Passing through the Atlanta airport one morning, I caught one of those trains that take travelers from the main terminal to their boarding gates. Free, sterile and impersonal, the trains run back and forth all day long. Not many people consider them fun, but on this Saturday I heard laughter.
At the front of the first car - looking out the window at the track that lay ahead - were a man and his son.
We had just stopped to let off passengers, and the doors wee closing again. "Here we go! Hold on to me tight!" the father said. The boy,
I know we're supposed to avoid making racial distinctions these days, so I hope no one will mind if I mention that most people on the train were white, dressed for business trips or vacations - and that the father and son were black, dressed in clothes that were just
"Look out there!" the father said to his son. "See that pilot? I bet he's walking to his plane." The son craned his neck to look.
As I got off, I remembered some thing I'd wanted to buy in the terminal. I was early for my flight, so I decided to go back.
I did – and just as I was
"I want to ride some more!"
"More?" the father said, mock-exasperated but clearly pleased. "You're not tired?"
"This is fun!" his son said.
"All right," the father replied, and when a door opened we all got on.
There are parents who can afford to send their children to Europe or Disneyland, and the children turn out rotten. There are parents who live in million-dollar houses and give their children cars and swimming pools, yet something goes wrong. Rich and poor, black and white, so much goes wrong so often.
"Where are all these people going, Daddy?" the son asked.
"All over the world," came the reply. The other people in the air port wee leaving for distant destinations or arriving at the ends of their journeys. The father and son, though, were just riding this shuttle together, making it exciting, sharing each other's company.
So many troubles in this country - crime, the murderous soullessness that seems to be taking over the lives of many young people, the lowering of educational standards, the increase in vile obscenities in public, the disappearance of simple civility. So many questions
The answer is so simple: parents who care enough to spend time, and to pay attention and to try their best. It doesn't cost a cent, yet it is the most valuable thing in the world.
The train picked up speed, and the father pointed something out, and the boy laughed again.
相关单词:sterile
sterile解释:adj.不毛的,不孕的,无菌的,枯燥的,贫瘠的
sterile例句:
This top fits over the bottle and keeps the teat sterile.这个盖子严实地盖在奶瓶上,保持奶嘴无菌。
The farmers turned the sterile land into high fields.农民们把不毛之地变成了高产田。
相关单词:impersonal
impersonal解释:adj.无个人感情的,与个人无关的,非人称的
impersonal例句:
Even his children found him strangely distant and impersonal.他的孩子们也认为他跟其他人很疏远,没有人情味。
His manner seemed rather stiff and impersonal.他的态度似乎很生硬冷淡。
相关单词:forth
forth解释:adv.向前;向外,往外
forth例句:
The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。
相关单词:sheer
sheer解释:adj.绝对的,全然的,峻峭的;v.躲开,躲避,使...避开; adv.完全,全然,峻峭
sheer例句:
He achieved his aim by sheer strength of will.他纯粹靠意志力达到了目的。
I guess It'sheer waste of time arguing
相关单词:decided
decided解释:adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
decided例句:
This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
相关单词:vile
vile解释:adj.卑鄙的,可耻的,邪恶的;坏透的
vile例句:
Who could have carried out such a vile attack?会是谁发起这么卑鄙的攻击呢?
Her talk was full of vile curses.她的话里充满着恶毒的咒骂。
相关单词:disappearance
disappearance解释:n.消失,消散,失踪
disappearance例句:
He was hard put to it to explain her disappearance.他难以说明她为什么不见了。
Her disappearance gave rise to the wildest rumours.她失踪一事引起了各种流言蜚语。
相关单词:pointed
pointed解释:adj.尖的,直截了当的
pointed例句:
He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。