The Most Successful Lesson
最成功的一课
I grew up in Estepona. I was 16 when one morning, Dad told me I could drive him to Mijas on thecondition that I took the car in to be serviced at a nearby garage. I readily accepted. I drove Dad to Mijas, and promised to pick him up at 4 p.m., then dropped off the car at the garage. With several hours to spare, I went to a theater. However, when the last movie finished, it was six. I was two hours late!
I knew Dad would be angry if he found out I’d been watching movies. So I decided not to tell him the truth. When I hurried there I apologized for being late, and told him I’d come as quickly as I could, but the car had needed some major repairs. I’ll never forget the look he gave me.
“I am disappointed you feel you have to lie to me, Jason,” Dad looked at me again. “When you didn’t turn up, I called the garage to ask if there were any problems, and they told me you hadn’t yet picked up the car.”
I felt shamed as I weakly told him the real reason.
A sadness passed through Dad as he listened attentively. “I am angry with myself. I realizeI’ve failed as a father. I’m going to walk home now and think seriously about where I’ve gone wrong all those years.”
“But Dad, it’s 18 miles!” My protest and apologies were useless.
Dad walked home that day. I drove behind him, begging him all the way, but he walked silently.
Seeing Dad in so much physical and emotional pain was my most painful experience. However, it was also the most successful lesson. I have never lied since.
译文
我在埃斯特普纳长大。我16岁的一天早上，爸爸对我说，我可以开车带他到米加斯，条件是我要把车开到附近的一家修车厂保养一下。我欣然答应，就把爸爸送到了米加斯，并许诺下午四点来接他，然后便开车去了修车厂。因为还剩好几个小时，所以我就去了一家电影院。然而，最后一场电影结束时，已经6点了。我迟到了两个小时！
我知道，如果发现我一直看电影，爸爸一定会生气。于是，我决定不对他说实话。我匆匆赶到那里，道歉说自己来晚了，然后告诉他我要尽快赶来，但汽车需要一些大修。我永远忘不了他看我的眼神。
“詹森，我对你认为自己不得不对我撒谎而感到失望，”爸爸又看着我。“你没有回来时，我给修车厂打电话问是否有什么问题，他们告诉我你还没有取车。”
我把真实原因告诉他时，底气不足，羞愧难当。
爸爸一边仔细听，一边感到忧伤。“我对自己生气。作为父亲，我发现自己已经失败了。我现在要走回去，认真想一下这些年自己都错在了哪里。”
“可是爸爸，这有18英里啊！”我的反对和道歉毫无用处。
那天，爸爸走回了家。我开车跟在后面，一路都在求他，但他默默地走着。
看着爸爸身心受到如此痛苦的折磨是我最痛苦的一次经历。然而，这也是最成功的一课。从此之后，我再也没有撒过谎。
拓展训练
I ___1__ in Estepona. I was 16 when one morning, Dad told me I could drive him to Mijas on the condition that I took the car in to be serviced at a nearby garage. I readily___2___. I drove Dad to Mijas, and promised to pick him up at 4 p.m., then dropped off the car at the garage. With several hours to spare, I went to a theater. However, when the last movie finished, it was six. I was two hours ___3__ !
I knew Dad would be angry if he found out I’d been watching movies. So I decided not to tell him the truth. When I hurried there I ___4__ for being late, and told him I’d come as quickly as I could, but the car had needed some major repairs. I’ll never forget the look he gave me.
“I am __5___ you feel you have to lie to me, Jason,” Dad looked at me again. “When you didn’t turn up, I called the garage to ask if there were any problems, and they told me you hadn’t yet picked up the car.”
I felt ___6__ as I weakly told him the real reason.
A sadness passed through Dad as he listened attentively. “I am angry with___7__. I realize I’ve ___8___ as a father. I’m going to walk home now and think seriously about where I’ve gone wrong all those years.”
“But Dad, it’s 18 miles!” My protest and apologies were___9__.
Dad ___10___ home that day. I drove behind him, begging him all the way, but he walked silently.
Seeing Dad in so much physical and emotional pain was my most painful experience. However, it was also the most successful lesson. I have never lied since.
1 A grew up B get up C wake up D cheer up
2 A received B agreed C refused D surprised
3 A early B before C late D after
4 A apologized B waited C asked D searched
5 A excited B bored C frightened D disappointed
6 A ashamed B proud C scared D interested
7 A yourself B himself C myself D herself
8 A succeeded B proved C developed D failed
9 A useful B useless C careless D unimportant
10 A ran B walked C drove D rode
答案ABCAD ACDBB