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Pulling my way up the rusty log chain for the very last time, it was surprising anything remained of the old treehouse. As I sat listening to birds 1)chirp, my mind drifted back to the day it all started, my eleventh birthday. I never imagined a birthday gift would become one of the “2)Seven Wonders of the World.”
最近一次拽着那条已荒废的木链往上攀爬时,看到老树屋的“断壁残垣”,我很是惊讶。当我坐下来倾听鸟儿叽叽喳喳的鸣叫,我的思绪回到了这一切开始的那天——我的十一岁生日。我从未想象过一份生日礼物竟演变成了“世界七大奇迹”之一。
The monumental day arrived when I advanced to the 3)ripe old age of eleven. Birthdays were always special around the farm as the family would 4)conjure up some exciting surprise. And this excitement arrived when I heard my oldest brother say, “The tree next to the 5)raspberry patch has some really big limbs. 6)Wanna build a treehouse up there?” My eyes glinted with the thought of a treehouse from which to 7)wage war on the 8)hapless ground dwellers trapped far below.
这具有纪念意义的日子随着我步入十一岁这一“高龄”而至。在农场里,生日总是一个特别的日子。在这一天里,家里人会使出浑身解数,想出一些令“寿星”兴奋不已的惊喜。有天,我大哥对我说“那片山莓旁有棵树上的一些树枝很粗壮。想在上面建个树屋吗?”那一刻就是让我兴奋不已的生日惊喜。我两眼闪光,脑子里想着的是在那树屋上可以对远在地上的那些倒霉的居民们“发动战争”。
Ready to start the construction, we both set out to survey the future project site. Prior to my eleventh birthday, the old 9)elm was merely a 10)stocky looking tree that stood alongside the raspberry patch. But now, the elm tree would become something spectacular. Walking towards the raspberry patch, I chattered away about features we could add to the treehouse. As we rounded the corner by a clump of 11)aromatic 12)horseradish plants, I looked up in the tree and nearly 13)dropped my jaw. Nestled up in the branches I could see the framework of a treehouse. Not only had my brother already nailed some boards in place for a frame, but he’d found a sheet of 14)plywood and fitted it in place as a floor. A log chain hung downward from the platform, 15)jangling in the breeze, providing a most appropriate means by which to climb up into the treehouse.
准备开始建树屋了,我们俩出发前去调查这工程未来的落址。在我十一岁生日以前,那老榆树不过是山莓地旁一棵看上去矮矮实实的树,但现在,这棵榆树将蔚为壮观。走向那片山莓时,我聊着可以给树屋添置些什么东西。我们绕着那棵老榆树四周一丛丛芬芳的山葵走的时候,我往树上看了看,着实吓了一跳。在树枝间,我看见了一个树屋的框架。哥哥不仅已经在树枝上钉了几块板造出了树屋的框架,还找来了一块夹板,把它放进屋子做地板用。一条木链从那平台上悬挂下来,在风中剌剌作响。要爬进树屋,用这个方式再好不过了。
Unable to contain myself, I raced towards the log chain, preparing to 16)grapple my way up the tree. Monkeying upward with the precision only a child can manage, I looked about in awe. Brother followed a few seconds later with a big grin on his face. Standing upon the floor, I was already imagining walls containing 17)gun ports to peek out from. The view was fantastic! Even though it was no more than 15 feet up in the air, it felt more like 100 feet. For the first few minutes, brother and I discussed the next steps involved. The rest of the afternoon was spent 18)scrounging up old wood, metal 19)sides 20)cannibalized from washing machine 21)housings, and anything else that looked as if it could serve a useful purpose. By the end of the day, the first floor was complete. We even managed to add a roof which doubled as a second floor to 22)hide out on. A washing machine lid with the clothes door 23)hatch served as a 24)trap door to crawl up onto the roof through. It was a kid’s perfect dream!
我难以自抑地跑向那木链,准备拽着它爬上树。就像猴子般,我以小孩得天独厚的精准,一下就窜爬上树了,四下环顾,我心生敬畏。几秒后,哥哥跟着爬了上来,咧嘴而笑。站在木板上,我已在想象着墙壁里有一个个的枪眼,可以让我往外一瞥。景色棒极了!尽管树屋离地面只有15英尺(约4.6米),但感觉就像处于100英尺(约30.5米)高的地方。头几分钟,我和哥哥讨论着接下来要做的一些工作。那天下午余下的时间我们都用来搜寻旧木头、从洗衣机护盖上拆下来的金属架,以及别的一些看上去似乎能派上用场的东西。那晚,第一层地板已完工。我们甚至还添上了一个顶,用来做藏身之处的第二层地板。还加上了一个洗衣机机盖,一扇洗衣机舱门作为活门,供我们通过其爬上屋顶。这可是一个孩子完美的梦想!
In the days that followed, my cousins visited on weekends and we would wage wars amongst ourselves. Sometimes, I spent time alone daydreaming high above as many an afternoon of lounging about in the treehouse occupied my summer vacation time. With 25)blistering hot summer days, the breeze from the leaves of the tree always felt cool and refreshing. I’d sit with my legs dangling out over one edge, watching anything that moved down below. Chickens would wander by, scratching and pecking in the dirt, blissfully unaware that they were being watched like a hawk from unseen eyes hiding high above. Rabbits hopped along and never knew a 26)BB gun was so close at hand.
之后,我的堂兄弟姐妹们会在周末过来树屋里玩,我们之间会大战一番。有时,我独自一人在高处做着白日梦,把一个又一个下午都耗在了在树屋里,我的暑假就这么过了。在酷热的夏日里,树叶间透出的微风总让人感觉清爽。我会坐着,把脚悬在树屋边上,注视着那些在下面移动的东西。小鸡会漫步而过,在土里乱抓乱啄一通,乐悠悠地,也不知道高处暗藏着一双眼睛如老鹰般盯着它们。也有兔子跳过,全然不知就在附近有把BB枪瞄准了它们。
As time passed, everything continued to change in some manner. Just like my bones were growing, so were the limbs on the tree. As clothes were outgrown, support 27)braces in the tree were pulled apart by nature’s very own leafy 28)contortionist. A few times my brother and I carried out quick repairs to keep the treehouse from being condemned as uninhabitable. But as with many things in youth, our interest waned. Eventually, I grew up and moved out on my own. On occasion, I would return to visit the farm and climb up into treehouse to look around. Each time, the treehouse fell further and further into a state of disrepair. Finally, it reached the point where the only remaining sign of its presence was the rusty log chain. But I’m willing to bet the log chain is still there today. Maybe someday I’ll take a trip back to the farm before my hair totally falls out and see if the chain still stands—a 29)testament to what was once one of the “Seven Wonders of the World.”
时光飞逝,一切都以某种方式不断改变。就像我的骨骼在长一样,那棵老榆树的枝也在长。衣服穿不下了,钉在树上用来支撑树屋的支架也因大自然那一枝繁叶茂的“柔术表演者”——生长着的树枝——而被拉开。我和哥哥迅速修补了好几回,以免树屋进一步破败至不堪留驻。然而,小孩子对很多事情总是三分钟热度,我们对树屋的兴趣同样也渐渐消退。终于,我长大了,独自搬到了外面去住。我还不时回到那个农场,爬上那树屋四处瞅瞅。而每一次树屋都越发显得破落失修。最后,仅存的印证就只剩下那根已荒废的木链了。我还是愿意相信那条木链现在仍在那里的。也许某天,在我的头发完全掉光以前,我会再回到那个农场,去看看印证那昔日“世界七大奇迹”之一的树屋的那条木链是否仍在那里。
