Half a Day

Half a Day

Naguib Mahfous  

1. I walked alongside my father, clutching his right hand. All my clothes were new: the black shoes, the green school uniform, and the red cap. They did not make me happy, however, as this was the day I was to be thrown into school for the first time.

2. My mother stood at the window watching our progress, and I turned towards her from time to time, hoping she would help. We walked along a street lined with gardens, and fields planted with crops: pears, and date palms.

3."Why school ?" I asked my father. "What have I done ?"

4. "I'm not punishing you, " he said, laughing. "School's not a punishment. It's a place that makes useful men out of boys. Don' t you want to be useful like your brothers?"

5. I was not convinced. I did not believe there was really any good to be had in tearing me away from my home and throwing me into the huge, high-walled building.

6. When we arrived at the gate we could see the courtyard, vast and full of boys and girls. "Go in by yourself, " said my father, "and join them. Put a smile on your face and be a good example to others. "

7. I hesitated and clung to his hand, but he gently pushed me from him. "Be a man, " he said. "Today you truly begin life. You will find me waiting for you when it's time to leave. "

8. I took a few steps. Then the faces of the boys and girls came into view. I did not know a single one of them, and none of them knew me. I felt I was a stranger who had lost his way. But then some boys began to glance at me in curiosity, and one of them came over and asked, "Who brought you?"

9."My father, " I whispered.

10."My father's dead, " he said simply.

11. I did not know what to say. The gate was now closed. Some of the children burst into tears. The bell rang. A lady came

along, followed by a group of men. The men began sorting us into ranks. We were formed into an intricate pattern in the great courtyard surrounded by high buildings; from each floor we were overlooked by a long balcony roofed in wood.

12."This is your new home, "said the woman. "There are mothers and fathers here, too. Everything that is enjoyable and beneficial is here. So dry your tears and face life joyfully. "

13.Well, it seemed that my misgivings had had no basis. From the first moments I made many friends and fell in love with many girls. I had never imagined school would have this rich variety of experiences.

14.We played all sorts of games. In the music room we sang our first songs. We also had our first introduction to language. We saw a globe of the Earth, which revolved and showed the various continents and countries. We started learning numbers, and we were told the story of the Creator of the universe. We ate delicious food, took a little nap, and woke up to go on with friendship and love, playing and learning.

15. Our path, however, was not totally sweet and unclouded. We had to be observant and patient. It was not all a matter of playing and fooling around. Rivalries could bring about pain and hatred or give rise to fighting. And while the lady would sometimes smile, she would often yell and scold. Even more frequently she would resort to physical punishment.

16.In addition, the time for changing one' s mind was over and gone and there was no question of ever returning to the

paradise of home. Nothing lay ahead of us but exertion, struggle, and perseverance. Those who were able took advantage of the opportunities for success and happiness that presented themselves.

17. The bell rang, announcing the passing of the day and the end of work. The children rushed toward the gate, which was

opened again. I said goodbye to friends and sweethearts and passed through the gate. I looked around but found no trace of my father, who had promised to be there. I stepped aside to wait. When I had waited for a long time in vain, I decided to return home on my own. I walked a few steps, then came to a startled halt. Good Lord! Where was the street lined with gardens? Where had it disappeared to? When did all these cars invade it? And when did all these people come to rest on its surface? How did these hills of rubbish find their way to cover its sides? And where were the fields that bordered it? High buildings had taken over, the street was full of children, and disturbing noises shook the air. Here and there stood conjurers showing off their tricks or making snakes appear from baskets. Then there was a band announcing the opening of a circus, with clowns and weight lifters walking in front.

18. Good God! I was in a daze. My head spun. I almost went crazy. How could all this have happened in half a day, between

early morning and sunset? I would find the answer at home with my father. But where was my home? I hurried towards the crossroads, because I remembered that I had to cross the street to reach our house, but the stream of cars would not let up. Extremely irritated, I wondered when I would be able to cross.

19. I stood there a long time, until the young boy employed at the ironing shop on the corner came up to me.

20.He stretched out his arm and said, "Grandpa, let me take you across."

半日

1.我走在父亲的一侧，牢牢地抓着他的右手。我身上穿的，戴的全是新的：黑鞋子，绿校服，红帽子。然儿我一点儿也高兴不起来，因为今天我将第一次被扔到学校里去。 

2.母亲站在窗前望着我们缓缓前行，我也不时的回头看她，希望她会救我。我们沿着街道走着，街道两旁是花园和田野，田野里栽满了梨树和椰枣树。 

3.“我为什么要去上学？”我问父亲，“是我做错了什么了吗？” 

4.“我不是在惩罚你，”父亲笑着说道，“上学不是一种惩罚。学校是把孩子培养成才的地方。难道你不想象你哥哥们那样，成为一个有用的人吗？” 

5.我不相信他的话。我才不相信把我从家里拽出来，扔进那个大大的，高墙围绕的建筑里对我有什么真正的好处呢。 

6.到了学校门口，我们看到了宽阔的庭院，站满了孩子。“自己进去吧，”我父亲说，“加入他们。笑一笑，给其他的孩子做个好榜样。” 

