Guardian On The Road 01

In the winter of 1985 my mother and I were heading home from work. We were running a little late and the weather was cold and foggy. We knew if we didn't get home soon everyone would start worrying. I was 16 years old at the time. I, being the youngest of 10 children had taken a job at the restaurant where my mom worked to help make a few bucks to get us by. Things were very hard at this time and Christmas was nearing. We were talking about the situation on our way home and speaking of how we should all just be grateful that we are all very healthy. And speaking of the fact that there are many other people out there who have much less than we did.

　　Well the gas tank was nearing empty and we still had almost two weeks to go until payday. We were on our regular route home when rounding one of the sharp curves, there in the midst of the fog stood a slender figure in a long overcoat. This startled us both as we slowed down to a roll. This figure was nearly standing in the road. My mother pulled to the side of the road to my disapproval. She rolled her window down to check if this person was all right. I clenched my fists and started shaking tremendously, thinking of what my father had always said. "Never pick up a stranger." I begged my mom to roll up her window and just continue on, but she insisted that if this person needed help she was going to give it to them.

那是1985年冬天的一个晚上，我和妈妈下班回家。时间有点晚，天气很冷还雾蒙蒙的。我们知道要是不早点到家大家都会担心的。我那时16岁，有9个哥哥姐姐，在妈妈工作的餐馆打工挣点小钱补贴家用。日子过得很苦。圣诞节快到了，我和妈妈谈论着时下的境况，觉得全家人都很健康已经很值得庆幸了。有很多人的境况还不如我们。

　　油箱的油不多了，但还有将近两周才会发薪水。我们沿着常走的路回家，车开到一处急转弯时，我们看到雾气中有一个穿着长大衣的瘦弱身影。我们深觉惊讶，减慢车速。那人几乎站到了车道上。妈妈不顾我的反对，把车停在了路边。她摇低车窗，好确认那人是否无碍。我握紧双拳，想到爸爸平时的告诫：“不要搭载陌生人”，开始不停发抖。我央求妈妈摇起车窗继续开车，但她坚持说如果这个人需要帮助，那她一定会施以援手。