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《大学英语精读 课文 第三册》由会员上传分享，免费在线阅读，更多相关内容在行业资料-天天文库。
大学英语精读课文第三册UNIT1.ABrushwiththeLawAyoungmanfindsthatstrollingalongthestreetswithoutanobviouspurposecanleadtotroublewiththelaw.Onemisunderstandingleadstoanotheruntileventuallyhemustappearincourtfortrial……ABrushwiththeLawIhaveonlyoncebeenintroublewiththelaw.Thewholeprocessofbeingarrestedandtakentocourtwasaratherunpleasantexperienceatthetime,butitmakesagoodstorynow.Whatmakesitratherdisturbingwasthearbitrarycircumstancesbothofmyarrestandmysubsequentfateincourt.InhappenedinFebruaryabouttwelveyearsago.IhadleftschoolacoupleofmonthsbeforethatandwasnotduetogotouniversityuntilthefollowingOctober.Iwasstilllivingathomeatthetime.OnemorningIwasinRichmond,asuburbofLondonnearwhereIlived.IwaslookingforatemporaryjobsothatIcouldsaveupsomemoneytogotravelling.AsitwasafinedayandIwasinnohurry,Iwastakingmytime,lookinginshopwindows,strollinginthepark,andsometimesjuststoppingandlookingaroundme.Itmusthavebeenthisobviousaimlessnessthatledtomydownfall.Itwasabouthalfpastelevenwhenithappened.Iwasjustwalkingoutofthelocallibrary,havingunsuccessfullysoughtemploymentthere,whenIsawamanwalkingacrosstheroadwiththeobviousintentionoftalkingtome.Ithoughthewasgoingtoaskmethetime.Instead,hesaidhewasapoliceofficerandhewasarrestingme.AtfirstIthoughtitwassomekind ofjoke.Butthenanotherpolicemanappeared,thistimeinuniform,andIwasleftinnodoubt.'Butwhatfor?'Iasked."Wanderingwithintenttocommitanarrestableoffence,'hesaid.'Whatoffence?'Iasked.'Theft,'hesaid.'Theftofwhat?'Iasked.'Milkbottles,'hesaid,andwithaperfectlystraightfacetoo!'Oh,'Isaid.Itturnedouttherehadbeenalotofpettytheftsinthearea,particularlythatofstealingmilkbottlesfromdoorsteps.ThenImademybigmistake.AtthetimeIwasnineteen,hadlonguntidyhair,andregardedmyselfaspartofthesixties''youthcounterculture.Asaresult,Iwanttoappearcoolandunconcernedwiththeincident,soIsaid,'Howlonghaveyoubeenfollowingme?'inthemostcasualandconversationtoneIcouldmanage.Ithusappearedtothemtobequitefamiliarwiththissortofsituation,anditconfirmedthemintheirbeliefthatIwasathoroughlydisreputablecharacter.Afewminuteslaterapolicecararrived.'Getintheback,"theysaid.'Putyourhandsonthebackofthefrontseatanddon'tmovethem.'Theygotinoneithersideofme.Iwasn'tfunnyanymore.Atthepolicestationtheyquestionedmeforseveralhours.Icontinuedtotrytolookworldlyandaufaitwiththesituation.WhentheyaskedmewhatIhadbeendoing,ItoldthemI'dbeenlookingforajob.'Aha,'Icouldseethemthinking,'unemployed'. Eventually,IwasofficiallychargedandtoldtoreporttoRichmondMagistrates'CourtthefollowingMonday.Thentheyletmego.Iwantedtoconductmyowndefenceincourt,butassoonasmyfatherfoundoutwhathadhappened,hehiredaverygoodsolicitor.WewentalongthatMondayarmedwithallkindsofwitnesses,includingmyEnglishteacherfromschoolasacharacterwitness.Buthewasnevercalledontogiveevidence.My'trial'didn'tgetthatfar.Themagistratedismissedthecaseafterfifteenminutes.Iwasfree.Thepoorpolicehadneverstoodachance.Thesolicitorevensucceededingettingcostsawardedagainstthepolice.AndsoIdonothaveacriminalrecord.Butwhatwasmostshockingatthetimewasthethingsmyreleasefromthechargesoclearlydependedon.Ihadthe'right'accent,respectablemiddle-classparentsincourt,reliablewitnesses,andIcouldobviouslyaffordaverygoodsolicitor.Giventheobscurenatureofthecharge,IfeelsurethatifIhadcomefromadifferentbackground,andhadreallybeenunemployed,thereiseverychancethatIwouldhavebeenfoundguilty.Whileaskingforcoststobeawarded,mysolicitor'scasequiteobviouslyrevolvedaroundthefactthatIhada'brilliantacademicrecord'.Meanwhile,justoutsidethecourtroom,oneofthepolicemenwhohadarrestedmewasgloomilycomplainingtomymotherthatanotheryoungsterhadbeenturnedagainstthepolice.'Youcouldhavebeenabitmorehelpfulwhenwearrestedyou,'hesaidtomereproachfully.Whatdidthemean?PresumablythatIshouldhavelookedoutragedandsaidsomethinglike,'Lookhere,doyouknowwhoyou'retalkingto?Iamahighlysuccessfulstudentwitha brilliantacademicrecord.Howdareyouarrestme!'Thenthey,presumably,wouldhaveapologized,perhapseventakenofftheircaps,andletmeonmyway.UNIT2.TheWomanWhoWouldNotTellAuntBettieisfacedwithadifficultdecision.AwoundedUnionsoldierisfoundhidinginafarmhousenearherhome.Shehastodecidewhethertohelphimorlethimbecaptured.Whatwillshechoosetodo?TheWomanWhoWouldNotTellJaniceKeyserLester"IneverdidhatetheYankees.Allthathatedwasthewar.……"That'showmygreat-auntBettiebeganherstory.Ihearditmanytimesasachild,whenevermyfamilyvisitedAuntBettieintheoldhouseinBerryville,Virginia.AuntBettiewasalmost80yearsoldthen.ButIcouldpictureherasshewasinthestoryshetoldme——barely20,pretty,withbrightblueeyes.BettieVanMetrehadgoodreasontohatetheCivilWar.OneofherbrotherwaskilledatGettysburg,anothertakenprisoner.Thenheryounghusband,James,aConfederateofficer,wascapturedandsenttoanunknownprisoncampsomewhere.OnehotdayinlateSeptemberDickRunner,aformerslave, cametoBettiewithastrangereport.HehadbeencheckingafarmhousehalfamileawayfromtheVanMetrehome,afarmhousehethoughtwasempty.Butinside,heheardlowgroans.Followingthemtotheattic,hefoundawoundedUnionsoldier,witharifleathisside.WhenAuntBettietoldmeaboutherfirstsightofthebeardedmaninthestainedblueuniform,shealwaysusedthesamewords."Itwaslikewalkingintoanightmare:thoseawfulbandages,thatdreadfulsmell.That'swhatwarisreallylike,child:nobuglesandbanners.Justpainandfilth,futilityanddeath."ToBettieVanMetrethismanwasnotanenemybutratherasufferinghumanbeing.Shegavehimwaterandtriedtocleanhisterriblewounds.Thenshewentoutintothecoolairandleanedagainstthehouse,tryingnottobesickasshethoughtofwhatshehadseen——thatsmashedrighthand,thatmissingleftleg.Theman'spapersBettiefoundintheatticestablishedhisidentity:Lt.HenryBedell,CompanyD,11thVermontVolunteers,30yearold.SheknewthatsheshouldreportthepresenceofthisUnionofficertotheConfederatearmy.Butshealsoknewthatshewouldnotdoit.Thisishowsheexplainedittome:"Ikeptwonderingifhehadawifesomewhere,waiting,andhoping,andnotknowing——justasIwas.Itseemedtomethattheonlythingthatmatteredwastogetherhusbandbacktoher."Slowly,patiently,skillfully,JamesVanMetre'swifefannedthesparkoflifethatflickeredinHenryBedell.Ofdrugsormedicinesshehadalmostnone.AndshewasnotwillingtotakeanyfromthefewsuppliesattheConfederatehospital.Butshedidthebestshecouldwithwhatshehad.Ashisstrengthreturned,BedelltoldBettieabouthis