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Never Better
Phoebe： Honey， I’ve got a confession to make.
Kurt： Well， I’m not an 1）ordained priest or minister or whatever， and having something to confess probably means you were hiding something from me in the first place. ①But I am glad you’re ready to come clean， so let’s have it.
Phoebe： The fact is…I’ve never felt better？！
Kurt： Umm…I’m no expert， but I’m pretty sure that feeling good is not something you’re supposed to feel bad about.
Phoebe： But you don’t understand； feeling good is making me feel guiltier than ever.
Kurt： Why， because of all the people in poverty around the globe？ It’s true， we do live rich， comfortable lives with only first-world problems to deal with， like which 2）tile to choose for the master bathroom or how much to 3）tip the pool guy for Christmas.
Phoebe： Hey， choosing the wrong tile can ruin the whole 4）aura of your home.
Kurt： Sorry， I wasn’t aware homes could have auras. I guess I need to brush up on my new-age 5）vernacular.
Phoebe： ②Anyway， the guilt I feel stems from knowing the source of my happiness， and not wanting it to be true.
Kurt： Well， spit it out already！
Phoebe： I’m so happy because having an empty nest has been such a relief！ No yelling， no 6）whining， no teenage 7）mood swings， no 8）kvetching， just pure， 9）unadulterated peace and 10）tranquility. And I love it！
Kurt： I know！ I have been having the time of my life. ③I thought I would miss him like the dickens， but it feels like a weight has been lifted ever since we shipped him off to boarding school.
Phoebe： But am I a terrible mother for sending my little boy away？
Kurt： On the contrary， you are a responsible parent who is looking after the well-being of her child. We recognized our son’s educational needs and did what had to be done. Who could have guessed that him being gone would be the best thing for everyone？
Phoebe： I believe it was me who made that exact argument when the topic of boarding school first came up for discussion.
Kurt： Exactly. So now he’s getting the proper learning environment he needs to grow and fulfill his potential， and we may be starting to realize that we have needs of our own， needs that weren’t being met cuz we didn’t have the time.
Phoebe： Yeah. I get my quiet time， you get your sports， and， if I’m not mistaken， we’re both looking a bit 11）svelte these days. Am I right？
Kurt： We are looking and feeling better than ever. And you， my dear， have nothing to feel guilty about.
Phoebe： That is， until he comes back for winter break and sees that his old bedroom is our new exercise room…
菲比：亲爱的，我需要向你忏悔。
库尔特：我不是被授予神职的牧师或神父之类的，需要忏悔首先可能意味着你正对我隐瞒着什么，但我很高兴你准备向我坦白了，说吧。
菲比：事实是……我感到从未这样好过。
库尔特：嗯……虽然我不是专家，但我相当确定感觉很好并不应该是让你感到惭愧的事。
菲比：你不懂，感觉良好让我比以往任何时候都要感到内疚。
库尔特：为什么，因为世界上所有的那些穷人吗？是的，我们的确过着富裕、舒服的生活。处理的是第一世界的问题，像选择哪一种瓷砖来装修我们的主浴室，在圣诞节应给多少小费给帮你清洗游泳池的人这些事。
菲比：嘿，选错了瓷砖可是会毁了你房子的整体光环。
库尔特：对不起，我没有意识到房子会有光环。我想我要温习我新世纪的方言了。
菲比：不论如何，我感到内疚是因为我知道我感到快乐的原因，却不希望它是真的。
库尔特：痛痛快快地说出来吧！
菲比：我感到高兴是因为进入空巢状态让我松了一口气。没有大声的叫喊，没有抱怨，没有青少年的情绪波动，没有吹毛求疵，有的只是完全纯粹的宁静。我喜欢这种状态。库尔特：我知道！这是我生命中的快乐时光。我原本以为我会很想念他，但自从我们把他送到寄宿学校去，我感到如释重负。
菲比：但送走我的孩子，我是不是一个糟糕的母亲呢？
库尔特：恰恰相反，你是一个有责任感的，为孩子的幸福着想的母亲。我们认可儿子的教育需求，做我们必须要做的事。谁能想到他的离开对我们每个人都是最好的呢？
菲比：当我们第一次谈及寄宿学校这个话题时，我想这（原本）是我提出的理由吧。
库尔特：确实。所以现在他有一个合适的帮助他成长和发挥潜能的学习环境，而我们也许应该开始认识到我们也有自己的需求。之前因为没有时间，这些需求都无法满足。
菲比：是的。我重获宁静，而你可以回归你的体育运动了。还有，如果我没弄错的话，这些天我们比以前苗条了一些。对吧？
库尔特：我们的样子和感觉都比以前好多了。亲爱的，你不需要感到内疚。
菲比：只是当他放寒假回来时，他会发现他的卧室变成了我们新的健身房……
Smart Sentences
① But I am glad you’re ready to come clean， so let’s have it.
