感人故事: 稀有的蒙古兔

 

一天早上，我拿著一本多年前從國內帶來的英語沙龍，遞給我太太, 說有一片好文章，讓她讀讀，就當練習英文了，太太捧著那本已經發黃了的雜誌讀起來，眼淚也不自主地流下來。

 

小女兒進了臥室，探頭探腦，發現太太看著書在流淚，就不聲不響地拿來餐巾紙。太太說，看了一個很感人的故事，你要聽嗎？她點點頭。太太就用中文夾著英文給她講一遍，她似乎聽懂了，太太一邊講，眼淚又一次地流下來。

對一個曾幫助過你並同時維護了你自尊的人，一個曾向你伸出援助之手而不貶低你自身能力的人，一個相信在生活中藏有一隻稀有蒙古兔的人，你該如何表達自己的感激之情呢？生活中常常有很細致很入微很讓人終生感動！

 

 稀有的蒙古兔

 Maureen Nunn

 

       我聽到丈夫即將“下崗”的消息，當時的震驚令我永遠無法忘懷。

　　那時我們的婚姻已經經曆了10個年頭，約翰向我表露了對於這噩夢般遭遇的憂慮。他向我保證，將盡一切努力找到新工作來維持生計。我們有3個不到5歲的孩子，還有一個馬上就要出世，約翰是全家惟一的經濟支柱。

　　“生活還要繼續，”約翰說，看起來他比我樂觀得多，“我們至少還擁有健康，失去的隻不過是份工作。另外，公司會繼續發3個月的工資，在這期間我肯定能找到新工作，用不著擔心。”

　　約翰畢業於名牌大學，具有優異的工作背景，我相信他的自信是有道理的。約翰早年喪父，他很早就肩負起了照顧母親和弟弟妹妹的責任。他還曾是奧運健將，懂得如何麵對挑戰、如何苦幹加巧幹。但是幾個月過去了，他仍未找到工作。我越來越害怕，對他的“迷信”也開始動搖。如果他找不到工作該怎麽辦？若不是有孕在身，我可以回學校教書，問題是距離我們第四個孩子的出生已經不到3個月了。

　　我們的存款所剩不多，分期貸款已經拖欠了兩個月，又沒有其他收入來源，我得節衣縮食。最後連吃飯的錢都快沒有了。

　　有一天在帶著孩子逛超市時，我注意到一個男孩正往紙箱裏裝熟過頭的水果和過期食品。我遲疑地問他要把這些食品送到哪裏，他說：“削價處理，處理不掉的就扔掉。”我看著那些老胡蘿卜、芹菜和西紅柿，足夠我們全家吃幾個星期。我想，用什麽辦法能體麵地為孩子們討一點食物呢？

　　“我們有隻稀有的蒙古兔！”我脫口而出，掃了一眼3個饑餓的孩子，“我想給它買點食物。”

　　他很幹脆地答道：“既然是給兔子吃，我就不收錢了。”那天他一共把5箱食物裝進我車裏，一邊忙著，一邊跟我聊天。我講我們即將添一張嘴的家庭，他也講了自己的情況。他叫傑弗，出身於一個拮據的五口之家，在這裏打工，是為了付大學學費。
　　幾個星期過去了，傑弗開始把過期和包裝破損的盒裝食品也裝進箱裏。這些花生醬、湯料和奶酪還可以吃，按規定卻要扔掉。“小兔子肯定喜歡吃這些東西。”他解釋為什麽要送這些東西給我們。幾個月後，我們發現食品下麵還藏有洗衣粉、牛奶、果汁、黃油……品種越來越多。後來每次傑弗集滿一箱“兔食”就會給我打電話，還時不時送上家門。但他從來沒問過小兔子的情況，每次把東西放下就離去。

　　第四個孩子出生時，我喜中有憂，擔心未來的家庭開支。“上帝啊，求求你，”我祈禱道，“你曾許諾我們的苦難永遠不會超過我們的承受能力。我們該怎麽辦呢？”這時丈夫悄悄走進產房，說：“我有一個好消息，還有一個壞消息。好消息是今天上午我找到一份很好的工作。”我閉上眼睛，感謝上帝對我們的恩賜。“壞消息是，”他繼續說道，“那隻蒙古小兔子不見了。”
　　後來我再去那家超市，傑弗已經不在那裏工作了。據超市經理講，正當我為嬰兒出世忙碌時，他搬家了，沒有留下新地址。
　　我默默發誓，一定要回報那些在患難時期幫助我們的好心人。此後10年裏，我履行了自己的諾言。但是我的心願並沒完全了結，直到10年後的一天，我遇見傑弗站在超市辦公室門前，胸前佩戴著“經理”的工作卡。
　　對一個曾幫助過你並同時維護了你自尊的人，一個曾向你伸出援助之手而不貶低你自身能力的人，一個相信在生活中藏有一隻稀有蒙古兔的人，你該如何表達自己的感激之情呢？對於傑弗的升遷我一點都不意外，他具有特殊的天賦，懂得如何傾聽我特殊的祈求。