wifeandchildreninWestfield,Vermont.AndBedelLlistenedasshetoldhimaboutherbrothersandaboutJames."Iknewhiswifemustbeprayingforhim,"AuntBettiewouldsaytome,"justasIwasprayingforJames.ItwasstrangehowcloseIfelttoher."TheOctobernightsinthevalleygrewcold.TheinfectioninBedell'swoundsflaredup.WithDickandhiswife,Jennie,helping,shemovedtheUnionofficeratnight,toabedinahiddenloftabovethewarmkitchenofherownhome.Butthenextday,Bedellhadahighfever.Knowingthatshemustgethelporhewoulddie,shewenttoherlong-timefriendandfamilydoctor.GrahamOsborne.Dr.OsborneexaminedBedell,thenshookhishead.Therewaslittlehope,hesaid,unlesspropermedicinecouldbefound."Allright,then,"Bettiesaid."I'llgetitfromtheYankeesatHarpersFerry."Thedoctortoldhershewasmad.TheUnionheadquarterswerealmost20milesaway.Evenifshereachedthem,theYankeeswouldneverbelieveherstory."I'lltakeproof,"Bettiesaid.Shewenttotheloftandcamebackwithablood-stainedpaperbearingtheofficialWarDepartmentseal."Thisisarecordofhislastpromotion,"shesaid."WhenIshowit,they'llhavetobelieveme."Shemadethedoctorwriteroutlistofthemedicalitemsheneeded.Earlythenextmorningshesetoff.Forfivehoursshedrove,stoppingonlytorestherhorse.ThesunwasalmostdownwhenshefinallystoodbeforethecommandingofficeratHarpersFerry.Gen.JohnD.Stevensonlistened,butdidnotbelieveher."Madam,"hesaid,"Bedell'sdeathwasreportedtous.""He'salive,"Bettieinsisted."Buthewon'tbemuchlonger unlesshehasthemedicinesonthatlist.""Well,"thegeneralsaidfinally,"I'mnotgoingtoriskthelivesofapatroljusttofindout."Heturnedtoajuniorofficer."SeethatMrs.VanMetregetsthesupplies."HebrushedasideBettie'sthanks."You'reabravewoman,"hesaid,"whetheryou'retellingthetruthornot."WiththemedicinesthatBettiecarriedtoBerryville,Dr.OsbornebroughtBedellthroughthecrisis.TendayslaterBedellwashobblingonapairofcrutchesthatDickhadmadeforhim."Ican'tgoonputtingyouindanger,"BedelltoldBettie."I'mstrongenoughtotravelnow.I'dlietogobackassoonaspossible."SoitwasarrangedthatMr.Sam,oneofBettie'sneighborsandfriends,shouldgoandhelpBettiedeliverBedeeltoUnionheadquartersatHarpersFerryinhiswagon.TheyhitchedBettie'smarealongsideMr.Sam'smule.Bedelllaydowninanoldboxfilledwithhay,hisrifleandcrutchesbesidehim.Itwasalong,slowjourneythatalmostendedindisaster.OnlyanhourfromtheUnionlines,twohorsemensuddenlyappeared.Onepointedapistol,demandingmoneywhiletheotherpulledMr.Samfromthewagon.Shocked,Bettiesatstill.Thenarifleshotcrackedout,andthemanwiththepistolfelltothegrounddead.Asecondshot,andthemanwentsprawling.ItwasBedellshooting!Bettiewatchedhimlowertherifleandbrushthehayoutofhishair."Comeon,Mr.Sam,"hesaid."Let'skeepmoving."AtHarpersFerry,thesoldiersstaredinsurpriseattheoldfarmerandthegirl.TheywereevenmoreamazedwhentheUnionofficerwiththemissinglegrosefromhishay-filledbox.BedellwassenttoWashington.Therehetoldhisstoryto