Those flowers / 那些花兒

我們正式進入炎熱的夏季，高溫的日子裡，我開始懷念春天的清爽和繽紛，和那些花兒。

We have officially ushered in the sweltering summer. On the sultry summer days, I can't help but miss the cool, colorful spring, and those flowers. 

        四月裡，我們帶孩子去採用來裝飾個人花環的花朵。

     In April, we invited the children to pick the flowers they would like to use for their head garlands. 

        孩子們在花園樹叢裡來來回回地跑，我好喜歡他們在陽光下奔跑的樣子。

     The kids enjoyed running back and forth in the gardens, which never failed to fascinate me when I looked at them. 

        撿了好多賞心悅目的葉子和花朵。

     The leaves and flowers were so pleasing to the eye. 

        開始花環DIY，媽媽比孩子們還興奮。

     As we began the DIY lesson, the mothers were actually more excited than their kids. 

        成品超級美麗！

     What beautiful wreaths! 

        孩子們也愛不釋手！

     The kids didn't feel like taking the garlands off their heads at all. 

        戴上花環再去戶外玩灑花的遊戲！多美好的季節和童年！ 

     With the garlands on, the children couldn't wait to go outdoors to play the game of tossing petals into the air. They certainly knew how to make best use of the beauty of the spring season!

Neil Gaiman says / 尼爾蓋曼說

「我希望在新的一年裡你會犯錯，因為如果你犯錯，那意謂你在創造新的事物、嘗試新的事物、學習、生活、自我推進、自我改變、以及改變全世界，你在嘗試之前沒有做過的事，而更重要的是，你正在做某件事。

不管你害怕什麼，採取行動。

明年及永遠，不停犯錯。」

旁觀者的意見：非小說選─尼爾蓋曼


"I hope in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing the world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're Doing Something.

Whatever it is you're scared of doing, Do it.

Make your mistakes, next year and forever."

The View from the Cheap Seats by by Neil Gaiman

Silence is gold / 不說話也很好

包包繪 / drawn by Bao-bao

又過了一學期，期間因為要說很多話，錯失了很多不說話才能看到的細節。學期結束前，我終於能夠安靜地用心想，雖然之前有許多焦慮和恐懼，但我還是要稱讚自己一下，因為不管中間有多少壓抑，最後我都還是打開心了。

During the past semester, I missed a lot of details because I had to talk much. Before the semester officially ended, I could finally hush and work in silence. Despite my considerable anxiety and fear, I feel I need to give myself a hug for opening up after long struggles. 

        儘管我的學生風景不停流轉，我還是真心喜歡我的工作和遇見的孩子，而這是不說話的領悟。

        Though students come and go, I realize I still love my job and many kids I encounter sincerely, which I see when I do not need to talk. 

Good appetite / 好胃口

每天對生活總是有很大的胃口，做了很多嚐試，還是不滿足；寫了很多故事，老是覺得不夠；我想把整個地球的經驗吃掉。

Every day I am hungry. I make many attempts, but I hardly feel satisfied; I write many stories, but I rarely feel content. If possible, I could eat the earth up!

        原來是很久沒有好好畫畫！

     Ah, it must be that I haven't drawn seriously for ages!

Why do we need illustration? / 插畫的必要性

腎蕨 / Tuberous Sword Fern

畫眼睛看得到的植物不難，即使剛開始不上手，左看右看左畫右畫，多練習幾次就熟練了。不過貴美出了個大難題給我，她從戶外庭園拿一株腎蕨，解釋完構造之後，領我到蕨類的成長過程插圖前，對我說：今天我希望你可以把腎蕨的演進畫出來，但是這些都是要在顯微鏡下才看得到的。於是我們很認真地把腎蕨放在顯微鏡下研究，但最多只能看到孢子群。

Drawing a plant isn't hard, even for someone like me who's not known for being precise when it comes to drawing. I might not get the hang of it right away, but practice makes perfect. However, Guei-mei gives me a tremendous challenge this time. She comes in with the Tuberous Sword Fern from the garden. After explaining to me every part, she leads me to a huge poster on which the whole development process is illustrated. Then she announces to me: I hope you can draw the same thing for the Tuberous Sword Fern. Because many images can be seen only with the help of the microscope, we struggle hard with the apparatus. Yet we can only see as much as spores.

