atty Potential1 有潜力的帕蒂

Karen Smith 张恒

Once there was a young girl named Patty. She had lots of fun and made many friends. During the summer before her third grade， Patty started to try a new sport. Swim team was nearly over and Patty was the fastest swimmer in her age group. She had always been the best. There was a a tennis club in the neighborhood. Patty and her friend Darla got permission2 from their parents to join.

从前有一个小女孩叫帕蒂。她很开心，交了很多朋友。三年级前的那个夏天，帕蒂开始尝试一项新的运动。游泳队快结束了，帕蒂是同年龄组游得最快的，她一直是最好的。街区附近有个网球俱乐部，帕蒂和她的朋友达拉得到父母的同意后加入了这个俱乐部。

On Saturday morning， Darlas mom took the girls to a store and bought them each a good， used tennis racket. “If you girls stick to tennis， then well talk about a new racket. These will do for now.” The girls were excited with their new rackets. Patty had a purple racket and Darla got a blue one.

星期六早上，達拉的妈妈把两个女孩带到一家商店，给她们每人买了一个好的二手网球拍。“如果你们俩坚持打网球，那我们就再来谈新球拍。现在这对就可以了。”女孩们对新买的球拍感到很兴奋。帕蒂的球拍是紫色的，达拉的是蓝色的。

On Monday morning， at 7：00 a.m.， Pattys mom woke her up. “Its time for tennis！” Patty put her face into her pillow. “Mom， its way too early！” She jumped out of bed and went to the breakfast table. “Youll need fruit. Ill get you some Gatorade to take to the court3.” Her mother looked excited when Patty was picking up tennis racket. Patty finished breakfast and ran over to Darlas house. They walked over to the courts.

星期一早上7点，帕蒂的妈妈叫醒了她。“该打网球了！”帕蒂把脸埋进枕头里。“妈妈，太早了！”她从床上跳起来，走到早餐桌旁。“你需要水果。我给你弄点佳得乐（一种运动饮料）带到球场上。”帕蒂拿起网球拍时，她妈妈看起来很兴奋。帕蒂吃完早饭就跑到达拉家去了。她们步行去了球场。

Mrs. Cane， the tennis coach4， lined everyone up and started with the basics. There were four girls in the lesson. Mrs. Cane had two bags of balls and tossed5 them to the forehands and the backhands on and on. By the end of the week， Patty was really playing better. Mrs. Cane said that Patty had lots of potential. Darla， on the other hand， had difficulty. The other girls were having a hard time of it， too. Patty was the only one who seemed to get it.

网球教练凯恩太太把大家排成一行，从最基本的开始。这节课上有四个女孩，凯恩太太有两袋球，她不停地把球扔向她们的正手和反手。到了周末，帕蒂真的有进步了。凯恩太太说帕蒂很有潜力。另一方面，达拉却学得很艰难，其他的女孩也学得很困难。帕蒂似乎是唯一一个学会的人。

That weekend， Darla asked her parents to hit with her. Patty wasnt really interested. She was such a “natural” at tennis that she felt she really didnt need to practice. So， Darla was out in August， practicing her serves6 on Saturday. Sunday， after lunch， Darla was hitting tennis balls with her big brother. By the end of the summer， Darla was starting to get it.

那个周末，达拉恳求她的父母和她一起去打球。帕蒂不是很感兴趣。她打网球很有“天分”，她觉得自己真的不需要练习。所以，达拉自己在八月的高温中外出，周六练习发球。星期天午饭后，达拉和她哥哥一起打网球。到了夏末，达拉开始开窍了。

Mrs. Cane held another tennis club the week before school started. Darla and Patty signed7 up at once. Mrs. Cane was pleased with Darlas progress. “Well， I can tell whos been practicing！” Patty wished that she had been as hard-working as Darla， but she was still proud8 that she had such “natural” talent. Mrs. Cane said that Patty had so much potential and would be the next Billy Jean King if she would just practice. Both girls had a great time.

凯恩太太在开学前一周又开了一家网球俱乐部。达拉和帕蒂立刻报名了。凯恩太太对达拉的进步很满意。“好吧，我知道谁一直在练习！”帕蒂希望她能像达拉一样勤奋，但她仍然为自己有这种“天生”的能力而自得。凯恩太太说，帕蒂很有潜力，如果她肯练习的话，她会成为下一个比利·吉恩·金。两个女孩都玩得很开心。

Darla decided to join the neighborhood junior tennis team. Matches would be held every Thursday. Patty wanted to join， but she didnt want to miss the Youth Troop TV show. She daydreamed9 about being the next tennis star. She told herself that she would go on to hit the tennis ball when she got some free time. If Darla had fun， she would join the team in the spring.

