Marie loved the beach. It was her favorite place in the entire world. It didn't matter which beach it was. She had visited many beaches in many places and she loved them all. What mattered to her was the sand between her toes, the sound of the waves crashing, and the wind blowing in her hair. Most of the time, thinking of the beach made her heart feel at peace, and it always made her smile.

beach - n.海灘；沙灘

favorite place - 最喜歡的地方

entire world - 整個世界

matter - v. 有重大關系；有重要性；要緊

sand - n. 沙子；沙地；沙灘

between - prep. 在……之間

toe - n. 腳趾

sound - n. 聲音

waves crashing - 海浪拍擊

wind blowing - 風在吹拂

heart - n. 內心；心臟

peace - n. 平靜；和平

Now Marie has two young children, and she is pregnant with a third, which makes going to the beach much more difficult than it used to be. She used to just hop in the car and go whenever she pleased, but now it was not so easy! She still loved to be at the beach, but now she had to consider the kids' schedules, along with her own and her husband's, just to plan the trip. Then Marie and her husband had to get the kids ready to go, get themselves ready to go, and get everyone's luggage packed. Then they had to drive to the beach and the closest one was four hours away! Marie felt exhausted just thinking about it.

child - n. 孩子；兒童

pregnant - adj. 懷孕的

difficult - adj. 困難的；不隨和的

hop in the car - exp. 跳上車

whenever - conj. 無論何時；每當

pleased - adj. 高興的；喜歡的

not so easy - exp. 沒那么簡單；不太容易

consider - v. 考慮；認為

schedule - n. 時間表；計劃表

husband's - 丈夫的

ready to go - exp. 準備出發

themselves - 他/她/它們自己

luggage packed - 收拾好行李

drive - v. 駕駛；驅動

closest - adj. 最近的

hour - n. 小時

exhausted - adj. 精疲力盡的；疲憊的

Spring break was coming up, and the kids would be off school for a week. She and her husband, John, decided that they would plan a trip to the beach and stay in a hotel for a couple of days. They had not been on vacation in years, and they needed to relax.

spring break - 春假[1]

off - prep. 離開；脫離

hotel - n.酒店；旅館

couple - n.數個；一對

vacation - n.假期；休假

year - n.年

relax - v.放松；休息

"We're going to the beach for your spring break," John told the children.

"Yay!" the children cried.

"I want to build a great big sandcastle," said Trevor, the eldest, who was eight years old.

"I want to find a white seashell," said Kitty, the youngest, who was five years old.

"I want to drink a cocktail on the balcony," John said under his breath. Marie playfully slapped his arm and reminded him that he shouldn't say such things around the kids.

"I want to get a nice tan," Marie sighed.

sandcastle - n.沙子城堡

eldest - adj.最年長的

years old - ……歲（年齡）

seashell - n.貝殼

youngest - adj.最年幼的

five years old - 5歲

cocktail - n.雞尾酒

balcony - n.陽臺

playfully slapped - 開玩笑地拍打

remind - v.提醒

shouldn't - 不應該

tan - n.日曬后皮膚的黝黑色

sigh - v.嘆氣；嘆息

They waited and waited, making plans and talking about how excited they were about going on vacation to the beach. They were staying for five whole days. It would be expensive for Marie and John because the hotel was not cheap, but they knew it would be worth it.

go on vacation - exp.去度假

expensive - adj.昂貴的

worth it - exp.值得的；有必要的

Spring break finally arrived. Marie woke the children up very early in the morning while it was still dark. She helped them get their suitcases and luggage into the car while John loaded hers and his own. Then, they started on the long drive to the beach.

arrive - v.抵達；到達

wake somebody up - exp.叫醒某人

suitcase - n.手提箱

load - v.裝載

For the first hour the kids slept, Marie dozed, and John drove. It was still dark. The sky turned pale blue, then pale pink, then brilliant pink and orange as the sun rose. They stopped at a little cafe to get some breakfast and coffee. The kids ate pancakes, Marie had oatmeal and fruit, and John had an omelet. John and Marie got some coffee to go, then they piled back in the car and kept driving.

sleep - v.睡覺

doze - v.打瞌睡

drive - v.駕駛

brilliant - adj.閃亮的；燦爛的

rise - v.升起；增加

cafe - n.咖啡館

pancake - n.薄煎餅[2]

oatmeal - n.燕麥粥

omelet - n.雞蛋餅[3]

pile - n.擠；塞

"Mama, I'm bored," whined Trevor.

"Count all the red cars," suggested Marie.

"Mama, I'm bored too," said Kitty.

"Count all the white cars," suggested Marie.

"Mama, I'm bored too," John teased.

"Count all the miles between here and the beach," Marie laughed.

bored - adj.無聊的

whine - v.發牢騷；抱怨

suggest - v.建議；暗示

tease - v.戲弄；取笑

laugh -v.笑；嘲笑

As they drove, Marie thought about their third child, who was due to be born in a few weeks. She and John did not want to know whether the baby was a boy or a girl until the baby was born, so Marie had come up with many names she liked. She wondered if Trevor and Kitty would get along with the new baby. She wondered if she would ever fit into her old blue jeans again. She wondered if the child would like sports or if they would prefer indoor activities like reading. Kitty was an outdoor girl, while Trevor liked both but preferred things like video games and cooking with Mama. She wondered if John ever minded that she was a stay-at-home mom. Was he ever resentful that she quit her job to raise the kids? He always seemed grateful when he came home to a clean house full of happy children and a good home-cooked meal, so Marie tried not to worry too much.

due - adj. 到期的；預期的

born - v.出生

week - n.周；星期

whether - conj.不論；是否；是……還是

come up with - exp.想出

like - v.喜歡

wonder - v.不知道；懷疑；想知道

get along - exp.和睦相處；進展

fit - v.合身；合適

blue jeans - 藍色牛仔褲

sport - n.運動

prefer - v.更喜歡；寧愿

indoor - adj.室內的

reading - n.閱讀；朗讀

outdoor - adj.室外的

video games - 電子游戲

cook - v.烹飪

mind - v.介意

stay-at-home mom - 全職媽媽

resentful - adj.不滿的；厭惡的；怨恨的

raise the kids - exp.養育孩子

grateful - adj.感謝的；感激的

clean - adj.干凈的

home-cooked - 家常的；家里做的

worry - v.擔心；煩惱

"How many red cars have you counted?" Marie asked after a while.