       此時另一位同事不禁加入我們的對話：為什麼要用畫的呢？現在拍照不是很容易的事嗎？我忍不住點頭搗蒜，因為我每天都上網查植物的圖片。貴美回答：畫的不是很好嗎？以前的人也都是用畫的啊！「因為之前沒有相機啊！」我這麼喜歡插畫，卻說不出像樣的答案來，不過功課既然都出了，我還是很乖巧地坐在小鐵櫃前畫圖。

   Meanwhile another colleague can't help joining our conversation. She asks: Why do you need drawings? Isn't it easier to take photos? I can't agree more since I look for images of plants online on a daily basis. Guei-mei responds: I love drawings. People used to do that too. "That's because cameras were not available!" Much as I love illustration, I can't come up with a decent reason either. Still, the task has been given, and I'll take it. 

       然後當我畫到快要蒸發時，新展覽室的設計師走出來，他問我是不是標本館請來畫圖的，然後突然靈機一動，覺得我可以畫宣傳的海報，走之前說了一句：很有手感。於是我找到了那個下午的答案，攝影和插畫各有價值，照片可以被用在科學上的研究，可是插畫可以用在設計上，而且我相信對有些人來說，插畫可能會吸引他們走進植物的世界，這何嘗不是個好的開始？

   When I draw to such a point that I feel like evaporating, the designer for the new exhibition room walks out, asking me if the herbarium hired me to draw. Then he hits upon a brilliant idea of letting me draw the poster for the promotion. Before he leaves, he gives me the answer I was looking for: It feels idiosyncratic. It is then I realize why we need illustration. Photography can be used in scientific research, but illustration can be applied to design. Besides, for some people, illustration serves as a means to lead them into the world of plants, which I believe, is a rather wonderful beginning point. 

        在植物標本館的每一天都有驚喜。

   In TAI Herbarium, there are surprises in store for me every day. 

PENNYLANE / 青春巷

上週去台大附近找佩倪玩，喝完茶後她提議騎腳踏車穿過台大載我回家，雖然內心有一點害怕，但是聽到阿倪拍胸脯保證，便欣然答應了。

I met up Penny last week near National Taiwan University. In the evening, she offered to give me a ride home. Truth be told, I wasn't very sure, but seeing her trying so hard to convince me, I believed it'd be fun.

阿倪的路線很有趣，我一度以為我們要踏上大馬路，還好最後還是繞進校區裡，一邊作校園導覽，到了PENNYLANE時我興奮地大叫：去年秋天我就想告訴你這裡有專屬你的巷子！腳踏車之旅的高潮在於阿倪想在十一秒之內穿越後門的四線大馬路，結果我們成功了！

In the beginning, I was puzzled by Penny's route. Once I thought we were veering away from the campus. Fortunately, she found a way to ride across the university and gave a interesting tour. When we headed into PENNYLANE, I couldn't help telling her: Since last fall I've wanted to tell you that there is a lane named after you here! The climax of our little trip took place when Penny wanted to sail across a four-lane road near the back gate in 11 seconds! And, WE MADE IT!

雖然我這個年紀應該要當貴氣的歐巴桑，可是偶爾體驗青春還真是很棒的經驗！

Though I am way older the age of being a uni student, I have to admit it's really awesome to re-experience youth once in a while!

Thai for Beginners / 人生學分班

我看了好幾年的泰劇，雖然劇情荒謬到我常難以啟齒和別人說，但是今年春天我終於決定去上泰文課，教課的海倫老師有很特別的理論，口說和書寫班是分開的，她相信不識泰文字也可以說一口流利的泰文，所以我現在有滿腦子的聲音，不過我完全看不懂那些複雜的小蝌蚪。

I had been a fan of Thai lakorns for a few years, but the plots are usually so insane that I found it quite embarrassing to tell others that I have such a "special" hobby. However, I finally decided to take up Thai lessons this past spring. Teacher Helen has her own theory--she believes that not having the writing ability doesn't hamper oral communication, so the conversation class and alphabet class are separate. Now my head is full of all kinds of Thai sounds, but I can't read in Thai at all. 

