This was several years ago, but I remember this kindness very clearly.
這是幾年前的事情了,但我還清晰的記得自己感受到的友善。

I was at a Jiffy Lube one morning getting an oil change for my car,
有天早上,我在汽車保養(yǎng)店里給車換機(jī)油

and an older man with a heavy Southern drawl came in.
一個(gè)老人走進(jìn)店里,說(shuō)話拖著深沉的南方長(zhǎng)音。

They were busy, so after ten minutes or so, he starts up small talk with me.
店里的人很忙,大概十分鐘之后,他開(kāi)始跟我閑聊起來(lái)

I find out he's from Texas, traveling with a construction crew .
我了解到,他來(lái)自德克薩斯州,跟一支施工隊(duì)一起來(lái)到這里

jokingly say "You must make good money to drive that beautiful truck.
我開(kāi)玩笑道,“你開(kāi)的卡車真漂亮,想來(lái)你一定收入不菲

Tell me how to get in to the field!"
“告訴我,怎么做才能走向成功?”

He says yes, but it wasn't easy to get there.
他說(shuō)自己的收入確實(shí)還不錯(cuò),可是想要到這一步卻并非易事。

I tell him I'm in my second year of teaching
我告訴他,這是我教書(shū)生涯的第二年

and haven't gotten there yet,
我離人生成功還差得遠(yuǎn)

so if he needs some part-time help, I could use the work.
所以,如果他需要兼職,我很愿意接活兒

He genuinely looked heartbroken,
老人臉上露出真誠(chéng)的悲憫之色

saying "You're teaching the next generation and you need another job?"
他說(shuō),“你在教育我們的下一代,可你卻需要另一份工作,才能養(yǎng)活自己?”

We keep talking, the mechanic pulls him away to get approval on some repairs.
我們接著閑聊,店里的技工把老人叫過(guò)去,請(qǐng)他同意為他的車做一些修理

A few moments later, the mechanics come get me
過(guò)了一會(huì)兒,店里的技工朝我走過(guò)來(lái)

and never asked for any approvals or pay on my vehicle.
不過(guò),他們沒(méi)有向我征求任何關(guān)于修理工作的同意,也沒(méi)有找我支付修理費(fèi)

I see the receipt , and my car had received a premium oil change, balance and rotation on my tires, a new filter, and a new battery.
我看到了賬單,店里給我的車換上了優(yōu)質(zhì)的機(jī)油,為輪胎做了平衡和定位,換了一個(gè)新濾清器,還裝了新電池

The services were not cheap.
這套維護(hù)可不便宜。

The older man smiles at me, gives me a hug, and says
老人沖我微笑,給了我一個(gè)擁抱,然后說(shuō)

?"My daughter is your age. “
我女兒跟你差不多大,

You're doing a good service and deserve a better wage.
你所做的事情非常重要,你值得得到更高的報(bào)酬

I just wanted to give you a little pick-me-up."
我只是想給你一點(diǎn)小小的鼓勵(lì)

?

翻譯:小木