《高考英语满分作文》钧墨

10、原版答案

　　Holly was confused as she opened the gift from her best friend, Susan.
　　“I...I thought you could use it for something.” Susan’s explanation did nothing to help us understand why a twelve-by-eighteen-inch dark blue carpet was being presented as a birthday gift.
　　The murmured “thanks” was barely heard as Holly tried hard not to allow her disappointment to show. She laid the piece of carpet on the kitchen counter, and the two girls headed outside to play with the family dogs.
　　Holly’s disappointment over the incident didn’t become evident until the following evening when she came downstairs to say good night. “Well, I guess we know how much my best friend thinks of me, huh, Mom?” Her attempt at a cheerful tone failed completely.
　　The next morning, I carried a kitchen rubbish bag outside. My heart wrenched as I opened the rubbish can and saw Susan’s carpet lying among the other waste items. Hesitating only a moment, I reached in and pulled it out of the can. After giving it a light brushing, I brought it into the house and put it away in the hall closet. Occupied by the business of daily living, the carpet was soon forgotten.
　　Before Holly’s birthday, Susan had been a regular visitor in our home. On several occasions, she rode the bus home with Holly and was one of the few friends ever permitted to stay over on a school night. The girls did their homework together and went to bed at a reasonable hour. Now as I cooked the evening meal, I realized it had been nearly three weeks since we’d even heard the mention of Susan’s name. I missed her warm smile and eager-to-please ways.
　　The noise at the front door told me Holly had arrived home from school. “Susan invited me to come over to her house after school tomorrow.” She announced as she put her books down on the kitchen table. Although her voice carried a so-what attitude, I sensed she was pleased by the invitation.
　　Arrangements were made, and the girls rode home together on the school bus the following day. As I travelled along the winding country road that led to her house, Susan talked nervously about her foster mom (养母) and the seventeen cats she had taken in and cared for with Susan’s help.
　　Susan guided us through the house. She proudly showed us her room, which was decorated with used furniture. An old picture frame (框架) sitting beside the bed contained pictures of Susan’s parents and siblings from whom, we later learned, she had long since been separated.
　　I followed Susan’s foster mom — who introduced herself as Glenda — into the kitchen. After clearing a small area, Glenda placed a couple of cups on the table. Her hand trembled slightly as she poured us each a cup of steaming black coffee. She began to relax as we drank our coffee and chatted about her cats.
　　Her eyes shone as she showed her fondness for Susan. But her expression turned blue when she referred briefly to the girl’s past. In a short time, I came to respect this generous-hearted woman who had opened her home to a young girl and attempted to make a difference in her life.
　　As daylight began to fade, we offered our thanks for the visit and said good-bye.
　　Holly sat quietly in the car on the way home. Stealing a glance, I noticed her back was straight. Her head and shoulders were thrust forward as if willing the car to move faster. No sooner had we come to a stop in the driveway than she threw open the car door and walked purposefully toward the side gate. Curious, I followed. My throat tightened as I observed my daughter standing next to the rubbish can looking inside. Her shoulders dropped as she replaced the lid of the can and dragged into the house.
　　“Is this what you were looking for?” I placed the piece of carpet on the table in front of her. “Thanks, Mom.” A tear or two slipped from her eyes and splashed onto the dark blue carpet that, as if by magic, had become the most precious birthday present in the whole world.

　　简述：苏思安是一个身世坎坷屡遭不幸的少女，被她的养母收养，她家境贫寒，却为自己的好友准备了能拿出手的最好的生日礼物。知道真相的霍莉流下了感动又后悔的泪水，幸好有神助攻霍艾收起了毯子，霍莉也终于明白毯子对于自己的珍贵。最后霍莉和苏思安过上了幸福的生活。