Karen Smith 張恒

Once there was a young girl named Patty. She had lots of fun and made many friends. During the summer before her third grade， Patty started to try a new sport. Swim team was nearly over and Patty was the fastest swimmer in her age group. She had always been the best. There was a a tennis club in the neighborhood. Patty and her friend Darla got permission2 from their parents to join.

從前有一個小女孩叫帕蒂。她很開心，交了很多朋友。三年級前的那個夏天，帕蒂開始嘗試一項新的運動。游泳隊快結(jié)束了，帕蒂是同年齡組游得最快的，她一直是最好的。街區(qū)附近有個網(wǎng)球俱樂部，帕蒂和她的朋友達拉得到父母的同意后加入了這個俱樂部。

On Saturday morning， Darlas mom took the girls to a store and bought them each a good， used tennis racket. “If you girls stick to tennis， then well talk about a new racket. These will do for now.” The girls were excited with their new rackets. Patty had a purple racket and Darla got a blue one.

星期六早上，達拉的媽媽把兩個女孩帶到一家商店，給她們每人買了一個好的二手網(wǎng)球拍?！叭绻銈儌z堅持打網(wǎng)球，那我們就再來談新球拍?，F(xiàn)在這對就可以了?！迸儗π沦I的球拍感到很興奮。帕蒂的球拍是紫色的，達拉的是藍色的。

On Monday morning， at 7：00 a.m.， Pattys mom woke her up. “Its time for tennis！” Patty put her face into her pillow. “Mom， its way too early！” She jumped out of bed and went to the breakfast table. “Youll need fruit. Ill get you some Gatorade to take to the court3.” Her mother looked excited when Patty was picking up tennis racket. Patty finished breakfast and ran over to Darlas house. They walked over to the courts.

星期一早上7點，帕蒂的媽媽叫醒了她?！霸摯蚓W(wǎng)球了！”帕蒂把臉埋進枕頭里?！皨寢?，太早了！”她從床上跳起來，走到早餐桌旁。“你需要水果。我給你弄點佳得樂（一種運動飲料）帶到球場上?！迸恋倌闷鹁W(wǎng)球拍時，她媽媽看起來很興奮。帕蒂吃完早飯就跑到達拉家去了。她們步行去了球場。

Mrs. Cane， the tennis coach4， lined everyone up and started with the basics. There were four girls in the lesson. Mrs. Cane had two bags of balls and tossed5 them to the forehands and the backhands on and on. By the end of the week， Patty was really playing better. Mrs. Cane said that Patty had lots of potential. Darla， on the other hand， had difficulty. The other girls were having a hard time of it， too. Patty was the only one who seemed to get it.

網(wǎng)球教練凱恩太太把大家排成一行，從最基本的開始。這節(jié)課上有四個女孩，凱恩太太有兩袋球，她不停地把球扔向她們的正手和反手。到了周末，帕蒂真的有進步了。凱恩太太說帕蒂很有潛力。另一方面，達拉卻學得很艱難，其他的女孩也學得很困難。帕蒂似乎是唯一一個學會的人。

That weekend， Darla asked her parents to hit with her. Patty wasnt really interested. She was such a “natural” at tennis that she felt she really didnt need to practice. So， Darla was out in August， practicing her serves6 on Saturday. Sunday， after lunch， Darla was hitting tennis balls with her big brother. By the end of the summer， Darla was starting to get it.

那個周末，達拉懇求她的父母和她一起去打球。帕蒂不是很感興趣。她打網(wǎng)球很有“天分”，她覺得自己真的不需要練習。所以，達拉自己在八月的高溫中外出，周六練習發(fā)球。星期天午飯后，達拉和她哥哥一起打網(wǎng)球。到了夏末，達拉開始開竅了。

Mrs. Cane held another tennis club the week before school started. Darla and Patty signed7 up at once. Mrs. Cane was pleased with Darlas progress. “Well， I can tell whos been practicing！” Patty wished that she had been as hard-working as Darla， but she was still proud8 that she had such “natural” talent. Mrs. Cane said that Patty had so much potential and would be the next Billy Jean King if she would just practice. Both girls had a great time.

凱恩太太在開學前一周又開了一家網(wǎng)球俱樂部。達拉和帕蒂立刻報名了。凱恩太太對達拉的進步很滿意?！昂冒桑抑勒l一直在練習！”帕蒂希望她能像達拉一樣勤奮，但她仍然為自己有這種“天生”的能力而自得。凱恩太太說，帕蒂很有潛力，如果她肯練習的話，她會成為下一個比利·吉恩·金。兩個女孩都玩得很開心。

Darla decided to join the neighborhood junior tennis team. Matches would be held every Thursday. Patty wanted to join， but she didnt want to miss the Youth Troop TV show. She daydreamed9 about being the next tennis star. She told herself that she would go on to hit the tennis ball when she got some free time. If Darla had fun， she would join the team in the spring.

