爱的真谛：是谁给我的耳朵

　　　　　　　　　　　　　A True Gift of Love

"Can I see my baby?" the happy new mother asked%26#46;

When the bundle was nestled in her arms and she moved the fold of cloth to look upon his tiny face, she gasped%26#46; The doctor turned quickly and looked out the tall hospital window%26#46; The baby had been born without ears%26#46;

Time proved that the baby's hearing was perfect%26#46; It was only his appearance that was marred%26#46; When he rushed home from school one day and flung himself into his mother's arms, she sighed, knowing that his life was to be a succession of heartbreaks%26#46;

He blurted out the tragedy%26#46; "A boy, a big boy%26#46;%26#46;%26#46;called me a freak%26#46;"

He grew up, handsome for his misfortune%26#46; A favorite with his fellow students, he might have been class president, but for that%26#46; He developed a gift, a talent for literature and music%26#46;

"But you might mingle with other young people," his mother reproved him, but felt a kindness in her heart%26#46;

The boy's father had a session with the family physician%26#46;%26#46;%26#46; "Could nothing be done?"

"I believe I could graft on a pair of outer ears, if they could be procured," the doctor decided%26#46; Whereupon the search began for a person who would make such a sacrifice for a young man%26#46;

Two years went by%26#46; One day, his father said to the son, "You're going to the hospital, son%26#46; Mother and I have someone who will donate the ears you need%26#46; But it's a secret%26#46;"

The operation was a brilliant success, and a new person emerged%26#46; His talents blossomed into genius, and school and college became a series of triumphs%26#46;

Later he married and entered the diplomatic service%26#46; One day, he asked his father, "Who gave me the ears? Who gave me so much? I could never do enough for him or her%26#46;"

"I do not believe you could," said the father, "but the agreement was that you are not to know%26#46;%26#46;%26#46;not yet%26#46;"

The years kept their profound secret, but the day did come%26#46; One of the darkest days that ever pass through a son%26#46; He stood with his father over his mother's casket%26#46; Slowly, tenderly, the father stretched forth a hand and raised the thick, reddish brown hair to reveal the mother had no outer ears%26#46;

"Mother said she was glad she never let her hair be cut," his father whispered gently, "and nobody ever thought mother less beautiful, did they?"

　　中文：

　　“我可以看看我的宝宝吗？”初为人母的她开心地问道。

　　当裹着的婴儿放到她臂弯里，她掀开裹着婴儿的布，在看到他的小脸时，她不禁倒吸了一口气。医生快速地转过身，透过医院的高层窗户向外看去。婴儿生下来就没有耳朵。

　　时间证明婴儿的听力毫无问题，只是有损他的相貌。一天，当他匆匆从学校跑回家，扑向母亲的怀抱时，她叹了口气，意识到他的生活注定会受到一连串的打击。

　　他脱口诉说遭到的不幸：“一个男孩，一个大个子男孩……他喊我怪胎。”

　　他长大了，虽然不幸但还是长得挺帅。颇受同学的欢迎，要不是有缺陷，他很可能当了班长。他对文学和音乐很有天赋和潜质。

　　“但你可能会和其他年轻人一样。”母亲责备地说，但从心底里觉得很欣慰。

　　男孩的父亲与家庭医生商量……“难道真无法补救吗？”

　　“我认为可以移植一双外耳，如果能够找到的话。”医生做了决定，于是他们开始寻求一个愿意为这个年轻人做出牺牲的人。

　　两年过去了。一天，父亲对儿子说，“孩子，你要住院了。我和你妈找到愿意为你捐献耳朵的人了。但要求保密。”

　　手术获得了巨大成功，一个新人诞生了。他的潜力发展成一个天才，在中学和大学都取得了一连串的成功。

　　后来他结婚了，进入外交行业工作。一天，他问父亲：“是谁给我的耳朵？谁给了我那么多？我做多少都无法报答他/她。”

　　“我也这样认为，”父亲说，“但是协议上说你不能知道……还不到时候。”

　　他们的秘密遵守了很多年，但这天终于来了，这也是儿子度过的最黑暗的日子。他和父亲站在母亲的棺材前，慢慢地，轻柔地，父亲向前伸出一只手，掀开母亲浓密的、红褐色的头发：母亲竟然没有耳朵！

　　“你母亲说过她很高兴，她从不理发，”父亲轻柔地低声说，“但没人觉得母亲没以前美丽，是吧？”