It

Donna Faulkner Schulte游余

One day， my mother and I went out to eat at a seafood restaurant. We got therejust at the lunch time. There were many people in a line to get in. I looked over tothe side and saw a very thin lady with no coat and a chemo shunt1 in her arm. Shewas holding a sign that read：“Homeless2 and hungry. Please help.”

I looked around at everyone， and no one cared at all. I knew that I must dosomething. I went over to her and asked if she would like to get something to eat.She looked like she was not sure I was talking to her. Then she put her head downand said，“Yes.”

I helped her to her feet and walked her up to my mother， who was in line. Westood there together3 until we sat at our table. When the waitress came， she lookedat the woman as if she were a scary disease4. She asked what we wanted to eat butdidnt ask this woman.

Then the owner came over and asked if we wanted this woman to sit at ourtable. I told her we did. She then asked what her name was. I said that we hadntgotten to ask that yet because the waitress had run over as soon as we sat down.Then she said something that put me over the top. She said，“Well， you did right bygetting her food instead5 of giving her money.”

有一天，我和媽媽出去一家海鮮餐廳吃飯。我們剛好在午餐時間到達那里，很多人在排隊等候進去。我向旁邊看了看，看到一位非常瘦的女士沒穿外套，手臂上有化療分流器。她舉著一塊牌子，上面寫著：“無家可歸，饑腸轆轆。請幫幫我?！?/p>

我環顧四周，沒有一個人關心她。我知道我不能袖手旁觀。我走到她面前，問她想不想吃點東西。她看起來好像不確定我是在和她說話，接著她低下頭說：“想?！?/p>

我扶她站起來，一起走向正在排隊的母親。我們一同站在那里，直到我們坐到餐桌旁。當女服務員過來的時候，她看著這個女士，好像她是一種可怕的疾病。她問我們想吃什么，但沒有問這個女士。

一會兒，店主走過來問我們是否想讓這個女士坐在我們桌旁。我告訴她我們愿意。然后她問她叫什么名字。我說我們還沒來得及問這個問題，因為我們剛坐下，女服務員就跑了過來。接著她說了一句讓我覺得過分的話。她說：“噢，你沒有給她錢，而是給她買食物，這個做法很明智。”

I almost shouted at her， “This woman is sittingright here. She is just as good as anyone in here， andshe shouldnt be treated6 any differently than anyother customer in here.”

I called the waitress back over and told her totake the womans order and get her a cup of coffee.After the waitress left， we talked and I found out thather name was Judy. She had been released7 from the army8 on amedical discharge9 because she had cancer10. When she came backhome， she could not find a job because of her cancer and she lost herhouse. Her chemo took too long， so she missed the bus to a shelter11.

When the food came， she took out some paper bags andstarted putting food in them. I asked her why she was doing that.She said so she could eat that night. I told her she could order ato -go plate12. I also told her we would give her a ride to theshelter so she didnt have to sit in the cold. She thanked mequietly， looked down， and started eating.

After that for a long time， I think about Judy every sooften and wish her a better and healthy life. I really hope so. Ifyou can help someone in need， do it. The feeling you get out ofit is priceless13.

我差點朝她大喊起來：“這位女士人就坐在這里。她和這里所有人是一樣的，不應該受到和這里所有其他顧客有任何不同的待遇?！?/p>

我把女服務員叫了回來，讓她拿走這位女士點的單，給她拿杯咖啡。女服務員離開后，我們聊了聊，我了解到她叫朱迪，因為得了癌癥，她從軍隊中病退了。回家以后，由于癌癥，她找不到工作，然后又失去了房子。她化療的時間太長了，因此錯過了去收容所的公汽。

食物來了，她拿出幾個紙袋，開始往里裝食物。我問她為什么這么做。她說這樣今天晚上就有東西吃了。我告訴她可以點個外賣。我還告訴她我們會載她去收容所，這樣她就不用坐在外面挨凍了。她輕聲向我道謝，然后低下頭開始吃東西。

在那之后的很長一段時間里，我時常會想起朱迪，并祝愿她生活得更好、更健康。我真心希望如此。如果你能幫助有需要的人，就去做吧。你從中得到的情感體驗是無價的。

Notes

1. chemo shunt.化療分流管

2. homeless.無家可歸的

3. together . 在一起；共同；位置；在一起；緊挨地

4. disease . 疾病；病害

5. instead .代替；頂替；反而instead of 代替；而不是

6. treat.對待；看待；請客；招待

7. release.解除；職務或工作；解雇

8. army .陸軍；軍隊

9. medical discharge.因病退伍

10. cancer.癌癥

11. shelter .遮蔽物；庇護處

12. to-go plate.外賣

13. priceless . 無價的；非常有用的