上外版大学英语写作精选第六册(2)

文章作者 100test 发表时间 2008:03:31 11:59:38
来源 100Test.Com百考试题网

Unit Two

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There is something fascinating about reading other peoples mail if you are allowed to. Here is your chance to read the letters of American writer Sylvia Plath， which she wrote home to her mother from a hotel where she had a summer job as a waitress. At the time， she was a college student and was still at the start of her writing career. Through the letter we learn of her changing thoughts and moods concerning， boys and writing.

THE BEGINNING OF A CARREER

Sylvia Plath

The Belmont Hotel， cape Cod

June 11， 1952

Dear Mother，

Your amazing telegram [telegram announcing $500 Mademoiselle prize for "Sunday at the Mintons，" which I forwarded] came just as I was scrubbing tables in the shady interior of The Belmont dining room. I was so excited that I screamed and actually threw my arms around the head waitress who no doubt thinks I am rather insane！ Anyhow， psychologically， the moment couldnt have been better. I felt tired —— ones first nights sleep in a new place never is peaceful —— and I didnt get much！ To top it off， I was the only girl waitress here， and had been scrubbing furniture， washing dishes and silver， lifting tables， etc. since 8 a.m. Also， I just learned since I am completely inexperienced， I am not going to be working in the main dining room， but in the "side hall" where the managers and top hotel brass eat. So， tips will no doubt net much less during the summer and the company be less interesting. So I was beginning to worry about money when your telegram came. God！ To think "Sunday at the Mintons" is one of two prize stories to be put in a big national slick！ Frankly， I cant believe it！

The first thing I though of was： Mother can keep her intersession money and buy some pretty clothes and a special trip or something！ At least I get a winter coat and extra special suit out of the Mintons. I think the prize is $500！

ME！ Of all people！…

So its really looking up around here， now that I dont have to be scared stiff about money … Oh， I say， even if my feet kill me after this first week， and I 0drop 20 trays， I will have the beach， boys to bring me beer， sun， and young gay companions. What a life.

Love， your crazy old daughter.

Sivvy

June 12. 1952

No doubt after I catch up on sleep， and learn to balance trays high on my left hand， Ill feel much happier. As it is now， I feel stuck in the midst of a lot of loud， brassy Irish Catholics， and the only way I can jolly myself is to say， "Oh， well， its only for a summer， and I can maybe write about them all." At least Ive got a new name for my next protagonist —— Marley， a gabby girl who knows her way around but good. The ration of boys to girls has gotten less and less， so Ill be lucky if I get tagged by the youngest kid here. Lots of the girls are really wise， drinking flirts. As for me， being the conservative， quiet， gracious type， I dont stand much chance of dating some of the cutest ones … If I can only get "in" as a pal with these girls， and never for a minute let them know Im the gentle intellectual type， itll be O.K.

As for the Mlle news， I dont think its really sunk in yet. I felt sure they made a mistake， or that youd made it up to cheer me. The big advantage will be that I wont have to worry about earning barely $300 this summer. I would really have been sick otherwise. I cant wait till August when I can go casually down to the drug store and pick up a slick copy of Mlle， flip to the index， and see ME， one of two college girls in the U.S.！

Really， when I think of how I started it over spring vacation， polished it at school， and sat up till midnight in the Haven House kitchen typing it amidst noise and chatter， I cant get over how the story soared to were it did…