美国国家公共电台 NPR A Lifelong Secret: Can You Help This Ailing 94-Year-Old Man Make Amends?

A Lifelong Secret: Can You Help This Ailing¹ 94-Year-Old Man Make Amends²?

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: 

It's Friday morning when we hear from StoryCorps. A couple of weeks ago, we told you about StoryCorps' Great Thanksgiving Listen, an effort to collect thousands of interviews over the holiday. Now one recording³ from that project coming up next here raises the question is it ever too late to make amends? Joseph Linsk, a retired⁴ doctor, was interviewed by his son at home in Atlantic City, N.J. He's 94 years old in failing health and has held on to a secret since he was a child.

(SOUNDBITE OF RADIO DIARY)

JOSEPH LINSK: When I was 8 years old, I was running in the school yard, and my arm struck the eyeglasses of one of the students. And he began to cry. He was going to tell his father. It would cost $2 to fix the glasses. And I was frightened to death. Where was I going to get the $2?

We had a cleaning lady by the name of Pearl⁵, a black woman. And I knew that every week she gets $2 for her services. On this particular day I was so terrified, I took the $2 and took it to the teacher and settled the problem of the broken glasses. When Pearl finished her day's work, she went for the $2, and they weren't there. And my mother said there was no question that Pearl took the $2 and didn't admit it. And my mother was so angry, she told Pearl not to come back anymore.

And then the word leaked out that Pearl was a thief, and Pearl couldn't get another job. And she had several children. I was the only one who knew the true story. And I didn't tell anyone, and I was smitten⁶ with grief⁷ at what I had done. I kept that secret 'til the age of 94 which is hard to believe, but the event never left me.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

INSKEEP: Joseph Linsk recorded by his son Richard. This is only half the story because Joseph doesn't remember Pearl's last name, doesn't know what happened to her or her family, which is where you come in, ladies and gentlemen, because Joseph Linsk grew up on Atlantic Avenue in the uptown section of Atlantic City in the early 1930s. And maybe you have some knowledge that can help. If you think you know who Pearl was or know someone related⁸ to her, contact StoryCorps at npr.org/storycorps.

1 ailing   

v.生病

参考例句：

• They discussed the problems ailing the steel industry. 他们讨论了困扰钢铁工业的问题。
• She looked after her ailing father. 她照顾有病的父亲。

2 amends   

n. 赔偿

参考例句：

• He made amends for his rudeness by giving her some flowers. 他送给她一些花，为他自己的鲁莽赔罪。
• This country refuses stubbornly to make amends for its past war crimes. 该国顽固地拒绝为其过去的战争罪行赔罪。

3 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

4 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

5 pearl   

n.珍珠，珍珠母

参考例句：

• He bought his girlfriend a pearl necklace.他给他女朋友买了一条珍珠项链。
• The crane and the mother-of-pearl fight to death.鹬蚌相争。

6 smitten   

猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去分词 )

参考例句：

• From the moment they met, he was completely smitten by her. 从一见面的那一刻起，他就完全被她迷住了。
• It was easy to see why she was smitten with him. 她很容易看出为何她为他倾倒。

7 grief   

n.悲伤，悲痛，悲伤的事，悲痛的缘由

参考例句：

• Don't allow yourself to sink into grief,it can do no good.不要使自己陷入悲哀之中，这样一点好处也没有。
• After her mother died,she abandoned herself to grief.母亲死后，她沉浸于悲痛之中。

8 related   

adj.有关系的，有关联的，叙述的，讲述的

参考例句：

• I am not related to him in any way.我和他无任何关系。
• We spent days going through all related reference material.我们花了好多天功夫查阅所有有关的参考资料。