接线员的小硬币

When I was 19

十九岁的时候

I legally immigrated to the USA.

我非法移民到了美国

I left my country on Mother's day 1963.

1963年的母亲节，我离开了故土

Circumstances were such that

我的处境如此糟糕

I for a short time

有一小段时间里

became homeless

我无家可归

but then found a job

后来我找到一份工作

in East Los Angeles.

在旧金山东部

I was able to live in one of their staff houses,

我在他们提供的一间宿舍住下

went 3 hours to school each night.

每天晚上花三个小时的时间走去学校

I had very little money

我几乎没什么钱

but felt abundant .

却感到十分富足

Mother's Day 1964 arrived

1964年的母亲节到来了

and I needed to call my Mom in Germany.

我想给远在德国的母亲打个电话

I had a little paper sack of quarters

我只有几个硬币，用纸包成一个小包

for $12.

总共能凑齐12美元

It was a LOT of money for me.

这对我来说已经是很大一笔钱了

I walked up 2 streets

我走过了两个街区

to a phone booth.

才找到一个电话亭

It was a pretty hot day.

那时一个十分炎热的日子

Anyway

无论如何

I dialed the operator:

我接通了接线员

'How may I help you?'

您需要什么服务？

I said

我说

I like to call my Mom in Germany.

我想给在德国的母亲打个电话

She said

她说:

'$ 12 for the first 3 minutes.'

最初三分钟12美元

I fed the phone all the quarters I had.

我把手中所有的硬币都倒进了电话机里

A.s.a. that happened

刚把硬币扔完

I heard the phone ring.

我听到了电话提示音

It was my Mom who picked up.

是母亲拿起了电话

She was extremely excited

她兴奋极了

to hear my voice for the first time in a year.

一年以来，还是第一次听到了我的声音

We talked fast and excitedly.

我们快速说着话，都很兴奋

After a while she said:

过了一会儿她问

'Child this must be very expensive?'

孩子，这很贵吧？

I had forgotten time and space.

我已经忘记了世间和空间

We talked on and on.

我们继续交谈下去

The call ended

通话结束

and all my quarters tumbled out again.

我的硬币却都弹了出来

I was stunned.

我感到惊讶极了

We had talked for 45 minutes

我们谈了45分钟

and this kind operator gave us such amazing present.

这个善良的接线员给了我一份这样好的礼物

Thank you.

谢谢你

It was only 1 of the many kindnesses I have experienced

我曾体会过许多种善良，这只是其中一种

in this wonderful country.

在这个神奇的国度

I never asked for anything.

我从不曾奢望什么

But because I worked and studied hard,

但因为我一直勤劳的工作和学习

people seeing it supported my effords.

看到我的努力的人们都来支持我