ASmallNiceThing

　　Forthenexttwohours,wedrovethroughthecity.Sheshowedmethebuildingwheresheonceworked.Wedrovepastthechurchwheresheandherhusbandgotmarried.Sometimesshe’daskmetoslowdowninfrontofabuildingoratacornerandwouldsitstaringintothedarkness,sayingnothing.Whenthesunbegantorise,shesuddenlysaid,"I’mtired.Let’sgonow."Wedroveinsilencetotheresthome.Whenwearrived,sheasked,"Howmuch?""Nothing,"Isaid."Youhavetomakealiving,"shesaid."Thereareotherpassengers,"Ireplied.Almostwithoutthinking,Igaveherabighug."Yougaveanoldwomanalittlemomentofjoy,"shesaid."Thankyou."

　　Shewentintotheresthome.Behindme,adoorshut.Itwasthesoundoftheclosingofalife.Fortherestoftheday,Idroveaimlessly,lostinthought.Icouldhardlytalk.Whatifthatwomanhadmetanangrydriver?WhatifIhadrefusedtodowhatIdid,orhadnotknockedatherdooranddrivenaway?Idon’tthinkthatIhavedoneanythingmoreimportantinmylife.Wealwaysthinkthatourliveslack1greatmoments,butgreatmomentsoftencatchusunaware2—beautifullywrapped3inwhatothersmayconsiderasmallone.

　　Notes:

　　1.lackv.缺乏

　　2.unawareadj.没觉察到的

　　3.wrapv.包,裹