但我很高兴你准备向我坦白了，说吧。
come clean： admit or tell people about sth. that’s been kept secret（承认或告诉他人保守已久的秘密）。例如：
Just when Adam was about to come clean about what really happened in the meeting， he died in a strange car accident.
就在亚当想说出会议真相时，他死于一次不同寻常的车祸。
② Anyway， the guilt I feel stems from knowing the source of my happiness， and not wanting it to be true.
不论如何，我感到内疚是因为我知道我感到快乐的原因，却不希望它是真的。
stem from： have or take origin from sth.（起源于，由……发生）。例如：
While New Year’s Day is a relatively recent phenomenon in China， the lunar New Year celebration stems from custom in the past.
在中国，过元旦相对来说是一个新现象，但庆祝农历新年的做法来自过去的习俗。
③ I thought I would miss him like the dickens， but it feels like a weight has been lifted ever since we shipped him off to boarding school.
我原本以为我会很想念他，但自从我们把他送到寄宿学校去，我感到如释重负。
like the dickens： really， seriously（真是，实在是）。例如：
An internship at a respectable company， straight A academic record， and a supportive girlfriend. Man， I envy you like the dickens.
在一家体面的公司里实习，取得优异的学习成绩，还有一个支持你的女朋友，好家伙，我对你实在是羡慕不已。
Phoebe： Honey， I’ve got a confession to make.
Kurt： Well， I’m not an 1）ordained priest or minister or whatever， and having something to confess probably means you were hiding something from me in the first place. ①But I am glad you’re ready to come clean， so let’s have it.
Phoebe： The fact is…I’ve never felt better？！
Kurt： Umm…I’m no expert， but I’m pretty sure that feeling good is not something you’re supposed to feel bad about.
Phoebe： But you don’t understand； feeling good is making me feel guiltier than ever.
Kurt： Why， because of all the people in poverty around the globe？ It’s true， we do live rich， comfortable lives with only first-world problems to deal with， like which 2）tile to choose for the master bathroom or how much to 3）tip the pool guy for Christmas.
Phoebe： Hey， choosing the wrong tile can ruin the whole 4）aura of your home.
Kurt： Sorry， I wasn’t aware homes could have auras. I guess I need to brush up on my new-age 5）vernacular.
Phoebe： ②Anyway， the guilt I feel stems from knowing the source of my happiness， and not wanting it to be true.
Kurt： Well， spit it out already！
Phoebe： I’m so happy because having an empty nest has been such a relief！ No yelling， no 6）whining， no teenage 7）mood swings， no 8）kvetching， just pure， 9）unadulterated peace and 10）tranquility. And I love it！
Kurt： I know！ I have been having the time of my life. ③I thought I would miss him like the dickens， but it feels like a weight has been lifted ever since we shipped him off to boarding school.
Phoebe： But am I a terrible mother for sending my little boy away？
Kurt： On the contrary， you are a responsible parent who is looking after the well-being of her child. We recognized our son’s educational needs and did what had to be done. Who could have guessed that him being gone would be the best thing for everyone？
Phoebe： I believe it was me who made that exact argument when the topic of boarding school first came up for discussion.
Kurt： Exactly. So now he’s getting the proper learning environment he needs to grow and fulfill his potential， and we may be starting to realize that we have needs of our own， needs that weren’t being met cuz we didn’t have the time.
