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And If Elected--Lael J. Little

Part one

I'm not one of the in crowd at Haskell High School. I'm sort of on the outside of things. So I was surprised when Dagny Draperman asked to have lunch with me one day. Dagny is in the in crowd. She's in everything.

"Suzie," Dagny said, after we had found a table. "As you may know, I'll be running for president of the Student Organization in the up-coming election. I'd like you to work on my campaign. Would you like that?"
Would I like that? Would I like to find a thousand dollar bill?
"Yes or no?" asked Dagny.
"Do fish swim?" I said. "Do birds fly?" I say things like that when I'm nervous.
"I guess that means yes, " said Dagny. "Great. I'm going to have the best campaign Haskell High has ever seen. I'd like you to think of some campaign slogans for my posters. You do those things so well."
"You can count on me." I said, pleased.

"I'll be having a meeting at noon tomorrow with the members of my committee," said Dagny. "The rules say we only have two weeks to campaign. So we have to move quickly."
Just then, Eugene Beckman stopped by at our table. He smiled at us in that sweet, shy way he has that's so nice.
"I've been, y'know, looking for you, Dagny," he said. "I wanted to, y'know, congratulate you. About your, y'know, running for president."
Eugene is one of the smartest kids in the school. He knows a lot about science. But when he talks, you're so busy counting the "y' knows" that you lose track of what he's saying.

Dagny looked back at Eugene. "Thanks," she said. "I hear you'll be running for president, too. So good luck. Y'know."
I thought to myself that she didn't have to add that "y' know."
Eugene blushed. "Thanks," he said. "Well, I guess I'll, y' know, be seeing you."
I watched him leave. I didn't know he was running for president. If I had, maybe I wouldn't have agreed to help Dagny. Eugene lives across the street from me, and we've been friends forever.
But this was my big chance to break into the in group. I didn't think Eugene could possibly win anyway. So I might as well be on the winning side.
"He's got Mad Mel to run his campaign," Dagny said.
"Mad Mel," I groaned. "Wow."
"You're as smart as Mad Mel," Dagny said to me. "Don't worry about it. Have some ideas ready for the meeting, will you?"

I was pleased that Dagny had confidence in my abilities. But I didn't want to hurt Eugene. Still, he had Mad Mel on his side. Mad Mel really knows how to get attention. I'd really have to be sharp.
I didn't sleep much that night. I was too busy thinking up ideas. But I felt it was worth it when I went to the meeting. I found out who else was on the committee. There were Tanya, Rod, and Courtney, three of the most popular kids in the school.
I expected them to ask me what I was doing there. But they all smiled and said, "Hi, Suzie. Welcome aboard."
Dagny said the first thing to do was think about what her campaign ought to focus on. There was a lot of talk about whether she should promise to provide better food in the cafeteria. Dagny finally decided to push for a glass cabinet to show off the school's trophies.
I didn't want to speak up in that crowd. But I did. I said, "I think the food might be more important. Eugene will probably use it if you don't."

参考译文

我不属于 Haskell高中的任何群体，对这些东西不管不问。所以，当Dagny Draperman一天提出和我一起吃午饭时，我吃了一惊。Dagny是群体中的人，她什么都感兴趣。

"Suzie," 我们找到一个餐桌后，Dagny说，“或许你听说了，我正在为即将到来的学生会主席竞选做准备，我想请你帮些忙，你愿意吗？”
我愿意吗？我愿意得到一千美元吗？
“愿不愿意？” Dagny问。
“鱼会游泳吗？”我问，“鸟会飞吗？”每次一紧张我就这么说话。
“我想你是同意了，”Dagny说。“太好了，我想组织Haskell高中最好的竞选，我想请你为我的海报构思一些竞选口号，你在这方面很行的。”
“没问题，”我高兴地说。

“明天中午我会给我的委员会成员开个会，” Dagny说，“按规定我们只有两周的竞选时间，所以得快点行动。”
这时，Eugene Beckman 在我们的餐桌前停下，对着我们笑，带着一贯的沁人的、羞涩的微笑，非常友好。
“我一直在，你知道，找你呢， Dagny，”他说，“我想，你知道，祝贺你。你们，你知道，竞选主席。”
Eugene是学校最聪明的学生之一，他知道很多科学知识。但是他一讲话，你就得不停地数“你知道”的次数，这样就不知道他在说什么了。

Dagny回头看了看 Eugene，“谢谢，”她说。“听说你也要竞选主席，祝你好运，你知道。”
我心里想，她没有必要加上一句“你知道”的。
Eugene脸红了，“谢谢，”他说。“哦，我想我会，你知道，看到你的。”
我看着他离去，我原不知道他也参加竞选，如果知道，或许我不会同意帮助Dagny。 Eugene住在我家街对面，我们一直都是朋友。
但这是我融入群体的大好机会，无论如何我不相信 Eugene会赢。所以我最好还是站在胜利的一方吧。
“他已经拉了 Mad Mel帮他竞选，”Dagny说。
“Mad Mel，”我嘀咕着。“喔。”
“你和Mad Mel一样聪明，”Dagny对我说，“别担心，为会议想些点子吧，好吗？”

Dagny相信我的能力，这让我很高兴。但我不想伤害Eugene。然而他拉了 Mad Mel站到他这边， Mad Mel很了解如何吸引注意力。我真得厉害些。
那天晚上我没有睡好觉，一直都在想点子。但到了会场后我就认为这是值得的。我看到了委员会的其他成员，有Tanya, Rod 和 Courtne，这是学校最受欢迎的三个学生。
我希望他们问在这里我做什么，但他们只是笑了笑，说，“嗨，Suzie，欢迎加入。”
Dagny说，第一件要做的事就是确定竞选的主题，我们就是否承诺改善食堂伙食讨论了半天。Dagny最终决定争取建个玻璃橱窗，以展览学校的奖品。
我本不想在人堆里说什么的。但是我说了，我说，“我想伙食更重要，如果你不做这个，Eugene可能会做的。”

词汇释义

1.upcoming adj. 即将来临的,预定将要

例句：
They have made good preparation for the upcoming elections.
他们对即将到来的选举作了充分的准备。

2.poster n. 海报,招贴,脚夫

例句：
He put up a poster advertising the circus.
他贴了一张宣传马戏团的海报。

3.blush v. 脸红

例句：
The student murmured the answer with a blush.
那个学生红着脸小声说出了答案。

4.cafeteria n. 自助餐厅

例句：
A noisy cafeteria.
嘈杂的自助餐厅

词组解释

1.run for 竞选

例句：
He'll run for the Presidency.
他将参加总统竞选。

2.stop by v.顺便访问

例句：
Can you stop by for a moment on your way home from your firm?
你从公司回家时，能顺便来呆一会儿吗？

3.have confidence in vt. 信任

例句：
I have confidence in myself.
我对自己有信心。

4.worth it 值得化费时间[精力], 值得一干, 有必要

例句：
The new car cost a lot of money, but it's certainly worth it.
买这辆新汽车花了很多钱, 但确实物有所值.

5.think up v.想出, 发明, 捏造, 虚构

例句：
I tried to think up a funny game for the children to play.
我试图想出一种好玩的游戏给小孩们玩。

6.count on 依靠,指望

例句：
You can always count on Jim.
你可以永远相信吉姆。

7.break into v.破门而入, 侵占,进入

例句：
Which flat did they break into?
他们闯进哪个套间了？

8.push for v.奋力争取

例句：
They are pushing for electoral reform.
他们迫切要求改革选举制度.