意义非凡的77美分 77 Cents

佚名/Anonymous

I live in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and there are some homeless people in the downtown, especially the University area. I used to give a lot of money to the homeless, feeling sorry for their misfortune. But as time passed, I fell into a victim to many of the circumstances of a homeless person. After I was divorced from my husband, I became a single mom with no home, a huge debt, and hardly any income. As a result, I became very mean and stopped giving to the people on the side of the road.

Through my working hard, things started to change for me. I became responsible enough to have a home with a backyard for my daughter, and plenty of food, and I started to pull myself out of debt. One day we saw a homeless person with the sign“Will work for food”I passed by. My daughter commented,“Mommy, you used to always give those people in need. But now ...”I replied,“Honey, they just use that money for alcohol or other bad things.”She didn't respond. But when I said that, I didn't feel right.

Three days later, I was driving to pick up my daughter from school. A man was standing on the corner with the appearance of worries, and suddenly something deep inside me said,“Just help the guy.”So I rolled down my window, and he ran over with enthusiasm. He said,“Kind lady, I only need 77 cents.”I reached into my pocket and found that I didn't take my purse. And then I embarrassedly spread out my hands to show that I was in no position to help him. But when he turned away, I called to him,“Wait moment!”I found in my ashtray there sat three quarters and two pennies. Oddly enough, it was the very 77 cents.

My skin was prickling as I saw this. I scooped it up and gave it to him. He burst out with joy and tears in his eyes,“Wow, you just made it possible for me to see my mom for Christmas!Thank you so much!I haven't visited my mother for three years. The bus is leaving in 20 minutes!I have to go now.”

It was the moment that I'll never forget. I think that man won't forget it either, but I was the one who got the best gift in life—GIVING. It also strikes me that nothing is a coincidence, and every giving has meaning, although it is the humble 77 cents.

我在新墨西哥州的爱伯克奇城居住，许多无家可归的人都聚集在市区，特别是在高校区。出于对他们不幸的同情，我过去常会给他们很多钱。然而，随着时间的流逝，我也沦为他们中的一员。离婚后，身为单身母亲的我无家可归，没有收入，还要还一大笔债。我变得很吝啬，不再给街头的流浪者们一分钱。

我拼命努力工作，生活有所好转。我已经能为女儿买带后院的房子，为她提供丰盛的饭菜，而且债务也渐渐还清。一天，我们看到一个流浪汉，胸前挂着这样一个牌子：“愿意为您效劳。”我漠然地走过。女儿感叹道：“妈妈，您以前总会帮助他们，可是现在怎么……”我回答说：“亲爱的，他们只会用那些钱去喝酒或干坏事。”女儿默不作声。但我觉得自己不应该那么说。

三天后，我开车去学校接女儿。看到一个人满脸焦虑地站在角落，顿时我心中有个声音说：“去帮助他吧。”于是我摇下车窗，只见他喜出望外地跑了过来，说：“好心的女士，我只需要77美分。”我去摸钱包，却发现没有带。我只好尴尬地摊开手，以示我无能为力。但当他转身要离开时，我叫住了他：“稍等一下！”我在烟灰缸里找到了三张25美分和两个便士。实在太巧了，刚好77美分。

看到这些，我激动地颤抖起来。我将零钱拿出来，给了他。他顿时开心地热泪盈眶，说：“噢，您让我能够在圣诞节回家看望母亲了！太感谢您了！我已经三年没看过母亲了。汽车还有20分钟就开了！我得走了。”

我永远忘不了那一刻。我想他也不会忘记，但生活却带给了我最珍贵的礼物——给予。它也让我瞬间明白：一切并非偶然，任何给予都意义非凡，就算只有这极少的77美分。

词汇笔记

homeless ['həumlis] adj.无家可归的

Helping the homeless is an act of mercy.

帮助无家可归者是慈善行为。

divorce [di'vɔ:s] v.使离婚；使分离；与……离婚

What is the chief of divorce? Marriage.

离婚的主要原因是什么？结婚。

alcohol ['ælkəhɔl] n.酒精；乙醇

How should alcohol allergy do?

酒精过敏要怎么办？

enthusiasm [in'θju:ziæzəm] n.热心；热忱；热情

Enthusiasm is a conspicuous trait in him.

热情是他性格中的显著特征。

小试身手

然而，随着时间的流逝，我也沦为他们中的一员。

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我只好尴尬地摊开手，以示我无能为力。

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一切并非偶然，任何给予都意义非凡，就算只有这极少的77美分。

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短语家族

I used to give a lot of money to the homeless.

used to：过去常常；以前；（过去）经常

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You used to always give to those people in need.

in need：在困难时；有需要的；困穷时

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