"Eleventy-twelve," Trevor said confidently.

"Even I know that's not a real number!" cried Kitty."I counted five."

"There were more than five," Trevor insisted. "You're just saying that 'cause you're five years old."

count - v.數；計數

confidently - adv.自信地

number - n.數字

cry - v.喊叫；哭泣

insist - v.堅持；堅稱

"Am not," Kitty protested, but secretly it was true. Five was her favorite number.

"Children, don't fight, please," Marie admonished. She could feel a headache coming on, and they still had a long way to ride. She fished in her bag for a couple of action figures and handed them to Kitty in the back seat. "Why don't you play with those? Give one to Trevor."

protest - v.抗議；抗拒

secretly - adv.秘密地；背地里

fight - v.吵架；打架；戰斗

admonish - v.告誡；勸告

headache - n.頭痛

fish - v.撈?。会烎~

action figures - （會動的）公仔玩偶

The action figures kept the children occupied for a long time. They fell asleep again after that, and it was lunchtime when they arrived at the beach. Check-in at the hotel was not until 3:00PM, so they went to a sea food restaurant to eat lunch together. Marie ordered shrimp scampi, hoping it would not upset her stomach. The kids wanted fish sticks and french fries, while John opted for surf and turf.

occupy - v.占據；占領；使忙碌

lunchtime - n.午餐時間

Check-in - 辦理入住手續；報道

hotel - m.酒店

seafood restaurant - 海鮮餐廳

shrimp scampi - 奶油蒜香明蝦意面

hope - v.希望

upset one's stomach - exp.不喜歡吃

fish sticks - 炸魚條

french fries - 炸薯條

opt - v.選擇；做出抉擇

surf and turf - 海鮮牛排套餐

Finally, it was time to check in to the hotel. The hotel lobby was spacious and airy with many potted plants and lots of sunshine. The weather was mild and all the windows were open. The lady at the desk smiled a lot. She had dark brown hair pulled into a tight bun at the back of her head and she wore bright red lipstick. Then they took their luggage to the room, which looked out over the oceanfront, and changed their clothes. There was still time to go to the beach!

Finally - adv.最后；終于

lobby - n.大廳；大堂

spacious - adj.寬敞的；廣闊的

airy - adj.通風的；輕快的

potted plants - 盆栽植物

sunshine - n.陽光

mild - adj.溫暖的；溫和的

pull - v.拉；扯

tight bun - 緊緊的圓發髻

lipstick - n.口紅；唇膏

oceanfront - n.海濱

"Wait, children, you need to put on sunscreen," Marie said as Trevor and Kitty ran for the door. "You don't want to get sunburned! John, you help Trevor and I'll help Kitty." Marie took her daughter's hand and began applying sunscreen to her hands, instructing her where and how to rub it in.

No one wanted to be at the beach more than Marie, but by the time the children were ready to go to the water she was exhausted!

sunscreen - n.防曬霜

sunburn - v.曬傷；曬黑

apply - v.涂抹；申請

instruct - v.指示；教導

exhausted - adj.疲憊的；精疲力盡的

"John, you all go ahead.I'm going to lay down for a while. I will catch up with you later."

Once everyone was gone, Marie sat on the edge of the bed in her pink bikini patting her tummy. She was excited for their third child, but this baby was wearing her out! She felt tired often these days. Her feet hurt, it was hard to eat because her appetite was irregular, and sometimes it was even hard to walk! She would be glad when this baby decided it was time to come out. For now, she would have to be content with taking a nap before she could enjoy the beach. Marie laid down and fell asleep almost immediately.

go ahead - 前進；進行

catch up with somebody - 趕上某人；抓住某人

wear one out - 讓某人精疲力盡

appetite - n.食欲；嗜好

irregular - adj.不規則的；無規律的

content - adj.滿足的

immediately - adv.立即；立刻

She woke an hour later, sat up with a little bit of a struggle and stretched. The sun was still out! She struggled to get to her feet too, but she made it. Marie looked at herself in the full-length mirror in the bathroom and smiled. Some women did not like how they looked while carrying a child, but Marie thought she looked perfect. She put her hair in a ponytail and made her way down to the beach.

struggle - n.掙扎；奮斗

stretch - v.伸展；拉伸

made it - v.達成；成功

full-length - adj.全身的；全長的

mirror - n.鏡子

carry - v.搭載；運輸

child - n.孩子

ponytail - n.馬尾辮

John had rented an umbrella and the kids were playing with some new friends. Trevor was keen on making the best sandcastle on the beach and the other children had special buckets for making sandcastle shapes. Kitty was helping because she liked to do whatever Trevor was doing. John was sitting under the umbrella and watching the children, but when he saw Marie coming he stood up and took her hand and kissed her hello.

rent - v.租用

umbrella - n.傘；陽傘；雨傘

keen - adj.渴望的；熱心的

bucket - n.桶

kiss one hello - exp.給某人見面吻

"How was your nap?" he asked.

"Really nice," she panted, out of breath from the short walk down to the beach. "I'll be happy to have energy again once the baby is born!"

