IhaveafriendnamedMontyRobertswhoownsahorseranchinSanYsidro.Hehasletmeusehishousetoputonfund-raisingeventstoraisemoneyforyouthatriskprograms.

　　我有个朋友叫蒙提.罗伯兹,他在圣思多罗有座牧马场.我常借用他宽敞的住宅举办募款活动,以便为帮助青少年的计划筹备基金.

　　ThelasttimeIwasthereheintroducedmebysaying,“IwanttotellyouwhyIletJackusemyhouse.Itallgoesbacktoastoryaboutayoungmanwhowasthesonofanitineranthorsetrainerwhowouldgofromstabletostable,racetracktoracetrack,farmtofarmandranchtoranch,traininghorses.Asaresult,theboy’shighschoolcareerwascontinuallyinterrupted.Whenhewasasenior,hewasaskedtowriteapaperaboutwhathewantedtobeanddowhenhegrewup.”

　　上次活动时,他在致辞中提到：“我让杰克借用住宅是有原因的.这故事跟一个小男孩有关,他的父亲是位马术师,他从小就必须跟着父亲东奔西跑,男孩的求学过程并不顺利.高中时,有次老师叫全班同学写报告,题目是长大后的志愿.”

　　Thatnighthewroteaseven-pagepaperdescribinghisgoalofsomedayowningahorseranch.Hewroteabouthisdreamingreatdetailandheevendrewadiagramofa200-acreranch,showingthelocationofallthebuildings,thestablesandthetrack.Thenhedrewadetailedfloorplanfora4,000-square-foothousethatwouldsitona200-acredreamranch.”

　　“那晚他洋洋洒洒地写了七张纸,描述他的伟大志愿,那就是想拥有一座属于自己的牧马农场,并且仔细画了一张200亩农场的设计图,上面标有马厩、跑道等的位置,然后在这一大片农场中央,还要建造一栋占地4,000平方英尺的巨宅.”

　　“Heputagreatdealofhisheartintotheprojectandthenextdayhehandeditintohisteacher.Twodayslaterhereceivedhispaperback.OnthefrontpagewasalargeredFwithanotethatread,‘Seemeafterclass.’”

　　“他花了好大心血把报告完成,第二天交给了老师.两天后他拿回了报告,第一页上打了一个又红又大的F,旁边还写了一行字：下课后来见我.”

　　“Theboywiththedreamwenttoseetheteacherafterclassandasked,‘WhydidIreceivean’”

　　“脑中充满幻想的他下课后带着报告去找老师：‘为什么给我不及格?’”

　　“Theteachersaid,‘Thisisanunrealisticdreamforayoungboylikeyou.Youhavenomoney.Youcomefromanitinerantfamily.Youhavenoresources.Owningahorseranchrequiresalotofmoney.Youhavetobuytheland.Youhavetopayfortheoriginalbreedingstockandlateryou’llhavetopaylargestudfees.There’snowayyoucouldeverdoit.’Thentheteacheradded,‘Ifyouwillrewritethispaperwithamorerealisticgoal,Iwillreconsideryourgrade.’”

　　“老师回答道：‘你年纪轻轻,不要老做白日梦.你没钱,没家庭背景,什么都没有.盖座农场可是个花钱的大工程；你要花钱买地、花钱买纯种马匹、花钱照顾它们.你别太好高骛远了.’他接着又说：‘如果你肯重写一个比较不离谱的志愿,我会重新给你打分.’”

　　“Theboywenthomeandthoughtaboutitlongandhard.Heaskedhisfatherwhatheshoulddo.Hisfathersaid,‘Look,son,youhavetomakeupyourownmindonthis.However,Ithinkitisaveryimportantdecisionforyou.’”

　　“这男孩回家后反复思量了好几次,然后征询父亲的意见.父亲只是告诉他：‘儿子,这是非常重要的决定,你必须自己拿定主意.’”

　　“Finally,aftersittingwithitforaweek,theboyturnedinthesamepaper,makingnochangesatall.Hestated,‘YoucankeeptheFandI’llkeepmydream.’”

　　“再三考虑好几天后,他决定原稿交回,一个字都不改.他告诉老师：‘即使不及格,我也不愿放弃梦想.’”

　　Montythenturnedtotheassembledgroupandsaid,“Itellyouthisstorybecauseyouaresittinginmy4,000-square-foothouseinthemiddleofmy200-acrehorseranch.Istillhavethatschoolpaperframedoverthefireplace.”Headded,“Thebestpartofthestoryisthattwosummersagothatsameschoolteacherbrought30kidstocampoutonmyranchforaweek.”Whentheteacherwasleaving,hesaid,‘Look,Monty,Icantellyouthisnow.WhenIwasyourteacher,Iwassomethingofadreamstealer.DuringthoseyearsIstolealotofkids’dreams.Fortunatelyyouhadenou