拖了很久才決定去上課，因為想到之前學過的無數語言，通常到了某個階段就宣告停滯，可是去上之後才又再度意識到我生來就是要學語言的，這幾個月因為泰文課很快樂。課堂上有種很單純喜悅的氛圍，放掉平常生活中的小憂小慮，我只要跟著老師複誦，回到家如果在泰劇裡聽得懂某個字，這樣就開心滿足。

I had my concern which made me put off learning Thai. I couldn't help thinking of the languages I had tried to master. I usually ended up giving them up at a certain point. Yet it didn't occur to me again that I was born to learn languages until I learned Thai. Over the past few months Thai class has made me very happy. In class I can let go of the insignificant worries that obsess me in my everyday life and focus only on memorizing the sounds. And if I happen to hear the words in the lakorn I am watching, I will be as cheerful as a little child. 

剛開始上課時，老師說有問題可以私下問，順便爆料有人已經先問了「我愛你」怎麼說且飛往泰國會情人了，讓我想到丹麥電影「戀愛學分班」，普通的義大利文課卻是學生們生活中的重大寄託，我已經過了學語言和當地人談戀愛的年紀，可是在課上可以感受到旁邊小男生的悸動，大家為了各種理由來上課，雖然我們互不認識，在那一個半小時裡我們融合成一體，下課後又各自散去，多麼沒有負擔的關係。

At the beginning of the term, the teacher reminded us that we could always go to her in private for any question. She then revealed that a student had already asked her how to say "I love you" because of his Thai lover. I recalled the Danish movie Italian for Beginners. The ordinary Italian class plays such an important role in the students' lives. Truth be told, I am way over the age of falling in love with someone who is a native speaker of the language I am learning, but I happen to sit next to the young guy, so I can always feel that sweet air of love in class. Everyone comes to learn Thai for different reasons. Though we don't know one another, we are one huge body during the 1.5 hours. After class, we go in our own directions without feeling attached. How simple...

除了上課的快樂，每次去上泰文課總會在路上遇到認識的友人或好久不見的學生，有些時候的際遇真的令我大呼神奇，所以每週都像是有驚喜的散步之旅。

Besides the joy of being a student, I come across friends or ex-students on my way. Sometimes the experience so dramatic that I am wowed. The walk every week is really full of surprises. 

老師總提到泰國人的生活哲學，不知道我是不是有悟性，現在的我看透了之前想不通的一些事，覺得很輕鬆自在，泰國老師總愛說：kong Thai chob sabai sabai，意思是泰國人喜歡舒服簡單，對啊，人生若是要逆勢而為多辛苦呢！反而是什麼都放開後才發現我和人之間的連結是如此緊密。

The teachers always mention Thai people's life philosophy. I wonder if it's because I am a good student. Now I have seen through some puzzles that I couldn't for a long while, and I feel so peaceful. Our Thai teacher loves to say, kong Thai chob sabai sabai, which means Thai people love the simple and comfy way. Right, how hard it is to go against the flow! It is after I let go that I realize my connection with people is amazingly close. 

i am not crying / 我沒有在哭

上週收到世界展望會的通知，我贊助的對象居然從馬拉威弟弟換成換了尼日的小男童，明明出國之前小弟還祝我長壽，才能一直資助他，打電話詢問細節之後，才知道馬拉威弟弟全家搬出了計畫區，小姐還安慰我說，也許弟弟家庭環境變好也不一定。

Last week I received a letter from World Vision. It was not until then that I realized I am actually sponsoring a little boy Abassi from Niger instead of Mphande from Malawi, whom I'd sponsored for several years. It was quite unexpected for me because right before I left for the UK, Mphande wished me a long life so that I could offer him help for an extended period. I called up the organization and one lady explained that Mphande and his family had moved out of the sponsored area. She said maybe his family had become better off financially. 

今天在捷運上，聽見一個小男孩對外婆說：我一直流眼淚，但我沒有在哭。說話的口氣及話裡的真誠很昂貴。

During my MRT ride today, I heard a little boy saying to his grandma, "Somehow my eyes are shedding tears, but I am not crying." The beauty and innocence of his words were so priceless. 

突然想上網查非洲地圖，尼日在非洲西部靠中間，馬拉威小小的，塞在東南部，男孩的眼睛裡也下雨嗎？

I have a sudden urge to look up the map of Africa. Niger is in the west of Africa, in fact, kind of close to the centre. Malawi is rather small, tucked between some countries in the southeast. Is it raining in the boys' eyes too?

Two pairs of hands / 兩雙手

前兩天躺在沙發上看電腦，楷維跑過來說：你的衣服捲起來了，這樣會感冒，於是他很細心地幫我把四端的衣角都拉好。

Two days ago while I was lying on my back staring at the laptop on the sofa, Kai saw me and said, "The edges of your T-shirt curl up. You'll catch a cold." He insisted on making them smooth and flat for me before going away. 

