李华结束了在中国的短期研究，返回美国，跟Larry一起在公园里散步。今天我们要学两个常用语：deal和let go.

LL: Wow, Lihua. Not only am I glad that you are back, I'm grateful that we can spend some time together in this warm weather!

LH: 是啊，今天天气真是太好了。你看，对面快餐店门口的那个不是小燕吗？我们过去打个招呼吧！

LL: Ummmm. We can meet up with her later, but I'd rather stay here and talk with you.

LH: 怎么啦？你好象显得很不自在。

LL: Ok Lihua, it's best that we don't go over there. She's - well - it's best you don't know what her deal is, you know?

LH: Her deal? 你说小燕走私毒品？那怎么可能！

LL: 'The deal' refers to someone's situation, mental state, or attitude problem. So, it's best that you not know what happened with her. But I should tell you.

LH: 我知道了，the deal是说一个人有问题。Tell me what her deal is. 还有啊，你也得好好解释解释，What YOUR deal is! 这次回来，你好象老是遮遮掩掩的。

LL: I'm sorry, but here's the deal: She took me out several times for dinner, and I -

LH: 真的吗？你们俩人没有怎么样吧？

LL: Please let me finish. The deal is - she wanted to try to start dating, and I tried the most polite way possible to let her know what MY deal was - which was that I'm not interested, but -

LH: So THAT's the deal! 我真没想到小燕会做出这种事来！What's her deal? 你干嘛不早告诉我！

LL: Ok, so the deal is - I was hoping to avoid this whole situation - to avoid this whole deal - but it's best that you know now.

LH: 我确实不太高兴，但我相信你。我也很了解小燕，I know her deal.

LL：If only I had known, I could have avoided the whole deal altogether!

LH：算了，不说这些，我做了些三明治，还有茶，我们去野餐。

******

LH: 怎么样，我做的三明治好吃吗？

LL: Delicious, Lihua! Where did you learn to make these... during your time in China? Hahah!

LH: 别逗了，小燕那桩事，还是让我心烦意乱的。她毕竟是我的好朋友，如今，她一定是伤透了心。

LL: Don't worry. She just needs some time to let it go.

LH: let what go? 放手？你难道有什么东西在小燕那里吗？

LL: 'To let it go' means to forgive and continue with your life after something bad happens. She is upset about what happened. After some time, she will let it go.

LH: 我明白了，let it go是忘记不愉快的事情，向前走的意思。你是说，只要待以时日，小燕就会把这段感情忘掉？你要知道，Larry, 心灵的伤痛可是很难愈合的。

LL: I agree, but everyone is different. Sometimes it takes a long time for people to let things go. And sometimes, people never let things go.

LH: 没错，很多人都有过类似的经历。

LL: I recall the first time I was rejected for a job that I applied for in college. It took me years before I could let it go!

LH: 还看不出来，你原来这么容易受到伤害。

LL: So, was there anything that took you a long time to let go?

LH: 那可能要算结束我的初恋了。

LL: Your first breakup? Who took longer to let it go? You or him?

LH: 当然是他了。说实话，我们两个本来就不是一路人。分手后，我的第一任男友整整给我打了一年的电话，希望能破镜重圆。He just recently let it go.

LL: Letting go can be the key to moving on with one's life. Sometimes people need to see a mental health specialist to help overcome such a difficult thing.

LH: 看心理医生？有那么严重？对了，你要不要再加点茶？

LL: Ah, great. Thanks, Lihua! I won't let go.

LH: Let go? 你在说什么呀？

LL: Nothing. I mean I won't let go of the tea cup. It's very expensive! Haha!

LH: 你又闹！有时候，我真搞不懂你。正经事说到一半，你就开玩笑。一点没正经。

LL: You know that's not true. I think we should let it go.

LH: What??? Let WHAT go?

LL: This topic, of course!

今天李华学到了两个常用语。一个是deal, 意思是某个人的状况和问题。还有一个是let it go ， 意思是忘记不愉快的往事，走出阴影。