雙語美文：生命之流的漫行者
Years ago,
多年以前
back in the middle 1970s,
大約1970年代中葉的時候
my friend, Art,
我一個名叫Art的朋友
used to see a young man about 16 years of age
時常看到一個約莫16歲的男孩
and a large dog walking along the road.
帶着一隻大狗走過街道
When cars would pass him on the other side,
當另一頭的車要從他身前經過的時候
he made eye contact and waved.
他會看着車裏的司機，向他招手
Art saw him almost daily,
Art幾乎每天都會看到他
walking along the road
在馬路上穿行
waving at cars.
對一輛一輛汽車招手
One rainy day
一個雨天
Art saw him
Art又看到他
and pulled over.
在他身旁停下了車
He asked
朋友問男孩
if he could use a ride.
是否需要載他一程
The young man said,
男孩說
"I'm not really going anywhere,
其實我哪兒也不用去
just walking,
只是走走而已
thanks the same mister."
但還是謝謝你，先生
Art used to enjoy walks out in the countryside himself,
Art自己也很喜歡在郊外散步
so he thought it wasn't too odd.
所以他覺得這也沒什麼奇怪的
Art told him
Art對男孩說
if he ever needed a ride or help
如果他需要搭便車，或者需要幫助
to flag him down
只用招手示意
and he would do whatever he could.
自己一定會盡力幫助他
He thanked Art
男孩對Art表示感謝
and went on his way.
又自己走開了
A few weeks later
幾個星期之後
Art saw the boy walking,
Art又看到男孩在散步
he didn't have his usual smile
臉上去沒有慣常的微笑
and was pacing rather than walking.
與其說是在閒庭信步，更像是大步流星去向什麼地方
He saw Art
男孩看到了Art
and frantically flagged him down.
急忙招手，示意他停車
As Art got closer
Art下車，走近
he could see the boy was crying.
他發現男孩在哭泣
Art asked what was wrong.
Art問他發生了什麼事
"My best friend just passed away.
我最好的朋友剛剛過世了
He was walking with me
他剛剛還在跟我一起散步
and just dropped,
忽然就倒下了
he's back by my house."
現在他自己回家去了
He said through tears.
他眼含淚光的說着
Art said to hop in the car
Art說，上車
and I'll take you there.
我帶你趕回家去
The house was a small old farmhouse,
這是一個又小又破舊的農舍
with a larger driveway.
車道卻比較寬敞
Art saw a dead dog just outside the driveway. "
Art剛走下車道，就看到一條已經死掉的狗
There! There he is, that's Randy!"
那兒！他在那兒！那就是Randy!
He exclaimed.
他大聲喊道
Art checked the animal,
Art查看了一下那條狗
he had been dead for some time.
它已經死了有一會兒了
Art told the boy his dog was gone,
Art對男孩說，他的狗已經離開了
but he needed to keep him in his heart.
但他可以把它放在自己心裏
Art and the boy both cried.
Art和男孩都哭了
Art took Randy to his house,
Art把Randy帶到了屋子裏
made a marker
在院子裏圈出一塊地
and buried him.
埋葬了狗
Art left feeling very blue.
Art感到沮喪極了
After work that day
那天，他們忙完各種事宜
a friend came by.
一個朋友走了過來
Odd coincidence,
可巧的是
his female dog had a litter
他家的母狗
a couple of months ago.
幾個月前生了一窩小崽子
One of the pups,
小狗崽中有一隻
they named Randy,
也被取名爲Randy
and he was the spitting image of old Randy himself.
小狗崽與老Randy長得一模一樣
Art explained the whole situation to his friend Jim.
Art把整件事告訴了他的朋友Jim
Jim said it was not a coincidence
Jim說，這實在太巧了
and it was a sign.
彷彿某種暗示
Art took him up to the house.
Art載着朋友來到了Jim家中
When Art opened the door,
當Art開門的時候
little Randy came小Randy
立刻出現
barreling out of the car.
從車裏翻身滾下來
"Randy! You came back to me!"
Randy！你回來了！
the boy said with tears of joy.
男孩含着喜悅的淚花說
Life works in mysterious ways in our daily lives.
在我們每天的生活中，生命之流總在以神祕的方式運轉。