Marie walked the rest of the way down the sand to the water. She inhaled deeply, relishing the sweet, salty breeze whipping her curly black hair around, and the tangy smell of coconut tanning oil someone was using nearby. She curled her toes in the wet sand and closed her eyes to listen to the waves crashing. Right as a wave broke and washed over her feet she felt the baby kick, her eyes opened and she laughed, pressing her palm to the spot on her tummy. Even though she was tired, Marie felt content as she stood with her feet in the surf, looking at the sunset, and hearing the waves crash and her children laughing behind her.

pant - v.氣喘；喘息

energy - n.精力；能量

inhaled deeply - 深深吸氣

relish - v.享受；期盼

sweet - adj.甜蜜的；甜的

salty breeze - 咸咸的微風

whip - v.攪動；抽打

curly - adj.蜷曲的

tangy - adj.撲鼻的；強烈的

coconut tanning oil - 椰子美黑油

curl - v.扭曲；蜷曲

waves crashing - 海浪拍擊

wash - v.沖刷；洗滌

break - v.打破

kick - v.踢

press - v.按壓

palm - n.手掌

surf - n.（沖到岸邊的）海浪

hear - v.聽

behind - prep.在后面；晚于

They came back to the beach right after breakfast the next day. Everyone put on lots of sun block and Marie took a little nap under their umbrella while John played Frisbee with the kids. They ate lunch on the beach: peanut butter sandwiches, cold water and cold apples from a cooler full of ice. Marie went swimming with Trevor, but Kitty wasn't allowed yet because she was too small. Kitty cried until John started hunting for seashells with her and then she forgot all about swimming. Marie and Trevor swam past the breakers, where it was easy to just float on the waves like a seagull. Trevor started a splash fight, which Marie won because she was the queen of splash fights!

breakfast - n.早餐

sunblock - n.防曬霜

Frisbee - n.飛盤；飛碟

peanut butter sandwich - 花生醬三明治

apple - n.蘋果

cooler - n.冰箱；冷卻器；散熱器

ice - n.冰

swimming - n.游泳

isn't allowed - 不被允許

hunt - v.搜尋；打獵

forget - n.忘記；忽略

breakers - n.碎浪區[4]

float - v.漂浮

wave - n.波浪

seagull - n.海鷗

splash fight - 水仗

queen - n.女王；王后

After another sandwich and some rest, the whole family decided to go for a walk on the beach.Marie walked arm-in-arm with John as the kids ran ahead, shrieking and splashing each other and throwing fistfuls of sand until John told them to cut it out.

shriek - v.尖叫

splash - v.潑灑；飛濺

throw - v.扔；投擲

fistful - n.一把

sand - n.沙子；沙地

cut it out - 停止；閉嘴

About twenty minutes in to the walk, Marie's stomach started to feel strange. It felt tight and it was painful! She stopped walking and grabbed John's hand. "I think the baby is coming!" she gasped.

"Kids, follow me!" John said. He easily lifted Marie in his arms and began carrying her up the beach. "My wife is having a baby!" he announced to no one in particular.

minute - n.分鐘

stomach - n.腹部；胃

strange - adj.奇怪的；陌生的

tight - adj.繃緊的

painful - adj.痛苦的；疼痛的

stopped walking - 停止走動

grab - v.攫??；捕獲

gasp - v.氣喘吁吁地說；喘息

easily lifted - 很輕松地舉起

carry - v.運輸；拌勻

having a baby - 生孩子

announce - v.宣布

particular - adj.特別的；獨有的

"Our little sister is coming!" cried Kitty.

"Our little brother is coming!" cried Trevor.

"Can someone help us? We're about a mile away from our car! I have to get my wife to a hospital!" John cried.

"I'm parked close by, let me give you a ride," offered an older gentleman wearing a colorful Hawaiian shirt.

John considered him, then considered his wife, then nodded. "All right, thank you, yes, we'd be much obliged," he said. "Come on, children."

"Daddy we're not supposed to talk to strangers," Trevor reminded John dutifully. "And never, ever get in a stranger's car!"

mile - n.英里

hospital - n.醫院

park - v.停車

ride - n.旅行；乘坐；搭乘

colorful Hawaiian shirt - 色彩豐富的夏威夷襯衫[5]

consider - v.考慮；思考

nod - v.點頭

be much obliged - exp.不勝感激

stranger - n.陌生人

remind - v.提醒

dutifully - adv.盡職盡責地；忠誠地

"That's right," Kitty piped up.

"You're right, kids, this is a very unusual decision," John agreed. "But it's okay because Mommy and I are both here. It'll be okay. Just never do it by yourselves, okay?"

"Is Mommy going to have the baby in the car?" Kitty wondered aloud.

"Probably not," the man in the colorful shirt said to her. "What's your name, kid?"

“...Kitty,"she said shyly.

pipe up - 高聲說話

unusual decision - 不同尋常的決定

agree - v.同意；贊成

by yourselves - 你們獨自地

aloud - 大聲地

Probably - adv.大概；或許

shyly - adv.害羞地

"Hiya Kitty, you can call me Charlie. And what's your name, fella?" he said to Trevor.

"Trevor," he said sullenly. "Why are you driving us to the hospital?"

"Well, my own wife was in a similar situation," Charlie explained. "We were on this very same beach in fact, over thirty years ago, when she started having our first child!"

"Was it a boy or a girl?" Kitty wanted to know.

"A boy," Charlie said. "We named him Samuel, but everyone calls him Sammy to this day."

They reached Charlie's car, which was an old green station wagon. John and Marie and Kitty got in the backseat while Trevor got to ride shotgun.

"Charlie, hurry!" John urged.

"I'm hurrying!" Charlie cried. "There's a lot of traffic today. Darn tourists..."

"Hey! We're tourists," Trevor reminded him.

