Yo-Yo and Friendship(空竹与友谊)-儿歌荟萃-万维博客-万维读者网（电脑版）

网络日志正文

		Yo-Yo and Friendship(空竹与友谊)	2020-07-08 14:35:18

2018-04-21

【Aiden in English】

While most parents would say that high school is an opening to hundreds of new chapters, a much-cherished chapter is coming to an end.

I met Eric during the summer of the 5^th grade in 2014. After graduating from middle school recently, he volunteered to be a Chinese Yo-Yo teacher at the local summer camp of Guanghua Chinese School, which I enjoyed … somewhat. However, his class would be the essential reason why I continued to go.

The following year, a Yo-Yo club was formed. I immediately joined. Along with a few other friends, the base for the coming three years had emerged. Interestingly, the original group wasn’t led by Eric in the teaching fashion nearly as much as it was by Alec, another student who had a lot of expertise in the Yo-Yo. After getting off the ground, he became the main source of study, mostly because his arsenal of tricks was slightly larger than Eric’s. I like to think we three became a trio of our own within the club. Although some other friends were a part of the club, I think the fact that this single friendship was forged from practicing possibly the most useless skill ever strengthened it greatly. Furthermore, all the others quit along the way. I would say that I stayed on the path through sheer determination, but I would be lying. If it weren’t for the community service as a volunteer and a persuading mom, I would’ve bolted long ago.

But I didn’t, and I’m pretty sure the others had the same experience. This probably further strengthened the absolutely annoying friendship. Think of it this way: no one wanted this trio to occur. It was all just the byproduct of an overall mess we called a club. I stopped coming to the weekly meetings but remained in the performances for hours. That was enough to get the taste of the club.

It wasn’t long before I began discovering different sides to Eric. He is a great thinker, one who probably thought too much over certain topics. He read many philosophical books, often providing in-depth summaries or preaching to older kids. It got to a point when he would go on a spiel every week, resulting in quite the educational moment. And it wasn’t like the annoying “is water wet” stuff either. We talked about deeper ideas, from flaws in the school system to the reason behind competitive sports. While most of this seemed extremely nerdy, I can’t deny enjoyment. Through each one of his speeches, he grows more and more passionate. Sometimes, I zone out, only to come crashing back in at one of his climatic points, and am instantly baffled at how he got to that point.

They say true friends survive the test of fire. Trial by fire is fine and all, but not even fire can compare with the 3^rd, 4^th, or 5^th graders in the Yo-Yo club. I stayed the entire year as Eric’s TA last year, and they weren’t overly unbearable. This year, I don’t know what they learned over the summer, but someone definitely lent each one a how-to-guide on annoying others. It was really something. I don’t often use this expression indiscriminately, but they seemed like a bunch of drunk penguins waddling around. Like seriously, I remember a kid intentionally banging his head against a tree and laughing hysterically. I also remember not feeling obligated to stop him.

At the end of the day, we three became a team. But why am I saying this? Well, Eric, the oldest out of us (who also has the same birthday as mine), is going off to college this fall. So there goes this club. I’m near certain none of us is going to return next year together, at least not the experienced and reasonable Yo-Yo kids. Regardless, this has been a crazy ride, one that probably will end here for now.

Maybe later this chapter will have a sequel.

【红霞译文】

正当多数父母亲感慨高中为人生打开一扇通往绚烂未来大门的时候，这段弥足珍贵的篇章即将宣告结束。

我于2014年小学五年级暑假期间遇见耶桁，刚刚从初中毕业的他在附近宾州光华中文学校夏令营义务担任中式空竹老师，我挺喜欢抖着玩。然而，“星星之火可以燎原”，他的课堂竟然成为我继续学习空竹的根据地。

新学年空竹俱乐部成立，我二话没说立马加盟，与其他几位朋友结伴一呆就是三年。有趣的是，最初空竹班与其说以耶桁的教学风格为主导，不如说靠另一位经验丰富的学生明达做指点，建立起一定基础之后，明达逐渐成为大家心目中学习的榜样，主要因为他比耶桁玩得稍微花点，俱乐部里咱哥仨形影不离，虽然不乏别的伙伴同进同出，但彼此间真挚友情就是在日久扎堆练习这个也许最没用途的技能中磨练而成，与此同时，其他人相继离开。假如说我坚持到今纯属执着，恐怕成心撒谎，要不是志愿为社区服务也免得妈妈唠叨，我早就拍拍屁股走人甩手不干了。

但我并没一走了之，而且非常确信其他哥们感同身受，无意之中大大加深了彼此风吹不倒雷打不动的兄弟般情谊，接下来：谁都不想要这三人舞，咱哥仨组合只能当成被我们自封潇洒“俱乐部”的副产物。我不再参加每周一次活动，只有到了演出的时候才重新归队突击练习几个钟头，藉之足以领略俱乐部氛围。

不久，我开始从不同侧面认识耶桁。他是一位了不起的思想家，对某些话题可能给与过多思考；他读过很多哲学著作，经常进行深度概况并讲给年龄大点的孩子们听，以致每周都换盏传杯高谈阔论，让大家获益匪浅，而且丝毫没有夹杂着“水湿吗”这类肤浅的话题。我们讨论感想，从学校体系弊端到体育比赛背后原因所在，尽管多数问题似乎学究气十足，但我还是掩饰不住内心喜悦。纵观各个演讲，他的言辞越来越充满激情，有时我如坠五里雾中，一旦重新聚焦在他的唯物观点上，不由得纳闷他是怎么推理出来的。

常言道：“烈火试真金苦难试友情”，考验对所有一切都是有益的，唯独不适于空竹俱乐部中那些三、四、五年级小学生。2016—2017间我以耶桁的助教身份坚持了整整一年，这些萌宝简直牛得让你无所适从；今年我并不知道他们暑假学了啥，但有人免不了传帮带调皮捣蛋，定叫你大眼瞪小眼吃不了兜着走。我极少套用这种表达，但他们宛若一群醉熏熏的企鹅摇来摆去，认真地说，我记得有位萌宝故意用头撞树并歇斯底里地开怀大笑，我还记得自己犯不着阻止他。

末了，咱哥仨自成一体，我何必要提及这事？没错，耶桁也就是我们当中年长的那位空竹老师（与我同月同日生）今年球季将上大学，因此俱乐部随之而去，我敢肯定明年哥仨不再同台献艺，留下的几乎尽是初出茅庐的学弟学妹。无论如何，这段经历非同寻常，到此暂且划上句号。

兴许以后还有续文。

Today in History(历史上的今天):

Yo-Yo @ 2017 Lansdale Intl Fest(2017年兰斯代尔国际节抖空竹)

2013届光华毕业生(2013 GHCS Graduates)