|
When I was younger, bedtime was always my favourite part of the day. Wearing soft pajamas and with Lan, my stuffed monkey, in my arms, I felt no pressure at all. I named Lan after my uncle when I compared Lan's long arms and legs to his. One night I ran up to Uncle Lan at a family party and told him I had named my monkey after him. His eyebrows wrinkled in confusion, then a chuckle(哈哈笑)escaped his lips. I guess he didn't understand how important it was to me. Even if Uncle Lan didn't think my monkey was special, I certainly did. I dressed him in a white baby nightgown. My mother thought that Lan was the best-dressed stuffed animal in the world. Yes, he was certainly a fashionable creature. The strong cologne(科隆香水)I used on him years ago makes him still smell "pretty". For a long time, Lan went everywhere with me. He was my best friend, and I told him everything. But when I turned twelve, I realized I was too old for stuffed animals. I thought people would think I was babyish, so I put him in the cupboard with the rest of my teddy bears and dolls. I begged him to understand why I was doing this, but at the same time I longed to talk to him again. It took me several years to realize that it was OK to miss Lan. I know now that maturity(成熟)doesn't only mean growing up and taking on more responsibility. It also means holding on to your childhood and acting young sometimes. | 
