The Gift of a Dream 梦想的礼物
There was probably no greater horse-lover on the planet.I subscribed to three horse magazines and I had my bedroom literally wallpapered with photos，calendars，cut-out pictures，paint-by-number pictures……if it had a horse on it，I put it on my walls.A young teen，I lived，breathed and dreamed horses.I saved for weeks to buy a huge wall-sized poster of wild horses running through a river，manes flowing，hooves flying-it was beautiful.I found it on the back of my dad's“Enquirer”and carried the ad around with me for ages until I had enough saved to send away for it.And I actually kept sugar cubes in my jacket pocket on the miraculous chance that I would somehow run into a horse and be able to ride it.
You see，I had never actually ridden a horse.
My parents had friends with horses，and although I was never allowed to ride them，we visited often and I always brought my sugar cubes and felt immense pride at my knowledge of the proper way to feed them.Hand up，palm flat，try not to squeal when their velvety，slobbery lips whisked it off my hand.It was the highlight of my week，visiting them.I longed to throw my leg up over the black one's back，sliding John-Wayne style onto it，wind my hands through its mane and ride off into the sunset.Not that I even knew how to do it，but that didn't stop me from daydreaming.
My best friend，Stacey，was also a horse lover.Since the sixth grade，we had spent hours and days cutting out horse pictures for our walls，fantasizing of being grown，married and owning horse ranches side by side and doing nothing but riding to our hearts'content.No one but Stacey understood how much I longed to ride a real horse.（A black one.）Stacey had been riding several times and I was eaten up with envy as she described her days of riding with her family.I would have given anything to go with her even just one time.But we were poor and couldn't afford the rental fees，so I had to wait and dream.
The summer we were thirteen，Stacey and I made plans to go to Lake Comanche in Northern California，an hour from where we lived.We were thrilled to the core to be spending our first day on an outing without parents.We packed our bathing suits，lunches and hiking shoes and chattered every night about what we would do with the whole day to ourselves.The day finally came and Stacey's mother drove us to Lake Comanche.Stacey and her mother were both strangely quiet on the drive up and I caught them several times exchanging mysterious smiles and even giggling，as though there was some secret joke between them.
We finally arrived at the lake and Stacey's mother gave me a big hug and said，“Have fun！”with twinkling eyes，and drove off，leaving us on the hot，dusty road that I knew didn't go to the swimming area.
“Where are we？”I looked at Stacey.She just smiled and said“C'mon.”She walked down the dusty path and disappeared over a hill，leaving me wondering where on earth we were.I ran to catch up to her and saw her standing next to a horse corral，her arms through the fence，happily petting a brown mare.
“Wow！”I scrambled down the hill and hopped onto the fence rail，surveying the crowd of horses milling about in the shade of the great tree overhead.It was an incredible scene for me.I had never seen so many horses in the“flesh”and I felt as if I was dreaming.Stacey looked at me and just grinned.“Pick one.”She told me.“What？”“Pick one.We're going to ride.I saved up so we could rent two horses all day！”She fairly exploded with finally getting the secret out.
I just stared.I couldn't believe she did this for me.What kind of a thirteen-year old does this for a friend？It was an incredible gift.I couldn't believe I was actually going to ride a horse.A real horse.Me.On a horse.All day.Wow.I finally absorbed it all and threw my arms around her.We laughed and giggled and danced around.It was a golden moment that still brings tears to my eyes，twenty-five years later.
I looked carefully at the horses and spotted him.He was the horse of my dreams……black with gentle eyes and a flowing mane.I couldn't have wished for a more perfect horse.He was beautiful.We told the man who ran the stable which horses we wanted and with a spinning head I listened to the rules and watched him saddle my dream horse.When he asked me if I knew how to ride，I nodded，but hoped that what I'd read in magazines and books could be applied in real life.I was shaking.
