You Never Picked Me Last

落在我身上的目光

塞浦路斯王皮格马利翁（Pygmalion）擅长雕刻，他把全部热情和希望放在自己雕刻的一个少女雕像身上，爱神阿弗洛狄忒为其真情所感，赋予雕像以生命，使两人结为夫妇。电影《窈窕淑女》（My Fair Lady）就是这一故事的翻版。据此产生了一个心理学名词 "皮格马利翁效应"，本文便是对这一效应的一个很好的注解：期望对于人的行为有着巨大的影响，要想使一个人发展更好，就应该给他传递积极的期望，积极的期望促使人们向好的方向发展。

Dr. Carr! Is it you" Is it really you?"

I turned from where I had been browsing in the bookstore to see a six-foot-six, muscular, good-looking, smiling, sandy-haired young man calling me.1 "It's me, Dr. Carr! Gibby!?"Gibby, it can't be. You're all grown up!?Looking closer, I would have known those eyes anywhere: serious, intense, penetrating2 blue eyes. Yes, it was my Gibby, all right.

He leaned down to hug his former elementary principal, and my thoughts went back to that shy, overweight little boy who transferred3 to our school as he began the fifth grade. He was quiet and withdrawn4 then.

Gibby had a difficult time the first few months, as do many children when they enter a new school. Some of the boys teased5 him about his lack of athletic ability when he attempted to play games on the playground. Gibby wasn't coordinated and had difficulty keeping up. He always appeared to be stumbling over his shoestrings. Most of the time, he was.6 I would remind him, "Better tie your shoestrings, son," and he'd reply, "yes, ma'am, Dr. Carr."

Often I would watch the students playing at recess7. I noticed that when they began to choose up sides for a game, serious little Gibby would usually be left standing alone.8 Several times I went out on the playground and said, "I never get to choose a team. May I"?The boys and girls would laugh at their principal who wanted to play, and say, Okay, Dr. Carr, it's your turn!?I'd call out a few names and then, around the fourth or fifth spot9, I'd call Gibby's name and a few others who never seemed to get selected by their peers. My team may not have been the best, but we were, by far, the happiest and definitely the most committed, determined, and loyal.10

In the early spring of Gibby's fifth grade year, I held an exercise class on the playground during recess for anyone who wanted to tone up their winter-weary muscles.11 Girls flocked12 to this program, and so did a few boys. Gibby was one of those.

We began by walking briskly around the perimeter of the large playground.13 I led the pack and Gibby invariably brought up the rear, puffing and panting and tripping over his shoestrings.14 As my group circled, we would pass Gibby who was giving it his all, but nevertheless, lagging far behind. I'd call to him, "Good going, Gibby. Keep it up. You're getting the hang of it15. Uh . . . better tie your shoestrings, son.?"yes, ma'am, Dr. Carr," he said, breathing hard and trying to put on16 a happy face.

After a month, Gibby shed a few pounds and didn't huff and puff as much.17 He still tripped over his shoestrings, but he did keep up with the group much easier.

By the fifth week, we had as many boys in our exercise class as girls. I don't believe the boys were suddenly all that interested in their health, for it was about this time the girls decided to dress out in shorts.18 We added some floor exercises19 to our program and held this class in the gym. Gibby was right there, in the back row, stretching and bending, lifting and kicking, as intense as ever. Gibby never gave up or made excuses. The little fellow just wasn't a quitter. He tried harder than anyone, and I admired his spunk20. Many of his classmates did too. In time, he gained confidence and began to smile and talk more. He wasn't the new kid anymore, and he began to make some solid friends.

Now, after all those years, here we were standing in the bookstore. My little Gibby towered over21 me.
"What are you doing here, Gibby"?I asked. "I heard you have moved to Georgia.?"yes, Dr. Carr. I live in Atlanta now, and I'm division manager of a computer software company. I'm visiting my mom here this weekend," he replied.

"Well, you look good and sound happy, Gibby.?"I am happy, Dr. Carr. And I think of you often. You know, it was kinda hard for me to change schools back then and move to a new town, but you were real nice to me.?"Why, thank you, Gibby.?"yeah, you were always laughing, and you made it fun to come to school," he said. "I'll never forget your exercise classes. You really made us work.?Then a big smile lit up his face as he continued, "But, Dr. Carr, you know the thing that I remember most about you"?"I have no idea, Gibby. What was it"?"Well," he said, as he stared at me with those deep blue eyes, "Whenever you got a chance to choose up sides on the playground, you never picked me last.?Of course not, Gibby. You were one of my most determined players.?We hugged again and he said, "I'm married now, Dr. Carr. She's really nice and always laughing. Come to think of it, she's a lot like you. And the best thing about her is-from everyone in the world she could have married, she picked me. She picked me first!?Tears flooded my eyes. I looked down to avoid his gaze and try to regain my control.22

It was then that I noticed his shoes.

"Better tie your shoestrings, "I mumbled23, wiping away my tears with the back of my hand.

"yes, ma'am, Dr. Carr," he replied, flashing that boyish grin.24

1． 我在书店里随意翻着书，转过身来看到一个身高六英尺六寸，体格强壮，长着一头浅棕色头发的英俊小伙子微笑着在跟我打招呼。
2． penetrating: 有洞察力的，锐利的。
3． transfer: 转学。
4． withdrawn: 沉默寡言的，性格内向的。
5． tease: 戏弄，取笑。
6． 他好像老是要被自己的鞋带绊倒--大多数时候他也确实被绊倒了。
7． recess: 课间休息。
8． 我发现当他们开始分组来玩游戏时，兴致勃勃的小Gibby往往都被冷落在一边。 choose up:<口>（在非正式比赛中由双方队长挑选队员）分成（两方）。
9． spot: <口>（序列中的）位置。
10． 我们这一组不一定是最好的，但我们肯定是玩得最高兴的，而且绝对是最最坚定、最最忠诚的。committed, determined, loyal三个词都是"忠诚、坚定"的意思。
11． 我利用课间休息的时间在操场上给大家开了健身课，谁要想锻炼一下冬天里松懈了的肌肉都可以参加。
12． flock: 聚集，蜂拥。
13． 开始的时候我们绕着大操场的外围快走。
14． 我在前头带队，Gibby总是跑在最后一个，气喘吁吁，还老是被鞋带绊倒。bring up the rear: 殿后，断后。
15． get the hang of: <口>掌握……的窍门。
16． put on: 假装，装出。
17． Gibby体重减了好几磅，也不再像以前气喘得那么厉害了。
18．我认为并不是这些男孩子突然间关心起自己的健康来了，而是大概在那个时候女孩子们决定要穿着惹眼的短裤来上课。dress out: 使（穿戴得）惹人注目，使（打扮得）花哨；short: 运动宽松短裤。
19． floor exercise: 自由体操。
20． spunk: 勇气，精神。
21． tower over: 高出。
22． 我低下头避开他的视线，努力克制住自己。
23． mumble: 含糊地说，咕哝。
24． 孩子气地咧嘴笑着。