美国国家公共电台 NPR--A couple reflects on their decision to end a pregnancy

A couple reflects on their decision to end a pregnancy¹

Transcript²

In 1999 Tom Peters met JoAn Joseph at a party for his job. A couple of years into their relationship, they came to a crossroads and had to make a difficult decision.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

It's Friday, which is when we hear from StoryCorps. And today, we meet a couple who want to talk about something they've never shared before.

TOM PETERS: We were going to talk about a secret we have.

JOAN PETERS: Yeah. We were going to have a baby, and we decided³ not to.

INSKEEP: Tom and JoAn Peters first met in Los Angeles in 1999. They fell in love, and a couple of years later, JoAn got pregnant. Tom asked her to marry him.

J PETERS: I was sitting on the couch, and I remember asking you if you were marrying me because you loved me and you wanted to be married or if you were marrying me because it's the right thing to do. And you said you were marrying me because it was the right thing to do. I was sobbing⁴. And I said, well, then I don't want to get married, and I don't want to have this baby. My fear was you'd grow to resent us. A couple of things that stand out in my memory about the day of the abortion⁵ - you took very good care of me that day. You really nurtured⁶ me during that time. But I don't remember doing that for you. I never asked you how you felt about it.

T PETERS: I think at the time, I was trying to get through the procedure itself and keep you safe.

J PETERS: I never questioned our decision. I never regretted it. I didn't want my child to ever say, why isn't my father here?

T PETERS: But then you said, come back to me when you're ready to get married and have a child.

J PETERS: Yes.

T PETERS: And I ran for the hills back to single life, spent a year and a half dating other women, but couldn't get you out of my mind. And what flashed in my mind at that time was I was ready.

J PETERS: We got married, and then we found out what I thought was a cold hanging on for dear life was actually a pregnancy. And Ellie (ph) came into the world, the most perfect baby that anyone could ever ask for. I can't get enough of the two of you together. You love her, and it shows. And she adores you. You're everything I wanted. And she is, too.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

INSKEEP: JoAn and Tom Peters in Santa Monica, Calif. Their daughter, Ellie, is now 17. This weekend marks 50 years since the Supreme⁷ Court ruled on Rowe v. Wade⁸, the decision that made abortion a constitutional right until it was overturned last summer. This interview will be archived at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.

1 pregnancy   

n.怀孕，怀孕期

参考例句：

• Early pregnancy is often accompanied by nausea.怀孕早期常有恶心的现象。
• Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage.怀孕期吸烟会增加流产的危险。

2 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

3 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

4 sobbing   

<主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的

参考例句：

• I heard a child sobbing loudly. 我听见有个孩子在呜呜地哭。
• Her eyes were red with recent sobbing. 她的眼睛因刚哭过而发红。

5 abortion   

n.流产，堕胎

参考例句：

• She had an abortion at the women's health clinic.她在妇女保健医院做了流产手术。
• A number of considerations have led her to have a wilful abortion.多种考虑使她执意堕胎。

6 nurtured   

养育( nurture的过去式和过去分词 )； 培育； 滋长； 助长

参考例句：

• She is looking fondly at the plants he had nurtured. 她深情地看着他培育的植物。
• Any latter-day Einstein would still be spotted and nurtured. 任何一个未来的爱因斯坦都会被发现并受到培养。

7 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

8 wade   

v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉

参考例句：

• We had to wade through the river to the opposite bank.我们只好涉水过河到对岸。
• We cannot but wade across the river.我们只好趟水过去。