Fella - n.小伙子

sullenly - adv.不高興地；陰沉地

similar situation - 相似的情況

station wagon - 旅行車[6]

backseat - n.后排座

to ride shotgun - exp.坐在副駕駛位置；擔任守衛；保駕護航

urge - v.催促

traffic - n.交通

Darn tourists - 討厭的游客

Marie was clinging tightly to John the whole time. When they got to the hospital, she was in a lot of pain and could not walk at all. They rushed her in and John followed while Trevor and Kitty waited with Charlie. Charlie didn't mind waiting and keeping an eye on the kids. There were some puzzles and little toys for kids in the waiting room which kept Trevor and Kitty occupied for a while, but everyone was very excited about the new baby. Trevor kept running across the waiting room and asking the nurse if they could see their baby brother yet.

cling - v.依偎

keep an eye on - exp.照看；留意

puzzle - n.拼圖游戲；智力游戲；謎題

toy - n.玩具

occupy - v.使忙碌；占據；占有

nurse - n.護士

"Or sister!" Kitty added every time.

It took a long, long time. Charlie got some snacks from the cafeteria because it was dinner time, and Trevor and Kitty got a kick out of eating chips and candy bars for dinner. The kids fell asleep not long after that, because it had been a long, exciting day!

Around midnight, the nurse woke them up and she led Charlie, Trevor, and Kitty through the hospital to the room where their mom was staying.

Marie looked very pale and very tired, but she could not stop smiling. The baby was in her arms, swaddled in a soft white blanket. "Children, come meet your new baby brother," Marie told them.

add - v.補充；增加

midnight - n.午夜

pale - adj.蒼白的

tired - adj.疲倦的

swaddle - v.用襁褓包裹

blanket - n.毯子；毛毯

"I told you!" Trevor cried triumphantly. Kitty did not seem disappointed as she scurried over and hopped up on the bed beside her mother to look curiously at the red-faced infant.

"He's so cute," Kitty cooed.

"I'm going to teach him how to play video games," said Trevor.

"Charlie, I can't thank you enough for all your help today," said John. The men shook hands.

"It was my pleasure. You have a lovely family, John. I enjoyed my time with the kids! Reminds me of when I had little ones of my own."

"What's his name?" Kitty asked.

"His name is Charlie," Marie said with a grin.

"You're teasing me!" Charlie exclaimed.

"Not at all," Marie answered. "John wanted to call him Ernest if he was a boy, but I thought Charlie was a much better fit."

"That's mighty sweet of you, ma'am," Charlie said bashfully.

"If it weren't for you, Charlie might have been born in the sand!" John laughed. "In fact, we're calling his middle name Beach. Charlie Beach."

"That's a silly name," Kitty observed.

"Kitty is a silly name," Trevor observed.

"Oh, children," Marie sighed with a smile.

triumphantly - adv.洋洋得意地；耀武揚威地

disappointed - adj.失望的；沮喪的

scurry - v.急跑

hop - v.跳躍；蹦跳

curiously - adv.好奇地

infant - n.嬰兒；幼兒

cute - adj.可愛的

coo - v.輕聲地說

shake hands - 握手

pleasure - n.快樂；高興

lovely family - 幸福的家庭

little one - exp.小家伙；孩子

tease - v.取笑；戲弄

answer - v.回答

fit - v.符合；適合

sweet of you - exp.你真好

bashfully - adv.羞怯地

middle name - 中間名

silly - adj.愚蠢的

observe - v.評論；觀察；注意

Summary

Marie is a woman who just loves the beach, and in fact, it is her favorite place to be in the whole world. When Marie was late in her pregnancy with her third child, she worried that going to the beach would be too difficult a task when considering her two young children and how tired she was with her pregnancy. Despite Marie's fears, she and her husband set off to the beach on spring break for a five day vacation with their two children, Trevor, who was eight, and Kitty, who was only five.

After a very long drive, Marie and her family arrived at the beach. Marie was so exhausted that she took a nap while her husband John took the kids to the beach. The next day, Marie was able to spend much more time at the beach, and she had a wonderful time playing with her children.

After lunch, Marie suddenly went into labor and was rushed to the hospital by an altruistic local man named Charlie. After a long and arduous labor, Marie bore a son who she named—Charlie Beach!