昨天去非洲鼓課，課程要結束時大家的手心又紅又腫，老師說兩兩一組互相幫彼此搥背，此時身邊的單身女性突然把偶數都用完，只剩離我有點遠的ㄧ位先生，而那些分完組的女性對著我們說：你們就一組吧！我還來不及感到尷尬，先生就大方地走過來說我幫你吧！我坐下之後，他的雙手替我把帽子拉上，很細心地拉平我的衣服之後才開始搥背，那是練過優人神鼓，跳舞像太極一般優雅的中年男子。下課之前我們互相感謝，大家帶著喜悅的心情不留下任何痕跡地再度踏上自己的旅程。

Yesterday I attended a workshop on djembe. At the end of the lesson, everyone's palms were red and swollen. The instructor wanted us to pair up and massage each other's back. Suddenly my dilemma as a single gal surfaced again. Before I could react, the other single women near me had found partners. Only a middle-aged gentleman who was kind of far away from me was left. At this moment, the single ladies looked at us suggesting, "Why don't you two form a group?" No sooner had I begun to feel embarrassed than he came up to me saying, "I'll help you." After I sat down, he pulled up my hood and    flattened my T-shirt with tenderness first. It was a gentleman who is as elegant as a tai-chi master. Then we thanked each other for the beautiful encounter and went on our own life journey without leaving any contacts at all. 

這兩雙手，熟悉或陌生，都如此充滿善意。

These two pairs of hands, whether intimate or foreign, are both so full of good will. 

Big wolf / 大野狼

大野狼真不好畫！

Wolves are hard to draw! 

Draw a line / 劃一條線

繼幾個月前楷維在我的白蘋果上用色筆畫幾筆後，這幾天他又偷偷在我的畫稿上多畫了兩顆頭，於是我們又得搬出他最怕的「劃一條線」政策，本來想罰他兩天不能到我家畫畫，但楷維的小阿姨堅持我對孩子太好，我硬是把兩天改成一個星期。

After the previous episode of scribbling on my Macbook a few months ago, Kai couldn't control his urge to doodle on my drawing again. We had to resort to the punishment that really works for him: Draw a line. He can't come to our place to play with us. At first it was supposed to last for two days, but Kai's youngest aunt Tsung insisted that I treat the boys too well. I thus forbade Kai to come for a week.

從那天開始，楷維只能在他家門口和我們微笑揮揮手，第二晚我忍不住走過去看他一個人在玩什麼，看他落單的樣子我問：是不是很寂寞？他答：很寂寞。小阿姨聽見有人交談的聲音走過來對我說：你就不要理他啊！我只好摸著頭滾回家。

From that day on, Kai could only smile and wave at us at the door to their apartment. On the second evening I couldn't help walking over to check on him. Seeing him alone, I asked, "Are you lonely?" He replied, "I am." When Tsung heard us talk, she came over saying to me, "You should leave him alone!" I then quickly ran away.

其實大人懲罰小孩並不總是痛快的，我也感到有些寂寞，那一條線其實像一道牆，我只好把剩餘的愛心用到同一棟某個小胖弟身上。

To be honest, adults don't always enjoy punishing children. I also felt kind of lonely. That thin line, for me, is as thick as a wall. I even had to give my love to a chubby boy I met that day in the elevator.

一個星期不到，愛雪把楷維抱過來，說：這樣你並沒有越界喔！但同時我們這些想堅守陣營的人認真地問：一個星期到了嗎？

Three days later, Mom held Kai in her arms and brought him over, saying, "See, you do not cross the line at all!" Meanwhile, we, who'd like to be persistent, asked in confusion, "Has it been a week?"

這麼多大人，這麼多不同調的規矩，難怪小孩聰明得可以快速抓住每個人的性格和弱點，所以要實行我最近掛在嘴邊的名言：立場堅定原則一致的人最後一定會獲得尊敬，真不容易。

There are so many adults with so many rules of their own. No wonder children are always quick to see through us and have their ways. It's a bumpy road to put my recent motto into practice: Those who are consistent in what they do will eventually win respect.

