圣诞前的一个寒冷的夜里，他满心期待地排队等着买热腾腾的墨西哥玉米粉蒸肉时，发现前面有一位母亲因为把外套披在孩子身上而自己冻得瑟瑟发抖，迟疑片刻之后，他把自己的夹克脱下递给了那位母亲。
好不容易轮到自己，他却被告知这一屉玉米粉蒸肉已经卖完，要等到下一屉蒸熟还要等上两个钟头，但是他必须得走了。这时那位母亲拉住他，请他留下地址。于是，在圣诞前夕那天，他不但收到了自己的夹克，还收到了香甜美味的玉米粉蒸肉……
"It's my own fault." Carl Fenter tugged his jacket closer against the abnormal bite of cold morning wind. "The rest of the family is home, where it's warm."
Just another one of his brilliant ideas - a big tamale玉米粉蒸肉 feast after tonight's Christmas Eve service at church - and look where it landed him: waiting in a line 50 people deep.
Who would've guessed that every tamale shop in the city would be sold out the day before Christmas? But they were, as Carl knew. He'd been driving all over El Paso that morning. Determined to bring home the tamales, Carl tried one last tienda商店, an old favorite out in Canutillo.
When he arrived, a fresh batch一批，一炉 was due off the steamer in 45 minutes. Taking his place at the end of the snaking line of tamale-seekers, he watched the woman in front of him remove her jacket to drape用布帘覆盖 around her shivering颤抖的 youngster. It wasn't long before she, too, shuddered in the chilly wind. After only a moment's hesitation, Carl shed his own jacket and offered it to the grateful mother.
Together, they cheered when the line crept匍匐爬行 forward at last, and smiling people exited the shop toting steamy bags. Finally, Carl got inside the door and inched his way closer to the counter, the woman now first in line.
"Sorry folks," the clerk announced, "that's the last of the tamales."
"No way!" Carl groaned with everyone else lined up behind him.
"But," stressed the man at the counter, "we'll have a final batch ready in, oh,
Defeated, Carl backed away, but the young mother grabbed his arm.
"You're leaving?"
"I have to," Carl glanced at his watch. "I promised to put up luminarias圣诞装饰灯 at my church."
"I'll get your order of tamales and bring them to your house."
Carl's brow furrowed. "I couldn't ask you to do that."
"But it's the least I can do. You lent me your coat." Her smile overrode践踏，超过 his objections. "Just give me your address." She and her little girl settled in for the long wait.
And at exactly noon on Christmas Eve, they delivered four dozen fragrant tamales - along with Carl's brown jacket - to his home.
相关单词：tugged
tugged解释：v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 )
tugged例句：
She tugged at his sleeve to get his attention. 她拽了拽他的袖子引起他的注意。
A wry smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. 他的嘴角带一丝苦笑。 来自《简明英汉词典》
相关单词：determined
determined解释：adj.坚定的；有决心的
determined例句：
I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。
相关单词：batch
batch解释：n.一批(组，群)；一批生产量
batch例句：
The first batch of cakes was burnt.第一炉蛋糕烤焦了。
I have a batch of letters to answer.我有一批信要回复。
相关单词：shuddered
shuddered解释：v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动
shuddered例句：
He slammed on the brakes and the car shuddered to a halt. 他猛踩刹车，车颤抖着停住了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
I shuddered at the sight of the dead body. 我一看见那尸体就战栗。 来自《简明英汉词典》
相关单词：chilly
chilly解释：adj.凉快的，寒冷的
chilly例句：
I feel chilly without a coat.我由于没有穿大衣而感到凉飕飕的。
I grew chilly when the fire went out.炉火熄灭后，寒气逼人。
相关单词：hesitation
hesitation解释：n.犹豫，踌躇
hesitation例句：
After a long hesitation, he told the truth at last.踌躇了半天，他终于直说了。
There was a certain hesitation in her manner.她的态度有些犹豫不决。
相关单词：groaned
groaned解释：v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦
groaned例句：
He groaned in anguish. 他痛苦地呻吟。
The cart groaned under the weight of the piano. 大车在钢琴的重压下嘎吱作响。 来自《简明英汉词典》
相关单词：furrowed
furrowed解释：v.犁田，开沟( furrow的过去式和过去分词 )
furrowed例句：
Overhead hung a summer sky furrowed with the rash of rockets. 头顶上的夏日夜空纵横着急疾而过的焰火。 来自辞典例句
The car furrowed the loose sand as it crossed the desert. 车子横过沙漠，在松软的沙土上犁出了一道车辙。 来自辞典例句
相关单词：overrode
overrode解释：越控( override的过去式 )； （以权力）否决； 优先于； 比…更重要
overrode例句：
The chairman overrode the committee's objections and signed the agreement. 主席不顾委员会的反对，径行签署了协议。
The Congress overrode the President's objection and passed the law. 国会不顾总统的反对，通过了那项法令。
相关单词：fragrant
fragrant解释：adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的
fragrant例句：
The Fragrant Hills are exceptionally beautiful in late autumn.深秋的香山格外美丽。
The air was fragrant with lavender.空气中弥漫薰衣草香。
