As Christmas decorations appeared in town, our parents called my two younger brothers and me together. At first, I thought someone had died, because I had never seen my parents look so sad. My brothers and I stood waiting for the awful news.
Mom hugged me as she murmured, “Christmas is going to be different this year. We won't be having a tree or presents. We can barely afford food.”Dad, resting on the couch, beckoned (招手示意) the boys into his arms.“Things will change when I get back to work.”
My family was poorer than dirt. Dad, the only bread-earner in our family, worked in a coal mine. However, soon after returning to work at the end of a long strike, Dad was hurt in a rock fall that broke bones in his foot. Lying on the couch with the swollen foot high on pillows, he didn't talk or smile much. There was little to smile about. No work, no income.
At nine years old, I mothered my younger brothers: Rodney, aged six, and Stevie, three. We shared a small bedroom. That night, after our parents’ announcement, we talked.
Rodney began. “Em, did you see how sad Mommy and Daddy looked? I thought Mommy was gonna cry.
“Me, too. Daddy's foot’s … this big” whispered Stevie, holding out his arms.
“Yeah..We're in hard times," I said.“It makes Mommy and Daddy sad."
“But we don't have to be sad," I added, hoping to brighten the mood.
“Since there are still several weeks to go, maybe we can do something to cheer them up," I said with overdone enthusiasm. The boys proposed, “We can take the money from our piggy bank...earn some more..and surprise them with gifts!"
“I can run errands(跑腿) for Aunt Em and neighbors to earn money," I offered.
“Yeah," Rodney added, “I and Stevie can return bottles and save the deposit money... instead of buying candy!" He pushed Stevie gently with his elbow.
“Yeah!”Stevie clutched his hands together.
We had a plan!
Until they nodded off, I coached my little brothers (especially Stevie) in ways to guard our secret. “Don't talk about it during the day."
注意:
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2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
We awoke in the morning, transforming from sad children to the secret agents on an important mission!
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On Christmas morning, we hurried into the living room and handed the gifts to Mommy and Daddy.
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