The man gave me a leg up and told us where the horses could rest in the shade and drink at the river.I felt like I was in a movie.John Wayne，move over.The saddle creaked and I loved the sound.I loved it all-the horse-smell，the dust we kicked up，the feel of the reins in my hands，even how sore my legs were getting.I was in heaven.
The day was a dreamy，sunny，perfect day.My horse was patient as I learned how to handle him and we got along from the start.I learned to canter and Stacey and I even raced through the hills，laughing blissfully and living out our dream.The day drew to an end and the sun lent a brilliant wash over a golden day I've never forgotten.In the years that have passed since that magical summer day，I've ridden many more times.But never has any gift meant more to me than that of a thirteen year-old girl to her best friend.It was the gift of heart，of soul.The gift of a dream.
这个星球上可能再没有比我更痴迷的爱马者了。我订了三本马主题杂志，我卧室的墙上完完全全地贴满了马的照片，日历画，裁剪的图片，数字模版画……只要是有马的，我就把它贴在墙上。十几岁的我，生活和呼吸在马的世界里，马儿是我的梦想。我节省了几个星期的零花钱买了一张画有野马奔驰过河景象的招贴画，有一整面墙那么大，马鬃飘浮，马蹄飞扬――太美了。我是在爸爸的《寻问者》背面找到的，一直随身带着那个广告，带了好久，直到我攒够钱写信过去求购。而且，实际上，我总是在上衣兜里放几块方糖，想自己可能会奇迹般地遇见一匹马，并有机会骑上它。
瞧，实际上我从来没有骑过马。
父母的一些朋友们拥有马匹，虽然从来都不让我骑，但我们经常去拜访他们。我总是带着方糖，而且对于自己知道正确喂食马儿的方法感到无比自豪。把手伸上去，手掌伸开，当它们用柔软、沾有口水的嘴把食物从你手上扫食而走的时候，不要尖叫。拜访他们是我一周生活中最棒的部分。我渴望自己能跳上那匹黑色马的马背，用约翰？韦恩的姿势滑上去，手伸在马鬃里，奔向夕阳西落的地方。我甚至都不知道怎么骑，但这并不妨碍我整日的做梦。
我最好的朋友，斯德茜，也非常热爱马。从六年级开始，我们就整天呆在一起四处剪集马的图片，贴在各自家里的墙上，幻想着长大、结婚后，拥有各自的马场，当然是挨在一起的，什么都不做，只是骑马，骑到我们心满意足为止。只有斯德茜才了解我是多么的渴望真正骑一次马。（要骑黑黑的那种）斯德茜已经骑过几次了，听到她描述和家人一起骑马的情景，我嫉妒得要死。如果能够跟她一起去，哪怕是一次，我也会在所不惜。但是我家境并不富裕，承担不起租马的费用，所以我只能等着，继续做我的梦。
