閱讀理解

　　Several years ago, while attending a communication course, I experienced a most unusual thing．The instructor asked us to list anything in our past that we felt ashamed of, guilty about or regretted．The next week he invited participants to read their lists aloud．This seemed like a very private matter, but there’s always some brave soul in the crowd who would volunteer．The man next to me raised his hand and volunteered this story：

　　“While making my list, I remembered an incident from high school．I grew up in a small town in Iowa．There was a Sheriff in town that none of us kids liked．One night, my two friends and I climbed the tall water tank in the middle of town, and wrote on the tank in bright red letters：Sheriff Brown is a fool．The next day, the town arose to see our glorious sign．Within two hours．Sheriff Brown had my two friends and me in his office．My friends admitted what they did and I lied, denying the truth．No one ever found out．”

　　Nearly 20 years later, Sheriff Brown’s name appears on my list．I didn’t even know if he was still alive．Last weekend, I dialed information in my hometown back in Iowa．Sure enough, there was a Roger Brown still listed．I dialed his number．After a few rings, I heard：“‘Hello?’ I said, ‘Sherriff Brown?’ Pause．‘Yup．’ ‘Well, this is Jimmy Calkins．I want you to know that I did it．’ Pause．‘I knew it!’ he yelled back．We had a good laugh and a lively discussion．His closing words were：‘Jimmy, I always felt bad for you because your friends got it off their chest, and I knew you were carrying it around all these years．I want to thank you for calling me…for your sake．’”

　　Jimmy gave me much inspiration and I know that no matter how difficult the situation is, it is never too late to clear up the past and begin anew．

　　Several years ago, while attending a communication course, I experienced a most unusual thing．The instructor asked us to list anything in our past that we felt ashamed of, guilty about or regretted．The next week he invited participants to read their lists aloud．This seemed like a very private matter, but there's always some brave soul in the crowd who would volunteer．The man next to me raised his hand and volunteered this story：

　　“While making my list, I remembered an incident from high school．I grew up in a small town in Iowa．There was a Sheriff in town that none of us kids liked．One night, my two friends and I climbed the tall water tank(水罐，水箱)in the middle of town, and wrote on the tank in bright red letters：Sheriff Brown is a fool．The next day, the town arose to see our glorious sign．Within two hours．Sheriff Brown had my two friends and me in his office．My friends admitted what they did and I lied, denying the truth．No one ever found out．”

　　Nearly 20 years later, Sheriff Brown's name appears on my list．I didn't even know if he was still alive．Last weekend, I dialed information in my hometown back in Iowa．Sure enough, there was a Roger Brown still listed．I dialed his number．After a few rings, I heard：“‘Hello?’I said,‘Sherriff Brown?’Pause．‘Yes．’‘Well, this is Jimmy Calkins．I want you to know that I did it．’Pause．‘I knew it!’he yelled back．We had a good laugh and a lively discussion．His closing words were：‘Jimmy, I always felt bad for you because your friends got it off their chest, and I knew you were carrying it around all these years．I want to thank you for calling me…for your sake．’”

　　Jimmy gave me much inspiration and I know that no matter how difficult the situation is, it is never too late to clear up the past and begin anew．(重新開始)