英语美文：一杯咖啡

 My life began similarly to most of the kids in my family, with parents who left early. That’s the way it is in my family, you grow up with no one there to teach you. 

　　Consequently, I developed the usual problems with alcohol and drugs and spent seven years as a street kid, landing in rehab注 when I was 20. Inside I met my counselor¹, Bill, and he taught me a lot of things. The main thing was the gift of giving.  www.ryedu.net

　　It was the night before a significant event and I was very nervous. Bill saw this and suggested that we go for a walk. As we walked and talked, Bill suggested we go for a coffee. I told him I was broke but when I got paid, I would pay him back. He stopped then and looked at me in a serious, but loving way and said, “No, you won’t.” 

　　He followed by telling me that I didn’t owe him anything and he was doing this because he could. He then told me something that has followed me to this day, “One day you’ll be around someone and they’ll need a coffee, and you’ll be able to buy it for them. That’s how you can pay me back.” 

　　I’m a youth worker now; far away from the life I had ten years ago. My job is simple, I buy kids coffee. Bill taught me how to do that.

　　我的人生起步和家里的大多数孩子一样——父母英年早逝。这就是我家的成长方式,没有人能教给你什么。 

　　这样的结果是,我顺理成章地染上了酗酒嗑药的恶习,在街头流浪了七年,直到20岁才到康复中心接受治疗。在那里,我遇到了我的辅导员比尔,他教会我很多东西。其中最主要的便是奉献精神。 

　　那是一场重要活动的前一晚,我紧张不已。比尔看在眼里,提议和我一起去散步。我们一边散步一边聊天,比尔建议去喝杯咖啡。我告诉他我没有钱,但是拿到酬金之后我会还给他。他停了下来,严肃而又关爱地看着我,说:“不,没有这个必要。” 

　　他接着说,我并没有欠他任何东西,他这么做是因为力所能及。接下来他说的话一直陪我走到今天:“终有一天,你的身边可能会出现这么一个需要咖啡的人,而你有能力为他买单。这就是你回报我的方式。” 

　　我现在是一名青年工作者,过着与十年前大不一样的生活。我的工作很简单,就是给孩子们买咖啡。是比尔教会了我怎样做。 

　　注:即rehabilitation,本义为“康复、修复”,尤指吸毒或酗酒者的康复,现在一般指戒毒所等康复中心。 

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1 counselor   

n.顾问，法律顾问

参考例句：

• The counselor gave us some disinterested advice.顾问给了我们一些无私的忠告。
• Chinese commercial counselor's office in foreign countries.中国驻国外商务参赞处。