A Small Nice Thing
For the next two hours,we drove through the city.She showed me the building where she once worked.We drove past the church where she and her husband got married.Sometimes she’d ask me to slow down in front of a building or at a corner and would sit staring into the darkness,saying nothing.When the sun began to rise,she suddenly said,"I’m tired.Let’s go now." We drove in silence to the rest home.When we arrived,she asked,"How much?" "Nothing,"I said."You have to make a living," she said."There are other passengers,"I replied.Almost without thinking,I gave her a big hug."You gave an old woman a little moment of joy," she said."Thank you."
She went into the rest home.Behind me,a door shut.It was the sound of the closing of a life.For the rest of the day,I drove aimlessly,lost in thought.I could hardly talk.What if that woman had met an angry driver?What if I had refused to do what I did,or had not knocked at her door and driven away?I don’t think that I have done anything more important in my life.We always think that our lives lack1 great moments,but great moments often catch us unaware2 —beautifully wrapped3 in what others may consider a small one.
Notes:
1.lack v.缺乏
2.unaware adj.沒覺察到的
3.wrap v.包,裹