English Original
It would be safe to say that I was definitely not looking forward to my first Christmas after moving to south Georgia, away from the comforts of my home, friends, and family back in Baltimore. I missed the cold weather, the steaming mugs of hot cocoa, my best friend's annual Christmas party, and most of all, Christmas at Grandma's house.
Our family would tramp into her warm kitchen after a long two-hour drive. The delicious aroma of cookies baking and the turkey roasting always made my mouth water. Grandma would bustle in with her apron covered in flour, smile, and give us each a hug. My three sisters and I would wait eagerly for our cousins to arrive to discuss Christmas presents in secret.
But now that my family had moved, that tradition was gone. Christmas this year would be different. Yet I learned, with the help of a five-year-old girl named Lauren, that I'm not so unlucky after all.
We were going Christmas shopping for Lauren, a poverty-stricken five-year-old. I walked into the store wondering what toys a little girl would like. But her mother's list had no toys. Lauren had asked Santa for socks, underwear, clothes, and shoes - necessities I had always taken for granted. I remembered being disappointed by clothes as presents, never realizing some people lacked these basics.
My sisters and I delighted in picking out little outfits and warm pajamas for her.
The real shock came when we went to deliver the gifts early in the morning. We drove past abandoned shops and tumbledown houses. Lauren's tiny, rusty trailer sat on a random plot of land with no driveway or mailbox. An old van sat among trash in the muddy yard. The rickety wooden steps looked ready to collapse, and the windows were covered with black trash bags. Our bright presents stood out against the gloomy scene.
My mother cautiously approached, left the bags, knocked, and returned to the car. As we were about to leave, the door opened. A woman stepped out, looking angry and confused.
"This is for Lauren," my mother explained, smiling. The woman stared blankly, not noticing the bags. My mother explained again, "We've left something for Lauren - it's for Christmas." The lady's dark eyes softened, and she smiled, seeming too stunned for words. We said, "Merry Christmas," and drove off, leaving her standing in her doorway, smiling.
That Christmas, as I looked at my presents and happy family, I remembered Lauren. I hoped she was having a wonderful Christmas too. I felt we had helped keep a little girl's belief in Santa Claus alive.
Without realizing it, little Lauren helped me learn how truly lucky I am. She taught me about giving, love, and the true meaning of Christmas. That Christmas was truly a memorable holiday.
中文翻译
可以这么说，我绝对没有期待搬到南乔治亚州后的第一个圣诞节，远离了巴尔的摩家中、朋友和家人的舒适。我怀念寒冷的天气、热气腾腾的热可可、我最好朋友的年度圣诞派对，尤其是奶奶家的圣诞节。
经过漫长的两小时车程，我们一家六口会踏进她温暖的厨房。烤饼干和烤火鸡的诱人香气总是让我垂涎欲滴。奶奶会围着沾满面粉的围裙忙进忙出，微笑着给我们每个人一个拥抱。我和我的三个姐妹会急切地等待表兄弟姐妹们的到来，好秘密讨论圣诞礼物。
但现在我们家搬走了，那个传统也随之消失。今年的圣诞节将会不同。然而，在一个名叫劳伦的五岁女孩的帮助下，我了解到我毕竟不是那么不幸。
我们要去为劳伦——一个贫困的五岁女孩——购买圣诞礼物。我走进商店，心想一个小女孩会喜欢什么玩具。但她妈妈的清单上没有一件玩具。劳伦向圣诞老人要的是袜子、内衣、衣服和鞋子——这些我一直认为理所当然的必需品。我记得我曾对衣服作为礼物感到失望，从未意识到有些人缺乏这些基本物品。
我和我的姐妹们很高兴地为她挑选小套装和温暖的睡衣。
真正的震惊发生在我们清晨去送礼物的时候。我们开车经过废弃的商店和摇摇欲坠的房屋。劳伦那小小的、生锈的拖车停在一块看似随意的土地上，没有车道，也没有邮箱。一辆破旧的面包车停在泥泞院子里的垃圾堆中。摇摇晃晃的木制台阶看起来随时会倒塌，窗户用黑色垃圾袋封着。我们色彩鲜艳的礼物在阴郁的景象中格外醒目。
我母亲小心翼翼地走过去，放下袋子，敲了敲门，然后回到车上。就在我们准备离开时，门开了。一位女士走了出来，看起来既生气又困惑。
“这是给劳伦的，”我母亲微笑着解释道。那位女士茫然地凝视着，没有注意到脚下的袋子。我母亲再次解释道：“我们给劳伦留了点东西——是圣诞礼物。”那位女士深色的眼睛柔和了下来，她笑了，似乎惊讶得说不出话来。我们说了一句“圣诞快乐”，便开车离开了，留下她站在她的门口，微笑着。
那个圣诞节，当我看着我的礼物和幸福的家人时，我想起了劳伦。我希望她也和家人度过了一个美好的圣诞节。我觉得我们帮助一个小女孩保持了对圣诞老人的信念。
不知不觉中，小劳伦帮助我认识到我有多么幸运。她教会了我给予、爱和圣诞节的真正意义。那个圣诞节确实是一个难忘的节日。