相見不如懷念？

Susan： I don’t know， Fred…

Fred： What do you mean， you don’t know？ It’s our 10th high-school reunion？ What’s there to think about？

Susan： Well， I’m taking into account all the people who’ll be there that I’m not particularly fond of.

Fred： What？ ①Are you telling me you ’re still holding grudges from a decade ago？ You’ve gotta let that go Suzie.

Susan： ②No， it’s not about the past， it’s about social media， and how some of our old classmates love to show their success by rubbing our noses in it.

Fred： Yeah， it’s true. Some of ’em like to 1）brag about their achievements. But honestly， I can’t really blame them. I get it. I’d certainly be proud and eager to publicize having risen to the top of my field or accomplishing some other 2）lofty personal or career goals. It’s only natural.

Susan： Easy for you to say. You’re a shining example of success， Mr. law firm partner， married to a swimsuit model. But look at me. I’m single， 3）obese and struggling to make ends meet. So please forgive me for being embarrassed to show my face there， after gaining so much weight and losing so much face already.

Fred： Well， 4）for the record， I married and divorced a swimsuit model. And forgive me for saying， but I think you need to get your eyes checked， cuz you still look great. ③And while your career may not be exactly what you had in mind， at least you’re following your dreams and not settling for something less.

Susan： ④I know you’re just trying to 5）butter me up so I’ll go， but I wouldn’t be caught dead at that party looking the way I do these days. Maybe the 15th anniversary will be more feasible…

Fred： Come on Suz， don’t give up so easily. You need to remember that the whole purpose of a reunion is to 6）reminisce. I’m sure you’re not the only one in our class who longs for the good ol’ days.

Susan： That’s true. And it would be nice to catch up with some of the girls from our debate club. We did have some fun times back then.

Fred： Yeah. And just stay positive. Set aside all the things in your life that you wish were better， and focus on all the things you’ve got going for you like your health， and your family and friends！

Susan： Thanks Fred， for showing me the light. You really are a good friend. Maybe I will go after all.

蘇珊：我不知道，弗雷德……

弗雷德：“你不知道”是什么意思？你不知道什么？你是說我們的10周年高中同學聚會嗎？有什么好糾結的呢？

蘇珊：嗯，我在想將要到場的所有同學里面有些我不太喜歡的人。

弗雷德：什么？你是要告訴我都十年了你還耿耿于懷嗎？該釋懷了，蘇西。

蘇珊：不，與過去無關，而是社交媒體上我們的一些老同學老愛向大家炫耀自己的成就，讓我們自慚形穢。

弗雷德：對，確實如此。有些人喜歡吹噓自己的成就。不過，坦白說，我倒不怪他們。我能理解。如果自己晉升到了行業內的最高職位或者達到了崇高的個人或職業目標的話，我肯定也會覺得很自豪而且也會想公布天下的。這不過是人之常情。

蘇珊：你說得輕松。你自己本身就是個光輝榜樣，法律公司合伙人先生，娶了個泳衣模特。可我呢。單身，肥胖，日子過得精打細算。所以請原諒我羞于在同學聚會上露臉吧，我已經夠胖夠丟臉的了。

弗雷德：嗯，需要說明的是，我是和一個泳衣模特結過婚但又離了婚。請原諒我這樣說，不過你是不是該檢查下你的眼睛，因為其實你的外形還不錯嘛。而且盡管你目前的事業也許未能達到你的期望，但起碼你是在追求自己的夢想而不是在將就。

蘇珊：我知道你這樣恭維我是想讓我去參加聚會，但我現今這個樣子打死我也不去。或許15周年聚會還可以考慮一下……

弗雷德：別這樣蘇西，別這么輕易就放棄。你得記住，聚會的根本目的是為了敘舊。我相信你和我們班的同學一樣都懷念過往的美好時光。

蘇珊：那倒是。和以前辯論會的那幫女孩子重聚確實挺不錯的。我們那時候確實有過一段非常快樂的時光。

弗雷德：對。心態要保持正面。拋開那些不太如你愿的事情，多想想你已經擁有的東西，譬如說健康的身體，你的家人和朋友。

蘇珊：謝謝你弗雷德，謝謝你給了我信心。你是一個真正的好朋友。也許我終究還是會去的。

Smart Sentences

① Are you telling me you’re still holding grudges from a decade ago？ 你是要告訴我都十年了你還耿耿于懷嗎？

hold a grudge： have or bear unfriendly feelings toward sb.（對某人懷有不滿、怨恨情緒）。例如：

Ever since the unsuccessful promotion， Greg seems to hold a grudge against Mrs. Jones and Mr. Tang.

格雷格自從那次晉升失敗后，他似乎對瓊斯夫人和唐先生心有怨恨。

② No， it’s not about the past， it’s about social media， and how some of our old classmates love to show their success by rubbing our noses in it. 不，與過去無關，而是社交媒體上我們的一些老同學老愛向大家炫耀自己的成就，讓我們自慚形穢。

rub sb.’s nose in sth.： remind sb. repeatedly about his/her failings or mistakes（揭他人瘡疤，向某人反復提及不愉快的事）。例如：

The email scandal is going to haunt Hillary Clinton because her opponents will surely rub her nose in it during the campaign.

希拉里的電子郵件丑聞將會陰魂不散，因為她的對手肯定會在競選中反復提及這事。

③ And while your career may not be exactly what you had in mind， at least you’re following your dreams and

not settling for something less. 而且盡管你目前的事業也許未能達到你的期望，但起碼你是在追求自己的夢想而不是在將就。

settle for something less： accept sth. that is less satisfactory（將就）。例如：

My brother is really stubborn and he is not about to settle for something less than what he’s due.

我哥很固執，他不會隨便將就，放棄他應得的。

④ I know you’re just trying to butter me up so I’ll go， but I wouldn’t be caught dead at that party looking the way I do these days. 我知道你這樣恭維我是想讓我去參加聚會，但我現今這個樣子打死我也不去。

would not be caught dead in （doing） sth.： would never do sth.（絕對不會做某事）。例如：

My mother wouldn’t be caught dead without makeup on at work.

我媽不化妝絕對不會去上班。