達拉决定加入街区附近的少年网球队，每周四都有比赛。帕蒂想参加，但她不想错过“青年部队”电视节目。她梦想成为下一个网球明星。她告诉自己，等有空她会继续打网球。如果达拉玩得开心，她会在春天加入那个球队。

Several weeks later， and Patty went to one of the games. She was really impressed10 with the way the girls were hitting. She was a little bit lost， too.“Thirty-love，” cried Darla， before she served. “What is she talking about？” thought Patty. She wanted to ask but she didnt want to look stupid. At last， the match was over. Darla lost， but had a wonderful time. All the kids were really nice. Patty wished she had joined. It was too late， now.

几个星期过去了，帕蒂去看了一场比赛。女孩们打球的样子给她留下了深刻的印象。她也有点沉迷了。“三十个爱！”达拉在发球前喊道。“她在说什么？”帕蒂想。她想问，但不想让自己看起来很傻。最后，比赛结束了。达拉输了，但她玩得很开心。所有的孩子都很好，帕蒂真希望她能参加，现在已经太晚了。

Later in the year， the spring junior tennis team started up. Darla was captain11. Her parents bought her a brand new racket because she deserved12 it. She tried to talk Patty into joining， but Patty had not practiced and was way behind the rest of the girls. She wasnt happy when she wasnt the“best”. She hadnt make progress. All of that “natural talent” really got her nowhere.

今年晚些时候，春季少年网球队成立了，达拉是队长。她父母给她买了一个崭新的球拍，因为这是她应得的。她试图说服帕蒂加入，但帕蒂没有练习，远远落后于其他女孩。当她不是“最好”的时候，她不开心。她没有进步，所谓的“天赋”真的让她一无所获。

That spring， Darlas team went to the playoffs13. They got second place and were asked to the City Finals14. That was the worst week of Pattys life. She was very excited for the girls and cheered them on. But inside she felt terrible. “Why didnt I go ahead and join when they asked me？” she thought. Now it really was too late. No one was asking her to join the team anymore because they didnt need her. The girls had done much better than her.

那年春天，达拉的球队去了季后赛。她们得了第二名，被邀请参加城市决赛。那是帕蒂一生中最糟糕的一周。她为女孩们感到非常兴奋，并为她们加油，但她内心却很痛苦。“她们问我的时候，我为什么不参加呢？”她想。现在真的太迟了。没有人再请她加入球队了，因为她们不需要她了。女孩们的网球技术进步得远远超过了她。

Several of the girls couldnt go to the City Finals because they were going on vacation. Darla asked Patty to please play doubles with her at City Finals. Now Patty got her chance. Too bad she had not practiced. Darla helped Patty along during the game. Patty was too tired because of the hot weather. They lost eight to one. Patty really felt like she let her team down. But the team won the City Finals by one point. That point really was important. Darla and Pattys disappointment15 was quickly turned into jubilation16！They had a party. Patty thought tennis would be a good sport after all.

有几个女孩因为要去度假而不能参加城市总决赛。达拉请帕蒂在城市决赛中和她一起打双打。现在帕蒂有机会了，可惜她没有练习。达拉在比赛中一直帮助帕蒂。天气太热，帕蒂感到很疲劳。她们以8：1输了比赛。帕蒂真的觉得她让她的团队失望了。但该队在城市决赛中以1分获胜。这一点真的很重要。达拉和帕蒂的失望很快变成了欢乐！她们举行了一个庆祝会。帕蒂认为网球终究是一项好运动。

In the years， the team grew and grew. The girls went on to get better. They became very good friends. Patty joined a team out of the neighborhood and practiced a lot. Darla practiced with her and the two girls had lots of fun again. One of the girls on Darlas team moved and a place opened up for Patty. Patty was the weakest player， but she still enjoyed herself and worked hard at practice. Because she at last decided to practice and not take it that she was a “natural”， she was able to join in the fun. That was one of the best lessons of her life.

这些年来，这个团队不断发展变化。女孩们坚持了下来，继续在进步。她们成了很好的朋友。帕蒂加入了社区的一支球队，进行了大量练习。达拉和她一起练习，两个女孩又在一起玩得很开心。达拉队的一个女孩搬走了，给帕蒂留了个位子。虽然帕蒂是最弱的选手，但她仍然过得很开心，并且努力练习。因为她最终决定好好练习，不认为自己是个“天才”，所以她能够享受其中。那是她一生中最好的一课。

notes

1. potentialadj. 潜在的 n. 潜能，潜力; 潜质

2. permissionn. 允许，许可

3. court n. 球场

4. coachn. 教练

5. toss  v. 抛，投;甩（头）

6. servev. 招待，服务，发球n. 发球，轮到发球

7. sign  v. 签署;签名

8. proud  adj. 自豪的;得意的;自负的

9. daydream  vi. 做白日梦

10. impress vi. 给人印象 vt. 给予某人深刻印象

11. captain n. 队长，首领

12. deserve v. 应受，应得

13. playoff  n. 雙方得分相等时的最后决赛;复赛;季后赛

14. final  n. 决赛

15. disappointment n. 失望;沮丧

16. jubilation  n. 喜欢;庆祝;欢呼