1Smile微笑

　　byBarbaraHauck

　　Shesmiledatasorrowfulstranger,

　　Thesmileseemedtomakehimfeelbetter.

　　Herememberedpastkindnessofafriend

　　Andwrotehimathankyouletter.

　　Thefriendwassopleasedwiththethankyou

　　Thatheleftalargetipafterlunch.

　　Thewaitress,surprisedbythesizeofthetip,

　　Betthewholethingonahunch.

　　Thenextdayshepickedupherwinnings,

　　Andgaveparttoamanonthestreet.

　　Themanonthestreetwasgrateful;

　　Fortwodayshe'dnothingtoeat.

　　Afterhefinishedhisdinner,

　　Heleftforhissmalldingyroom.

　　(Hedidn'tknowatthatmoment

　　Thathemightbefacinghisdoom.)

　　Onthewayhepickedupashiveringpuppy

　　Andtookhimhometogetwarm.

　　Thepuppywasverygrateful

　　Tobeinoutofthestorm.

　　Thatnightthehousecaughtonfire.

　　Thepuppybarkedthealarm.

　　Hebarkedtillhewokethewholehousehold

　　Andsavedeverybodyfromharm.

　　Oneoftheboysthatherescued

　　GrewuptobePresident.

　　Allthisbecauseofasimplesmile

　　Thathadn'tcostacent.

　　2ALittlePieceofMe生命的过客

　　WhenhetoldmehewasleavingIfeltlikeavasewhichhasjustsmashed.Therewerepiecesofmealloverthetidy,tantiles.Hekepttalking,tellingmewhyhewasleaving,explainingitwasforthebest,Icoulddobetter,itwashisfaultandnotmine.Ihadhearditbeforemanytimesandyetsomehowwasstillnotimmune;perhapsonedidnotbecomeimmunetosuchfelony.

　　HeleftandItriedtogetonwithmylife.Ifilledthekettleandputitontoboil,Itookoutmyoldredmugandfilleditwithcoffeewatchingaseachcoffeegranuleslippedintothebonechina.Thatwaswhatmylifehadbeenlike,endlessomissionsofcoffeegranules,somehownevermanagingtomakethatcupofcoffee.

　　SomehowwhenthekettlepipeditsfinishingwarningIpretendednottohearit.That'swhatMike'sleavinghadbeenlike,suddenandwithanawfulfinality.Iwouldratherjustwallowinuncertaintythanhavethingsfinished.Ilaughedatmyself.Imaginegettingallphilosophicalandsentimentalaboutamugofcoffee.Imustbegettingold.

　　Andyetitwasayoungwomanwhostaredbackatmefromthemirror.Ayoungwomanfullofpromiseandhope,ayoungwomanwithbrighteyesandfulllipsjustwaitingtotakeontheworld.IneverlovedMikeanyway.Besidestherearemoreimportantthings.Moreimportantthanlove,Iinsisttomyselffirmly.ThelidgoesbackonthecoffeejustlikeclosureonthewholeMikeexperience.

　　Hedoesn'thauntmydreamsasIfearedthatnight.InsteadIamflyingfaracrossfieldsandwoods,lookingdownonthosebelowme.SuddenlyIfalltothegroundanditisonlywhenIwakeupthatIrealizeIwasshotbyahunter,broughtdownbytheburdenofnotthebulletbutthesoulofthemanwhoshotit.Irealizelater,withsomedegreeofunderstanding,thatMikewasthehunterholdingmedownandIamthebirdthatlongstofly.Thenextnightmydreamissimilartothepreviousnights,butwithoutthehunter.IflyfreeuntilImeetanotherbirdwhoflieswithmeinperfectharmony.Irealizewithsomereliefthatthereisabirdoutthereforme,thereisanotherperson,notnecessarilyaloverperhapsjustafriend,butthereissomeoneouttherewhoismysoulmate.Ithinkaboutbeingabro