By the Seat of My Pants 随心而动 Track 5

by R.K.Krochmal

翻译：Cass

By the Seat of My Pants 随心而动 Track 5

by R.K.Krochmal

翻译：Cass

成功并不是瞬间达成的事，而是从决定去做的那一刻起，持续累积努力而成的。想要斩获成功，仅仅抓住机遇是不够的，还需要背后默默努力、反复地练习。如果说机遇是成功的外因，那么努力便是其内因。这篇短文恰到好处地向我们阐释了这样一个道理：成功=机遇+努力。如果我们的主人公罗布平时没有在车道上千百次地练习，那么在遇到主力球员受伤，自己得到上场机会时，他可能就没有办法在比赛中获得胜利。就让我们一起来看看，主人公是如何令观众们瞠目结舌的。

——Cass

“Let’s go， Rob，” Mom2）screamed up the stairs.“We’re going to be late.”

“We don’t have time for this，” my older brother， Lee， yelled.

I3）rolled my eyes.I could picture Lee standing at the bottom of the stairs，4）tapping his foot and looking at his watch.He was never late.

“I’ll be right down，” I yelled.But that probably wasn’t true.I couldn’t find my basketball shorts.

Someone5）stomped up the stairs.My door opened and Lee stepped inside.He looked around with disgust at the mess I call a room.“What’s the problem？” he asked.

“I can’t find my shorts.”

“We don’t have time to look for them，” he said.“Just borrow my extra ones.”

“They’ll be too big.” But he was already getting them from his room.

I6）shrugged.It’s not like it mattered.Coach注注：本文中出现的Coach（教练）一词有部分因为是人的称呼，首字母大写，与Mr.Green、Mrs.White等同理。类似的还有亲属关系的词，用作称呼时也大写首字母，例如：Where is Mother？ Is Teacher back？wasn’t going to let me play no matter how much I practiced at home.Lee was the star player and I was the7）bench warmer.That’s just how it was.I put on the shorts and hurried downstairs.

1） seat ［siːt］ n.（裤子的）后裆

2） scream ［skriːm］ v.尖叫，喊叫着说出

3） roll one’s eyes 翻白眼

4） tap ［tæp］ v.轻叩，轻拍，轻踏

5） stomp ［stɒmp］ v.重踏

6） shrug ［ʃrʌg］ v.耸肩

7） bench warmer 候补球员

The rest of the team was already on the court doing warm-ups when we got there.Coach was tapping his foot and looking at his watch.He looked like an older8）version of Lee.

“It’s Rob’s fault，” Lee said as he hurried to join the others on the court.Coach9）glared at me as I took my seat on the bench.

The first half of the game went like it usually did.Lee scored basket after basket and10）racked up point after point.We were11）beating the pants off the other team.

The second half started and that’s when things started to go wrong.Sam， one of our best players， missed an easy basket.Lee had the ball stolen from him.The other team was starting to catch up.

Then Lee12）tripped and fell hard.He didn’t jump back up.The players and coaches gathered around.When the group13）parted，Coach helped Lee to the bench.He wasn’t putting any weight on his right foot.

“Are you okay？” I asked him.

“Yeah，” Lee answered， “Just14）twisted my ankle.”

Coach looked around， searching the crowd.He sighed.“Okay， Rob，” he said.“You’re the only other player we have.15）Take Lee’s place.”

My heart raced.I couldn’t take Lee’s place.The only reason I was on the team was the Parks and16）Recreation Department said Coach had to let anyone join.I’d never played in a real game before.

“Go on， Rob，” Coach pointed.“Get out there.”

I17）swallowed hard and stepped onto the court.“Please don’t let me18）mess up，” I thought.I followed as my team ran from one side of the court to the other.

The other team scored a few more baskets.The score was tied and there were only a few minutes left in the game.The other team had the ball and their best player was running toward me.He lost control of it right in front of me.

“Get it， Rob！” Lee screamed from the bench.

I19）grabbed it.I looked for someone to pass it to.No one was close enough.

“Try for the basket！” Lee yelled.

I ran down the court， concentrating on my20）dribble.I didn’t want to mess up.This was my chance to show Coach I really had been practicing.The other team tried to21）block me.I22）weaved one way and then the other，not really sure what I was doing.23）Avoiding blocks wasn’t something I could practice by myself.

Suddenly， I was under the basket.If I could make the24）shot， we’d win the game.I closed my eyes and imagined I was practicing in my25）driveway.No crowd.No other team...Just me and the26）hoop.I jumped and released the ball.

“Please make it，” I said.“Please make it.”

27）Swish！ The crowd cheered.I’d done it！I’d won the game！ Then I heard the laughter.Just a few28）chuckles at first but soon everyone was laughing.I looked around.What was so funny？

They were all looking at me.I looked down.My borrowed shorts were around my ankles.My face turned red as I29）scrambled to pull them up.My team30）gathered around me， blocking out the laughing crowd， as they congratulated me.Even Lee31）limped onto the court.

“Good job， little bro，” he said.“You won the game.That’s all that matters.”

He was right， I did win the game.But more important， I32）proved I could do it.If I wanted something bad enough， all I had to do was practice.I just wish I could have done it with my pants on.