詞匯表：

beach - n.海灘；沙灘

favorite place - 最喜歡的地方

entire world - 整個世界

matter - v.有重大關系；有重要性；要緊

sand - n.沙子；沙地；沙灘

between - prep.在……之間

toe - n.腳趾

sound - n.聲音

waves crashing - 海浪拍擊

wind blowing - 風在吹拂

heart - n.內心；心臟

peace - n.平靜；和平

child - n.孩子；兒童

pregnant - adj.懷孕的

difficult - adj.困難的；不隨和的

hop in the car - exp.跳上車

whenever - conj.無論何時；每當

pleased - adj.高興的；喜歡的

not so easy - exp.沒那么簡單；不太容易

consider - v.考慮；認為

schedule - n.時間表；計劃表

husband's - 丈夫的

ready to go - exp.準備出發

themselves - 他/她/它們自己

luggage packed - 收拾好行李

drive - v.駕駛；驅動

closest - adj.最近的

hour - n.小時

exhausted - adj.精疲力盡的；疲憊的

spring break - 春假

off - prep.離開；脫離

hotel - n.酒店；旅館

couple - n.數個；一對

vacation - n.假期；休假

year - n.年

relax - v.放松；休息

sandcastle - n.沙子城堡

eldest - adj.最年長的

years old - ……歲（年齡）

seashell - n.貝殼

youngest - adj.最年幼的

five years old - 5歲

cocktail - n.雞尾酒

balcony - n.陽臺

playfully slapped - 開玩笑地拍打

remind - v.提醒

shouldn't - 不應該

tan - n.日曬后皮膚的黝黑色

sigh - v.嘆氣；嘆息

going on vacation - exp.去度假

expensive - adj.昂貴的

worth it - exp.值得的；有必要的

arrive - v.抵達；到達

wake somebody up - exp.叫醒某人

suitcase - n.手提箱

load - v.裝載

sleep - v.睡覺

doze - v.打瞌睡

drive - v.駕駛

brilliant - adj.閃亮的；燦爛的

rise - v.升起；增加

cafe - n.咖啡館

pancake - n.薄煎餅

oatmeal - n.燕麥粥

omelet - n.雞蛋餅

pile - n.擠；塞

bored - adj.無聊的

whine - v.發牢騷；抱怨

suggest - v.建議；暗示

tease - v.戲弄；取笑

laugh -v.笑；嘲笑

due - adj.到期的；預期的

born - v.出生

week - n.周；星期

whether - conj.不論；是否；是……還是

come up with - exp.想出

like - v.喜歡

wonder - v.不知道；懷疑；想知道

get along - exp.和睦相處；進展

fit - v.合身；合適

blue jeans - 藍色牛仔褲

sport - n.運動

prefer - v.更喜歡；寧愿

indoor - adj.室內的

reading - n.閱讀；朗讀

outdoor - adj.室外的

video games - 電子游戲

cook - v.烹飪

mind - v.介意

stay-at-home mom - 全職媽媽

resentful - adj.不滿的；厭惡的；怨恨的

raise the kids - exp.養育孩子

grateful - adj.感謝的；感激的

clean - adj.干凈的

home-cooked - 家常的；家里做的

worry - v.擔心；煩惱

count - v.數；計數

confidently - adv.自信地

number - n.數字

cry - v.喊叫；哭泣

insist - v.堅持；堅稱

protest - v.抗議；抗拒

secretly - adv.秘密地；背地里

fight - v.吵架；打架；戰斗

admonish - v.告誡；勸告

headache - n.頭痛

fish - v.撈??；釣魚

action figures - （會動的）公仔玩偶

occupy - v.占據；占領；使忙碌

lunchtime - n.午餐時間

Check-in - 辦理入住手續；報道

hotel - m.酒店

seafood restaurant - 海鮮餐廳

shrimp scampi - 奶油蒜香明蝦意面

hope - v.希望

upset one's stomach - exp.不喜歡吃

fish sticks - 炸魚條

french fries - 炸薯條

opt - v.選擇；做出抉擇

surf and turf - 海鮮牛排套餐

Finally - adv.最后；終于

lobby - n.大廳；大堂

spacious - adj.寬敞的；廣闊的

airy - adj.通風的；輕快的

potted plants - 盆栽植物

sunshine - n.陽光

mild - adj.溫暖的；溫和的

pull - v.拉；扯

tight bun - 緊緊的圓發髻

lipstick - n.口紅；唇膏

oceanfront - n.海濱

sunscreen - n.防曬霜

sunburn - v.曬傷；曬黑

apply - v.涂抹；申請

instruct - v.指示；教導

exhausted - adj.配備的；精疲力盡的

go ahead - 前進；進行

catch up with somebody - 趕上某人；抓住某人

wear one out - 讓某人精疲力盡

appetite - n.食欲；嗜好

irregular - adj.不規則的；無規律的

content - adj.滿足的

immediately - adv.立即；立刻

struggle - n.掙扎；奮斗

stretch - v.伸展；拉伸

made it - v.達成；成功

full-length - adj.全身的；全長的

mirror - n.鏡子

carry - v.搭載；運輸

child - n.孩子

ponytail - n.馬尾辮

pant - v.氣喘；喘息

energy - n.精力；能量

inhaled deeply - 深深吸氣

relish - v.享受；期盼

sweet - adj.甜蜜的；甜的

salty breeze - 咸咸的微風

whip - v.攪動；抽打

curly - adj.蜷曲的

tangy - adj.撲鼻的；強烈的

coconut tanning oil - 椰子美黑油

curl - v.扭曲；蜷曲

waves crashing - 海浪拍擊

wash - v.沖刷；洗滌

break - v.打破

kick - v.踢

press - v.按壓

palm - n.手掌

surf - n.（沖到岸邊的）海浪

hear - v.聽

behind - prep.在后面；晚于

