1-7

 

7.

Then everyone moved on.

The family went back to work, and I went back to school, same as I did after every summerholiday.

Back to normal, everyone said cheerily.

From the passenger seat of Pa’s open-topped Aston Martin everything certainly looked thesame. Ludgrove School, nestled in the emerald Berkshire countryside, looked as ever like acountry church. (Come to think of it, the school motto was from Ecclesiastes: Whatsoever¹ thyhand findeth to do, do it with thy might.) Then again, not many country churches could boast twohundred acres of woodland and meadows², sports fields and tennis courts, science labs and chapels³.

Plus a well-stocked library.

If you wanted to find me in September 1997, the library would’ve been the last place to look.

Better to check the woods. Or the sports fields. I was always trying to keep moving, keep busy.

I was also, most often, alone. I liked people, I was gregarious⁴ by nature, but just then I didn’twant anyone too close. I needed space.

That was a tall order, however, at Ludgrove, where more than one hundred boys lived inproximity. We ate together, bathed together, slept together, sometimes ten to a room. Everyoneknew everyone’s business, down to who was circumcised and who wasn’t. (We called itRoundheads versus⁵ Cavaliers.)

And yet I don’t believe one boy so much as mentioned my mother when that new term began.

Out of respect?

More likely fear.

I certainly said nothing to anyone.

Days after my return I had a birthday. September 15, 1997. I turned thirteen. By long-standingLudgrove tradition there would be a cake, sorbet, and I was allowed to choose two flavors. I choseblack currant.

And mango.

Mummy’s favorite.

Birthdays were always a huge deal at Ludgrove, because every boy, and most teachers, had aravenous sweet tooth. There was often a violent struggle for the seat next to the birthday boy:

that’s where you’d be assured of the first and biggest slice. I don’t remember who managed to winthe seat beside me.

Make a wish, Harry⁶!

You want a wish? All right, I wish my mother was—Then, out of nowhere—

Aunt Sarah?

Holding a box. Open it, Harry.

I tore at the wrapping paper, the ribbon. I peered⁷ inside.

What…?

Mummy bought it for you. Shortly before…

You mean in Paris?

Yes. Paris.

It was an Xbox. I was pleased. I loved video games.

That’s the story, anyway. It’s appeared in many accounts of my life, as gospel, and I have noidea if it’s true. Pa said Mummy hurt her head, but perhaps I was the one with brain damage? As adefense mechanism⁸, most likely, my memory was no longer recording⁹ things quite as it once did.

 

1 whatsoever   

adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么

参考例句：

• There's no reason whatsoever to turn down this suggestion.没有任何理由拒绝这个建议。
• All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you,do ye even so to them.你想别人对你怎样，你就怎样对人。

2 meadows   

草地，牧场， （河边的）低洼地( meadow的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The trail wends its way through leafy woodland and sunny meadows. 这条小径穿过葱郁的林区和洒满阳光的草地。
• They have railed the meadows off from the new railway cutting. 他们已用栏杆把草地和新铁道的路堑隔离开来。

3 chapels   

n.小教堂， （医院、监狱等的）附属礼拜堂( chapel的名词复数 )；（在小教堂和附属礼拜堂举行的）礼拜仪式

参考例句：

• Both castles had their own chapels too, which was incredible to see. 两个城堡都有自己的礼拜堂，非常华美。 来自互联网
• It has an ambulatory and seven chapels. 它有一条走廊和七个小教堂。 来自互联网

4 gregarious   

adj.群居的，喜好群居的

参考例句：

• These animals are highly gregarious.这些动物非常喜欢群居。
• They are gregarious birds and feed in flocks.它们是群居鸟类，会集群觅食。

5 versus   

prep.以…为对手，对；与…相比之下

参考例句：

• The big match tonight is England versus Spain.今晚的大赛是英格兰对西班牙。
• The most exciting game was Harvard versus Yale.最富紧张刺激的球赛是哈佛队对耶鲁队。

6 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

7 peered   

去皮的

参考例句：

• He peeled away the plastic wrapping. 他去掉塑料包装。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The paint on the wall has peeled off. 墙上涂料已剥落了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 mechanism   

n.机械装置；机构，结构

参考例句：

• The bones and muscles are parts of the mechanism of the body.骨骼和肌肉是人体的组成部件。
• The mechanism of the machine is very complicated.这台机器的结构是非常复杂的。

9 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。