SecretaryofWarEdwinM.Stanton.StantonwrotealetterofthankstoBettieand-signedanordertofreeJamesVanMetrefromprison.ButfirstJameshadtobefound.ItwasarrangedforBedelltogowithBettieasshesearchedforherhusband.RecordsshowedthataJamesVanMetrehadbeensenttoaprisoncampinOhio.ButwhentheraggedprisonerswereparadedbeforeBettie,Jameswasnotthere.Asecondprisonwaschecked,withthesameresult.BettieVanMetrefoughtbackachillingfearthatherhusbandwasdead.ThenatFortDelaware,neartheendofthelineofprisonersatallmansteppedoutandstumbledintoBettie'sarms.Bettieheldhim,tearsstreamingdownherface.AndHenryBedell,standingbyonhiscrutches,wept,too.UNIT3.WhyITeachEveryteacherprobablyaskshimselftimeandagain:Whatarethereasonsforchoosingteachingasacareer?Dotherewardsteachingoutweighthetryingcomments?Answeringthesequestionsisnotasimpletask.Let'sseewhattheauthorsays.WhyITeachPeterG.BeidlerWhydoyouteach?MyfriendaskedthequestionwhenItoldhimthatIdidn'twanttobeconsideredforanadministrative position.HewaspuzzledthatIdidnotwantwhatwasobviouslya"stepup"towardwhatallAmericansaretaughttowantwhentheygrowup:moneyandpower.CertainlyIdon'tteachbecauseteachingiseasyforme.TeachingisthemostdifficultofthevariouswaysIhaveattemptedtoearnmyliving:mechanic,carpenter,writer.Forme,teachingisared-eye,sweaty-palm,sinking-stomachprofession.Red-eye,becauseIneverfeelreadytoteachnomatterhowlateIstayuppreparing.Sweaty-palm,becauseI'malwaysnervousbeforeIentertheclassroom,surethatIwillbefoundoutforthefoolthatIam.Sinking-stomach,becauseIleavetheclassroomanhourlaterconvincedthatIwasevenmoreboringthanusual.NordoIteachbecauseIthinkIknowanswers,orbecauseIhaveknowledgeIfeelcompelledtoshare.SometimesIamamazedthatmystudentsactuallytakenotesonwhatIsayinclass!Why,then,doIteach?IteachbecauseIlikethepaceoftheacademiccalendar.June,July,andAugustofferanopportunityforreflection,researchandwriting.Iteachbecauseteachingisaprofessionbuiltonchange.Whenthematerialisthesame,Ichange——and,moreimportant,mystudentschange.IteachbecauseIlikethefreedomtomakemyownmistakes,tolearnmyownlessons,tostimulatemyselfandmystudents.Asateacher,I'mmyownboss.IfIwantmyfreshmentolearntowritebycreatingtheirowntextbook,whoistosayIcan't?Suchcoursesmaybehugefailures,butwecanalllearnfromfailures.IteachbecauseIliketoaskquestionsthatstudentsmust struggletoanswer.Theworldisfullofrightanswerstobadquestions.Whileteaching,Isometimesfindgoodquestions.IteachbecauseIenjoyfindingwaysofgettingmyselfandmystudentsoutoftheivorytowerandintotherealworld.Ioncetaughtacoursecalled"Self-RelianceinaTechnologicalSociety."My15studentsreadEmerson,Thoreau,andHuxley.Theykeptdiaries.Theywrotetermpapers.Butwealsosetupacorporation,borrowedmoney,purchasedarun-downhouseandpracticedself-reliancebyrenovatingit.Attheendofthesemester,wewouldthehouse,repaidourloan,paidortaxes,anddistributedtheprofitsamongthegroup.Soteachinggivesmepace,andvariety,andchallenge,andtheopportunitytokeeponlearning.Ihaveleftout,however,themostimportantreasonswhyIteach.OneisVicky.Myfirstdoctoralstudent,Vickywasanenergeticstudentwholaboredatherdissertationonalittle-known14thcenturypoet.Shewrotearticlesandsentthemofftolearnedjournals.Shediditallherself,withanoccasionalnudgefromme.ButIwastherewhenshefinishedherdissertation,learnedthatherarticleswereaccepted,gotajobandwonafellowshiptoHarvardworkingonabookdevelopingideasshe'dfirsthadasmystudent.AnotherreasonisGeorge,whostartedasanengineeringstudent,thenswitchedtoEnglishbecausehedecidedhelikedpeoplebetterthanthings.ThereisJeanne,wholeftcollege,butwasbroughtbackbyherclassmatesbecausetheywantedhertoseetheendoftheself-reliancehouseproject.Iwasherewhenshecameback.Iwastherewhenshetoldmethatshelaterbecameinterestedintheurbanpoorandwentontobecomeacivilrightslawyer. ThereisJacqui,acleaningwomanwhoknowsmorebyintuitionthanmostofuslearnbyanalysis.Jacquihasdecidedtofinishhighschoolandgotocollege.ThesearetherealreasonsIteach,thesepeoplewhogrowandchangeinfrontofme.Beingateacherisbeingpresentatthecreation,whentheclaybeginstobreathe.A"promotion"outofteachingwouldgivememoneyandpower.ButIhavemoney.IgetpaidtodowhatIenjoy:reading,talkingwithpeople,andaskingquestionlike,"Whatisthepointofbeingrich?"AndIhavepower.Ihavethepowertonudge,tofansparks,tosuggestbooks,topointoutapathway.Whatotherpowermatters?Butteachingofferssomethingbesidesmoneyandpower:itofferslove.Notonlytheloveoflearningandofbooksandideas,butalsothelovethatateacherfeelsforthatrarestudentwhowalksintoateacher'slifeandbeginstobreathe.Perhapsloveisthewrongword:magicmightbebetter.Iteachbecause,beingaroundpeoplewhoarebeginningtobreathe,Ioccasionallyfindmyselfcatchingmybreathwiththem.UNIT4.LadyHermitsWhoAreDownButnotOutInbigcitieslikeNewYork,youcanfindhomelesswomenwithshoppingbagswanderingonthestreets.Theychoosetoliveinanisolated,mistrustfulworldoftheirown.Theyarecalledladyhermitsorjustshopping-bagladies. LadyHermitsWhoAreDownButNotOutEverylargecityhasitsshiftingpopulationofvagrants.Butinmostcasesthesearemen,usuallywithanunhealthyappetiteforalcohol.OnlyNewYork,itseems,attractsthispeculiarpopulaceofloneandhomelesswomenwholiveinanisolated,mistrustfulworldoftheirown.Shopping-bagladiesdonotdrink.Theydonothuddletogetherforwarmthandcompanionshiplikebums.Theydonotseemtolikeoneanotherverymuch.Neitheraretheytookeenonconventionalpeople.Urbanhermits,onesociologisthascalledthem.Theywillsendtheirdaysandnightsinthesameneighborhoodformonthsonend,thendisappearasinexplicablyastheycame.Theyknowthehourswhenrestaurantsputtheirleftoversinthegarbagecanswheretheysearchforfood.Andlocalresidents,seeingthesamebagladyonthesamecornereveryday,willsliphersomechangeastheypass.Shopping-bagladiesdonotovertlybeg,buttheydonotrefusewhatisoffered.Onceashopping-bagladybecomesafigureofyourneighborhood,itisashardtopassherbywithoutgivinghersomemoneyasitistoignorethecollectionboxinchurch.Andalthoughyoumaynotlikeit,ifshechoosesyourdoorwayasherplacetosleepinthenight,itisasmorallyhardtoturnherawayasitisalostdog.Therearevariouscategoriesofbagladies:thosewholiveonthestreets,claimingtheyenjoythefreedomfromconstraintsofsociety;thosewhobecamehomelessbecausearelativediedorbecausetheycouldn'tkeepuprentpayments,andtheydidn'tknowwheretogoorhowtoapplyforrelief;andquasibagladieswhohaveananchorpoint——asisteror