breakfast - n.早餐

sunblock - n.防曬霜

Frisbee - n.飛盤；飛碟

peanut butter sandwich - 花生醬三明治

apple - n.蘋果

cooler - n.冰箱；冷卻器；散熱器

ice - n.冰

swimming - n.游泳

isn't allowed - 不被允許

hunt - v.搜尋；打獵

forget - n.忘記；忽略

breakers - n.碎浪區

float - v.漂浮

wave - n.波浪

seagull - n.海鷗

splash fight - 水仗

queen - n.女王；王后

shriek - v.尖叫

splash - v.潑灑；飛濺

throw - v.扔；投擲

fistful - n.一把

sand - n.沙子；沙地

cut it out - 停止；閉嘴

minute - n.分鐘

stomach - n.腹部；胃

strange - adj.奇怪的；陌生的

tight - adj.繃緊的

painful - adj.痛苦的；疼痛的

stopped walking - 停止走動

grab - v.攫取；捕獲

gasp - v.氣喘吁吁地說；喘息

easily lifted - 很輕松地舉起

carry - v.運輸；拌勻

having a baby - 生孩子

announce - v.宣布

particular - adj.特別的；獨有的

mile - n.英里

hospital - n.醫院

park - v.停車

ride - n.旅行；乘坐；搭乘

colorful Hawaiian shirt - 色彩豐富的夏威夷襯衫

consider - v.考慮；思考

nod - v.點頭

be much obliged - exp.不勝感激

stranger - n.陌生人

remind - v.提醒

dutifully - adv.盡職盡責地；忠誠地

pipe up - 高聲說話

unusual decision - 不同尋常的決定

agree - v.同意；贊成

by yourselves - 你們獨自地

aloud - 大聲地

Probably - adv.大概；或許

shyly - adv.害羞地

Fella - n.小伙子

sullenly - adv.不高興地；陰沉地

similar situation - 相似的情況

station wagon - 旅行車

backseat - n.后排座

to ride shotgun - exp.坐在副駕駛位置；擔任守衛；保駕護航

urge - v.催促

traffic - n.交通

Darn tourists - 討厭的游客

add - v.補充；增加

midnight - n.午夜

pale - adj.蒼白的

tired - adj.疲倦的

swaddle - v.用襁褓包裹

blanket - n.毯子；毛毯

triumphantly - adv.洋洋得意地；耀武揚威地

disappointed - adj.失望的；沮喪的

scurry - v.急跑

hop - v.跳躍；蹦跳

curiously - adv.好奇地

infant - n.嬰兒；幼兒

cute - adj.可愛的

coo - v.輕聲地說

shake hands - 握手

pleasure - n.快樂；高興

lovely family - 幸福的家庭

little one - exp.小家伙；孩子

tease - v.取笑；戲弄

answer - v.回答

fit - v.符合；適合

sweet of you - exp.你真好

bashfully - adv.羞怯地

middle name - 中間名

silly - adj.愚蠢的

observe - v.評論；觀察；注意

中文翻譯

海灘之旅

瑪麗超愛海灘，不論哪里的海灘她都愛，海灘大概是世界上她最愛的地方。她去過很多地方的許多海灘，每一處她都愛。對她來說，重要的是腳趾間的細沙、浪花拍打海岸的聲音，以及吹拂著頭發的清風。大部分時候，只要一想到海灘，她的內心就會感覺到寧靜，而這總能讓她會心一笑。

瑪麗已經有兩個小孩了，而且現在又懷著第三胎，因此，去海灘玩兒比以前要難得多。之前，只要來了興致，不管什么時候，跳上車就出發，但是現在可沒那么簡單了！她仍然喜歡去沙灘，但現在計劃行程的時候，不僅要考慮自己和老公的日程安排，還要顧及到孩子們的時間表。然后，瑪麗和老公要幫孩子們做好出門準備，要收拾好自己，還要打包全家人的行李。之后才能開車去海灘，最近的海灘離他們有4小時的車程！單是想想這些繁瑣的過程，瑪麗就已經覺得精疲力盡了。

春假馬上就要開始了，孩子們會有一周的假期?，旣惡退瞎s翰決定來一場海灘之旅，并在酒店里住幾天。他們已經好幾年沒有度過假了，需要放松一下。

“你們放春假的時候咱們去海灘玩兒?！奔s翰告訴孩子們。

“太棒了！”孩子們歡呼道。

“我要造一座漂亮的大大的沙子城堡?！碧乩赘フf道。特雷弗是家里最大的孩子，今年8歲。

“我想撿一個白色的貝殼。”凱蒂說道。凱蒂是妹妹，今年5歲。

“我想在陽臺上喝雞尾酒。”約翰壓低聲音說?，旣愰_玩笑地拍了拍約翰的手臂，提醒他不該在孩子面前說這些。

“我想好好曬曬太陽，美黑一下?！爆旣悋@了口氣。

就這樣，他們等啊等啊，做著各種計劃，談論著去海灘度假的興奮。他們會在那里待整整五天。對來瑪麗和約翰來說，這場旅行會開銷不小，因為酒店可不便宜，但他們知道這趟旅行肯定物有所值。

春假終于到了。一大早天還黑著，瑪麗就把孩子們都叫起來了。她幫孩子們把他們的手提箱和行李都搬到車上，而約翰則負責搬他們夫妻倆的行李。然后，他們就開始這趟去海灘的長途之旅啦。

最初的幾個小時，孩子們在睡覺，瑪麗打著瞌睡，約翰在開車。天還黑著。后來，天空開始變成淡藍色，然后變成淡粉色，之后變成亮粉色、橘黃色，最后太陽終于升起來了。他們在一個小咖啡館前停下車，吃點早餐喝些咖啡。孩子們吃了薄煎餅，瑪麗吃了燕麥粥和水果，約翰則吃了雞蛋餅。約翰和瑪麗又買了咖啡打包帶走，然后他們擠回車里繼續上路。

“媽媽，好無聊啊?！碧乩赘ケг沟?。

“不如數數路上有多少輛紅色的車吧。”瑪麗給他提了個建議。

“媽媽，我也無聊?！眲P蒂跟著說。

“那你數數有多少輛白色的車。”瑪麗這么建議她。

“媽媽，我也很無聊?！奔s翰打趣地說。

“你去數數從這里到海灘還有多少英里?！爆旣愋χ卮?。

約翰繼續開著車，瑪麗想到了她肚子里懷著的第三個孩子，幾周之后就要出生了。瑪麗和約翰不想在孩子出生前知道性別，所以她挑了很多她喜歡的名字。她不知道特雷弗和凱蒂能不能跟新寶寶好好相處。她不知道自己的身材能不能恢復到能穿上舊藍色牛仔褲的樣子。她不知道這個寶寶會喜歡運動，還是更愛室內活動，比如讀書。凱蒂是個喜歡戶外活動的姑娘，特雷弗則能靜能動，但他更喜歡打電子游戲，或者跟媽媽一起做飯。她不知道約翰有沒有介意過她當全職媽媽。對于她辭掉工作照看孩子的決定，他有沒有不滿？但是約翰每次回到家，看到干凈整潔的屋子、開心的孩子們和香噴噴家常飯，他似乎都心懷感激，所以瑪麗努力不去過分擔心這些問題。

過了一會兒，瑪麗問道：“你數了多少輛紅車？”

“十一十十二輛！”特雷弗充滿自信地回答。

“連我都知道你說的根本不是個數字！”凱蒂大叫道，“我數了五輛。”

“肯定不止五輛，”特雷弗一口咬定，“你說五輛只是因為你今年五歲。”

“才不是呢！”凱蒂反駁道。但其實，哥哥說的是事實，五是她最愛的數字。

“孩子們，請不要吵架?！爆旣悇裾f他們。她能感覺到頭痛正在襲來，而他們還有很長的路要開。她從包里摸索出幾個公仔玩偶，遞給了后座的凱蒂。“要不你玩玩具吧？給特雷弗一個?！?

