Magic Pillow
南茜·B.吉布斯 / Nancy B.Gibbs
Valentine’s Day had arrived and like other day of the year， I was very busy.
My romantic husband， Roy， planned a date like we had never had before. A reservation at an expensive restaurant was made. A beautifully wrapped present had been sitting on my dresser for a few days prior to the heart-filled holiday.
After a hard day at work， I hurried home， ran into the house and jumped into the shower. When my sweetheart arrived， I was dressed in my finest outfit and ready to go. He hugged me， just as the sitter arrived. We were both excited.
Unfortunately， the littlest member in our household wasn’t so happy.
“Daddy， you were going to take me to buy Mamma a present，” Becky， my eight-year-old daughter said， as she sadly walked over to the couch and sat down beside the babysitter.
Roy looked at his watch and realized that if we were to make our reservations， we had to leave right away. He didn’t even have a few minutes to take her to the corner drugstore to buy a heart-shaped box of chocolate candy.
“I’m sorry， I was late getting home， honey，” he said.
“That’s OK，” Becky replied. “I understand.”
The entire evening was bittersweet. I couldn’t help being concerned about the disappointment in Becky’s eyes. I remembered how the joyful Valentine’s Day glow had left her face， just before the door closed behind us. She wanted me to know how much she loved me. She didn’t realize it， but I already knew it very well.
Today， I can’t remember what was wrapped in that beautiful box， which I swooned over for several days， but I’ll never forget the special gift， which I received when we arrived back home.
Becky was asleep on the couch， clutching a box， which was sitting on her lap. When I kissed her cheek， she awoke. “I’ve got something for you， Mamma，” she said， as a giant smile covered her tiny face.
The little box was wrapped in newspaper. As I tore the paper off and opened the box， I found the sweetest Valentine gift that I have ever received.
After Roy and I left for our date， Becky got busy. She raided my fabric and cross-stitch box. She stitched the words “I Love You” on a piece of red fabric， cut the fabric in the shape of a heart， stitched the two pieces together， adorned it with lace and stuffed it with cotton. It was a heart-shaped pillow， filled with love， which I’ll cherish forever.
My wonderful Valentine gift has a special place in my bedroom today， some thirteen years later. As she was growing up into a young woman， many times I held that pillow close to my heart. I don’t know if a pillow can hold magic， but this pillow has surely held a great deal of joy for me over the years. It has helped me through several sleepless nights since she left home for college. I not only cherish the gift， but the memory， as well.
I know that I am a very lucky mother， indeed， to have such a wonderful little girl， who wanted so desperately to share her heart with me. As long as I live， there will never be another Valentine’s Day， which will be any more special to me.
情人节到了，与往常一样，我的日程表安排得满满的。
我的丈夫罗伊是一个很浪漫的人，策划了一个我们从未经历过的约会，他在一家高档餐馆订了位子；爱意盈盈的日子到来的前几天，他还把一份包装精美的礼品放到了我的梳妆台上。
一天繁忙的工作结束后，我匆匆赶回家，一头扎进浴室。等老公回来时，我已把最漂亮的衣服穿好，只等出发了。他拥抱着我，这时来给我们照看孩子的人也刚好到。我们俩都非常高兴。
很遗憾，我们家里最小的成员却不高兴。
“爸爸，你不是说要带我去给妈妈买礼物的吗？” 8岁的女儿贝姬边说边沮丧地朝沙发走去，坐在那位临时来照顾她的女士身边。
罗伊看了一下手表，他知道如果我们想按时到达预订的餐馆，必须马上动身。他甚至都抽不出几分钟时间带女儿到街角的小店买盒鸡心形巧克力。
“对不起，今天回来晚，没时间了，宝贝。”他说。
“没关系，”贝姬回答，“我知道。”
这是一个甜蜜的夜晚，却也有几分苦涩。我总会情不自禁地想起贝姬流露出的失望眼神。我总是回忆起，房门在我们身后关闭的那一刹那，贝姬原本因情人节而兴奋的小脸蛋上的光芒一下子消失的情形。她想让我知道她有多爱我。或许她并没有意识到，我心里已经很清楚她对我的爱。
如今，那个漂亮的盒子里装了什么礼物我已不记得，虽然我因它兴奋了好几天，但那晚回到家时收到的另一份特殊礼物，却令我永生难忘。
贝姬在沙发上睡着了，手里还握着一个盒子，放在她的小腿上。我吻了她的脸颊，她醒了。“妈妈，我要给您一样东西，”说着，小脸蛋溢满了灿烂的笑容。
小盒子用报纸包着。我撕开报纸，打开盒子，看到了我收到过的一份最甜美的情人节礼物。
在我和丈夫离开家去约会后，贝姬便忙开了。她把我的织品和十字绣盒子都翻出来，先在一块红布上绣上“我爱你”三个字，然后把布料剪成心形，把剪下来的两块布缝合到一起，再缀上一圈花边，最后在里面塞满棉花。一个心形的枕头做成了。这个枕头倾注了她多少爱啊！我会永远珍爱它。
大约13年过去了，那件珍爱的情人节礼物依然放在我卧室的一个特殊位置。女儿已经长大成人，这期间我无数次地将枕头紧紧贴在心窝。我不知道一个枕头是否藏有许多魔力，但我肯定，这么多年来这枕头给我带来了无尽的喜悦。女儿离开我进入大学时，是它伴我度过无数个不眠的夜晚。我珍爱这份礼物，更珍爱这美好的记忆。
我知道自己确实是位幸运的母亲，有这么一个值得称道的可爱女儿，她是那么渴望与我分享她心中的爱！在我有生之年，对我来说，应该不会再有比这更特殊的情人节了。记忆填空
1. After a hard day at ， I hurried home， ran into the house and into the shower. When my sweetheart ， I was dressed in my finest outfit and ready to go. He hugged me， just as the sitter arrived. We were both .
2. I remembered how the Valentine’s Day glow had her face， just before the door behind us. She wanted me to know how she loved me. She didn’t realize it， but I already knew it very .
3. I know that I am a very mother， indeed， to have such a wonderful little girl， wanted so desperately to share her with me.
佳句翻译
1. 情人节到了，与往常一样，我的日程表安排得满满的。
2. 她想让我知道她有多爱我。或许她并没有意识到，我心里已经很清楚她对我的爱。
3. 我不知道一个枕头是否藏有许多魔力，但我肯定，这么多年来这枕头给我带来了无尽的喜悦。
短语应用
1. ...but this pillow has surely held a great deal of joy for me over the years.
a great deal of：大量
2. As long as I live， there will never be another Valentine’s Day， which will be any more special to me.
as long as：只要