200,000 / 二十萬

亞得琳說根據某個研究，每個人在地球上有約二十萬的靈魂伴侶，換句話說，如果我們每天和不同的人談戀愛，也要活上五百四十八年才能遇見所有有緣人。這個說法讓我對人生又充滿了希望⋯

Adeline told me that according to a study, each of us has about 200,000 soul mates on earth. I did a little bit of math. In other words, we can be in love with a new person every day for 548 years, if we get to live that long. Because of the theory, I feel very hopeful about my yet-to-come love life.

Observe / 觀

現在我在學習當個科學家，一切從客觀的觀察開始，我的第一個對象是很有造型的大同電鍋。

Now I am learning to be a scientist. I start by observing the world objectively. My first object is the well-designed Tatung cooker. 

the little horse is newlY / 新生的小馬

新生的小馬

康明斯著

小馬剛

出生）他什麼也不懂，卻能感覺

一切，他身邊圍繞著

全然的陌

生 （有陽

光和香氣和

歌聲）處

處是（擁抱他

的夢境：令人驚艷的）

世界，而在

這個世界裡有美麗

地堆疊的、呼

吸的、茁

壯的寂靜，是

某個

人

the little horse is newlY

by e. e. cummings

the little horse is newlY 

Born) he knows nothing, and feels 

everything; all around whom is

perfectly a strange

ness(Of sun 

light and of fragrance and of 

Singing) is ev

erywhere (a welcom

ing dream: is amazing)

a worlD. and in 

this world lies: smoothbeautifuL

ly folded; a (brea

thing a gro

Wing) silence, who;

is: somE

oNe

Caterina's Chinese words 2 / 凱特的中國字 2

這陣子面對青澀的無知和自大，能量根本是像洪水般被吸走。不過水能載舟亦能覆舟，傷害我們的人事物也可以是我們重新出發的點。我想到凱特開給我的字彙裡有「河流」一詞，我要把怒氣化成能量，讓它源源不絕流出，這是我對河流的詮釋。

Caught off guard by youthful ignorance and insolence, my energy was "sucked" away at a lightning speed. But I figured out that the people and experiences that hurt us can empower us too. To interpret Caterina's favorite word "river," I determine to turn anger into positive energy and make it flow unceasingly. That's how I interpret the word. 

我在找回平衡的同時，看到了每個人如何爲生活的課題苦惱，我要把如河水般的能量送給人，特別是在倫敦的勵雯⋯

While I was retrieving my lost balance, I saw how everyone struggles for their life lesson. I would like to give the riverful of energy to those in need, especially Li-wen in London...

Today / 今天

我的星星也和我在一起嗎？

is my star with me? 

young and foolish / 赤子之心

Stay young, stay foolish. 

常保赤子之心。

Feedback / 回饋

小亮繪 / drawn by Liang

有時候我知道自己迷失在某個小細節，看不到全面的風景，但是總有外在的回饋讓我明白我是暫時的失明。

Sometimes I know I focus so much on a detail that I lose sight of the whole picture. But luckily, there is always feedback from the outside world that reminds me that I am only temporarily blind.

畫完「武士與小金龜」後，小亮媽一直和我說小亮和弟弟小柚因為這個故事有多開心，我把畫壞的部份送給小亮發揮，一看到他的作品我很清楚，他比我有才氣多了，這整個過程中我只是個媒介，我卻沒有因為被比下去難過，相反地我很高興自己可以這樣走進他的世界裡。亞得琳在旁邊幫腔說，之前在辦公室遇到小亮時，知道他不隨便和別人互動的，我下次想見到小亮本人，請媽媽有機會帶他來和小淳阿姨作朋友。

After I gave away the story The Warrior and the Ladybug to Liang, Emily has been telling me how much joy it has brought him and his younger brother Yo. I also attached some exercise sheets in the pack. Upon seeing his work, I knew he is way much more talented than me. I am no more than the medium in the whole process, but I do not feel discouraged because he outshines me. On the contrary, I am glad he let me in his world. Adeline couldn't help explaining how Liang does not accept people so easily, especially when she experienced that in person. I asked Emily to bring Liang to the office next time because I'd like to be his friend, the face-to-face kind.