兩個孩子玩了好一會兒的玩偶。他倆玩累了之后就繼續呼呼大睡了，到達海灘的時候差不多是午餐時間。酒店在下午3點之后才能辦理入住手續，所以他們找了一間海鮮餐廳去吃午餐?，旣慄c了一道奶油蒜香明蝦意面，希望這能合她的胃口。孩子們要了炸魚條和炸薯條，約翰則選擇了海鮮牛排套餐。

終于到酒店入住的時間了。酒店大堂寬敞又通透，擺著很多盆栽植物，灑滿了陽光。天氣暖和，所有的窗戶都開著。前臺的女士一直在微笑。她的頭發是深棕色的，在腦后挽成一個緊緊的發髻，涂著亮紅色的口紅。接著，他們把行李搬到了房間——可以俯瞰海濱的房間，然后換了衣服。今天還有時間去海灘呢！

“等等，孩子們，你們得先涂防曬霜。”特雷弗和凱蒂往門口跑的時候被瑪麗叫住了，“你們不想被曬傷吧！約翰，你去幫特雷弗涂，我來幫凱蒂?！爆旣愖ブ畠旱氖?，開始往她手上涂防曬霜，同時教給她應該在什么地方涂抹，以及如何涂抹。

沒有人比瑪麗更渴望去沙灘了，但是等到幫孩子們準備停當可以下水的時候，瑪麗已經累壞了！

“約翰，你們先去吧。我想躺會兒。過會兒我就去找你們?！?

等其他人都出門了，瑪麗穿著粉色比基尼坐在床邊，輕輕拍著自己的肚子。她對第三個孩子的到來很興奮，但這個寶寶真的讓她精疲力盡了！最近幾天她經常會覺得很累。她的腳很疼，她的胃口時好時壞，所以吃東西也很困難，而且有的時候甚至連走路都很難！寶寶出生的那天，她肯定會如釋重負的?，F在呢，在去海灘之前，能小睡一下，她就心滿意足了?，旣愄上聛?，幾乎立刻就睡著了。

她睡了一個小時后，有點吃力地坐了起來，舒展了下身子。外面還是陽光明媚！站起來也很困難，但是她還是站起來了?，旣愖叩叫l生間，對著全身鏡打量自己，微笑了起來。有些女性并不喜歡自己懷孕的樣子，但是瑪麗覺得自己看起來棒極了。她把頭發扎成馬尾，開始出發去海灘。

約翰租了一把遮陽傘，孩子們正在跟新朋友玩。特雷弗醉心于建造沙灘上最棒的沙子城堡，其他孩子有專用的桶，用來讓沙子城堡成型。凱蒂也在一邊幫忙，不管特雷弗干什么她都想一起參與。約翰坐在陽傘下看著孩子們，但當他看見瑪麗走來的時候，馬上站了起來，牽起她的手，給了她一個見面吻。

“睡得好么？”他問。

“非常好?！彼龤獯跤醯卣f，走到海灘的這短短一段路就讓她喘不過來氣了，“我現在就盼著寶寶出生，然后我就能重新恢復活力了！”

瑪麗繼續往前走過沙灘，踏進海水里。她深深地吸了口氣，享受著甜蜜又有些咸咸的海風吹散她黑色的卷發，也享受著身邊人涂的椰子美黑油那強烈的味道。她在濕的沙子里彎曲著腳趾，閉上眼睛聆聽著海浪的拍擊聲。當海浪打過來沖刷著她的腳的時候，她感覺到寶寶在肚子里踢她，她睜開眼笑了起來，用手掌輕壓著腹部寶寶踢過的地方。雖然瑪麗很累，但赤腳站在海浪里、看著日落，還能聽著海浪聲和身后孩子們的笑聲，這一切都讓她十分滿足。

第二天一早，他們吃過早餐就直接去了海灘。所有人都涂了很多防曬霜，約翰和孩子們玩飛盤的時候，瑪麗在陽傘下面小睡了一會兒。他們在沙灘上吃了午餐：花生醬三明治，以及裝在滿是冰的小冰箱里的冰水和冰鎮蘋果?，旣惡吞乩赘ハ潞Ｈビ斡玖耍莿P蒂還小，不能加入他們。凱蒂便大哭起來，直到約翰開始跟她一起撿貝殼，她才把游泳的事兒拋到腦后?，旣惡吞乩赘ビ芜^碎浪區——在這一區域很容易像海鷗一樣浮在浪花上。特雷弗開始打起了水仗，結果瑪麗大獲全勝，因為她可是“打水仗女王”！

每個人又吃了一個三明治，休息片刻后，一家人決定在海灘上散散步?，旣惡图s翰手挽著手走著，孩子們則飛快地沖到了前面，一邊尖叫，一邊向對方潑水、扔沙子，一直到約翰讓他們停下來才作罷。

大概二十分鐘后，瑪麗突然覺得肚子不舒服——感覺繃得緊緊的而且很疼！她停住腳步，抓住了約翰的手：“我覺得寶寶要出生了！”她喘著粗氣說。

“孩子們，跟著我！”約翰說。他輕松地把瑪麗抱了起來。“我老婆馬上就要生了！”他大聲宣布著，但是根本不知道在跟誰說話。

“我們的小妹妹要出生了！”凱蒂喊道。

“我們的小弟弟要出生了！”特雷弗喊道。

“有人能幫幫我們么？我們的車停在一英里外！我得帶我老婆去醫院！”約翰喊道。

“我的車就停在附近，我帶你們去。”一個穿著花花綠綠的夏威夷襯衫的年長男士說。

約翰打量了他一下，又考慮了一下老婆的情況，然后點了點頭?！昂玫?，謝謝您，感激不盡。”他說，“孩子們，快過來。”

“老爸，我們不應該跟陌生人說話，”特雷弗盡職盡責地提醒約翰，“而且永遠不能上陌生人的車！”

“沒錯兒?！眲P蒂大聲附和。

“你們說的對，孩子們，這確實是個很特別的決定?！奔s翰對他們表示贊同，“但是沒關系的，因為媽咪和我都在這兒呢。沒事的。不過沒有家長在的時候你們不能這樣做，明白嗎？”

“媽咪要在車里生寶寶嗎？”凱蒂又大聲問道。

“應該不會?！贝┗ㄒr衫的男人對她說，“你叫什么，孩子？”

“……凱蒂?！彼π叩鼗卮稹?

