Thewintersofmychildhoodwerelong，longseasons．Welivedinthreeplaces——theschool，thechurch，andtheskatingrink（冰球场）——butourreallifewasontheskating－rink．Realbattleswerewonontheskating－rink．Realstrengthappearedontheskating－rink．Therealleadersshowedthemselvesontheskating－rink．Schoolwasasortofpunishment．Parentsalwayswanttopunishchildrenandschoolistheirmostnaturalwayofpunishingus．However，schoolwasalsoaquietplacewherewecouldprepareforthenexthockeygame，layout（安排）ournextstrategies（战略）．Asforchurch，wefoundtherethequietofGod：thereweforgotschoolanddreamedaboutthenexthockeygame．Throughourdaydreams,wewouldaskGodtohelpusplayaswellasMauriceRichard． Weallworethesameuniform（制服）ashe，withthefamousnumber9onourbacks，thered，white，andblueuniformoftheMontrealCanadiens，thebesthockeyteamintheworld；weallcombedourhairinthesamestyleasMauriceRichard，andtokeepitinplaceweusedasortofglue（胶水）——agreatdealofglue．WelacedourskateslikeMauriceRichard，wetapedourstickslikeMauriceRichard．Wecutallhispicturesoutofthepapers．Truly，wekneweverythingabouthim． Oneday，myMontrealCanadienssweaterhadbecometoosmall；thenitgottornandhadholesinit．Mymothersaid：“Ifyouwearthatoldsweaterpeoplearegoingtothinkwe'repoor！”Thenshestartedtoleafthrough（浏览）thecatalog（目录）theEatoncompanysentusinthemaileveryyear．Mymotherwasproud．Shedidn'twanttobuyourclothesatthegeneralstore；theonlythingsthatweregoodenoughforuswerethelateststylesfromEaton'scatalog．Mymotherdidn'tliketheorderformsincludedwiththecatalog；theywerewritteninEnglishandshedidn'tunderstandawordofit．Toordermyhockeysweater，shedidassheusuallydid；shetookoutherwritingpaperandwroteinhergentleschoolteacher'shand：“CherMonsieurEaton，wouldyoubekindenoughtosendmeaCanadiens'sweaterformysonwhoistenyearsoldandalittletootallforhisageandDocteurRobitaillethinkshe'salittletoothin？I'msendingyouthreedollarsandpleasesendmewhat'sleftifthere'sanythingleft．Ihopeyourwrapping（衣服）willbebetterthanlasttime．”
MonsieurEatonwasquicktoanswermymother'sletter．Twoweekslaterwereceivedthesweater．ThatdayIhadoneofthegreatestdisappointmentsofmylife！IwouldevensayonthatdayIexperiencedaverygreatsorrow．Insteadofthered，white，andblueMontrealCanadienssweater，MonsieurEatonhadsentusablueandwhitesweaterwithamaple（枫树）leafonthefront——thesweateroftheTorontoMapleLeafs．I'dalwayswornthered，white，andblueMontrealCanadienssweater；allmyfriendsworethered，white，andbluesweater，neverhadanyoneinmyvillageeverworntheTorontosweater，neverhadweevenseenaTorontoMapleLeafssweater．Besides，theTorontoteamwasregularlydefeatedbythesuccessfulCanadiens．Withtearsinmyeyes，Ifoundthestrengthtosay：
“I’llneverwearthatuniform．” “Myboy，firstyou’regoingtotryiton！Ifyoumakeupyourmindaboutthingsbeforeyoutry，myboy，youwon’tgoveryfarinthislife．”
MymotherhadpulledtheblueandwhiteTorontoMapleLeafssweaterovermyshouldersandalreadymyarmswereinsidethesleeves．Shepulledthesweaterdownandcarefullysmoothedallthecreases（褶皱）inthehatefulmapleleafonwhich，rightinthemiddleofmychest，werewrittenthewords“TorontoMapleLeafs．”Iwept．
“I’llneverwearit．” “Whynot？Thissweaterfitsyou…likeaglove.” “MauriceRichardwouldneverputitonhisback.” “Youaren'tMauriceRichard．(1)Anyway，itisn'twhat'sonyourbackthatcounts，it'swhatyou'vegotinsideyourhead．” “You'llneverputitinmyheadtowearaTorontoMapleLeafssweater．” Mymothersighedindespair（绝望）andexplainedtome： “Ifyoudon'tkeepthissweaterwhichfitsyouperfectlyI'llhavetowritetoMonsieurEatonandexplainthatyoudon'twanttoweartheTorontosweater．MonsieurEaton'sanAnglais；he'llbeinsulted（侮辱）becausehelikestheMapleLeafs．Andifhe'sinsulteddoyouthinkhe'llbeinahurrytoanswerus？（2）Springwillbehereandyouwon'thaveplayedasinglegame，justbecauseyoudidn'twanttowearthatperfectlynicebluesweater.” SoIwasobliged（强迫）toweartheMapleLeafssweater．WhenIarrivedontherink，alltheMauriceRichardsinred，white，andbluecameup，onebyone，totakealook．Whenthereferee（裁判）blewhiswhistleIwenttotakemyusualposition．ThecaptaincameandwarnedmeI'dbebettertostayofftheforwardline．Afewminuteslaterthesecondlinewascalled；Ijumpedontotheice．TheMapleLeafssweaterweighedonmyshoulderslikeamountain．Thecaptaincameandtoldmetowait；he'dneedmelater，ondefense．BythethirdperiodIstillhadn'tplayed；oneofthedefensemenwashitinthenosewithastickanditwasbleeding．Ijumpedontheice：mymomenthadcome！Therefereeblewhiswhistle；hegavemeapenalty（处罚）．Heclaimed（声称）I'djumpedontheicewhentherewerealreadyfiveplayers．Thatwastoomuch！Itwasunfair！Itwaspersecution（迫害）！Itwasbecauseofmybluesweater！Istruckmystickagainsttheicesohardthatitbroke．Relieved（宽慰的），Ibentdowntopickupthedebris（碎冰块）．AsIstraightenedupIsawtheyoung
vicar（牧师），onskates，beforeme． (3)“Mychild，”hesaid，“justbecauseyou’rewearinganewTorontoMapleLeafssweaterunliketheothers，itdoesn’tmeanyou’regoingtomakethelawsaroundhere．Aproperyoungmandoesn’tlosehistemper（脾气）．NowtakeoffyourskatesandgotothechurchandaskGodtoforgiveyou．” WearingmyMapleLeafssweaterIwenttothechurch，whereIprayed（祈求）toGod；（4）Iaskedhimtosend，asquicklyaspossible，moths（飞蛾）thatwouldeatupmyTorontoMapleLeafssweater．
FromRoachCarrier
[难句解析]
（1）不管怎样，你身上穿的是什么并不重要，重要的是你脑子里的东西。 （2）春天快到了，就因为你不想穿那件漂亮的蓝球衣，你将连一场球也玩不成。 （3）“我的孩子，”他说，“你与众不同，穿了一件新的多伦多枫叶球衣，但并不是说这样就得由你来给这儿定规矩。” （4）我祈求上帝尽快送来许多飞蛾，把我的这件多伦多枫叶队球衣啃烂啃光。
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