The Graceful Hands

*GracefulHandsIhaveneverseenMrs.Clarkbefore,butIknowfromhermedicalchartandthereportIreceivedfromthepreceding*shiftthattonightshewilldie.Theonlylightinherroomiscomingfromapieceofmedicalequipment,whichisflashingitsredlightasifinwarning.AsIstandthere,thesmellhitsmynose,andIclosemyeyesasIrememberthesmellof*decayfrompastexperience.InmymouthIhaveasour,vinegartastecomingfromthepitofmystomach.I*reachforthelightswitch,andasitsilentlylightsthescene,Ireturntothebedto*observethepatientwithanunemotional,medicaleye.Mrs.Clarkisdying.Sheliesmotionless:theheadseemsunusuallylargeonaskeletonbody;theskinisdarkyellowandhangs*looselyaroundexaggeratedbonesthatnotevenablanketcanhide;therightarmliesstraightoutattheside,tapedcruellytoaboardto*secureaneedlesothatfluidmaydripin;theleftarmisacrossthesunkenchest,which*risesandfallswiththeunevenbreaths.Ireachforthelong,thinfingersthatarelyingonthechest.Theyareicecold,andIquicklymovetothewristand*feelforthefaintpulse.Mrs.Clark'seyesopensomewhatasherheadturnstowardmeslightly.I*bendclosetoherandscarcelyhearasshewhispers,Water.Takingaglassofwaterfromthetable,Iputmyfingerovertheendofthestrawandallowafewdropsofthecoolmoisture*toslideintohermouthand*easeherthirst.She*makesnoattempttoswallow;thereisjustnotenoughstrength.“More,”thedryvoicesays,andwerepeattheprocedure.Thistimeshedoesmanagetoswallowsomeliquidandweaklysays,Thank,you.She*istooweakforconversation,sowithoutasking,I*goaboutprovidingforherneeds.Pickingherupinmyarmslikeachild,Iturnheronherside.Naked,exceptforalighthospitalgown,sheissoverysmallandlightthatsheseems*likeavictimofsometerriblefamine.I*removethelidfromajarofskincreamandputsomeonthepalmofmyhand.Carefully,toavoidinjuringher,I*rubcreamintotheyellowskin,whichrollsfreelyoverthebones,feelingperfectlytheoutlineofeachboneintheback.Placingapillowbetweenherlegs,Inoticethatthesetooareicecold,and**notuntilI*runmyhandupoverherkneesdoIfeelanyofthelife-givingwarmthofblood.WhenIamfinished,Ipullachairupbesidethebedtofaceherand,*takingherfreehandbetweenmine,againnoticethelong,thinfingers.Graceful.*Iwonderbrieflyifshehasanyfamily,andthenIseethatthereareneitherflowers,norpicturesofrainbowsandbutterfliesdrawnbychildren,norcards.**Thereisnohintintheroomanywherethatthisisapersonwhoisloved.Asthoughsheisamindreader,Mrs.Clarkanswersmythoughtsandquietlytellsme,Isent...myfamily...home...tonight...didn'twant...them...tosee...*Havingspentherlastounceofstrengthshecannotgoon,butIhaveunderstoodwhatshehasdone.Notknowingwhattosay,Isaynothing.Againsheseems*tosensemythoughts,You…stay…Timeseemstostandstill.Inthetotalsilence,Ifeelmyownpulsequickenandhearmybreathingasitbeginstomatchhers,breathforunevenbreath.Oureyesmeetandsomehow,together,webecomeawarethatthisisaspecialmomentbetweentwohuman*beings...HerlongfingerscurleasilyaroundmyhandandInodmyheadslowly,smiling.Withoutwords,throughyellowedeyes,Ireceivemythankyouandhereyesslowlyclose.**Someunknownintervaloftimepassesbeforehereyesopenagain,onlythistimethereisnoresponseinthem,justablankstare.Withoutwarning,her*shallowbreathingstops,andwithinafewmoments,thefaintpulseisalsogone.Onesingletearflowsfromherlefteye,acrossthecheekanddownontothepillow.Ibegintocryquietly.Thereisaswellof*emotionwithinmeforthisstrangerwhosoquicklycameintoandwentfrommylife.Hersufferingisdone,yetsoisthelife.Slowly,stillholdingherhand,IbecomeawarethatIdonotmindthisemotionalbattle,thatinfact,itwasaprivilegeshehasallowedme,andIwoulddoitagain,gladly.Mrs.Clark*sparedherfamilyanepisodethatperhaps*theywerenotequippedtohandleandinsteadshareditwithme.Shehadnotwantedtohaveherfamilyseeherdie,yetshedidnotwanttodiealone.Nooneshoulddiealone,andIamgladIwasthereforher.Twodayslater,I*readaboutMrs.Clarkinthenewspaper.Shewasthemotherofseven,grandmotherofeighteen,anactivememberofherchurch,aleaderofvolunteer*associationsinhercommunity,aconcertpianoplayer,andapianoteacherforoverthirtyyears.Yes,theywerelongandgracefulfingers.----Theend---gracefuladj.(Title)attractive;fullofgraceandbeautygracefuldancergracefultulipgracefulbridge***graceful/gracious词根:graceDolphinsaregracefulandefficientswimmers.海豚是动作优雅的游泳高手.SheisthemostgracioushostessI’veeverknown.她是我所认识的最和蔼可亲的女主人.***precede:1)comeorgojustinfrontof:Hecameintotheroomprecededbyasmalldog.他走进房间,一只小狗走在他前面.2)beearlierthan:在…之前IntheyearsprecededtheOlympicGamesin2008,theChinesepeoplewerebusypreparingforthegreatevent.BackBOOK3Unit5shift(L2)n.adivisionofaworkingday;thegroupwhoworkinthisperiodonthedayshiftonthenightshiftinshiftsOnthegraveyardShift上大夜班workcollocation1.我们是三班制工作。2.他们等待日班的工人来接班。1.Weworkinthreeshifts.2.Theywaitedforthedayshifttocomeandtakeoverthework.BackBOOK3Unit5decay(L5)n.theactionorstateofgraduallygoingbadDentaldecayinchildrenisacommonphenomenonallovertheworld.儿童龋齿是一个全世界普遍的现象。vi.①rot;becomebad这些卷心菜已经开始腐烂。Thecabbageshadalreadystartedtodecay.BackBOOK3Unit5decay(L5)vi.②losepower,influence,etc.Translation1.Atthattime,RomeEmpirehadalreadydecayed.2.Aspeoplegrowold,theywilldecaymentallyaswellasphysically.1.那时，罗马帝国已经衰败。2.人们年老时脑力和体力都会衰退。BackIII.Expressions&Patterns伸手去拉灯toreac