英语作文《Waiting for the Breeze》
Waiting for the Breeze/祈盼清风
“No air conditioning? How can you sleep?” a friend asks, horrified. I've just revealed that my family has decided to shut the air conditioner off to save money.
“Nobody opens a window, day or night,” warns another friend, whose windows have been painted shut for a decade. “It's just not safe.”
On this first night of our cost-cutting adventure, it's only 30 degrees. We're not going to suffer, but the three kids grumble1 anyway. They've grown up in 22-degree comfort, protected from the heat outside.
“How do you open these windows?” my husband asks. Shaking the window handle, he finally releases2 one. Lots of dead insects3 lie on the windowsill4. As we spring5 the windows one by one, the night noises howl6 outside—and in.
“It's too hot to sleep,” my 13-year-old daughter moans7. “I'm about to die from this heat,” her brother yells down the corridor8. “Just try it tonight,” I tell them. In truth I'm too tired to argue for long. My face is sweaty, but I lie quietly listening to the cricket choirs9 outside that remind me of childhood. The neighbor's dog howls. No doubt a squirrel. It's been years since I've taken the time to really listen to the night.
I think about Grandma, who lived to 92 and still managed the upkeep10 of my Mom's garden until just a few weeks before she died. And then, I'm back there at her house in the summer heat of my childhood. I move my pillow to the foot of Grandma's bed and angle11 my face toward the open window. I flip12 the pillow, hunting for the cooler side.
Grandma sees me tossing13 and turning. “If you'll just watch for the breeze,” she says, “you'll cool off and fall asleep.” She raises the Venetian blinds14. I stare at the filmy white curtain, willing it to flutter15.
Lying still, waiting, I suddenly notice the life outside the window. The bug chorus16 shouts. Neighbors, sitting on their verandas17 until late, speak in flowing drawl18 that soothes19 me.
“Keep watching for the breeze,” Grandma says softly, and I “uh-huh” in reply. Bugs ping20 the screen. Three blocks away a train rumbles21 by.
I catch the scent22 of fresh grass clippings23. Then I hear something I can't decode24 — perhaps a tree branch scratching the shop roof next door.
Sleepy-eyed now, I look at the curtain. It moves...
“Mom, did you hear that?” my seven-year-old blurts25, tearing me from memories of old. “I think it was an owl26 family.”
“Probably,” I tell him. “Just keep listening... ”
Without the droning27 air conditioner, the house sounds are different, more peaceful, and with the windows open outside noises seem close enough to touch. I hope I'm awake tonight when the first breeze sneaks in28.
“不开空调？你睡得着吗？”听说我家为了省电要把家里的空调关掉时，我的朋友一脸惊愕。
“现在谁敢开窗？”另一个朋友警告说，“不管是白天还是晚上都不安全！”她家的`窗户刷过漆后，已经尘封了十年。
在开始省电的第一天晚上，气温不过30度。我们不觉得难受，3个孩子却抱怨连天。他们是在22度的温室里被呵护长大的，与外界隔绝。
“这些窗户该怎么开呀？”丈夫摇晃着金属插销，终于打开了一扇。各种各样的昆虫尸体装点着窗台。随着窗户被一扇一扇地打开，萦绕在外的夜声——涌了进来。
13岁的女儿不停地嘀咕：“太热了！怎么睡啊！”
【英语作文《Waiting for the Breeze》】相关文章：
Waiting for sensible作文|Waiting for sensible 英语作文10-10
A man has been waiting at the bu英语短文改错07-08
小学英语Waiting for Another Hare优秀教学设计06-21
英语作文范文英语作文08-12
学好英语的英语作文11-05
学好英语英语作文11-05
中考英语话题作文中考英语作文-英语作文04-12