7.我紧抓着父亲的手，犹豫不决。但是父亲却把我轻轻地推开了。“拿出点男子气概来，”他说，“从今天起你就要真正开始自己的生活了。放学时我会在这等你的。” 

8.我走了几步，便看见了一些孩子的面孔。他们中我一个也不认识。他们也没有一个认识我的。我感觉自己像是一个迷了路的陌生人。然而这时有些男孩开始好奇的打量我，其中一个走过来问到，“谁带你来的？” 

9.“我爸爸”我小声说道。 

10.“我爸爸死了，”他简短地说。

11.我不知道该说些什么。这时学校的门已经关上了，有些孩子哭了起来。接着，铃响了，一位女士走了过来，后面跟着一群男人。那些人把我们排成几行。使我们形成一个错综复杂的队行，站在那四周高楼耸立的院子里。每层楼都有长长的阳台，阳台上带有木制顶棚，从阳台上可以俯视到我们。 

12.“这是你们的新家，”那位女士说道，“这儿有你们的父母。一切能带给你们快乐，对你们有益的事物，这儿都有。因此擦干你们的眼泪，快快乐乐地面对生活。” 

13.这样看来我之前的顾虑都是毫无根据的了。从一开始我就结交了许多朋友，并且爱上了许多女孩。我从未想过学校的生活是如此丰富多彩。 

14.我们玩着各种各样的游戏，在音乐室里我们唱着第一次学会的歌。我们第一次接触到了语言的学习。我们看见了一个地球仪，旋转它，便能看见世界上的各个大洲和国家的名称。我们还开始学习数字，听老师将造物主的故事。吃过美味的食物，小睡之后，我们醒来又继续在友谊和爱之中嬉戏，学习。 

15.然而，校园生活并不是完全甜蜜和阳光普照的。我们还必须遵守纪律，耐心听讲。学校生活也不光是嬉戏和无所事事。同学间的竞争还可能引起痛苦，仇恨，甚至打斗。虽然那位女士有时面带微笑，但也经常会对我们大声吼叫并责骂我们，甚至，更常见的是体罚我们。 

16.另外，我们再也不能改变主意，再也不能回到天堂般的家里了。摆在我们面前的只有努力奋斗和坚持不懈。一旦机会来了那些有能力的人就会抓住它们去获取成功和幸福。 

17.铃响了，宣告一天学校生活的结束。孩子们匆匆奔向大门，这时大门被打开了。我向我的朋友和“女友们”告完别，走出了校门。我四处张望却没发现父亲的踪影。他答应我会在校门外等我的。于是我走到一边去等他。当我等了好久，他也没来的时候，我决定自己回家。我走了几步，却惊奇地站住了。我的天哪!那条两边是花园的街道怎么不见了？消失到哪里去了？是什么时候这些车辆闯到马路上的？又是什么时候这些人来到街道上歇憩的？这一座座垃圾堆又是怎样堆到街道两旁的？街道旁的田野又到哪里去了？取而代之的是林立的高楼。街道上挤满了孩子。嘈杂声震荡着空气。街头巷尾站着杂耍艺人，他们或玩着戏法，或是让蛇从篮子里出现。接着，一个乐队奏起了音乐，宣布马戏表演的开始，小丑和举重大力士走在前面。 

18.我的天!我感觉一片茫然，头晕目眩，几乎快要疯了。这一切怎么可能就在从清晨到日落的这半天时间里发生？或许回到家，父亲会告诉我答案的。但是，我的家又在哪里？我赶紧奔向十字路口，因为我记得要穿过那条街道才能到家，但车流不息，我极为恼怒，我知何时才可以过去。 

19.我久久的站在那里，直到在街道熨衣店里工作的小男孩向我走来。 

20.他伸出手臂来说道：“爷爷，我扶您过马路吧。”

单元测验： 

Quiz  

Explain the following words and phrases in English 

1.take sb. across 2.beneficial                       3.cling to

4.conjurer                          5.convince                         6.curiosity 

7.daze                                  8.exertion                          9.halt     

10.intricate                          11.irritated                        12.misgiving  

13.observant                       14.overlook                      15.perseverance

16.rank 17.revolve 18.scold

19.startled                           20. in vain  Keys 

1.take sb. to the other side                                 2.useful  

3. to hold closely; refuse to let go                      4. a magician  

5. to make sb. believe; to persuade                   

6.  the desire to learn and know  

7.  a condition of being unable to think or feel clearly  

8. effort           9. a stop or pause   10. very complicated

11. annoyed   12. feelings of doubt and fear 

13. careful to observe (rules)

14. to see a place from a building or window

15. to keep trying to do sth. in spite of the difficulties         

16. a line (of people)   17.to move or turn in a circle around a centralpoint  

18. to angrily criticize sb. , especially a child  

19. surprised and often slightly frightened                  

20. without result 

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