The Coffee Place
咖啡廳
I used to believe courtesy was a thing of the past. Very seldom have I encountered a courteous human being in this modern era of the so called Generation X.
我曾經一度認為禮節是過去才為人崇尚的事。在如今這個被稱作“被遺忘的一代”的現代社會中，我已經很難碰到一個能被稱作是“紳士”的人。
Recently, I had to change my thinking, when I came face to face with just such a human being. I had gone to a happening coffee place, with two of my grown up daughters. The place was crowded with the usual loud crowd and we had to climb a steep flight of stairs in order to find an empty table. After enjoying coffee and snacks, we were at the steep descent down the stairs, where the narrow space made climbing down only possible in a single file, with hardly any space for another person to either climb up or come down.
最近，在我遇到這樣一個人后，我的想法改變了。我和兩個已成年的女兒一起去了一家咖啡廳。但這家咖啡廳擠滿了吵鬧的人群，所以我們不得不爬上陡峭的樓梯才找到了空桌。在享用過咖啡和點心之后，我們走在陡峭的樓梯上準備下樓，在那樣狹窄的空間里只能供一個人上下樓，幾乎沒有任何空間可以讓另一個人爬上去或下來。
Just as I was in the middle of my descent, a gentleman entered the main entrance of the restaurant which was right in front of the staircase. I was sure I would be pushed roughly by this man who will want to go up in a hurry. I kept coming down as fast as I could, holding on to the bannister, in lieu of my advanced years. My agile daughters were already down, looking up at me worriedly, hoping I would reach them before the stranger started up the stairs, knowing I was a nervous sort.
當我下樓梯走到一半時，一個紳士從咖啡廳的正門，也是樓梯的右前方走了進來。我敢肯定我會被這個著急上樓的人粗暴地推開。于是我抓住了扶手，并用我有史以來最快的速度下樓。我那兩個動作敏捷的女兒已經下樓了，她們憂心忡忡地抬頭看著我，希望我能夠在這個陌生人上樓前下來，因為她們知道我是一個容易神經緊張的人。
Nearly reaching them, I noticed the man still standing near the door. I reached my daughters and passed the stranger at the entrance door which he kept holding open. I looked back thinking he was still at the door, deciding whether to go in or find another less crowded place. I saw him going up the stairs, two at a time. I told my daughters about it and all three of us felt bad that we did not even thank the courteous gentleman who was actually holding the door open for us ladies to pass through before going up.
在快走到樓下時，我注意到那個人仍然站在門口。我走到我的女兒身邊，經過那個站在門口的陌生人身旁時發現他用手抵住了門。我回頭看了看，以為他還在門口，決定著是否要進去光顧或是找另一家人少的店。但我看見他以一步兩階樓梯的速度上了樓。我把我看到的告訴了女兒們，我們三個人都因為那位彬彬有禮的紳士在上樓前拉住了門讓我們先行，但我們因沒有感謝他而深感愧疚。
We applauded his chivalry for both, waiting for us to come down before going up himself and also holding the main entrance door open for us to go out. Such well mannered people are hard to find these days, when shoving, jostling and pushing is very common in our advanced but aggressive society. Till date, I remember this gentleman and pray to God to make more human beings like him.
那位紳士在上樓前等待我們先下樓，并且為我們拉開門以方便我們出去，我們都為他這樣的騎士精神贊不絕口。在當今推搡沖撞現象橫行、先進卻激進的社會中，這樣有禮貌的人著實難尋。直到今天，我仍記得這位先生，祈求上帝能讓更多的人和他一樣以禮待人。