AlthoughitmighthavehappenedanywheremyencounterwiththegreenbananastartedonasteepmountainroadinthecentralareaofBrazil.Iwasdrivingupthroughbeautifulcountrysidewhentheradiator(水

　　AlthoughitmighthavehappenedanywheremyencounterwiththegreenbananastartedonasteepmountainroadinthecentralareaofBrazil.Iwasdrivingupthroughbeautifulcountrysidewhentheradiator(水箱)begantoleak.Istoppedatthenextvillagewhichconsistedofasmallstoreandafewhouses.Peoplecameovertolook."That'seasytofix"amansaid.Hesentaboyrunningforsomegreenbananas.Hepattedmeontheshoulderassuringmethateverythingwouldworkout."Greenbananas"hesmiled.Everyoneagreed.

　　WechattedcasuallywhileallthetimeIwaswonderingwhattheycouldpossiblydotomyradiatorwiththeirgreenbananas.IdidnotaskthemthoughasthatwouldshowmyignorancesoItalkedaboutthebeautyofthelandthatlaybeforeoureyes.HugerockformationslikeSugarLoafinRioroseupallaroundus."Doyouseethattallonerightoverthere?"askedthemanpointingtoaparticularlytallslenderpinnacle(尖顶)ofdarkrock."Thatrockmarksthecenteroftheworld."

　　Ilookedtoseeifhewasteasingmebuthisfacewasserious.HeinturninspectedmecarefullyasiftomakesureIgraspedthesignificanceofhisstatement.Theoccasioncalledforsomeshowofrecognitiononmypart."ThecenteroftheWorld?"Irepeatedtryingtoshowinterest.Henodded"Theabsolutecenter.Everyonearoundhereknowsit."

　　Atthatmomenttheboyreturnedwithanarmfulofgreenbananas.Themancutoneinhalfandpressedthecutendagainsttheradiatorjacket.Thebananameltedintoaglueagainstthehotmetalstoppingtheleaksinstantly.IwassoastonishedatthisthatImushhavelookedratherfoolishandeveryonelaughed.Theythenrefilledmyradiatorandgavemeextrabananastotakealong.AnhourlaterafterusingthegreenbananaoncemoremyradiatorandIreachedourdestination.

　　Ittookmealittlelongertofullygrasptheimportanceoftherockwhichthevillagersbelievedmarkedthecenteroftheworld.IhadatfirstdoubtedtheirclaimasIknewforafactthatthecenterwaslocatedsomewhereelseinNewEngland.Afterallmygrandfatherhadcomefromthere.ButgraduallyIrealizedthevillagepeoplehadaveryreasonablebeliefandIagreedwiththem.Wealltendtoregardasthecenterthatspecialplacewhereweareknownwhereweknowot