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Half a Day
半日
Naguib Mahfouz
纳吉布·马哈福兹
I walked alongside my father, clutching his right hand. All my clothes were new: the black shoes, the green school uniform, and the red cap. They did not make me happy, however, as this was the day I was to be thrown into school for the first time.
我走在父亲的一侧，牢牢地抓着他的右手。我穿着一新:黑鞋子、绿校服、红帽子。然而我一点儿都高兴不起来，因为今天是我第一次被送去上学。
My mother stood at the window watching our progress, and I turned towards her from time to time, hoping she would help. We walked along a street lined with gardens and fields planted with crops, pears, and date palms.
母亲站在窗前，望着我们缓缓前行，我不时地回头看她，希望她会救我。我们沿着街道走着，街道两旁是花园和田野，田野里种了庄稼、梨树和椰枣树。
"Why school?" I asked my father. "What have I done?"
“我为什么要去上学？”我问父亲，“是我做错了什么吗? ”
"I'm not punishing you," he said, laughing. "School's not a punishment. It's a place that makes useful men out of boys. Don't you want to be useful like your brothers?"
“我不是在惩罚你，”父亲笑着说道，“上学不是一种惩罚。学校能把男孩子培养成有用的男人。难道你不想像你的哥哥们那样，成为一个有用的人吗？”
I was not convinced. I did not believe there was really any good to be had in tearing me away from my home and throwing me into the huge, high-walled building.
我不以为然。我才不相信把我从家里拽出来，扔进那个巨大的、高墙围绕的建筑里会对我有什么真正的好处呢。
When we arrived at the gate we could see the courtyard, vast and full of boys and girls.
到了学校门口，我们看到宽阔的院子里站满了男女生。“自己进去吧，”我父亲说，
"Go in by yourself," said my father, "and join them. Put a smile on your face and be a good example to others."
“到他们当中去吧。笑一笑。给其他的孩子做个好榜样。”
I hesitated and clung to his hand, but he gently pushed me from him. "Be a man," he said. "Today you truly begin life. You'll find me waiting for you when it's time to leave."
我紧抓着父亲的手，犹豫不决。但是父亲却轻轻地把我推开了。“拿出点儿男子气概来。”他说，"从今天起你就要真正开始自己的生活了。放学时我会在这儿等你。”