brotherwhomtheycanvisitonceinawhiletotakeabath.Mostshopping-bagladiesseemtobebetweentheagesof40and65.Theywearlayersofclotheseveninsummertime,withnewspapersstuffedbetweenthelayersasfurtherprotectionagainstbadweatherIngeneral,themorebagstheladiescarrythebetterorganistbadweather.Ingeneral,themorebagstheladiescarrythebetterorganisedtheyaretocopewithlifeonthestreets."YoumaythinkIhavealotofgarbageinthesebags,"oneshopping-bagladyvolunteeredoverlunchinachurchsoupkitchen,"butit'severythingIneed.Extraclothes,newspapersforthecold."Shopping-bagladiesarenotverycommunicativeandtakegeneralconversationasanintrusion.Butafterawhile,warmedbychickensoup,shebegantospeak."Theplaceisnice,"shevolunteered,"peoplearefriendly.MostNewYorkersareverycold.Ihavesistersinthecity,butwhenyougrowup,eachgoeshisownway.Right?""Igooutalotbecauseofmyteeth.Youknowhowitis:youpickupsomethinginarestaurantandyourteethturnrotten,nomatterhowcarefulyouare.Peoplearen'tconsiderate.Therestaurantsdon'twashtheglassesproperly,andbeforeyouknowwhereyouareyouhavecaughtit.That'swhathappenedtome.Idon'tlikemeetingpeopleuntilIhavethisdentalworkdone.SoIgoouttoforgetmytroubles.Isitalittlewhilesomewhere,havesomethingtoeatatoneoftheseplaces,thengowhereverIhavetogo.Itakeallmythingswithmebecauseyoucan'ttrustpeople."Thestoryofthedentalworkwasatypicalshopping-bagladyfantasy.Psychiatristssaythatevenafterlonginterviewsshopping-bagladiesarestillatalosstoseparatetruthfromimagination. Onequasibagladyspendsabouteighthourseverydayatthefootofthemainescalatorinarailroadstation,althoughsherentsaroominacheaphotelintheneighborhood.Oneofthepriestsfromthenearbychurchfoundthislodgingforherafterhediscoveredthatshewasentitledtoasmalldisabilitypensionwhichshehadneverclaimed.Buteverydayfromaboutninetofive,shestilltakesamilkcrateandsitsbythestationescalator,notdoinganythingortalkingtoanyone.It'slikeajobtoher.Nooneknowshowmanyshopping-bagladiesthereareinNewYork.Thefigureisgoingup.Somepriests,nunsandresearchersspendagreatdealoftimeshepherdingorobservingshopping-bagladiesandaredoingwhattheycantobetterthelifeoftheladyhermitswhoaredown.UNIT5.TheDayMotherCriedAmotherandhersonlearnmoreformamomentofdefeatthantheyevercouldfromavictory.Herexampleofnevergivingupgiveshimcouragefortherestofhislife.TheDayMotherCriedGeraldMooreCominghomefromschoolthatdarkwinter'sdaysolongago,Iwasfilledwithanticipation.Ihadanewissueofmyfavoritesportsmagazinetuckedundermyarm,andthehousetomyself. Dadwasatwork,mysisterwasaway,andMotherwouldn'tbehomefromhernewjobforanhour.Iboundedupthesteps,burstintothelivingroomandflippedonalight.IwasshockedintostillnessbywhatIsaw.Mother,pulledintoatightballwithherfaceinherhands,satatthefarendofthecouch.Shewascrying.Ihadneverseenhercry.Iapproachedcautiouslyandtouchedhershoulder."Mother?"Isaid"What'shappened?"Shetookalongbreathandmanagedaweaksmile."It'snothing,really.Nothingimportant.JustthanI'mgoingtolosethisnewjob.Ican'ttypefastenough.""Butyou'veonlybeentherethreedays,"Isaid."You'llcatchon."IwasrepeatingalineshehadspokentomeahundredtimeswhenIwashavingtroublelearningordoingsomethingimportanttome."No."shesaidsadly."IalwayssaidIcoulddoanythingIsetmymindto,andIstillthinkIcaninmostthings.ButIcan'tdothis."Ifelthelplessandoutofplace.Atage16IstillassumedMothercoulddoanything.Someyearsbefore,whenwesoldourranchandmovedtotown,Motherhaddecidedtoopenadaynursery.Shehadhadnotraining,butthatdidn'tstandinherway.Shesentawayforcorrespondencecoursesinchildcare,didthelessonsandinsixmonthsformallyqualifiedherselfforthetask.Itwasn'tlongbeforeshehadafullenrollmentandawaitinglist.IacceptedallthisasaperfectlynormalinstanceofMother'sability.Butneitherthenurserynorthemotelmyparentsboughtlaterhadprovidedenoughincometosendmysisterandmetocollege.IntwoyearsIwouldbereadyforcollege.Inthreemoremysisterwouldwanttogo.Timewasrunningout,andMother wasfranticforwaystosavemoney.ItwasclearthatDadcoulddonomorethanhewasdoingalready——farming80acresinadditiontoholdingafulltimejob.Afewmonthsafterwe'dsoldthemotel,Motherarrivedhomewithausetypewriter.Itskippedbetweencertainlettersandthekeyboardwassoft.AtdinnerthatnightIpronouncedthemachinea"pieceofjunk.""That'sallwecanafford,"mothersaid."It'sgoodenoughtolearnon."Andfromthatdayon,assoonasthetablewasclearedandthedishesweredone,Motherwoulddisappearintohersewingroomtopractice.Theslowtap,tap,tapwentonsomenightsuntilmidnight.ItwasnearlyChristmaswhenIheardMothergotajobattheradiostation.Iwasnottheleastbitsurprised,orimpressed.Butshewasecstatic.Monday,afterherfirstdayatwork,Icouldseethattheexcitementwasgone.Motherlookedtiredanddrawn.Irespondedbyignoringher.Tuesday,Dadmadedinnerandcleanedthekitchen.Motherstayedinhersewingroom,practicing."IsMotherallright?"IaskedDad."She'shavingalittletroublewithhertyping,"hesaid."Sheneedstopractice.Ithinkshe'dappreciateitifweallhelpedoutabitmore.""Ialreadydoalot,"Isaid,immediatelyonguard."Iknowyoudo,"Dadsaidevenly."Andyoumayhavetodomore.Youmightjustrememberthatsheisworkingprimarilysoyoucangotocollege."Ihonestlydidn'tcare.Iwishedshewouldjustforgetthewholething.MyshockandembarrassmentatfindingMotherintearson WednesdaywasaperfectindexofhowlittleIunderstoodthepressuresonher.Sittingbesideheronthecouch,Ibeganveryslowlytounderstand."Iguesswealhavetofailsometime,"Mothersaidquietly.Icouldsenseherpainandthetensionofholdingbackthestrongemotionsthatwereinterruptedbymyarrival.Suddenly,somethinginsidemeturned.Ireachedoutandputmyarmsaroundher.Shebrokethen.Sheputherfaceagainstmyshoulderandsobbed.Ihelphercloseanddidn'ttrytotalk.IknewIwasdoingwhatIshould,whatIcould,andthatitwasenough.Inthatmoment,feelingMother'sbackrackedwithemotion,Iunderstoodforthefirsttimehervulnerability.Shewasstillmymother,butshewassomethingmore:apersonlikeme,capableoffearandhurtandfailure.IcouldfeelherpainasshemusthavefeltmineonathousandoccasionswhenIhadsoughtcomfortinherarms.AweeklaterMothertookajobsellingdrygoodsathalfthesalarytheradiostationhadoffered."It'sajobIcando,"shesaidsimply.Buttheeveningpracticesessionsontheoldgreentypewritercontinued.IhadaverydifferentfeelingnowwhenIpassedherdooratnightandheardhertappingaway.Iknewtherewassomethingmoregoingonintherethanawomanlearningtotype.WhenIleftforcollegetwoyearslater,Motherhadanofficejobwithbetterpayandmoreresponsibility.IhavetobelievethatinsomestrangewayshelearnedasmuchfromhermomentofdefeatasIdid,becauseseveralyearslater,whenIhadfinishedschoolandproudlyacceptedajobasanewspaperreporter,shehadalreadybeenajournalistwithourhometownpaperforsixmonths. Theoldgreentypewritersitsinmyofficenow,unrepaired.Itisamemento,butwhatitrecallsformeisnotquitewhatifrecalledforMother.WhenI'mhavingtroublewithastoryandthinkaboutgivinguporwhenIstarttofeelsorryformyselfandthinkthingsshouldbeeasierforme,Irollapieceofpaperintothatcrankyoldmachineandtype,wordbypainfulword,justthewaymotherdid.WhatIrememberthenisnotherfailure,buthercourage,thecouragetogoahead.It'sthebestmementoanyoneevergaveme.UNIT6.ADaysWaitErnestHemingway'sstoryisaboutanincidentthathappensbetweenafatherandhisson.Thesmallboy'smisunderstandingofthedifferenceinmeasuringtemperatureonaFahrenheitandaCelsiusScalecauseshimtobelievethatheisdryingofahighfever.However,thefatherdoesn'trealizeituntilverylatethatday……ADay'sWaitErnestHemingwayHecameintotheroomtoshutthewindowswhilewewerestillinbedandIsawhelookedill.Hewasshivering,hisfacewaswhite,andhewalkedslowlyasthoughitachedtomove. "What'sthematter,Schatz?""I'vegotaheadache.""Youbettergobacktobed.""No.I'mallright.""Yougotobed.I'llbeyouwhenI'mdressed."ButwhenIcamedownstairshewasdressed,sittingbythefire,lookingaverysickandmiserableboyofnineyears.WhenIputmyhandonhisforeheadIknewhehadafever."Yougouptobed,"Isaid,"You'resick.""I'mallright,"hesaid.Whenthedoctorcamebetooktheboy'stemperature."What'sisit?"Iaskedhim."Onehundredandtwo."Downstairs,thedoctorleftthreedifferentmedicinesindifferentcoloredcapsuleswithinstructionforgivingthem.Onewastobringdownthefever,anotherapurgative,thethirdtoovercomeanacidcondition.Thegermsofinfluenzacanonlyexistinanacidcondition,heexplained.Heseemedtoknowallaboutinfluenzaandsaidtherewasnothingtoworryaboutifthefeverdidnotgoaboveonehundredandfourdegrees.Thiswasalightepidemicoffluandtherewasnodangerifyouavoidedpneumonia.BackintheroomIwrotetheboy'stemperaturedownandmadeanoteofthetimetogivethevariouscapsules."Doyouwantmetoreadtoyou?""Allright.Ifyouwantto,"saidtheboy.Hisfacewasverywhiteandthereweredarkareasunderhiseyes.Helaystillinthebedandseemedverydetachedfromwhatwasgoingon.IreadaloudfromHowardPyle'sBookofpirates;butIcouldseehewasnotfollowingwhatIwasreading."Howdoyoufeel,Schatz?"Iaskedhim. "Justthesame,sofar,"hesaid.IsatatthefootofthebedandreadtomyselfwhileIwaitedforittobetimetogiveanothercapsule.Itwouldhavebeennaturalforhimtogotosleep,butwhenIlookeduphewaslookingatthefootofthebed,lookingverystrangely."Whydon'tyoutrytosleep?I'llmakeyouupforthemedicine.""I'dratherstayawake."Afterawhilehesaidtome,"Youdon'thavetostayinherewithme,Pa