“你好啊凱蒂，我叫查理。你叫什么名字，小伙子？”他又問特雷弗。

“特雷弗?！彼麘崙嵉卣f，“你干嘛這么好心要送我們去醫院？”

“這個嘛，我老婆也遇到過類似的情況。”查理解釋說，“事實上當時也是在這個海灘，已經是三十年前的事兒了，那時候她正懷著我們的第一個孩子！”

“是個男孩兒還是女孩兒呀？”凱蒂很好奇。

“男孩兒。”查理說，“我們給他起名叫塞繆爾，但是一直到現在所有人都喊他塞米?！?

他們走到了查理的車旁，那是一輛老式的綠色旅行車。約翰、瑪麗和凱蒂坐在后排，特雷弗則坐在副駕上。

“查理，快點兒！”約翰催促道。

“嘿！我們就是游客?！碧乩赘ヌ嵝阉?。

“已經很快了！”查理大聲回答，“今天路上車太多了。討厭的游客……”

一路上瑪麗都緊緊依偎著約翰。到醫院的時候，她疼得太厲害，已經不能走路了。醫護人員匆忙把她推進產室，約翰緊跟在后，特雷弗和凱蒂則跟查理一起等著。查理不介意一邊幫著照看孩子們一邊等他們。等候室里有一些拼圖和小玩具，這讓特雷弗和凱蒂玩了一陣兒，但每個人都對寶寶的降生感到激動。特雷弗時不時地跑過等候室，問護士現在能不能去看他們的小弟弟。

“也許是小妹妹！”凱蒂每次都這么補充一句。

就這樣，過了很長很長時間。到晚餐時間時，查理從自助餐廳拿了一些零食，對于能用薯片和糖果當晚餐，特雷弗和凱蒂感到非常高興。不久之后孩子們就睡著了，因為這一天實在是漫長又刺激！

大約午夜時分，護士叫醒了他們，帶著查理、特雷弗和凱蒂穿過醫院，來到他們媽媽所在的病房。

瑪麗看起來蒼白又疲憊，但是臉上一直掛著微笑。小寶寶躺在她懷里，身上包著一塊軟軟的白毯子?！昂⒆觽?，來看看你們的小弟弟吧?！爆旣惛嬖V他們。

“我就說吧！”特雷弗洋洋得意地喊道。但是凱蒂看起來一點兒也不失望，她急忙跑過去，跳到床上坐在媽媽旁邊，好奇地看著這個紅臉蛋兒的小嬰兒。

“他太可愛了?！眲P蒂輕聲說。

“我要教他打電子游戲。”特雷弗說。

“查理，你今天的幫助我們實在是太感激了?！奔s翰說。兩個男人握了握手。

“別客氣。你有一個幸福的家庭，約翰。我也很喜歡跟孩子們在一起！這好像讓我回到了自己孩子小時候。”

“給他起什么名字？”凱蒂問。

“他叫查理?！爆旣愇⑿χf。

“你在開玩笑吧！”查理驚呼。

“沒開玩笑。”瑪麗回答，“本來約翰說如果是男孩子的話就叫歐尼斯特，但是現在我覺得查理更合適?！?

“您真是太貼心了，夫人?！辈槔碛行┖π吡?。

“要不是有你在，小查理可能就要生在沙灘上了！”約翰笑道，“實際上，我們給他起的中間名就是比奇，查理·比奇?！?

“這個名字太傻了?！边@是凱蒂評價說。

“凱蒂這個名字也很傻?！边@是特雷弗的評價。

“你們呀……”瑪麗微笑著嘆了口氣。

小結

瑪麗是個熱愛海灘的姑娘，事實上，海灘是她在這世界上最愛的地方。當她懷著第三個寶寶的時候，到了懷孕后期，一想到自己身懷六甲，家里還有兩個年幼的孩子，她就覺得去海灘玩實在是太困難了。但是盡管如此，她和老公還是決定春假的時候帶著孩子們——八歲的特雷弗和五歲的凱蒂——來一場五天的海灘之旅。

經過漫長的旅途，瑪麗一家人終于抵達了海灘。老公約翰先帶著孩子們去沙灘玩，而瑪麗則需要小睡一會兒，她已經精疲力盡了。第二天，瑪麗精神好了很多，可以在海灘多待些時候，并且跟孩子們度過了愉快的親子游戲時光。

午餐后，瑪麗突然開始陣痛，一位好心的當地居民——查理——緊急把他們送到了醫院。經過了很長時間的痛苦分娩，瑪麗生下了一個兒子，叫做查理·比奇！

注釋

[1]春假：歐美學校一般在三月份會放春假，時間多為7—10天。

[2]薄煎餅：用牛奶、雞蛋、面粉、糖等制成面糊后煎成的薄餅。

[3]雞蛋餅：西式早餐，先把蛋液煎至凝固，然后加入火腿、番茄、洋蔥、芝士等餡料，對折卷起即可。

[4]碎浪區：海浪離開吹風起浪的區域，在接近岸邊時，海浪底部與海底摩擦，速度降低，但水面上的浪花仍然快速前進，導致波浪越來越陡，最終破碎，這一區域被稱為碎浪區，沖浪等水上活動多在此區域進行。

[5]夏威夷襯衫：一種短袖襯衫，多印有豐富的圖案，色彩鮮艷，適合熱天穿著。

[6]旅行車：一種兩箱的轎車，與普通轎車相比后備箱的空間更大，適宜家庭出行。