When we got home，we looked at thecast list and found that the girl’s name wasJessica. Our mom e-mailed the director，whosaid she would talk to Jessica and arrangetime for an apology right before the nextrehearsal. Nobody really expected a heartfeltapology from Jessica，but Brittany wasprepared to forgive her.
Next rehearsal，the director met Brittanyand announced that “Jessica swears thatshe was never even near you yesterday.”
But Brittany knew the truth. As she glancedacross the room full of young actors，sheglimpsed Jessica in a folding chair. For asplit second，their eyes met. Jessica quicklywhirled away to stare in the oppositedirection. For weeks afterwards，no matterhow hard Brittany tried to talk to her，Jessicarefused to look her way. It was very difficultfor Brittany to work with Jessica everyrehearsal.
Finally，we were ready to perform.
Brittany and I were glad that the ordeal wasalmost over. After the first show，Brittanyand I each got a beautiful bouquet. Jessicadidn’t get a single flower. The second night，we received flowers from our grandparents.
Again，Jessica received nothing.
On the way home，Brittany spoke up：
“Mommy，I decided I want to buy someflowers for Jessica.” Mom smiled in surprise.
“That would be very nice.”
Before the last performance，Brittanymet Jessica on the way into the theater. Shehanded the older girl a big bunch of yellowroses，bought with her own savings. “Greatjob with the show last night，Jessica. Theseare for you.”
Jessica’s eyes popped in astonishment.
“ F o r m e ？ ” s h e f a l t e r e d ，s q u i n t i n gincredulously at Brittany’s warm smile.
“These flowers are for me？ Are you sure？”
“Yes，I want you to have them！”
Brittany skipped towards the dressing room，leaving Jessica staring after her with abewildered look on her face and a bouquetof beautiful flowers in her arms. That night，早安，和梦想一起醒来 047Jessica finally received some flowers fromher dad. She pulled out a sprig of carnationsand smiled shyly as she gave it to Brittany.
Maybe Jessica will never apologize toBrittany. Maybe she won’t ever even admither wrongdoing. But she is just beginningto realize that wonderful things do exist inpeople like Brittany.
Fiona 译
儿童剧院其实就是一间有着大大的阶梯的旧磨坊，里面的东西散发着樟脑丸、金属以及陈油脂的味道。
一天下午，我和八岁的妹妹布兰特妮同话剧组一起排练《小公主》。“请大家各就各位，我们开始排练第一幕！”导演叫道。她有着金色的头发，每个手指上都戴着戒指。
灯光熄灭，排练开始。第一幕排练到一半的时候，布兰特妮排完了她那部分，于是去了后台。突然，某种湿湿的东西爆炸了，溅到她脑后！她猛地转身，看见一个高个女生手拿一瓶除味剂，对着她的耳朵，正夸张地笑着。啪嗒！黏黏的蓝色液体从布兰特妮脸上滑下来。那个年长女孩狂笑起来，并看向其他的女孩们，看她们的反应。布兰特妮盯着她们，期待她们能为她说话，维护她。相反，女孩们尖声欢笑，嘲笑的手指直指布兰特妮。布兰特妮沮丧地跑出了化妆室。
十分钟之后，布兰特妮在后台遇见了我。“一个年长的女孩刚刚用这个东西喷我，还嘲笑我。”她边说边努力擦去卷发上的化学剂。“其他所有的女孩也嘲笑我。”我甚至不知道那个女孩的名字，但她在欺负我的妹妹！
回到家，我们查看演员表，发现那个女孩的名字叫杰西卡。妈妈给导演发了封邮件，导演说她会找杰西卡谈谈，然后在下次排练之前安排时间让杰西卡道歉。没有人指望杰西卡会真心诚意地道歉，但布兰特妮却准备好了去原谅她。
下一次排练时，导演遇到布兰特妮，她说：“杰西卡发誓说她昨天从未靠近过你。”但布兰特妮知道真相。她扫了一眼挤满演员的屋子，瞥见杰西卡坐在折叠椅里。有那么一会儿她们四目相对，杰西卡匆忙转头看向反方向。之后的几个星期里，不管布兰特妮怎样试图去和她说话，她都视而不见。每次和杰西卡一起排练，布兰特妮都觉得很困难。
终于，我们可以上场表演了。布兰特妮和我都很高兴磨难就快到头了。第一场表演结束，布兰特妮和我各收到一束美丽的花，杰西卡一朵花都没。第二晚，我们又收到爷爷奶奶送的花，杰西卡依旧两手空空。
回家路上，布兰特妮开口说道：“妈妈，我决定买些花送给杰西卡。”妈妈大吃一惊，笑着回答：“那将会很棒。”
最后一场表演之前，布兰特妮在去剧场的路上遇见杰西卡。她将一大束黄玫瑰递给那个年长的女孩，那些花是她用自己攒的钱买的。“祝你最后一晚演出成功，杰西卡。
这些是送给你的。”
杰西卡大为震惊，睁大了眼睛。“给我？”她结结巴巴地问，难以置信地看着布兰特妮暖暖的笑容。“这些花是送给我的？你确定？”
“是的，我希望你收下！”布兰特妮说着便朝更衣室跑去，留下杰西卡迷惑地看着她的背影，手中捧着一束美丽的鲜花。那一晚，杰西卡收到爸爸送的花，她抽出一朵康乃馨，害羞地笑着将它送给布兰特妮。
或许杰西卡永远不会向布兰特妮道歉，或许她甚至从未承认自己的错误，但是她开始意识到，在像布兰特妮这样的人身上，美好的事物真实地存在着。
轻英语
英语文化小知识
There’s no such thing as a free lunch.
我们常常听说这样一句话：There’s no such thing as a free lunch.（没有免费的午餐），你知道这句话是怎么来的吗？
19世纪的时候，美国有些酒吧给顾客提供“免费的午餐”。所谓午餐，其实不过是些用来和啤酒一起送出的脆饼；而所谓免费，当然不是真的，不买酒喝就没有饼吃。所以，当时有人说：
There’s no such thing as a free lunch.到了20世纪70年代，经济学家弗里德曼 (Milton Friedman)写了一本书，用了这句话做书名。他在别的着作、演讲里也多次引用这句话。于是，这句话就又流行了起来。
The Glitter of This World
尘世的诱惑
O n c e u p o n a t i m e t h e r ewas a White Knight looking foradventure. He came to a villagewhere legends told of a terrible ogrein a pit. Bravely the White Knighttook up the challenge. He woulddo battle with the terrible ogre inthe pit. The people rememberedseveral courageous men who hadclimbed down into the pit，but noone could ever remember one of thosechampions returning.
