佚名/Anonymous
Frankie was a unique boy in unique circumstances. He was six years old. Already in his short life, he had endured more than most fifty year olds.
Frankie was very sick. He had been born with a tumor on his spinal cord. Frankie had been through surgery after surgery to try and cut away the dangerous growth. This was not the only thing that made him unique.
He was also unique because he'd come out of each surgery smiling.
The people in the hospital wondered how such a little boy could be so brave and strong. He was handling surgeries that would make most men cry in pain. His mother knew the secret. Frankie had learned to master his pain by mastering his imagination.
Frankie loved to pretend. He had a vivid imagination. In his world he could fly. He was twenty feet tall. He was the strongest man in the world. Frankie loved costumes. He would dress up in costumes as often as possible.
His favorites were of the comic book heroes he adored. While other kids of his age were wearing jeans, Frankie looked like a small super hero.
Many people found it strange that Frankie preferred to dress as Zorro, Spiderman or Superman. They thought it strange that this boy had more superhero costumes than socks. His mother wondered if she should be worried.
The doctor explained to her that Frankie was very smart. Dressing like a super hero was a brilliant way for his young mind to handle the terrifying and painful life he led.
After that, Frankie's mom was satisfied. She never questioned her son's desire to dress up again. When people said negative things, she ignored them or asked them to leave.
One time, Frankie had a really painful surgery. His confidence was rattled. When the next surgery came, he was worried and scared. His mother didn't know what to do. She saw Frankie staring into his closet looking for the right outfit. She sat down on the bed and held him in her arms.
"Maybe if I had the right costume," he whispered to himself. Her heart broke at his fear. Frankie was quiet for a while. "Mom," he whispered. "Yes dear?" she asked.
"Maybe I could go as Batman." he whispered. Although she had avoided purchasing the expensive costume, she relented.
The next day Frankie arrayed himself in a new cocoon of superhuman strength. Dressed as Batman for the first time, he swaggered through the hospital halls. The hospital workers clapped and cheered him on as he passed.
Frankie coolly raised his hand in acknowledgement of the people greeting him along the way. Powered by the strength of his fantasy, Frankie successfully made it through the surgery.
法蘭基是處於特別環境下的一個獨特的孩子。他隻有6歲，然而在他短暫的生命中，他已承受了比大多數50歲的中年人還多的苦痛。
法蘭基病得很嚴重，他的脊椎神經上生來就長了一個腫瘤。法蘭基不知道做過幾次腫瘤切除手術，來阻止危險擴張。但這不是唯一使他變得獨特的事情。
另一個獨特之處是，每回他做完手術都會麵帶微笑。
醫院的人都納悶，他接受的是那種大部分人都會痛哭的手術，這麽小的一個孩子怎麽會那麽勇敢，那麽堅強。他的媽媽知道其中的秘密：法蘭基學會了通過駕馭自己的想象力來控製自己身體所承受的痛苦。
法蘭基喜歡模仿別人，他的想象力很豐富，在他幻想的世界裏，他會飛，身高20英尺，是世界上最強壯的人。法蘭基對戲裝很著迷，他經常穿著各種不同的戲裝。
他喜歡漫畫書中他所崇拜的那些英雄穿的衣服，而這個年齡的其他孩子則喜歡穿牛仔裝。法蘭基就像個小超級英雄。
人們很奇怪，法蘭基會喜歡穿成佐羅、蜘蛛俠或超人的樣子，這個小男孩擁有的超級英雄的服裝比零食還多。法蘭基的媽媽不知道需不需要為此擔心。
醫生向她解釋說，法蘭基很聰明，對他幼小的心靈來說，穿成超級英雄的樣子來麵對生命帶來的恐懼和痛苦，是一種極其高明的方法。
於是從那時起，法蘭基的媽媽就放心了。對兒子想變裝的要求，她也不再有疑問。當有人說些消極的話時，她要麽置之不理，要麽就下逐客令請他離開。
有一次，因為手術令法蘭基痛苦難忍，他的信心大受打擊，要做下一次手術時，他顯得驚恐不安。媽媽不知道該怎麽辦，她看到兒子正盯著壁櫥挑選合適的衣服，她坐在**，把他抱在懷裏。
“如果我穿上合適的服裝，或許就不怕了。”他自言自語道。媽媽知道他很害怕，難過得心都碎了。法蘭基沉默了一會兒，小聲說道：“媽媽。”“怎麽了，寶貝？”媽媽問道。
“也許我穿成蝙蝠俠去做手術就不會怕了。”他小聲說。為了她可憐的孩子，雖然她一直沒舍得買那麽貴的戲裝，但還是買了。
第二天，法蘭基把自己打扮得像個破繭而出的超人。他第一次把自己裝扮成蝙蝠俠的樣子，當他大搖大擺地走過醫院走廊時，醫院的工作人員都為他鼓掌，替他加油鼓氣。
一路上，法蘭基很酷地舉起手來答謝問候他的人。憑借著幻想的力量，法蘭基成功地熬過了手術。
心靈小語
我們每個人都有過這種情況，在某種境遇下畏縮不前。我們的勇氣的底限在哪裏？生命隻有一次，不要讓恐懼為我們的人生蒙上一層灰色，隻要你有勇氣，就沒有人能阻擋你。
W 詞匯筆記
unique[ju?nik]adj.唯一的；獨一無二的；
例 I am in a rather unique position, as my job is different from anyone else's.
我的情況很特殊，因為我的工作與眾不同。
master[mɑ?st?]v.做……的主人；控製；征服；熟練；精通
例 He has mastered every detail of the business.
他已精通生意的每一個細節。
adore[??d?:]v.崇拜；熱愛；愛慕（某人）
例 They adored her as a living goddess.
他們把她當做活女神崇拜。
rattle[?r?tl]v.迅速而嘎嘎作響地移動；墜下或走動
例 A cart full of milk-bottles rattled past.
一輛載滿牛奶瓶的車子嘎嘎作響地駛過。
S 小試身手
法蘭基是處於特別環境下的一個獨特的孩子。
譯___________________________________________
另一個獨特之處是，每回他做完手術都會麵帶微笑。
譯___________________________________________
法蘭基把自己打扮得像個破繭而出的超人。
譯___________________________________________
P 短語家族
Frankie had been through surgery after surgery to try and cut away the dangerous growth.
cut away：切；剪；去掉；迅速離開
造___________________________________________
He would dress up in costumes as often as possible.
dress up：穿上特殊服裝；打扮；梳理；偽裝
造___________________________________________