On Field Day, Ms. Park put a paper cup of water on each desk. 'The last race is the calm race,' she said. 'Walk to the oak tree and back. Spill nothing.' An grinned. She was the fastest runner in class.
运动会上，帕克老师在每张桌子上放了一个纸杯，里面装着水。“最后一项是安静比赛，”她说，“走到橡树再回来，一滴也不许洒。”安安咧嘴笑了。她是班上跑得最快的。
Bo held his cup with both hands. 'I will go slowly,' he said. An laughed. 'Slowly is for snails.' She lifted her cup and started off at a jog. Water jumped over the rim and landed on her shoe.
博双手捧着自己的杯子。“我会慢慢走，”他说。安安笑了：“慢是蜗牛的事。”她端起杯子，小跑着出发。水跳出杯口，落在了她的鞋上。
By the gate, An's cup was half empty. She slowed to a walk. Bo passed her, stepping carefully between the white lines. 'Your shoe is squeaking,' he said. An looked down. A small stone was stuck in her sole. She stopped to shake it out.
到校门口时，安安的杯子已经空了一半。她放慢脚步走了起来。博超过了她，小心地在白线之间迈步。“你的鞋在响，”他说。安安低头一看，一小块石头卡在了鞋底。她停下来把它抖掉。
When she looked up, Bo was waiting under the oak. He had not gone on. 'You could win,' she said. Bo shrugged. 'The race is not only for one person.' They walked side by side, matching their steps to a slow song he hummed.
等她抬起头，博正在橡树下等着。他没有继续往前走。“你本来可以赢的，”她说。博耸耸肩：“比赛不只是一个人的事。”他们并排往回走，跟着他哼的慢歌，一步一步对齐脚步。
Ms. Park met them at the line. An's cup held a little water, and Bo's cup was full. 'Who wins?' An asked. Ms. Park pointed to the cups, then to the quiet line of waiting children. 'Look how you came back,' she said.
帕克老师在终点线等他们。安安的杯子里还剩一点水，博的杯子是满的。“谁赢了？”安安问。帕克老师先指指杯子，又指指那排安静等候的孩子。“看看你们是怎么回来的，”她说。
An did not get a medal that day. She got something better: a paper crown with a blue star, and Bo's promise to walk with her every Field Day. On the way home, she carried her cup slowly. Not one drop spilled.
那天安安没有得到奖牌。她得到了更好的东西：一顶画着蓝星星的纸王冠，还有博答应每个运动会都陪她一起走的承诺。回家的路上，她慢慢地端着杯子，一滴也没有洒。