More than one way to the square

We were standing at the top of a church tower. My father had brought me to this spot in a small Italian town not far from our home in Rome. I wondered why.

"Look down, Elsa," Father said. I gathered all my courage and looked down. I saw the square in the centre of the village. And I saw the crisscross（十字形） of twisting, turning streets leading to the square.

"See, my dear, " Father said gently. "There is more than one way to the square. Life is like that. If you can’t get to the place where you want to go by one road, try another."

Now I understood why I was there. Earlier that day I had begged my mother to do something about the awful lunches that were served at school. But she refused because she could not believe the lunches were as bad as I said.

When I turned to Father for help, he would not interfere. Instead, he brought me to this high tower to give me a lesson. By the time we reached home, I had a plan.

At school the next day, I secretly poured my luncheon（午宴） soup into a bottle and brought it home. Then I talked the cook into serving it to Mother at dinner. The plan worked perfectly. She swallowed one spoonful and sputtered（喷溅） , "The cook must have gone mad!" Quickly I told her what I had done, and Mother stated firmly that she would take up the matter of lunches at school the next day!

In the years that followed I often remembered the lesson Father taught me. I knew where I wanted to go in life. I wanted to be a fashion designer. And on the way to my first small success I found the road blocked.

I was busy getting ready to show my winter fashions. Then just 13 days before the presentation the sewing（缝纫） girls were called out on strike. I found myself left with one tailor and woman who was in charge of the sewing room! I was as gloomy as my models and salesgirls. "We’ll never make it," one of them cried.

Here, I thought, is the test of all tests for Father’s advice. Where is the way out this time? I wondered and worried. I was certain we would have to call off the presentation or else show the clothes unfinished. Then it dawned on me. Why not show the clothes unfinished?

We worked hurriedly. And, exactly 13 days later, right on time, the Schiaparelli showing took place.

What a showing it was! Some coats had no sleeves; others had only one. Many of our clothes were still in an early stage. They were only patterns made of heavy cotton cloth. But on these we pinned sketches and pieces of material. In this way we were able to show that what colors and textures the clothes would have when they were finished.

All in all, the showing was different. It was so different that it was a great success. Our unusual showing caught the attention of the public, and orders for the clothes poured in.

Father’s wise words had guided me once again. There is more than one way to the square always.

相关单词：standing

standing解释：n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

standing例句：

After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。

They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

相关单词：twisting

twisting解释：n.翘曲，扭曲v.扭，搓，缠绕（ twist的现在分词 ）adj.缠绕的；曲折的；转动的

twisting例句：

The old peasant is twisting pieces of straw into a rope. 这位老农民正把稻草搓成绳子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

Those children have been twisting the wreath off again. 那些孩子又把花冠扭了下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

相关单词：interfere

interfere解释：v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰

interfere例句：

If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。

When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。

相关单词：luncheon

luncheon解释：n.午宴，午餐，便宴

luncheon例句：

We have luncheon at twelve o'clock.我们十二点钟用午餐。

I have a luncheon engagement.我午饭有约。

相关单词：perfectly

perfectly解释：adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

perfectly例句：

The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。

Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

相关单词：spoonful

spoonful解释：n.一匙（的量）

spoonful例句：

She put a spoonful of milk in each of the two cups.她在两个杯子里各加了一匙牛奶。

Tom added a spoonful of sugar to the coffee.汤姆在咖啡里加了一勺糖。

相关单词：sputtered

sputtered解释：v.唾沫飞溅( sputter的过去式和过去分词 )；发劈啪声；喷出；飞溅出

sputtered例句：

The candle sputtered out. 蜡烛噼啪爆响着熄灭了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

The balky engine sputtered and stopped. 不听使唤的发动机劈啪作响地停了下来。 来自辞典例句

相关单词：designer

designer解释：n.设计者，制图者

designer例句：

Carolyne is a fashion designer.卡罗琳是一名时装设计师。

He was a set designer.他是一个布景设计者。

相关单词：presentation

presentation解释：n.赠与，陈述，介绍；表演，展示

presentation例句：

Last week we went to the presentation of a new play.上星期我们去观看了一场新剧的演出。

The manner of presentation is highly important.介绍的方式很重要。

相关单词：gloomy

gloomy解释：adj.阴暗的，阴沉的，令人沮丧的，阴郁的

gloomy例句：

A few faint gleams of sunshine lit up the gloomy afternoon.几束隐约的阳光使阴暗的下午有些明亮。

When I saw their gloomy faces,I knew something was wrong.当我看到他们沮丧的脸时，我知道出事了。

相关单词：sleeves

sleeves解释：n.衣服袖子( sleeve的名词复数 )；套管；套筒；唱片套

sleeves例句：

The long sleeves of her dress embarrassed her movements. 她衣服的长袖子妨碍她的行动。 来自《简明英汉词典》

Girls nowadays don't wear their heart on their sleeves. 如今女孩子不轻易流露自己的感情。 来自《简明英汉词典》

相关单词：sketches

sketches解释：n.草图( sketch的名词复数 )；素描；速写；梗概

sketches例句：

The artist is making sketches for his next painting. 画家正为他的下一幅作品画素描。

You have to admit that these sketches are true to life. 你得承认这些素描很逼真。 来自《简明英汉词典》

相关单词：textures

textures解释：n.手感( texture的名词复数 )；质感；口感；（音乐或文学的）谐和统一感

textures例句：

I'm crazy about fabrics textures and colors and designs. 我喜欢各式各样的纺织物--对它的质地，色彩到花纹图案--简直是入了迷。 来自辞典例句

Let me clear up the point about the textures. 让我明确了一点有关的纹理。 来自互联网