Phoebe： Yeah. I get my quiet time， you get your sports， and， if I’m not mistaken， we’re both looking a bit 11）svelte these days. Am I right？
Kurt： We are looking and feeling better than ever. And you， my dear， have nothing to feel guilty about.
Phoebe： That is， until he comes back for winter break and sees that his old bedroom is our new exercise room…
菲比：亲爱的，我需要向你忏悔。
库尔特：我不是被授予神职的牧师或神父之类的，需要忏悔首先可能意味着你正对我隐瞒着什么，但我很高兴你准备向我坦白了，说吧。
菲比：事实是……我感到从未这样好过。
库尔特：嗯……虽然我不是专家，但我相当确定感觉很好并不应该是让你感到惭愧的事。
菲比：你不懂，感觉良好让我比以往任何时候都要感到内疚。
库尔特：为什么，因为世界上所有的那些穷人吗？是的，我们的确过着富裕、舒服的生活。处理的是第一世界的问题，像选择哪一种瓷砖来装修我们的主浴室，在圣诞节应给多少小费给帮你清洗游泳池的人这些事。
菲比：嘿，选错了瓷砖可是会毁了你房子的整体光环。
库尔特：对不起，我没有意识到房子会有光环。我想我要温习我新世纪的方言了。
菲比：不论如何，我感到内疚是因为我知道我感到快乐的原因，却不希望它是真的。
库尔特：痛痛快快地说出来吧！
菲比：我感到高兴是因为进入空巢状态让我松了一口气。没有大声的叫喊，没有抱怨，没有青少年的情绪波动，没有吹毛求疵，有的只是完全纯粹的宁静。我喜欢这种状态。库尔特：我知道！这是我生命中的快乐时光。我原本以为我会很想念他，但自从我们把他送到寄宿学校去，我感到如释重负。
菲比：但送走我的孩子，我是不是一个糟糕的母亲呢？
库尔特：恰恰相反，你是一个有责任感的，为孩子的幸福着想的母亲。我们认可儿子的教育需求，做我们必须要做的事。谁能想到他的离开对我们每个人都是最好的呢？
菲比：当我们第一次谈及寄宿学校这个话题时，我想这（原本）是我提出的理由吧。
库尔特：确实。所以现在他有一个合适的帮助他成长和发挥潜能的学习环境，而我们也许应该开始认识到我们也有自己的需求。之前因为没有时间，这些需求都无法满足。
菲比：是的。我重获宁静，而你可以回归你的体育运动了。还有，如果我没弄错的话，这些天我们比以前苗条了一些。对吧？
库尔特：我们的样子和感觉都比以前好多了。亲爱的，你不需要感到内疚。
菲比：只是当他放寒假回来时，他会发现他的卧室变成了我们新的健身房……
Smart Sentences
① But I am glad you’re ready to come clean， so let’s have it.
但我很高兴你准备向我坦白了，说吧。
come clean： admit or tell people about sth. that’s been kept secret（承认或告诉他人保守已久的秘密）。例如：
Just when Adam was about to come clean about what really happened in the meeting， he died in a strange car accident.
就在亚当想说出会议真相时，他死于一次不同寻常的车祸。
② Anyway， the guilt I feel stems from knowing the source of my happiness， and not wanting it to be true.
不论如何，我感到内疚是因为我知道我感到快乐的原因，却不希望它是真的。
stem from： have or take origin from sth.（起源于，由……发生）。例如：
While New Year’s Day is a relatively recent phenomenon in China， the lunar New Year celebration stems from custom in the past.
在中国，过元旦相对来说是一个新现象，但庆祝农历新年的做法来自过去的习俗。
③ I thought I would miss him like the dickens， but it feels like a weight has been lifted ever since we shipped him off to boarding school.
我原本以为我会很想念他，但自从我们把他送到寄宿学校去，我感到如释重负。
like the dickens： really， seriously（真是，实在是）。例如：
An internship at a respectable company， straight A academic record， and a supportive girlfriend. Man， I envy you like the dickens.
在一家体面的公司里实习，取得优异的学习成绩，还有一个支持你的女朋友，好家伙，我对你实在是羡慕不已。