小故事

The shadows were lengthening when Reuben arrived at the factory. The sack buyer was about to lock up.
鲁本赶到工厂，厂房的影子已被夕阳拉得很长了。收购麻袋的人正要锁门。
"Mister! Please don't close up yet."
“先生！请先不要关门。”
The man turned and saw Reuben, dirty and sweat stained.
那人转过身来，看到了脏兮兮、汗涔涔的鲁本。
"Come back tomorrow, boy."
“明天再来吧，孩子。”
"Please, Mister. I have to sell the sacks now—please." The man heard a tremor in Reuben's voice and could tell he was close to tears.
“求您了，先生，我必须现在把麻袋卖掉——求您啦。”那人感觉到鲁本的声音在颤抖，知道他快要哭了。
"Why do you need this money so badly?"
“你为什么这么急着要这点儿钱?”
"It's a secret."
　“这是秘密。”
The man took the sacks, reached into his pocket and put four coins in Reuben's hand. Reuben murmured a thank you and ran home.
那人接过麻袋，手伸进口袋，掏出4个硬币放在鲁本手里。鲁本轻轻说了声“谢谢”就往家跑。

Then, clutching the tin can, he headed for the shop.
接着，他紧紧搂着铁罐，直奔那家商店。
"I have the money," he solemnly told the owner.
“我有钱啦！”他一本正经地告诉店主。
The man went to the window and retrieved Reuben's treasure.
店主走向橱窗，取出鲁本梦寐以求的东西。
He wiped the dust off and gently wrapped it in brown paper. Then he placed the parcel in Reuben's hands.
他掸去灰尘，用牛皮纸把它小心包好，然后把这个小包放到鲁本手上。
Racing home, Reuben burst through the front door. His mother was scrubbing the kitchen stove. "Here, Mum! Here!" Reuben exclaimed as he ran to her side. He placed a small box in her work roughened hand.
鲁本一路狂奔到家，冲进前门。妈妈正在厨房擦洗灶台。“瞧，妈妈！瞧！”鲁本一边跑向她一边大叫着。他把一个小盒子放在她因劳作而变得粗糙的手上。
She unwrapped it carefully, to save the paper. A blue-velvet jewel box appeared. Dora lifted the lid, tears beginning to blur her vision.
为了不损坏包装纸，她小心翼翼地把它拆开，一个蓝色天鹅绒的首饰盒映入眼帘。多拉打开盒盖，泪水顿时模糊了她的双眼。
In gold lettering on a small, almond-shaped brooch was the word Mother.
在一个小巧的心状胸针上刻着金字：母亲。
It was Mother's Day, 1946.
那是1946年的母亲节。
Dora had never received such a gift; she had no finery except her wedding ring. Speechless, she smiled radiantly and gathered her son into her arms.
多拉从未收到过这样的礼物；除了结婚戒指外，她没有别的饰物。哽咽无语，她把儿子一把揽入怀中，脸上洋溢着动人的光彩。

重点讲解

重点讲解：
1. be about to do sth.
即将（做…）的；快要（发生…）的；
eg. As she was about to speak, I frowned her down.
她刚要开口，我就皱皱眉示意她别出声。
eg. He was under pressure to resign and was about to be sidelined.
他承受着被迫辞职的压力，很快就要被排挤出去了。
2. lock up
锁好（建筑物或汽车的）门窗；
eg. Don't forget to lock up.
别忘了锁好门窗。
eg. Leave your car here and lock it up.
把车停在这里锁好。
3. close up
（通常因离开）关上，关闭；
eg. Just close up the shop.
把店关了就好了。
eg. The summer house had been closed up all year.
这座消夏别墅关了整整一年。
4. wipe off
擦去；擦掉；揩干；
eg. She applied a little lipstick, wiped it off, but it left a pink tinge.
她抹了一点口红，又擦掉了，但却留下了一丝粉红色。
eg. He used his sleeve to wipe the con-densation off the glass.
他用袖子擦掉玻璃上凝结的水珠。