My Most Unforgettable Character

我 最 难 忘 的 人 （5）

She challenged us to succeed--and then showed us the way.

她激励我们要有所建树：并一直为我们指点迷津。

[21] "You Honor Us All." My mother made family values and pride tangible. One time when I was a high-school junior, our school put on a production of The Music Man. My role was totally insignificant. I played bass in the orchestra. "You don't have to come and see me," I told Mama.
"I'm not doing anything important."

[22] "Nonsense," she said. "Of course we're coming, and we're coining because you're in the program." The whole family showed up.

[23] The next year when I was elected president of my high school's National Honor Society, my mother pulled Michael and Maria, my younger brother and sister, out of grade school and brought them to the ceremony. Other students' parents came to the event. But I was the only one with a brother and sister there.

[24] "Everything you do reflects on the family," Mama explained. "If you succeed, you honor us all."'

[25] In the same way, she crowded us all around the kitchen table for breakfast and supper. She made sure we shared chores. She nurtured our religious faith, which kept our family close. Every Sunday, we filled a pew at church. At night, we knelt together in the Living room and prayed.

[21]"你们给我们大家带来了荣耀" 母亲让我们都能感受到家的价值和为此骄傲。我在上高二时，一次学校上演一部叫《音乐人》的作品。我在里面的作用真是无足轻重，只是在乐队的低音部演奏。"你们不必去看我演出了，"我对妈妈说。"我只是打打杂。"

[22]她说："瞎说，我们当然得去，因为你参加演出。"结果全家都到场了。

[23]第二年，我当选了所在高中的国民荣誉协会会长，在举行仪式那天，母亲把弟弟迈克和妹妹玛丽亚从小学叫出来，带他们来到会场。其他学生的家长也来了。但只有我除了父母外，还有弟弟、妹妹在场。

[24]"你们的所做所为会给全家带来影响，"妈妈解释说。"如果你们取得了成功，你们就给我们大家带来了荣耀。"

[25]同样，她要我们在厨房里围着桌子一起吃早餐和晚饭。她确保我们分担家务。她培养我们对宗教的信仰，这使全家亲密和睦。每个周日，我们去教堂做礼拜。晚上，我们一起跪在起居室里祷告。