十三岁那年夏天，我和斯德茜计划到加州北部的科曼奇湖玩，那儿距我们住的地方有一小时车程。这是我们第一次在没有父母的陪同下出游，我们俩儿兴奋坏了，把自己的游泳衣、登山鞋，还有午餐都塞进行李包里，每天晚上窃窃私语地聊着我们可以在属于我们自己的一整天里都干些什么。那天终于到来了，斯德茜的母亲驱车带我们前往科曼奇湖。途中，斯德茜和她的妈妈都出奇的安静，有几次我看见她们偷偷地交换着神秘的笑容，甚至还嗤嗤地笑，就好像她们之间藏着什么我不知道的笑话似的。
我们终于到了湖区，斯德茜的妈妈给了我一个大大的拥抱，眼睛里闪闪发光，对我说，“玩得开心点！”然后驾车离开了，把我们留在了这条炎热，满是扬尘的路上，我知道这不是通向游泳区的路线。
“我们这是在哪儿？”我看向斯德茜。她只是一笑，说，“来吧。”她沿着飞满灰尘的道路向前走去，消失在一座小丘后面，我则在后面踟躇着想我们到底在哪儿。我跑上前去，映入眼帘的是她站在一列马畜栏旁，胳膊伸进栅栏里，快乐地拍抚着一匹棕色的母马。
“哇！”我飞奔而下，跳上去抓住栅栏的扶手，审视着马群在头顶下的一大片树荫里悠然地盘转走动。眼前的景象让我不敢相信自己的眼睛。我从来没有亲眼见过这样一大群活生生的马，我觉得自己好像在做梦。斯德茜看着我，咧嘴笑了，“挑一匹。”她对我说。“什么？”“挑一匹。我们要骑马了。我攒够钱可以让咱俩租两匹马一整天！”终于揭晓了秘密，她兴奋得大叫起来。
我惊呆了，瞪着眼睛看着她。我不敢相信她会为我这么做。什么样的十三岁孩子会这样对待她的朋友呢？这份礼物太珍贵了。我不敢相信自己真的就要骑马了。一匹真正的马，我，骑在马上，一整天，哇！最后，我终于完全相信了这个事实，一把抱住了她。我们尽情地笑啊笑，还跳着转起了圈。那一刻就像金子般在我生命中闪闪发光，至今二十五年后回想起来，我的眼里还会涌起泪花。
我仔细的观察马群，发现了他。他是我梦想中的马……黑亮的身体，温和的眼睛，还有长飘飘的马鬃。没有比他再完美的了，健硕而俊秀。我们告诉马场的经营者我们所选中的马，然后我晕头转向的听取了他讲解骑马的规则，看着他给我的马上鞍。当他问我是否会骑的时候，我点点头，心里却祈祷着可以把在杂志和书上学到的方法运用到实践中去。我在颤抖。
那个人抬起我的一条腿帮助我上马，并且告诉了我们马儿乘凉和饮水的地方。我觉得自己如同在电影中一般。约翰？韦恩，策马前进喽！我喜欢听到马鞍发出吱吱的响声。我喜欢所有的一切――马身上的味道，我们扬起的灰尘，手中持着马缰的感觉。不管双腿变得多么酸痛，我都宛如身在天堂。
那是阳光灿烂，如梦幻般完美的一天。我学着怎样去适应和驾驭，而我的马很有耐性，从一开始，我们就有默契感。我学会了慢跑，甚至还和斯德茜在丘陵间来了段赛跑，我们在马背上欢笑起来，沉浸在梦想成真的幸福之中。一天的时间渐渐过去，夕阳的余晖把天空挥洒得金黄绚烂，为这我从不曾忘记的一天画上了一个完美的句号。自从那魔法般奇妙的夏天过去后，很多年来，我又骑了很多次马，但是从来没有任何礼物像这个十三岁的小姑娘送给她最好朋友的礼物这样对我有如此深的意义。这是心灵的礼物，灵魂的礼物。这是梦想的礼物。
译者感言
梦想的礼物，是友情给予的。友情是心灵的休息地，真正的友情只能用心体会、用心感受。彼此之间有一种默契，知道对方最真的样子和最真的想法；面对她/他时，不用有丝毫的掩饰，却有着充分的信任，不怕被她/他讥笑，也不怕被她/他出卖，即使她/他不言不语，也能感知她/他内心的回应。这样的知己人生难找，所以我们执著而求，不管咫尺千里。想起了中国古代俞伯牙和钟子期的故事，不管生活的表面如何光鲜，总有一天内心难以负荷生活的虚垢，从热闹中逃亡，孤舟单骑，只想与高山流水对晤。走得远了，也许会遇到一个人，像樵夫，像隐士，像路人，出现在你与高山流水之间，短短几句话，使你大惊失色，引为终生莫逆。这真是对友情的千古传诵。作者无疑很幸运，十三岁时就收到了这样一份心灵的礼物。奔驰的马儿、欢乐的笑声、盈动的心灵、自由的灵魂，这都是友情所带来的。
