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The Blessed Dress
幸運的禮服
I got an engagement ring for Christmas. My boyfriend and I had been dating for almost a year and both felt the time was right to join our lives together in holy matrimony.
圣誕節的時候我戴上了訂婚戒指。我和男友交往已快一年，我們都感到是攜手步入神圣的婚姻殿堂的時候了。
The month of January was spent planning our perfect Alabama June wedding. My mother，two sisters and I went to Huntsville，the closest town with a selection of bridal shops，to buy the gown that would play the leading role on my special occasion.
整個一月份我都忙于計劃我們將于六月份在阿拉巴馬州舉行的美麗婚禮。我和母親，連同兩個姐姐前往最近的城市漢斯維爾的一些新娘服裝店去挑選結婚禮服－這可是婚禮中至關重要的一個環節。
We had a wonderful time just being together and sharing silly jokes， but the day soon turned serious by afternoon： still no sign of the dress of my dreams. Both sisters were ready to give up and try another day in another town， but I coerced them into one more boutique.
我們母女四個高高興興，互相開著玩笑。但是等到了下午氣氛就變得嚴肅起來：仍然沒有我夢想中的結婚禮服的絲毫影子。我的兩個姐姐都已經準備就此打道回府，改天再到其它的城鎮去買，但是我迫使她們陪我再多看一家小店。
I had a good feeling as we entered the quaint little shop filled with the scent of fresh flowers.
當我們進入這家滿是新鮮花香的精致小店時，我有一種很好的預感。
The elderly clerk showed us several beautiful gowns in my size and price range， but none were right.
上年紀的店員讓我們看了幾件 適合我穿的美麗的禮服，價格也都在我的預算之內，但是都不是我想要的。
As I opened the door to leave， the desperate shop owner announced she had one more dress in the back that was expensive and not even my size， but perhaps I might want to look at it anyway. When she brought it out， I squealed in delight.
正當我打開店門準備離開之即，孤注一擲的老板娘喊道，在后面庫里還有一件禮服，這件禮服很貴，甚至沒有我穿的號碼，但是也 許我還是想看一眼。當她拿出來時，我欣喜的叫出聲來。
This was it！
就是這一件了！
I rushed to the dressing room and slipped it on. Even though it was at least two sizes too large and more costly than I had anticipated， I talked Mom into buying it. The shop was so small it didn't offer alterations， but my excitement assured me I would be able to get it resized in my hometown.
我沖進試衣間把身體滑進去。盡管它至少要大上兩碼，價格也比我預想的要高很多，我仍說服了母親買下了它。這家店很小，連改衣服的服務都不提供，但是在激動之余，我確信能在家鄉把它改好。
Excitement wasn't enough. On Monday morning， my world crumbled when the local sewing shop informed me the dress simply could not be altered because of numerous hand-sewn pearls and sequins on the bodice. I called the boutique for suggestions but only got their answering machine.
然而盲目的激動是無濟于事的。禮拜一早上，當我們那兒的裁縫店告訴我禮服上手縫的珠子和飾片太多因而沒法改動時我傻眼了。我打電話給那家服裝店尋求建議，聽到的卻只是機器的自動應答。
A friend gave me the number of a lady across town who worked at home doing alterations. I was desperate and willing to try anything， so I decided to give her a call.
一個朋友給我鎮上一個裁縫的電話，這個裁縫在家里做活。在絕望之余，我愿意進行任何嘗試。于是我決定給她打個電話。
