Marta had worked hard for a long time to win the scholarship jacket, but at the last moment something happened that threatened to rob her of the prize.长期来，玛尔塔为赢得一件奖给全优生的短上衣而刻苦学习，但最后一刻发生的事可能会使她失去这一奖品。
The Scholarship Jacket一件奖给全优生的短上衣Marta Salinas玛尔塔·萨利纳斯1. The small Texas school that I attended carried out a tradition every year during the eighth grade graduation; a beautiful gold and green jacket was awarded to the class valedictorian, the student who had maintained the highest grades for eight years.八年级学生毕业时，我就读的那所规模甚小的得克萨斯州学校年年都遵循传统做这样一件事：把一件金色绿色相间的漂亮短上衣授予毕业典礼上致告别辞的毕业生代表，即八年来成绩保持第一的那个学生。
2. I was fourteen and in the eighth grade. I had been a straight A student since the first grade, and the last year I had looked forward to owning the jacket. My father was a farm laborer who couldn't earn enough money to feed eight children, so when I was six I was given to my grandparents to raise. We couldn't participate in sports at school because there were registration fees, uniform costs, and trips out of town; so there would never be a sports school jacket for us. This one, the scholarship jacket, was our only chance.当时我14岁，在上八年级。
从一年级开始，我就一直是全优生，到了最后一年，我盼望拥有一件这样的短上衣。
我父亲是农场工人，挣的钱不够养活八个孩子，所以我六岁那年，他们就把我送给祖父母抚养。
我们没法参加学校的体育活动，因为那些活动都要交注册费，运动服要买，去外地也要花钱。
所以，我们永远不会有什么校运动服。
拥有这样一件毕业生荣誉服，对我们而言，便是唯一的机会。
3. One day in May, on the way from my history class to the gym, I remembered my P.E. shorts were still in the classroom. I had to walk back and get them. I was almost back at the door when I heard angry voices and arguing in my classroom. I recognized the voices: Mr. Schmidt, my history teacher, and Mr. Boone, my math teacher. They seemed to be arguing about me. I couldn't believe it. I still remember the shock that rootedme flat against the wall.五月的一天，历史课后去健身房的路上，我突然想起我的运动短裤还在教室里。
我得回去取。
快到教室门口时，我听见从里面传来愤怒的争吵声。
我辨出了那些声音：是历史老师施密特先生和数学老师布恩先生。
他们似乎在为我争吵。
简直难以置信。
我仍记得我当时惊呆了，靠在墙上，一动不动。
4. "I refuse to do it! I don't care who her father is, her grades don't even begin to compare to Martha's. I won't lie or falsify records. Martha has a straight A plus average and you know it." That was Mr. Schmidt and he sounded very angry. Mr. Boone's voice sounded calm and quiet.“我拒绝那样做!我才不管她父亲是谁呢，她的成绩根本无法与玛莎相比。
我不愿撒谎，不愿篡改成绩。
玛莎平均成绩都是A+，这一点你清楚。
”那是施密特先生的声音，听上去他很愤怒。
布恩先生的声音听上去又轻又平静。
5. "Look, Joann's father is not only on the Board, he owns the only store in town; we could say it was a close tie and — ?"“你瞧，琼的父亲不仅是校董，他还拥有镇上唯一的商店。
应该说是难分高低，再说……”6. The pounding in my ears drowned out the rest of the words, only a word here and there filtered through." ... Martha is Mexican ... resign ... won't do it ..."我耳朵里嗡嗡作响，听不见他们后来讲的话，只东一点西一点渗入片言只语。
“……玛莎是墨西哥人……辞职……不干……”7. To this day I don't remember how I made it through the rest of the afternoon. I went home very sad and cried into my pillow that night so Grandmother wouldn't hear me.直到今天，我都想不起来那天下午我是怎么度过的。
我心情沮丧地回到家。
那天晚上，为了不让祖母听见，我把头埋进枕头里痛哭一场。
8. The next day when the principal called me into his office, I knew what it would be about. He looked uncomfortable and unhappy.第二天，校长把我叫进他的办公室时，我就知道他为什么要这样做。
他看上去不太自在，也显得不高兴。
9. "Martha," he said, "there's been a change in policy this year regarding the scholarship jacket. As you know, it has always been free." He cleared his throat and continued. "This year the Board decided to charge fifteen dollars — which still won't cover the complete cost of the jacket."“玛莎，”他说，“今年有关奖励服装的政策有些变化。
你也知道，以往奖励的服装一直是免费的。
”他清了清嗓子接着说：“今年，校董事会决定收十五元钱——这点钱还是抵不上奖励服装的全部成本。
”10. I stared at him in shock and a small sound of dismay escaped my throat. I hadn't expected this.我惊愕地盯着他看，不禁发出轻轻的沮丧声。
我没料到竟会这样。
11. "So if you are unable to pay the fifteen dollars for the jacket, it will be given to the next one in line."“如果你付不出买奖励服装的十五元钱，我们就要把它奖给排在下一个的学生了。
”12. Standing with all the dignity I could muster, I said, "I'll speak to my grandfather about it, sir, and let you know tomorrow." I cried on the walk home from the bus stop.我站在那儿，竭力保持着尊严，说道：“先生，这事我要回去跟我祖父说，明天给您答复。
”从汽车站走回家的路上，我哭了。
13. "Where's Grandpa?" I asked Grandma.“爷爷在哪儿？”我问奶奶。
"I think he's out back working in the bean field."“我想他是在后面的豆子地里干活。
”14. I went outside and looked out at the fields. There he was. I walked slowly out to him, trying to think how I could best ask him for the money. I wanted that jacket so much. It represented eight years of hard work and expectation. He saw me and looked up.我走出屋，往地里张望。