達拉決定加入街區(qū)附近的少年網(wǎng)球隊，每周四都有比賽。帕蒂想?yún)⒓?，但她不想錯過“青年部隊”電視節(jié)目。她夢想成為下一個網(wǎng)球明星。她告訴自己，等有空她會繼續(xù)打網(wǎng)球。如果達拉玩得開心，她會在春天加入那個球隊。

Several weeks later， and Patty went to one of the games. She was really impressed10 with the way the girls were hitting. She was a little bit lost， too.“Thirty-love，” cried Darla， before she served. “What is she talking about？” thought Patty. She wanted to ask but she didnt want to look stupid. At last， the match was over. Darla lost， but had a wonderful time. All the kids were really nice. Patty wished she had joined. It was too late， now.

幾個星期過去了，帕蒂去看了一場比賽。女孩們打球的樣子給她留下了深刻的印象。她也有點沉迷了。“三十個愛！”達拉在發(fā)球前喊道?！八谡f什么？”帕蒂想。她想問，但不想讓自己看起來很傻。最后，比賽結(jié)束了。達拉輸了，但她玩得很開心。所有的孩子都很好，帕蒂真希望她能參加，現(xiàn)在已經(jīng)太晚了。

Later in the year， the spring junior tennis team started up. Darla was captain11. Her parents bought her a brand new racket because she deserved12 it. She tried to talk Patty into joining， but Patty had not practiced and was way behind the rest of the girls. She wasnt happy when she wasnt the“best”. She hadnt make progress. All of that “natural talent” really got her nowhere.

今年晚些時候，春季少年網(wǎng)球隊成立了，達拉是隊長。她父母給她買了一個嶄新的球拍，因為這是她應得的。她試圖說服帕蒂加入，但帕蒂沒有練習，遠遠落后于其他女孩。當她不是“最好”的時候，她不開心。她沒有進步，所謂的“天賦”真的讓她一無所獲。

That spring， Darlas team went to the playoffs13. They got second place and were asked to the City Finals14. That was the worst week of Pattys life. She was very excited for the girls and cheered them on. But inside she felt terrible. “Why didnt I go ahead and join when they asked me？” she thought. Now it really was too late. No one was asking her to join the team anymore because they didnt need her. The girls had done much better than her.

那年春天，達拉的球隊去了季后賽。她們得了第二名，被邀請參加城市決賽。那是帕蒂一生中最糟糕的一周。她為女孩們感到非常興奮，并為她們加油，但她內(nèi)心卻很痛苦?！八齻儐栁业臅r候，我為什么不參加呢？”她想?，F(xiàn)在真的太遲了。沒有人再請她加入球隊了，因為她們不需要她了。女孩們的網(wǎng)球技術(shù)進步得遠遠超過了她。

Several of the girls couldnt go to the City Finals because they were going on vacation. Darla asked Patty to please play doubles with her at City Finals. Now Patty got her chance. Too bad she had not practiced. Darla helped Patty along during the game. Patty was too tired because of the hot weather. They lost eight to one. Patty really felt like she let her team down. But the team won the City Finals by one point. That point really was important. Darla and Pattys disappointment15 was quickly turned into jubilation16！They had a party. Patty thought tennis would be a good sport after all.

有幾個女孩因為要去度假而不能參加城市總決賽。達拉請帕蒂在城市決賽中和她一起打雙打。現(xiàn)在帕蒂有機會了，可惜她沒有練習。達拉在比賽中一直幫助帕蒂。天氣太熱，帕蒂感到很疲勞。她們以8：1輸了比賽。帕蒂真的覺得她讓她的團隊失望了。但該隊在城市決賽中以1分獲勝。這一點真的很重要。達拉和帕蒂的失望很快變成了歡樂！她們舉行了一個慶祝會。帕蒂認為網(wǎng)球終究是一項好運動。

In the years， the team grew and grew. The girls went on to get better. They became very good friends. Patty joined a team out of the neighborhood and practiced a lot. Darla practiced with her and the two girls had lots of fun again. One of the girls on Darlas team moved and a place opened up for Patty. Patty was the weakest player， but she still enjoyed herself and worked hard at practice. Because she at last decided to practice and not take it that she was a “natural”， she was able to join in the fun. That was one of the best lessons of her life.

這些年來，這個團隊不斷發(fā)展變化。女孩們堅持了下來，繼續(xù)在進步。她們成了很好的朋友。帕蒂加入了社區(qū)的一支球隊，進行了大量練習。達拉和她一起練習，兩個女孩又在一起玩得很開心。達拉隊的一個女孩搬走了，給帕蒂留了個位子。雖然帕蒂是最弱的選手，但她仍然過得很開心，并且努力練習。因為她最終決定好好練習，不認為自己是個“天才”，所以她能夠享受其中。那是她一生中最好的一課。

notes

1. potentialadj. 潛在的 n. 潛能，潛力; 潛質(zhì)

2. permissionn. 允許，許可

3. court n. 球場

4. coachn. 教練

5. toss? v. 拋，投;甩（頭）

6. servev. 招待，服務，發(fā)球n. 發(fā)球，輪到發(fā)球

7. sign ?v. 簽署;簽名

8. proud? adj. 自豪的;得意的;自負的

9. daydream? vi. 做白日夢

10. impress vi. 給人印象 vt. 給予某人深刻印象

11. captain n. 隊長，首領(lǐng)

12. deserve v. 應受，應得

13. playoff? n. 雙方得分相等時的最后決賽;復賽;季后賽

14. final? n. 決賽

15. disappointment n. 失望;沮喪

16. jubilation? n. 喜歡;慶祝;歡呼