Where Dreams Come True

张恒

It all started with an advertisement. I watched the baby take his first steps on TV， right before his family left for a trip to Disney World. The wheels in my head were set in motion and an idea came to my mind. When I was about 4 years old， I wanted to go to Disney World. For most young kids， its a normal request， but I wanted to spice things up a little： I would walk into Disney World.

一切都是從一个广告开始的。我在电视上看到婴孩迈出了他的第一步，就在他的家人去迪斯尼乐园旅行之前。我脑子开始转动，想到了一个主意。当我4岁的时候，我想去迪斯尼乐园。对大多数孩子来说，这是一个正常的要求，但我想让事情变得有趣一点：我会走进迪斯尼世界。

What do you mean， “walk in”？ Doesnt everyone walk into places？ What makes you so special？ Im glad you asked. I was born three months premature1， and because of this， I have cerebral palsy2. CP is a condition that doesnt allow me to walk on my own. Walking into anywhere， let alone a crowded， busy place like Disney World was， to put it lightly， a tall order3. Even so， my dad and I struck the deal， and the real work began. I had to become stronger; I had to grow more persistent4; I had to have confidence. Luckily， I had people in my corner to help with all of that. Over the next three years or so， I worked with physical therapists5， got a walker， and practised walking， standing， and balance—all skills that I would need to turn my goal into a reality.

“走进”是什么意思？不是每个人都是“走进”不同地方的吗？是什么让你如此独特？我很高兴你这样问。我早产了三个月，因此患上了脑瘫。脑瘫是不允许我独自行走的一种状况。我没办法走到任何地方，更不用说像迪斯尼世界这样拥挤、繁忙的地方了，说得轻松点，这是一个离谱的要求。即便如此，我和爸爸达成了协议，真正的努力开始了。我必须变得更强壮;我必须变得更坚持不懈;我必须有信心。幸运的是，在我的身边总有人帮忙。在接下来三年左右的时间里，我和理疗师一起锻炼，买了一个步行器练习走路，学会了站立和平衡——所有我需要的技能都能把我的目标变成现实。

I remember the feeling when my legs would be against doing any more work， practically turning to jelly. Despite6 this， everyone else told me I could do it， so I stuck to it. I walked， stood， balanced， until the time came. I was ready. We had worked so hard to get to this point. It was all because of people like my parents， brothers， teachers， and therapists that I was able to grow so much， both physically and mentally. Constantly pushing me to “walk on”， yet encouraging me whenever I needed it.

我记得我的腿抗议做更多练习，尤其是一直颤抖的感觉。尽管如此，其他人都告诉我可以做到，所以我坚持了下来。我走着、站着，保持平衡，直到时间到来。我准备好了。我们为了达到这个目标如此努力。正是因为像我的父母、兄弟、老师和治疗师这样的人，我才能够在身体和精神上成长，不断地强迫我“继续走”，但在我需要的时候鼓励我。

On June 9， 2008， as I stood in the tunnel7 leading into Main Street， looking around at my adoring fans， otherwise known as my family and friends. My dad asked me if I wanted any help doing this thing. I quickly replied， “No！” and made myself face the end of the tunnel， feet planted firmly， heart most likely beating out of my chest. Then I went， walking ever so slowly at first， then gradually speeding up， comforted and encouraged by all my friends and family supporting me. From the start， they had my back on this， no matter what. Step， step， step， step， bump8. I realized quickly what had happened： I lost my momentum9 and my focus， bumping into something. Luckily， we had practised and planned for this type of situation beforehand. Holding fast onto the handlebars， I mustered10 up all of my six-year-old strength， picked up my walker and straightened out， picking up my pace once again. It wasnt too long before the cheering crescendoed11 because I had made it to the end， where my mom was waiting with tears in her eyes and arms open wide ready to hug her son and tell him how proud she was.

2008年6月9日，我站在通往大街的隧道里，环顾四周，看着崇拜我的粉丝，也就是我的家人和朋友。我爸爸问我做这件事是否需要帮助，我立刻回答：“不！”面对着隧道的尽头，我双脚稳稳地站着，心脏几乎要从胸口跳出来。然后我走了，一开始走得很慢，然后逐渐加速，所有支持我的朋友和家人都在安慰和鼓励我。从一开始他们就支持我，不管遇到什么情况。一步，一步，一步，一步，碰撞。我很快意识到发生了什么：我失去了动力和重心，撞上了什么东西。幸运的是，我们事先已经针对这种情况进行了练习和计划。我紧紧抓住车把，集中我六岁的力气，扶起步行机，站直了身体，又一次加快了步伐。不久，欢呼声就达到了顶点，因为我走到了终点，在那里我妈妈含泪等待着，张开双臂，准备拥抱她的儿子，告诉他她有多骄傲。

Looking back on that experience， I realize something pretty profound12. Every once in a while， life will throw a few bumps in the road. Though it may set you back for a bit， dont let it stop you. Pick yourself back up and finish. Its worth it. Besides， there just might be someone there cheering you on along the way.

回顾那段经历，我意识到某些非常深刻的东西。生活偶尔会在路上出现幾次颠簸，尽管这可能会让你有点挫折，但不要让它阻止你，要振作起来，完成目标，这是值得的。另外，沿途会有人在为你加油。

Notes

1. premature [       ] adj. 早产的;不成熟的;比预期早的

2. cerebral palsy n. [医] 大脑性麻痹;脑性瘫痪

3. tall order离谱的要求;难以完成的任务;苛求

4. persistent [      ] adj. 固执的，坚持的;持久稳固的

5. therapist [      ] n. 治疗学家;（尤指心理疗法的）治疗师

6. despite [      ] prep. 尽管，不管

7. tunnel [      ] n. 隧道;坑道;洞穴通道

8. bump [      ] n. 肿块，隆起物;撞击;碰撞

9. momentum [      ] n. 势头;[物] 动量;动力;冲力

10. muster [      ] vi. 召集;聚集

11. crescendo [      ] vi. 音量逐渐增强

12. profound [      ] adj. 深厚的;意义深远的;深刻的 [强调]