| Starry,
Starry Night
THREE STORIES |
Lurlene
McDaniel
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| 值此聖誕時節，三位少女所許下願望的星斗，可能正是當年指引東方三博士找到耶穌的天星。 在首篇故事〈聖誕之子〉中，十五歲的梅蘭妮感覺遭受命運無情的捉弄。她的么妹在這佳節時分誕生到人世間，卻僅短短活了幾個小 時。然而妹妹短促的一生，亦讓梅蘭妮體會何謂愛的永恆價值。 緊接而來的故事，主人公布蘭達則深陷兩難之中。當她成了男孩臨終前最後一絲幸福的懇願，希望她能陪他跳上「最後一支舞」；一 邊是高貴的情操，另一則為個人世俗的慾望，左右為難的布蘭達該如何是好？ 末了〈凱西的生活〉，故事描述二八佳人凱西有著令人豔羨的生活。外貌出眾、聰穎還有一份優渥的工作，擔任居家保姆以便照顧雇 主他們年幼的男嬰。然而事事並非如表象般光鮮亮麗，其代價，難道非得放棄世上她最鍾愛的人，以換取這一切？ 這些感人肺腑的故事，各自探索世上不同層面的愛，深信能令人有所啟發。 The star that led the three wise men could be the same star wished upon this Christmas-time by three young women. In the opening story, ＂Christmas Child,＂ 15-year-old Melanie feels cheated when her baby sister, born during the holidays, lives only a few hours. But the baby＇s brief life shows Melanie the lasting value of love. Brenda struggles between noble intentions and earthier desires when she becomes a dying boy＇s final chance for happiness in ＂Last Dance.＂ The closing story, ＂Kathy＇s Life,＂ presents a 16-year-old who appears to have it all. Kathy is beautiful, intelligent, and has the perfect job as a live-in caretaker for a couple＇s baby boy. But not everything is as perfect as it seems. Must Kathy give up the one person she loves most in the world? These moving stories explore the many kinds of love in the world and are sure to inspire. －－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－- Excerpt
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In the kitchen, Melanie quickly got to work making dinner. A casserole was warming in the oven and she was starting on the salad when the phone rang. ＂What＇s shaking?＂ It was the voice of her friend Coren. ＂Just slaving in the kitchen. What＇s up with you?＂ Melanie cradled the phone beneath her chin and broke lettuce into a salad bowl. ＂Nothing,＂ Coren said with an exaggerated sigh. School was out for the holidays and she already sounded bored. ＂Are you going to Justine＇s party next Saturday?＂ ＂It depends on how my mom＇s doing.＂ ＂She＇s okay, isn＇t she?＂ ＂Sure, but she says that sometimes babies arrive early, so the baby could be here by Saturday.＂ ＂But you＇ve got to come.＂ ＂I will if I can.＂ Melanie didn＇t see why it was so urgent that she go. ＂Well, try hard, all right?＂ Changing the subject, Melanie said, ＂You should see all the cute stuff we bought for the baby today. The clothes are so tiny. It＇ll be like dressing a doll.＂ She heard her father＇s key in the door. ＂Got to run. My dad＇s home. I＇ll call you tomorrow.＂ Melanie hung up and kissed her father＇s cheek as he came into the room. ＂Where＇s your mom?＂ ＂Upstairs, resting.＂ He swiped a piece of carrot from the cutting board and ruffled her hair, which irritated her. ＂Smells good in here.＂ ＂Mom said to remind you about Lamaze class tonight. Can you drop me at the mall on your way there and pick me up on your way home?＂ Her father set down his briefcase. ＂You know I hate you wandering the mall alone.＂ ＂Dad, there＇s a thousand people at the mall. It＇s not like I＇ll get lost or anything.＂ ＂You could get mugged.＂ She rolled her eyes, ignoring his concern. ＂I still have Christmas shopping to do, and Mom said it was all right with her.＂ ＂I＇ll discuss it with your mom.＂ ＂I＇m not a baby, you know.＂ ＂But you＇re still my baby,＂ he said with a grin. ＂I can get everything done before your class is over. Promise.＂ Melanie made a final stab at pleading her case. ＂I said we＇ll discuss it, Mellie. Now I＇m going upstairs.＂ Melanie pouted. She＇d be glad when the baby was here and her father could see what a real baby looked like. She was tired of him always treating her as if she were still five. It was about time he started treating her like the fifteen-year-old she was. It was part of the hazard of being an only child, she reminded herself. Her friends always got to try new things ahead of her. But her own parents were usually the last ones to okay anything she wanted to do. Still sulking, Melanie carried the garbage pail onto the back porch. The frosty air felt cold on her warm cheeks. She looked up. The sky was dark, but in the west she could still see a hint of lavender and pink left from the setting sun. A single star twinkled, as if trapped between the light and the darkness. Impulsively she said, ＂Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight . . .＂ Finishing the familiar children＇s rhyme, she asked, ＂Could I have a baby sister? And if it＇s not too much trouble, do you think you could get my parents to treat me as a truly older sister and let the new baby be the baby?＂ The star winked like a tiny jeweled eye, making her think that perhaps it had heard her and would grant her wishes. －－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－- Excerpt
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| ■羅蘭．麥丹尼 ／Lurlene McDaniel LURLENE MCDANIEL began writing inspirational novels about teenagers facing life-altering situations when her son was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. ＂I saw firsthand how chronic illness affects every aspect of a person＇s life,＂ she has said. ＂I want kids to know that while people don＇t get to choose what life gives to them, they do get to choose how they respond.＂ Lurlene McDaniel＇s novels are hard-hitting and realistic, but also leave readers with inspiration and hope. Her books have received acclaim from readers, teachers, parents, and reviewers. Her bestselling novels include Don＇t Die, My Love; I＇ll Be Seeing You; Till Death Do Us Part; Hit and Run; and Prey. Lurlene McDaniel lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee. |
| 作者：羅蘭．麥丹尼 ／Lurlene McDaniel 版本：US Edition 適讀年齡：十二歲以上／12 years and up 規格：平裝／Paperback，14 x 20.8 x 1.9 cm，272頁 出版商：Penguin Random House 品牌：Ember 出版日期：2011年09月13日 語言：英文 ISBN-10：978-0-385-74045-6 Starry, Starry Night 全新書。 Starry, Starry Night new book. ★消費滿額可享免運優惠★
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