8） version ［＇vʒːʃən］ n.版本

9） glare ［gleə］ v.怒目而视，瞪眼

10） rack up 获胜，击倒

11） beat the pants off <口>远远胜过

12） trip ［trIp］ v.绊倒，失足

13） part ［pαːt］ v.分散，分别

14） twist ［twIst］ v.扭伤

15） take one’s place 取代某人的位置

16） recreation ［rekrI＇eIʃn］ n.娱乐，消遣

17） swallow ［＇swɒləʊ］ v.（表示紧张）咽下口水

18） mess up 搞砸，陷入困境

19） grab ［græb］ v.抓住，掠夺

20） dribble ［＇drIbl］n.（篮、足球等）带（球），运（球）

21） block ［blɒk］ v.阻挡，封锁

22） weave ［wiːv］ v.迂回前进

23） avoid ［ə＇vɔId］ v.避免，避开

24） shot ［ʃɒt］ n.（球）上篮，投篮，射门

25） driveway ［＇draIvweI］ n.车道

26） hoop ［huːp］ n.篮圈

27） swish ［swIʃ］ n.嗖嗖声， 飒飒声， 咻咻声

28） chuckle ［tʃʌkl］ n.咯咯的笑声

29） scramble ［＇skræmbl］ v.急忙做某事，仓促行动

30） gather ［＇gæðə］ v.聚集

31） limp ［lImp］ v.跛行，一瘸一拐地走

32） prove ［pruːv］ v.证明

“快走，罗布。”妈妈边走上楼边大声喊着。“我们要迟到了。”

“我们没时间了。”我的哥哥李喊道。

我翻了翻白眼。我能想象出李正站在楼梯下，一边看着手表，一边用脚轻踏地板的急样。他从来不迟到。

“我马上就来。”我喊道。但这不太可能。我的篮球短裤找不到了。

有人冲上了楼梯。房门打开了，李迈进了我的房间。他用厌恶的眼神扫视了一下脏乱的房间。“到底是怎么回事？”他质问道。

“我找不到我的短裤。”

“我们没时间找了。”他说道。“我有多余的，借给你。”

“你的短裤太大了。”但这时他已经从自己房里拿了短裤出来。

我耸耸肩。这并不要紧。无论我在家里多么努力地练习，教练都不会让我上场的。李是明星队员，而我只是候补球员。事实便是如此。我穿上短裤，赶忙走下楼去。

当我们赶到赛场时，队里的其他球员已经开始在场上热身了。教练一边看着手表一边用脚轻踏地面，看起来俨然一个成熟版本的李。

“都怪罗布。”李说完便赶紧加入热身队伍。我往长凳上坐的时候，教练瞪了我一眼。

上半场的比赛如期进行着。李连续投篮并接连得分。我们队的得分远远超过了对手。

下半场开始，我们队却开始出了差错。山姆，我们队里最厉害的球员之一，错过了一次绝佳的投篮机会。李手上的球也被夺走了。对手逐渐赶上我们。

突然李被狠狠地绊倒了。他没有马上站起来。球员们和教练围了上去。当队员散去时，教练扶着李坐到了长凳上。我注意到他的右脚没有受力。

“你还好吗？”我问他。

“还好。”李回答道，“只是崴到脚踝了。”

教练环顾四周，视线在人群中搜索着。他叹了一口气。“这样吧，罗布。”他说道。“你是我们唯一的候补球员。你来代替李。”

我心跳加快。我可不能代替李。我之所以成为球员只是因为公园暨文娱部命令教练要允许每个报名的人都加入球队。我之前从未打过一场真正的比赛。

“去吧，罗布。”教练指着球场。“上去吧！”

我猛咽了一口气然后走上场去。“请不要让我搞砸了。”我想。我跟着队员们从场的一边跑到了另外一边。

对手又进了几个球。分数追得很紧，而比赛只剩下最后几分钟了。此时对方的最佳球员正控球朝我的方向跑来。他恰恰在我面前失手丢了球。

“抢球，罗布！”坐在长凳上的李冲我喊道。

我抓住了球，并试图把球传出去。可身边没有我们的队友。

“试试投篮！”李大声喊道。

我集中精神运球，跑过球场。我不想搞砸。这是向教练证明我一直有在练习的绝佳机会。对手球员试图截住我。我左右运球，并没意识到自己正在做什么。突破防守并不是我能单独练习的。

我一下子就来到了篮球框下。如果我能够投中，那么我们将获得胜利。我闭上眼睛，想象自己是在车道上练习。没有观众。没有对手……只有我和篮圈。我跃了起来，把球投了出去。

“一定要投中。”我默念道。“一定要投中。”

嗖！观众欢呼起来。我做到了！我赢得了比赛！接着我听到场边传来了笑声，开始是“咯咯”的几声，紧接着是全场大笑。我向四周看了看。到底是什么这么好笑？

他们都盯着我看。我往下一看，借来的裤子已经滑落到了脚踝处。我赶紧把裤子拉上来，脸红得发热。队员们围绕着我，向我道贺，同时挡开了大笑人群的目光。李也一瘸一拐地走上场来。

“做得好，弟弟。”他说道。“你让我们赢得了比赛。这才是最重要的。”

他说得对，我确实做到了。但更重要的是，我证明了自己可以做到。如果非常渴望达到某个目标，就需要认真努力的练习。我只是希望成功的时候，还好好地穿着裤子。