AllItTookWasTwoWords
韋達·博伊德·瓊斯/VedaBoydJones
Manyyearsago,whenIwasfreshoutofschoolworkinginDenver,Iwasdrivingtomyparents』homeinMissouriforChristmas.Istoppedatagasstationabout50milesfromOklahomaCity,whereIwasplanningtostopandvisitafriend.Ipumpedthetankfull,stoodinlineatthecashregister,andsaidhellotoanoldercouplewhowerealsopayingforgas.
Itookoff,buthadgoneonlyafewmileswhenblacksmokepouredfrommyexhaustpipe.IpulledoverandwonderedwhatIshoulddo.
Acarpulledupbehindme.ItwasthecoupleIhadspokentoatthegasstation.Theysaidtheywouldtakemetomyfriend』s.Wechattedonthewayintothecity,andwhenIgotoutofthecar,thehusbandgavemehisbusinesscard.
Iwrotehimandhiswifeathank-younoteforrescuingme.Soonafterward,IreceivedaChristmaspackagefromthem.Theirnotethatcamewithitsaidthathelpingmehadmadetheirholidaysmeaningful.
Yearslater,Idrovethroughafoggymorningtoaconferenceinanearbytown.InlateafternoonIreturnedtomycarandfoundthatI』dleftthelightsonallday,andthebatterywasdead.ThenInoticedthattheFriendlyForddealershipwasrightnextdoor.Iwalkedoverandfoundtwosalesmenrelaxinginashowroomdevoidofcustomers.
「JusthowfriendlyisFriendlyFord?」Iaskedandexplainedmytrouble.
Theyquicklydroveapickuptrucktomycar,attachedjumpercables,andstartedmycar.Theywouldacceptnopayment,sowhenIgothome,Iwrotethemanotetosaythanks.
Ireceivedaletterbackfromoneofthesalesmen.Noonehadevertakenthetimetowritehimandsaythankyou,anditmeantalot,hesaid.
Anotherfewyearshadpassedwhenafriend』shusbanddied.Pathadbeenawell-respecteddoctoratabighospital,andhundredsofcardsweresenttothefamily.Amongthemwasasympathycardfromaplumberwhohadonceworkedattheirhouse.HewrotethatwhenPathadpaidthebill,hewroteontheinvoice,「Thankyouforagoodjob.」
「Thankyou」—thetwopowerfulwords.They』reeasytosayandmeansomuch.
幾年前,我從學校畢業剛來丹佛工作時,一次開車去密蘇里州的父母家過聖誕節。我在離俄克拉何馬城約五十英里的一個加油站停了下來,準備去看望一位朋友。我加滿油,在收銀台前排著隊,並跟一對也在交款的老夫婦打了個招呼。
我駕車離開,走了不過幾英里,汽車的排氣管就冒出了濃濃黑煙。我把車停在路邊,想著該怎麼辦。
一輛車在我身後停了下來。原來是剛才在加油站問候過的那對老夫婦。他們說可以把我送到我朋友家。我們在進城途中聊了一路,下車時,老先生把他的名片給了我。
後來,我寫了一封感謝信感謝他們對我的幫助。很快,我就收到了他們寄來的聖誕包裹,並附有一張紙條,上面說,他們的假期因為幫助我而充滿意義。
多年後,在一個霧濛濛的早晨,我駕車去附近的一個城鎮參加會議。黃昏時,我回到車前,發現車燈一整天都亮著,蓄電池的電已經耗完了。就在那時,我看到旁邊正好是「福特經銷處」。走過去,發現兩個銷售員正在展廳裡休息,店裡並沒有什麼顧客。
「請問福特公司可以幫我一個忙嗎?」我問道,並解釋著自己遇到的麻煩。
很快,他們就開著一輛輕便小汽車來到我的車前,接上跳線的電纜,發動了我的車。他們沒有接受任何報酬,因此當我回到家時,我就給他們寫了一封感謝信。
後來我收到其中一位銷售員的回信。他說,從來都沒有人會花時間寫信對他說謝謝,這封信對他來說意義深遠。
幾年後,朋友的丈夫帕特去世了。他曾在一家大醫院工作,是一位受人尊敬的醫生,因此家裡收到了數百張卡片。其中一張極富同情的卡片,是曾為他們家工作過的水管工送的。他在卡片上寫道,當帕特為他付工錢時曾在發票上寫道:「謝謝您完美的工作。」
「謝謝」——多麼有力的兩個字。它們很容易說出口,但意義非凡。
記憶填空
1.Acarpulledupme.ItwasthecoupleIhadspokentoatthestation.Theysaidtheywouldtakemetomyfriend』s.Wechattedontheintothecity,andwhenIgotoutofthecar,thehusbandgavemehisbusiness.
2.InlateafternoonItomycarandfoundthatI』dleftthelightsonday,andthebatterywas.ThenInoticedthattheFriendlyForddealershipwasrightnextdoor.Iwalkedoverandtwosalesmenrelaxinginashowroomdevoidofcustomers.
3.Ireceivedaletterfromoneofthesalesmen.Noonehadeverthetimetowritehimandsaythankyou,anditalot,hesaid.
佳句翻
1.我駕車離開,走了不過幾英里,汽車的排氣管就冒出了濃濃黑煙。
2.他說,從來都沒有人會花時間寫信對他說謝謝,這封信對他來說意義深遠。
3.它們很容易說出口,但意義非凡。
短語應用
1.Ipumpedthetankfull,stoodinlineatthecashregister,andsaidhellotoanoldercouplewhowerealsopayingforgas.
standinline:站成一排
2.IpulledoverandwonderedwhatIshoulddo.
pullover:把(車)開到路邊