第30章此生的喧嚣与悠长(2)

第30章此生的喧嚣与悠长(2)

尽管我十分想逃避责任，我知道自己必须处理好它。纵然对成果持有怀疑，我仍希望事情能够顺利发展。我该如何处理而不至于崩溃呢？我制作了一个清单。先列出所有要做的事，给每一条加上截止日期，然后根据事情的迫切程度去整理清单。我看着布雷特说：“你不用同时完成所有的事，你可以一次做一件事。我们来把你要做的列成一个清单吧。”

于是，我们一件件列出了每条，然后在每一条旁边加上截止日期。接着我们将每个事项分成几部分。在给任务进行主次排列时，我看到儿子明显放松了些。

当我们完成清单，我问他：“现在你觉得自己可以完成了吗？”

他笑了笑，我看得出他恢复了自信。“当然！谢谢你，妈妈！”

从那天起，布雷特都会把所有要做的事列成清单。看到散落四处的清单时，我就忍不住笑，但我知道这个方法对他很有用，正如它对我很受用一样。布雷特完成了所有的任务并保持着好成绩。

有一句谚语是这么问的：“你怎样才能吃下一头大象呢？”答案是：“一次吃一口。”

outstretch

【释义】vt.拉长；伸展得超出……的范围

【短语】outstretchone，shelpinghand伸出援助之手

jovial

【释义】adj.天性快活的

【短语】beinajovialmood心情非常好

stack

【释义】n.堆；堆叠vt.使堆叠；把……堆积起来vi.堆积，堆叠

algebra

【释义】n.代数学

【短语】advancedalgebra高等数学

midterm

【释义】adj.期中的；中间的n.期中考试

【短语】midtermexam期中考试

implode

【释义】vt.使内爆vi.向内破裂；内爆

【短语】theengineimplode发动机内爆

prioritize

【释义】vt.把……区分优先次序vi.把事情按优先顺序排好

【短语】prioritizeyourtasks按轻重缓急安排任务；

prioritizeeducation教育优先

assignment

【释义】n.分配；任务；作业；功课

【短语】assignmentright转让权，顶让权；

schoolassignment学生作业，课题

dancethroughlife/在生活中翩翩起舞

iheldgeorgiaclose.weswayedtothemusicandslowlyturned.nexttous，acoupletwirledandspuninelegantcircles.theirfeetandbodiesmovedinharmonywiththemusic，astheyfloatedoverthedancefloor.

“wouldn，titbewonderfultodancelikethat？”georgiaaskedme.

“itsurewould.”irepliedintoherear.

afewweekslater，mydaughter，vanessa，announcedplanstoattendherboyfriend，sprom.georgiadecidedtogivethemdancelessonsasachristmasgift.shefoundadancestudioandcalledthem.“areyousureyouandyourhusbanddon，twanttotakelessonswiththem？”thegentlemanasked.“there，sadiscountforasecondcouple.”

“well”mywifehesitated.“whynot？”

westoodwithtenothercouplesinthecentreoftheflooratjimmy，sdancestudio.ilistenedtotheconversations.“i，vealwayswantedtodothis.”onewomansaid.

“ihopeidon，tsteponsomeone，sfeet.”amanofaboutfiftysaidtohisgrayingwife.

adappergentlemanofaboutsixtysteppedintotheroomandfacedus.hewasfivefoottwoinch-ifthat.“i，mjimmy.you，reheretolearntodanceandyouwill.ipromiseyou，bythetimeyoufinishyourfirstsixweeks，andyou，llmakeyourfriendsjealous.”hesaid.

histoupee，obviouslyfittedmanyyearsago，wasslightlyoffcentreandbarelycoveredhisspreadingbaldness.westartedwiththebasicboxstep，asimplewaltzforthosewhoknowhowtodance.wepracticedthestepsfacingeachotherbutstandingseveralfeetapart.themensteppedforwardwiththeirleftfoot；thewomensteppedbackwiththeirright.ourstepsweremirrorimagesofeachother.

“watchhowit，sdone.”hetookoneofhisassistantsinhisarms.anannemurraysongbegantoplay.“savethelastdanceforme，”shesang.jimmyandhispartnerdriftedelegantlyaroundtheroom.

“we，regoingtostartthemusicagain.takeyourpartnerinyourarms.nowlet，sgiveitatry.”jimmysmiledatus.“it，seasy.you，llsee.”

annemurraysangagain.thesongwouldhauntusformonths.iheldgeorgiainmyarms.myrighthandheldherwaist，theleftheldherhand.themusicbegan.imovedmyleftfootforwardandsteppedongeorgia，stoe.westood，waitedforthebeat，andtriedagain.halfwaythroughthebox，wefaltered.

“holdherfirm！”oneoftheassistantscametoourside.shegrabbedmyarm.

“here！putyourarmaroundherwaist！holdherhandwiththeother！don，tmoveit.keepitfirm！youhavetoguideher！”

annemurraywailedagain.wegotthroughthefullboxwithoutstumblingorsteppingoneachother.comparedtotheinstructors，welookedliketwokidsdancingforthefirsttime.wewereawkward，butwelearned.

severalweekslater，somethinghappened.whileannemurrayedforthelastdance，georgiaandibegantoflowacrossthefloor.ourawkwardnesswasgone.wewerepartners.wewereone.

“yes！yes！”thejimmyyelledandsmiled.