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Off the Shelf 竊書記 竊書記

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【Off the Shelf 竊書記 竊書記】
竊書記（Off the Shelf 竊書記）
Off the Shelf
竊書記
When I was ten years old, I lived with my family in a small ranch house in rural South Jersey. I often accompanied my mother to the A&P to buy groceries. We did not have a car, so we walked, and I would help her carry the bags.
我10歲的時候，和家人一起住在南澤西郊區一個低矮的小平房里 。我經常陪媽媽到A&P超市去買日用品 。我們沒有車，所以都是走著去的，而我都會幫她拎袋子 。
My mother had to shop very carefully, as my father was on strike. She was a waitress, and her salary and tips barely sustained us. One day, while she was weighing prices, a promotional display for the World Book Encyclopedia caught my eye. The volumes were cream-colored, with forest-green spines stamped in gold. Volume I was ninety-nine cents with a ten- dollar purchase.
媽媽買東西必須精打細算，因為爸爸當時正在罷工 。她是一個服務員，工資和小費加在一起也就勉強夠維持我們的生活 。一天，當她在超市里比較價格時，《世界百科全書》的促銷展示吸引了我的注意 。那是一套奶白色的書，暗綠色的書脊上面燙著金字 。購物滿10美元就可以用99美分買這套書的第一冊 。
All I could think of, as we combed the aisles for creamed corn, dry milk, cans of Spam, and shredded wheat, was the book, which I longed for with all my being. I stood at the register with my mother, holding my breath as the cashier rang up the items. It came to over eleven dollars. My mother produced a five, some singles , and a handful of change. As she was counting out the money, I somehow found the courage to ask for the encyclopedia. "Could we get one?" I said, showing her the display. "It's only ninety-nine cents."
當我們穿梭在超市貨架通道之間尋找著奶油玉米、奶粉、斯帕姆午餐肉罐頭和脆麥片條時，我滿腦子想的都是那本書，一門心思就想得到它 。我和媽媽站在收銀臺旁，我屏住呼吸，看著收銀員輸入那些東西的金額結賬 。總金額超過了11美元 。媽媽拿出一張5美元、幾張1美元和一把零錢 。在她數錢的時候，我不知怎的鼓起了勇氣問她要那本百科全書 。“我們買一本行嗎？”我一邊說，一邊指著那個促銷展示讓她看，“只要99美分 ?！?br /> I did not understand my mother's increasing anxiety; she did not have enough change and had to sacrifice a large can of peas to pay the amount."Not now, Patricia, she said sternly. "Today is not a good day." I packed the groceries and followed her home, crestfallen .

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