(diǎn)貼紙也沒(méi)有星星貼紙，就只是木頭而已。她的名字叫露麗亞。

她這樣并不是因?yàn)榇蠹也唤o她貼貼紙，而是因?yàn)槟切┵N紙根本貼不住。有人很羨慕露麗亞身上沒(méi)有圓點(diǎn)貼紙，于是他們便跑上前去給她貼張星星貼紙。但是貼紙卻會(huì)掉下來(lái)。還有人因?yàn)樗龥](méi)有星星貼紙而瞧不起她，于是他們會(huì)給她貼張圓點(diǎn)貼紙。但是圓點(diǎn)貼紙也貼不住。

“這就是我想要的啊，” 怕丑哥心想，“我不想要任何人在我身上做記號(hào)?！庇谑撬蛦?wèn)這個(gè)沒(méi)有任何貼紙的微美克人是怎樣做到的。

“這很容易呀，”露麗亞答道，“每天我都去見(jiàn)伊萊?！?/p>

“伊萊？”

“對(duì)啊，伊萊。那個(gè)木匠。我會(huì)去作坊里和他坐坐?！?/p>

“為什么呢？”

“你為什么不自己去看看呢？上一趟山吧。他就在那兒?！闭f(shuō)完這些，這個(gè)沒(méi)有貼紙的微美克人轉(zhuǎn)身蹦蹦跳跳地走了。

“但是他不會(huì)想見(jiàn)我的！” 怕丑哥大聲喊道，可是露麗亞沒(méi)有聽(tīng)到。

于是怕丑哥回家了。他坐在窗戶旁，注視著來(lái)來(lái)往往的木頭人們，他們還在忙忙碌碌地給彼此貼著星星貼紙和圓點(diǎn)貼紙。

“這樣下去不行?！彼哉Z(yǔ)道。于是他決定去見(jiàn)伊萊。

他沿著狹窄的小道，一直爬到山頂，走進(jìn)那間大作坊。看到作坊里大大小小的所有東西，他的木頭眼睛瞪得老大。那個(gè)凳子居然和他一樣高，他得踮著腳尖才能看到工作臺(tái)的臺(tái)面。有把鐵錘和他的胳膊一樣長(zhǎng)。怕丑哥使勁咽了咽口水?！拔铱刹荒艽谶@兒！”他轉(zhuǎn)身就要離開(kāi)。這時(shí)他聽(tīng)到有人在叫他。

“怕丑哥嗎？”嗓音深沉而有力。怕丑哥停了下來(lái)?！芭鲁蟾?！真高興見(jiàn)到你！過(guò)來(lái)讓我看看你?！?怕丑哥慢慢轉(zhuǎn)過(guò)身看著這個(gè)身材高大、滿臉胡子的木匠。“你知道我的名字？”這個(gè)小微美克人問(wèn)道。

“我當(dāng)然知道，你是我刻的。” 伊萊彎下腰把他抱起來(lái)放到了工作臺(tái)上?！班牛边@個(gè)雕刻者打量著怕丑哥身上灰色的圓點(diǎn)貼紙，若有所思地說(shuō)道，“看來(lái)大伙給你貼了一些不好的貼紙啊?！?/p>

“我也不想這樣，伊萊。我真的很努力了。我來(lái)是因?yàn)槲乙?jiàn)過(guò)一個(gè)沒(méi)貼任何貼紙的人?！?/p>

“我知道，她已經(jīng)告訴我你的事情了?！?/p>

“為什么貼紙?jiān)谒砩腺N不住呢？”

“只有你讓貼紙貼住的時(shí)候，它們才能貼得住?！?/p>

“什么？”

“只有你在意那些貼紙，它們才能貼得住?！?/p>

“我不太懂?！?/p>

“你會(huì)懂的，但是要花些時(shí)間。你的貼紙?zhí)嗔?。?/p>

伊萊把怕丑哥抱下來(lái)放在地上?！坝涀?，”當(dāng)這個(gè)微美克人走出門(mén)外的時(shí)候，伊萊說(shuō)，“你很特別?！?/p>

怕丑哥沒(méi)有停下來(lái)，但是他在心里想：“我想他是說(shuō)真的?！碑?dāng)他這樣想的時(shí)候，一張圓點(diǎn)貼紙從他身上掉了下來(lái)。

1.Max Lucado： 陸可鐸（1955～），美國(guó)暢銷(xiāo)童書(shū)作家。本文選自其Wemmicks系列叢書(shū)中的《你很特別》（You Are Special）一書(shū)。

2.sticker [?st?k?（r）] n. <美>背面有貼膠的標(biāo)簽；膠貼物

3.chip [t??p] vt. 在……上削（或鑿、碰）出缺口（或瑕疵）

4.scar [skɑ?（r）] vt. 在……上結(jié)疤（或劃痕）；給……留下傷痕（或創(chuàng)傷）

5.dumb [d?m] adj. <主美口>笨的，愚蠢的；愚鈍的

6.scurry [?sk?ri] vi. 急匆匆地走，急趕

7.mutter [?m?t?（r）] vi. 小聲而含糊不清地說(shuō)；咕噥

8.resolve [r??z?lv] vi. 決定，決意

9.stoop [stu?p] vi. 俯身，彎腰