Special Birthday Gifts特殊的生日禮物

Beverly L. Jenkins

Belmond Schwartz is not your average kid. Most kids look forward to celebratingtheir birthday because they get lots of presents， cake， and maybe even a birthdayparty， but Belmonds goals are a bit different. Instead of asking for a traditionalbirthday celebration， the 9-year-old only wants to feed the hungry.

貝爾蒙德·施瓦茨可不是一般的孩子。大多數孩子都期待著慶祝自己的生日，因為他們會收到很多禮物、蛋糕，甚至可能會有一個生日派對，但貝爾蒙德的目標有點不同。這位9 歲的孩子并沒有要求舉行傳統的生日慶祝活動，而是只想幫助饑民。

A few years ago， Belmond and his family took a trip， and seeing the largehomeless population there left a lasting mark on his heart.“I saw tents on the streetsand I had never seen them before in my life，”Belmond explained“. So I asked myparents what it was and they told me that these people couldnt afford to live， sothey had to live in tents and they didnt have very much money.”

幾年前，貝爾蒙德和他的家人去旅行，在那里看到大量流離失所的人給他心中留下了不可磨滅的印象。“我在街上看到了帳篷，我這輩子從未見過。”貝爾蒙德解釋道，“所以我問父母這是什么，而他們告訴我，那些人住不起房子，所以他們只能住在帳篷里，也沒有多少錢。”

When he learned that there are hungry and unhoused1 people right in his ownhometown， he decided to do what he can to help. Last year， instead of birthdaygifts， he asked for donations2 of food and cash3 to donate4 to those people. Hisidea was supported， and he decided to make it“bigger and better”this year！

當他得知自己的家鄉就有忍饑挨餓和無家可歸的人時，他決定要盡自己所能幫助他們。去年，他要求捐贈食物和現金給那些人們來代替生日禮物。他的主意得到了支持，而他決定今年把這件事做得“更大更好”！

Dad Steven said the special gifts their son asked for was perfect. Mom Lilyagreed，“He believes if he can give up a little， then you can give a little. And if weall give a little， then itll be a lot.”

父親史蒂文說，他們兒子要求的特別禮物非常棒。母親莉莉贊同道：“他相信，如果他能放棄一點，那么你可以付出一點。而如果我們都付出一點，那就會相當可觀。”

Notes

1. unhouse 使無家可歸

2. donation 捐贈物；捐贈

3. cash? 現款；現金

4. donate? 捐贈；贈送

Discussion 議一議

1. Whatsyour favorite birthday gift？ Why？ 你最喜歡的生日禮物是什么？為什么？

2. What do you think of Belmond爺sidea？ 你對貝爾蒙德的主意有什么看法？

▼歡迎投稿

你對上面的幾個問題有什么樣的想法呢？快快來稿同我們分享你的感想和你的故事吧！你的稿件將有機會在我們的“寒窗心語”欄目中刊登并向大家展示！

投稿須知

1.英文60～150 詞左右；

2. 電子稿件內請附上你的中文簡介，包括就讀學校、年級、班級、姓名、興趣等，以及電子版生活照一張；……