购物疗伤伤更伤

這次挫折大大打击了May的自信心，她觉得是自己的外表不够完美才处处遭拒。于是她开始了购物疗伤法，希望从漂亮的衣服中找回快乐。但Roger认为这不能解决根本问题。

Retail Therapy

May： Ooh！ This one looks nice， right？

Roger： Yeah. They all look nice. But I dont see how this is helping matters.

May： What do you mean？ My mood is improving already just being here， seeing all the latest fashions. Things are definitely looking up.

Roger： Well， I have no doubt that retail therapy can have a positive effect on ones short-term happiness. But what Im worried about is the fact that all that underlying sadness and animosity is still there， even if you try to cover it up with a brand-new wardrobe.

May： Roger， Ive gotta say that you are really smart when it comes to certain things， but youve got a ways to go in terms of understanding the female psyche.

Roger： Is that so？ Then please， enlighten me.

May： Do you remember the reason I gave you for why Ive been so down in the dumps？

Roger： Because of all the rejections you were getting from casting people.

May： Yes. ①And all those rejections have been slowly chipping away at my self-esteem， to the point where I dont even look in the mirror anymore out of utter disgust for the person looking back at me.

Roger： And that has to be hard to deal with on a daily basis.

May： It is. But you know what makes it easier？ Finding the perfect article of clothing or， better yet， a convergence of clothes that together form an absolutely flawless ensemble，accentuating all my strengths while hiding the parts of me Im ashamed of and wish I could change.

Roger： But you have nothing to be ashamed of.

May： Thats easy for you to say. You have no idea what its like to be trapped in an unattractive body， to be judged and cast out before you even utter a single word.

Roger： But I thought thats what showbiz was all about. I mean， Ive heard that it all depends on the vision the director has in mind.

May： But shape and beauty also have a lot to do with it. So if I can use these clothes to create an illusion that Im slimmer than I actually am， and shift the focus to places like my eyes and hair， maybe the director has a better chance of imagining me in the leading role.

Roger： ②If that works for you， then Im all for it. But I think you dont need those clothes as much as you need the confidence they give you. Thats whatll really make you stand out from the pack. ③Besides， you have those Helen-of-Troy eyes that could launch a thousand ships！

May： Aw…Wait！ Are you just saying that so I wont spend my whole salary on these new digs？

Roger： No. I meant what I said and said what I meant. Cuz Im your best friend whos faithful 100%.

May： Thanks a lot Dr. Seuss…Ill meet you at checkout.

玫：噢，这件衣服真漂亮，对不？

罗杰：是的。他们看起来都很漂亮，但我认为这没有什么作用。

玫：你是什么意思？仅仅是在这里，看着这些最新的时装已经让我心情好了很多。情况当然有所好转了。

罗杰：嗯，我不否定购物疗法对一个人的短期快乐有积极的作用，但我担心的是所有潜在的悲伤和仇恨依旧在那里，即使你试着用崭新的衣服去掩盖它们。

玫：罗杰，我得说你在某些事情上真的很聪明，但在了解女人心理方面你还需要多多努力。

罗杰：是吗？那么请你告诉我。

玫：你还记得我曾告诉你为什么我这样垂头丧气的原因吗？

罗杰：因为所有来自剧组人员的拒绝呀。

玫：是的，所有这些拒绝都在慢慢地削弱我的自尊，以至于我甚至都不再看镜子了，因为我讨厌看见镜子里的自己。

罗杰：那你每天都必须要处理一件很困难的事。

玫：的确。但你知道什么会使这变得容易吗？那就是找到一件完美的衣服，或者更好是找到一整套这样的衣服。这样的衣服能突出我身上的优点，掩盖我身上让我感到羞耻和希望改变的部分，让我绝对地完美无瑕。

罗杰：但你没有什么可以感到羞耻的。

玫：你说得倒简单。你根本不懂被没有魅力的身体所困，在你甚至还没说一个字之前，别人就判定你，驱逐你是什么感觉。

罗杰：但我认为娱乐圈就是这样的。我的意思是，我听说这都是由导演脑子里的幻想决定的。

玫：但体型和美貌与这也有很大关系。所以如果我能用这些衣服来创造一种我比现实中更瘦的幻觉，把导演的注意力吸引到我的眼睛或头发这些地方上，或许导演更有可能把我想象为主角。

罗杰：如果那对你有用的话，我会全力支持你。但我觉得你更需要的是衣服带给你的自信，而不是衣服本身。那才是真正让你从众人中脱颖而出的资本。况且，你有着足以倾国倾城的迷人双眼呀！

玫：噢……等等。你刚刚是在说这样我就不用把所有的薪金都花在这些新衣物上吗？

罗杰：不用。我说的是实话。因为我是对你完全忠诚的朋友。

玫：非常感谢，苏斯博士……我们在收银台见。

Smart Sentences

① And all those rejections have been slowly chipping away at my self-esteem， to the point where I dont even look in the mirror anymore out of utter disgust for the person looking back at me.

所有这些拒绝都在慢慢地削弱我的自尊，以至于我甚至都不再看镜子了，因为我讨厌看见镜子里的自己。

chip away： reduce sth. gradually（削弱，逐步损害）。例如：

My confidence was chipped away by his constant criticism.

他不断的指责慢慢地动摇了我的自信心。

② If that works for you， then Im all for it.

如果那对你有用的话，我会全力支持你。

all for it： give sth. ones full support（全力支持某事）。例如：

As for Toms choice of major at Peking University， I am all for it， but my parents have doubts.

对于汤姆在北京大学的专业选择，我全力支持，但我父母则犹豫不决。

③ Besides， you have those Helen-ofTroy eyes that could launch a thousand ships！

况且，你有着足以倾国倾城的迷人双眼呀！

Helen-of-Troy： very beautiful（很漂亮，美丽）。例如：

This class is full of beautiful girls. Look at those three Helen-of-Troy faces over there by the window.

這个班有许多美女，看看窗边那三个绝色美人。

成为首都

Julie was saying her bedtime prayers. “Please， God，” she said， “make Naples the capital of Italy. Make Naples the capital of Italy.”

Her mother interrupted her and said. “Julie， why do you want God to make Naples the capital of Italy？”

And Julie replied， “Because thats what I put in my geography exam！”

朱莉叶在做睡前祷告。“上帝，求求你，”她说，“让那不勒斯成为意大利的首都吧。让那不勒斯成为意大利的首都吧。”

妈妈打断她的话说：“朱莉叶，为什么求上帝让那不勒斯成为意大利的首都呢？”

朱莉叶回答道：“因为我在地理考卷上是这样写的。”