文章主要內容：他本來打算要在那個周末自殺，他談到自己如何把課桌收拾乾淨，把他所有的東西都帶回家，這樣就不用媽媽以後再收拾了。然而，作者的一個不經意間的舉動挽救了他。到底是什麼舉動呢？讓我們一起來欣賞這篇美文吧。
With One Small Gesture
One day, when I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid from my class walking home from school. His name was Kyle. It looked like he was carrying all of his books. I thought to myself, "Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday? He must really be a nerd." I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friend tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on. As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him. They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt. His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him. He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes. So, I jogged over to him and as he crawled around looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye. As I handed him his glasses, he said, "Those guys are jerks. They really should get lives.」
He looked at me and said, "Hey thanks!" There was a big smile on his face. It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude. I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived. As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before. He said he had gone to private school before now.
We talked all the way home, and I carried his books. He turned out to be a pretty cool kid. I asked him if he wanted to play football on Saturday with my friends and me. He said yes. The more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him. And my friends thought the same of him. Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again. I stopped him and said, "Dim boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books every day!" He just laughed and handed me half the books.
Over the next four years, Kyle and I became the best friends. When we were seniors, we began to think about college. Kyle decided on Georgetown, and I was going to Duke. I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a problem.
Kyle was valedictorian of our class. I teased him all the time about being a nerd. He had to prepare a speech for graduation. I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak.
Graduation day, I saw Kyle.. He looked great. He filled out and actually looked good in glasses. He had more dates than me and all the girls loved him! Boy, sometimes I was jealous.
Today was one of those days. I could see that he was nervous about his speech. So, I smacked him on the back and said, "Hey, big guy, you'll be great!" He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled."Thanks," he said. As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began. "Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach.... but mostly your friends. I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give him or her. I am going to tell you a story." I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the first day we met. He had planned to kill himself over the weekend. He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home. He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile. "Thankfully, I was saved. My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable."
I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment. I saw his Mom and Dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile. Not until that moment did I realize it's depth.Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small gesture you can change a person's life. For better or for worse.
不經意間的舉動
當我還在上高一時，有一天，我看到我們班的一個孩子正步行回家。他叫凱爾。他似乎背著所有的書。我心想：「為什麼有人在周五就把所有的書都帶回家呢？他肯定是個書呆子。」我的周末計劃得非常詳細（先是派對，在第二天下午和我的朋友踢足球）。因此我聳了聳肩，走開了。正走著，我看到一幫孩子朝他跑去。他們追上他，把他所有的書都從懷裡扔到地上並把他絆倒，結果他摔在汙泥裡，眼鏡也被打飛了，我看到它落在離他10英尺遠的草地上。他抬起頭時，我看到他眼裡極度悲傷的表情。因此，我慢步向他跑過去。在他爬著尋找眼鏡時，我看到了他眼中的淚水。 我把眼鏡遞給他，說道：「那些傢伙都是些蠢蛋，他們真該遭到報應。」他看了看我，說：「嗨，謝謝了！」笑容在他臉上展現。正是這樣的笑顯示出了真正的感激。我幫他撿起書，問他住在哪裡。原來他住得離我很近。於是我就問他，怎麼以前我從沒有見過他呢，他說在來這所學校以前他上的是私立學校。我們一路聊著回家，我幫他拿著書。他原來竟是一位非常討人喜歡的孩子，我問他是否周六想跟我及我的朋友一起踢足球。他答應了。對凱爾了解得越多，我越是喜歡他。我的朋友也都這麼認為。到了周一早晨，凱爾又要背上那個巨大的書包了。我制止他，說：「傻孩子，你每天背這麼一大堆書，想練就一身強壯的肌肉呀！」他只是笑，並把一半書都遞給了我。接下來的四年裡，凱爾和我成為最好的朋友。到了高年級後，我們開始考慮上大學的事。凱爾決定去喬治敦，而我要去杜克。我知道我們永遠都是朋友，距離決不會成為問題。凱爾是我們班致告別詞的學生代表。 我總是取笑他是一個書呆子。他必須為畢業準備一個演講。我很慶幸不是我要站在那兒演講。畢業日來臨了——我看到了凱爾，他看起來帥極了。他長胖了些，戴著眼鏡很好看。他的約會比我還要多，幾乎所有的女孩都喜歡他。 天哪，有時候我都有些嫉妒。今天就是這樣。我能看出他對於演講有些緊張。因此，我拍了拍他的後背，說：「嗨，大小夥子，你會很出色的！」他看了看我，帶著那樣的表情（真正出於感激的那種），笑了。「謝謝，」他說。開始演講時，他清了清喉嚨，開始說：「畢業的時候，你應該感謝那些幫助你度過最困難時期的人。你的父母、老師、兄弟姐妹、也許還有教練……但主要是你的朋友。我在這兒要告訴你們，做別人的朋友是你能給予他們的最好禮物。我要給你們講一個故事。」我不敢置信地望著我的朋友，他講的就是我們第一天相遇的故事。他本來打算要在那個周末自殺，他談到自己如何把課桌收拾乾淨，把他所有的東西都帶回家，這樣就不用媽媽以後再收拾了。他直直地看著我，給了我一個笑容。「謝天謝地，我獲救了。我的朋友阻止了我去做那不堪設想的事情。」當這位帥氣的、受歡迎的男孩告訴我們有關他的最脆弱的時刻時，我聽到人群中都深吸了一口氣。我看到他的爸爸媽媽都看著我，帶著同樣感激的微笑。直到那時我才意識到它的深刻。決不要低估你的行動的力量，一個簡單的舉止也許會改變人的一生，無論是好是壞。
一起來學英語吧
nerd n. 討厭的人，傻瓜
jerk v. (使…)猝然一動
stack n. 垛，乾草堆 v. 堆成堆
jealous adj. 妒忌的
smack vt. 拍，打 n. 一拳
sibling n. 兄弟，姐妹
underestimate vt.&n. 低估
shrug one’s shoulders 聳肩
The more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him.（the+比較級+主+謂，the+比較級+主+謂）
對凱爾了解得越多，我越是喜歡他。
Not until that moment did I realize it's depth.(倒裝)
直到那時我才意識到它的深刻。
親愛的朋友們，我們在任何時候任何情況下都不要低估自己的行動的力量，一個簡單的舉止也許會改變人的一生。