A Brother like That
那样的兄弟
A friend of mine named Paul received a new car from his brother as an early Christmas present.
我有个叫保罗的朋友，他提前收到了哥哥的圣诞节礼物，是一辆新车。
On Christmas Eve, when Paul came out of his office, a boy was walking around the shiny new car, admiring it.
平安夜，当保罗走出办公室时，一个男孩正围着那辆闪闪发亮的新车打转地看，非常羡慕。
"Is this your car, mister?" he asked.
“先生，这是你的车吗？” 男孩问道。
Paul nodded. "My brother gave it to me for Christmas."
保罗点点头：“我哥哥送给我的圣诞礼物。”
The boy looked astonished . "You mean your brother gave it to you, and it didn't cost you anything? Gosh, I wish . . ."
男孩满脸惊讶，支支吾吾地说：“你是说这是你哥哥送的，没花你一分钱？天哪，我真希望也能……”
He hesitated, and Paul knew what he was going to wish. He was going to wish he had a brother like that.
他迟疑了，保罗当然知道男孩的想法，他希望自己能有个那样的哥哥。
But what the lad（小伙） said jarred Paul all the way down to his heels.
但是男孩接下来说的话却完全出乎了保罗的意料。
"I wish," the boy went on, "that I could be a brother like that."
“我希望，” 男孩继续说，“我可以做一个那样的哥哥。”
Paul looked at the boy in astonishment, then impulsively（冲动地） added, "Would you like a ride in my new car?"
保罗惊讶地看着他，“你想不想坐我的车去兜兜风？” 保罗脱口而出。
"Oh, yes, I'd love that!"
“哦，我想！我喜欢！”
After a short ride the boy turned with his eyes aglow（发亮的） and said, "Mister, would you mind driving in front of my house?"
车开了一小段路后，小男孩转过头来，眼睛闪闪发亮，他说：“先生，您可不可以把车开到我家门前？”
Paul smiled a little. He thought he knew what the lad wanted. He wanted to show his neighbors that he could ride home in a big automobile. But Paul was wrong again.
保罗微微一笑。他以为自己知道这小家伙想干什么，男孩想向邻居们炫耀，可以坐一辆大汽车回家。但保罗又想错了。
"Will you stop right where those steps are?" the boy asked.
“您可以在那有两个台阶的房子前停下吗？” 男孩问道。
He ran up the steps. Then in a little while, Paul heard him coming back, but he was not coming fast.
他跑着上楼去。不一会儿，保罗就听到他回来的脚步声，但动作似乎有些缓慢。
He was carrying his little crippled（跛足的） brother. He sat down on the bottom step, then sort of squeezed up right next to him and pointed at the car.
保罗看见男孩正搀扶着跛脚的弟弟，扶着他坐在最底层的台阶上，然后紧紧地抱着他，指着这辆车。
"There she is, buddy, just like I told you upstairs.
“弟弟，你看，这就是我刚才在楼上对你说的那辆车。
His brother gave it to him for Christmas, and it didn't cost him a cent.
他哥哥给他的圣诞礼物，不用花他一分钱。
And someday I'm gonna give you one just like it; then you can see for yourself all the pretty things in the Christmas windows that I've been telling you about."
将来某天，我也会送你一辆这样的车，那样你就可以自己去看窗边的圣诞饰品，那些以前我讲给你听的圣诞饰品。”
Paul got out and lifted the little lad into the front seat of his car.
保罗走下车子，把跛脚男孩抱上了车的前座。
The shining-eyed older brother climbed in beside him and the three of them began a memorable ride.
兴奋得满眼放光的哥哥也爬上车，坐在弟弟的身旁。就这样他们三人开始了一次令人难忘的假日兜风。
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