Learning to Ride學騎自行車

陳佳

“Do you want to come riding with us in the park this Saturday？” Eric asked. He and Dave were great at riding bikes.

“Of course！” Pete replied. Pete smiled at his friends Eric and Dave， but inside his stomach twisted1 into a knot2. He didnt even know how to ride， but how could he tell his friends that？ It was embarrassing.

When he went home that night， he got out his bike. Even though he couldnt ride， he had a bike. His parents had bought it for his birthday a few months back. When hed first gotten it， hed been excited and had tried to learn. After a day or two and a scraped3 knee， hed given up. His mother smiled now to see him trying again， but he just gave her an angry look. It was embarrassing to not be able to ride a bike！

So Pete walked his bike across the street to the parking lot and tried to ride again. It was hard to keep from falling when he first started. He liked to keep both feet on the ground and just push himself along， because whenever he tried to push the pedals4， he fell over. After half an hour of trying， he still couldnt ride， and his legs hurt. Hed scraped his elbow5， too！He didnt know what he was going to do.

“Itll be alright， dear. Youll get it. Just keep trying，” his mother said. She was trying to be understanding， but it just made Pete angrier. He felt helpless. Even babies could ride bikes， right？

The next day at school， Eric and Dave sat with him at lunch. “Are you ready for the big bike trip on Saturday？” Dave asked.

“Oh， that，” Pete said sadly. He chewed6 his lunch and didnt want to say anything. It was hard to swallow7 his food， let alone his pride. How could he admit8 to his best friends that he couldnt ride a bike？

“Whats wrong？” Eric asked. He looked concerned9. “Are you busy this Saturday？”

“No. Its just...” Here it goes， Pete thought. Theyre going to laugh at me if I tell them.

“You cant ride a bike.” Dave said.

Pete opened his mouth. He almost lied and said he could， but he didnt like to lie to his friends. “No. I cant.”

“We know already，” Eric said. “Why do you think we invited you？”

“Really？” Pete looked puzzled. “Why would you invite me if I cant ride a bike？”

Eric was surprised that Pete would even ask. “Youve got the coolest bike in school， and were friends. We want to see you ride it. Were going to help you learn！”

Pete couldnt believe what he was hearing. “Wow！ Thats great. I thought you were going to make fun of me.”

Dave shook his head. “Were your friends. Why would we do that？”

“I dont know，” Pete shrugged10. “I guess I was just too proud to ask for help.”

That Saturday， Pete finally learned to ride his bike. He also learned a little something about humility11 and asking for help.

“這個星期六你想和我們一起去公園騎自行車嗎？”埃里克問道。他和戴夫很擅長騎自行車。

“當然！”皮特回答。皮特對著他的朋友埃里克和戴夫笑了笑，但他的胃里卻揪成一團。他甚至都不會騎自行車，但他怎么能告訴他的朋友呢？那太令人尷尬了。

那天晚上回家時，他把自行車拿出來了。盡管他不會騎車，但他有一輛自行車，那是幾個月前父母給他買的生日禮物。剛得到它的時候，他一直很興奮并且學著騎。過了一兩天，擦傷了膝蓋后，他就放棄了?，F(xiàn)在他媽媽笑著看他又開始嘗試，但他只是生氣地看了她一眼。不會騎自行車很令人尷尬！

于是皮特推著自行車穿過街道來到停車場，試著再騎一次。剛開始時，很難不摔倒。他喜歡雙腳著地，把自己往前推，因為每當試著踩踏板時，他都會摔倒。試了半個小時，他還是騎不會，腿也受傷了。他還擦傷了胳膊肘！他不知道他接下來該怎么辦。

“沒事的，親愛的。你會學會的，只要繼續(xù)努力。”他媽媽說。她試著表示體諒，但這讓皮特更生氣，他感到很無助。連嬰兒都會騎自行車，對吧？

第二天在學校，埃里克和戴夫同他坐在一起吃午飯?！澳銣蕚浜眯瞧诹淖孕熊囍昧藛?？”戴夫問道。

“哦，那個?！逼ぬ仉y過地說。他嚼了嚼午飯，什么也不想說。他食不下咽，更難以放下虛榮心。他怎么能向他最好的朋友承認自己不會騎自行車呢？

“怎么了？”埃里克問道，他看上去很擔心?！澳氵@個星期六忙嗎？”

“不，只是……”就是這樣，皮特想。如果告訴他們，他們會嘲笑我。

“你不會騎自行車?！贝鞣蛘f。

皮特張大了嘴。他差點撒謊說他會，但他不喜歡對朋友撒謊?！笆堑?，我不會?！?/p>

“我們已經(jīng)知道了?！卑＠锟苏f，“你以為我們?yōu)槭裁囱埬?？?/p>

“真的嗎？”皮特看起來很困惑。“如果我不會騎自行車，你為什么要邀請我？”

埃里克很驚訝皮特竟然會問出來?！澳阌袑W校里最酷的自行車，而且我們是朋友，我們想看你騎那輛車。我們會幫你學會騎的！”

皮特不敢相信他聽到的話?！巴?！太好了。我以為你們會取笑我?！?/p>

戴夫搖搖頭說：“我們是你的朋友。我們?yōu)槭裁匆菢幼?？?/p>

“我不知道?！逼ぬ芈柭柤缯f，“我想我是太高傲了，不肯尋求幫助。”

那個星期六，皮特終于學會了騎自行車。他也學會了謙遜和向他人求助。

（英語原文選自：HaveFunTeaching.com）

【Notes】

1. twist [■] v. 使彎曲;擰 2. knot [■] n. （繩等的）結(jié)

3. scrape [■] v. 擦傷 4. pedal [■] n. （車輛，樂器的）踏板

5. elbow [■] n. 肘部 6. chew [■] v. 咀嚼

7. swallow [■] v. 吞下;咽下 8. admit [■] v. 承認

9. concerned [■] adj. 有關(guān)的;關(guān)心的 10. shrug [■] v. 聳肩，聳肩表示

11. humility [■] n. 謙卑，謙遜