It was the first snow of winter - an exciting day for every child but not for most teacher. Up until now, l had been able to dress myself for recess, but today I would need some help. Miss Finlayson，my kindergarten teacher at Princess Elizabeth School near Hamilton, Ontario, had been through first snow days，many times in her long career，but I think struggled still remember this one.
这是那个冬天的第一场雪——对每个孩子来说都是激动人心的一天，但对大多数老师来说并非如此。现在我当然早已经能够在课间休息时穿好衣服，但那天我需要一些帮助。芬莱森小姐，我在安大略省汉密尔顿附近的伊丽莎白公主学校的幼儿园老师，在她漫长的职业生涯中经历了很多次初雪，但我想她可能还记得这一次。

I managed to get into my wool snow pants. But I struggled with my jacket because it didn't fit well. It was a hand-me-down from my brother, and it made me wonder why I had to wear his ugly clothes. At least my hat and matching scarf were mine, and they were quite pretty. Finally it was time to have Miss Finlayson help me with my boots. In her calm, motherly voice she said, “By the end of winter, you will be able to put on your own boots. ” I didn't realize at the time that this was more a statement of hope than of confidence.
我试着穿上我的羊毛雪地裤。但我很难穿上夹克，因为它不合身。这是我哥哥传给我的，我想知道为什么我必须穿他难看的衣服。至少我的帽子和相配的围巾是我的，它们很漂亮。最后是时候让芬莱森小姐帮我穿靴子了。她用平静、母亲般的声音说，“冬天结束时，你将能够穿上自己的靴子。”我当时没有意识到，这更多的是一种希望，而不是信心。

I handed her my boots and stuck out my foot. Like most children, I expected the adult to do all the work. After much wiggling and pushing, she managed to get first one into place and then, with a sigh, worked the second one on too.
我把我的靴子递给她，伸出我的脚。和大多数孩子一样，我希望成年人包办所有的工作。在多次扭动和拖拽之后，第一只靴子终于穿上了，然后叹了口气，第二只也穿上了。

I announced, “They're on the wrong feet．” With the grace that only experience can bring, she struggled to get the boots off and went through the joyless task of putting them on again. Then I said, “These aren't my boots, you know．” As she pulled the offending boots from my feet, she still managed to look both helpful and interested．Once they were off, I said, “They are my brother's boots．My mother makes me wear them, and I hate them!” Somehow, from long years of practice, she managed to act as though I wasn't an annoying little girl．She pushed and shoved, less gently this time, and the boots were returned to their proper place on my feet．With a great sigh if relief, seeing the end of her struggle with me, she asked, “Now, where are your gloves?”
我大声叫，“穿错了。”凭着经验带来的优雅，她努力脱下靴子，并重新完成了穿靴子这项毫无乐趣的任务。然后我说，“你知道，这不是我的靴子。”当她从我脚上脱下那双令人不快的靴子时，她仍然努力让自己看起来有兴趣帮忙。一脱下靴子，我就说，“它们是我哥哥的靴子。我妈妈让我穿，我讨厌它们！”不知怎的，凭借多年的练习，她努力终于表现得好像我不是一个讨厌的小女孩。她推搡着，这次不那么温柔了，靴子又放回了我脚上的正确位置。她和我的斗争结束了，她如释重负地叹了口气，问道：“现在，你的手套呢？”

I looked into her eyes and said, “I didn't want to lose them, so I put them into the toes of my boots．”
我看着她的眼睛说：“我怕把它们弄丢，所以我把它们放进了靴子顶部。”