美欽說我「認領」了很多孩子，他們長大之後會對我很好，好像不用等到以後，他們現在已經不斷地在給我回饋，這幾天和楷維在聽嚴爵的「暫時的男朋友」，我問他開玩笑要不要當我暫時的男朋友，他很爽快地說好，哥哥聽到之後很像錯過什麼肥缺地說：我也要當你的男朋友！這個小禮物會讓我溫暖很久很久⋯

Meichien said I "adopt" many children, and they will be my guardian angels after growing up. It looks like I won't have to wait until then. They have showered me with tons of feedback. When I was listening to Yen-j's "Temporary boyfriend" with Kai, I asked him jokingly if he wants to be my temporary bf. He said yes at a lightning speed, and when Von heard that, he offered to be my boyfriend as if he didn't want to miss such a precious opportunity. I think this gift will warm my heart for a long long time...

Filled with water / 水壺裝滿水

四歲的頎頎學了五言絕句，回家也做了兩句詩，她說：千山鳥飛啼，水壺裝滿水。頎媽轉述這個小故事給我的當下，我的心裡有了畫面。

Four-year-old Chichi learned five-character-quatrains at school, and she couldn't help writing her own couplet after going home. She said, "Birds fly and chirp against thousands of mountains, the jug is filled with water." When her mom told me the anecdote, an image formed immediately in my mind. 

過去一個星期畫不出圖來，不過這是我給自己裝滿水的過程，週末正式地和2012年的夏天道再見，關掉了我本來就不怎麼愛的臉書帳號，揮別晦暗、猜測和等待，我要繼續我清亮的人生。不同於從前，我對於獨善其身開始感到無聊，該是自我拓展的時候了。

I couldn't draw in the past week, but I figure I was trying to fill my jug. This weekend I waved goodbye to the summer of 2012, deactivated my facebook account, and most of all, discarded waiting and guessing in the murky dark. I am going on with my bright and clear life. Different from the past, I start to feel bored with my narrow life circle. It's time for self-expansion...

20 minutes / 二十分鐘

今天早上走路去搭捷運時，想到某堂在坎貝爾的課上我和露說：我現在所學的將來可以用在工作上。這學期選了兩本我自己很喜歡的少年小說給學生讀，當初還有想替故事畫插畫的雄心壯志，卻一直未有動作。今早剛好有些蠢蠢欲動，第一堂課要上勞達爾的瑪娣達，於是在捷運上就畫起草稿來了。

On my way to the MRT station this morning, it occurred to me that I had said to Lou in Camberwell that what I was learning then could be applied to my work. This semester I have chosen two of my favorite teenage novels for my students. I even had had the ambition to illustrate them back in summer, but I  never took any action. This morning I felt something stirring in me, and since we were reading Roald Dahl's Matilda during the first period, I seized the time during the metro ride to draw the drafts. 

我把每堂五十分鐘的上課時間定義爲一起生活的光陰，而我總是不甘心就這麼嘮叨過去，我比學生還受不了一成不變的講課，所以如果我可以在當下做些改變，氣氛會很不同。

I define every period of 50 minutes as our time of living together. I am never the type that is satisfied with my own monologue. In fact, I, compared with my students, have very little tolerance for monotonous lecture. I know that if I can come up with something new every day, the atmosphere will feel fresh and lively. 

學生開始分組討論之後，我就開始把這個星期讀到的情節畫在黑板上，之前在dpi雜誌上讀到某些插畫家用粉筆作畫，其實不容易，不過我只有二十分鐘，沒空想那麼多。畫完之後，孩子們也討論完畢，他們很開心地告訴我畫的是哪一部份的故事，喬萱還說，Hortensia太瘦了。

After the girls started their group discussion, I got down to work, trying to draw the main plots of the week onto the blackboard. A few weeks ago I read in dpi Magazine that some illustrators use chalk as their medium, but to be honest, it's not easy to draw with chalk. However, I had no more than 20 minutes, so it was also important to draw fast. After I was done, the girls had finished their discussion. They told me cheerfully about the parts of the story the images correspond to. Joe even said my Hortensia is too skinny. 

下課時大家衝到講台前拍照，我的課結束之後，喬萱上來擦黑板，過了那ㄧ堂課，彷彿什麼都沒有發生過，倒是我一整天頭頂上頂著顆大太陽，而也許當場的十五個孩子二十年後什麼也不記得了，卻依稀有個畫面在心裡⋯

During the break, most girls thronged to take photos with the image on the blackboard. After my two-hour lesson drew to an end, Joe came up to erase it away as if nothing had happened. I did feel the huge bright sun above my head for a whole day. And maybe the fifteen kids present won't remember a thing we talked about today in twenty years, but there might be a blurry picture in their mind when they look back...