　　“納恩太太！”他興奮地喊道，“我經常想你和你們一家。小兔子怎麽樣了？”他輕聲地問。

　　握著傑弗的手，我眨了眨眼，低聲說：“謝謝你的關心。那隻兔子很久以前就離開我們了，我們過得好極了。”

The Rare Mongolian Rabbit

By Maureen Nunn
 

Perhaps the frequency with which it so often happens nowadays should have lessened the pain；misery does love company, after all. But hearing that my husband’s job would be“phased out ”was unforgettable and shocking.

John, my husband of ten years, expressed his concern over this nightmare occurrence. He assured me that he would do everything possible to get a job to provide for our family. With three children under the age of five and one due very shortly, we relied on his income entirely.

“Life goes on, ”John said, more outwardly upbeat than I over the situation. “We have our health, and after all, it’s only a job. Besides, the company will continue paying me for three more months. I’ll surely have a new job by then, just relax and don’ t worry. ”
 

With his excellent university and professional credentials, I figured he must be right. He was a former Olympic athlete and knew about taking on a challenge. His father died when John was young, so he took on the responsibility of keeping his mother, sister, and brother. My husband knew how to work hard and smart. But as the months passed and no job possibilities materialized for him, I grew more and more fearful and less“faith-abiding”. What if he couldn’t find a job？Under other circum stances I could have returned to class room teaching, but our fourth child was due in less than three months.

With little money in our savings ac count, the mortgage payment two months behind, and no possible income from any other source, I whittled away at our daily-living budget. Eventually our food budget became almost nonexistent. One day while in the supermarket with my children, I noticed a young box boy packing overly ripe fruit and outdated food into cardboard boxes. Hesitantly, I inquired about the destination of the food. “We sell it real cheap, and whatever isn’t sold is thrown away, ”he said. I eyed the aging carrots, celery, tomatoes. Food we could use for a week. What, I wondered, is the proper etiquette for begging for food for one’s children？

“We have a rare Mongolian rabbit.”I heard myself blurt out, glancing at my three hungry children. “I’d be interested in purchasing the food for the rabbit. ”He replied easily, “Since it’s just a rabbit, there won’t be any charge. ”That day he loaded five boxes of produce into my car. We talked while he worked, me sharing information about my soon-to-be-expanding family and him talking about his. His name was Jeff. I learned he came from a family of five where finances were tight. This job helped pay for his college education.

Weeks went by, and Jeff began packing the boxes with outdated or damaged items ——peanut butter, soup, and cheese——that were otherwise still good but would be thrown away. “Surely a rare rabbit would eat all these items , ”he said, explaining their inclusion. As the weeks turned into months, we discovered, hidden under the produce, laundry detergent, milk, juice, butter. . . The list goes on and on. Jeff started phoning me every time he had a box of“rabbit food”ready. Now and then, he brought the boxes to our house. He never inquired after the rabbit, instead he would just stop by to leave its food and be on his way.

When our fourth daughter was born, my elation was tinged with worry about our financial future. “O Lord, please, ”I begged. “You promised you would never give us more than we can handle. What do you want us to do？Help.”My husband slipped into the hospital room and said, “I have good news and sad news. The good news is that this morning I’ve been offered a very exciting job. ”I closed my eyes and thanked God for his many blessings. “The sad news, ”he continued, “is that the rare Mongolian rabbit is gone. ”

It turned out Jeff no longer worked at the supermarket. While I‘d been busy with the birth of our new baby, he had moved, the manager said, and left no forwarding address. Over the next ten years I made good on my silent promise to repay the kindness of all who had helped us throughout that difficult time. But my thanks were incomplete. Then one day, a decade later, there was Jeff standing in the store’s office. I noticed the title MANAGER on his name badge.

How does one adequately thank the person who offers assistance without compromising your pride, extends a hand without sapping your strength, and believes in the rare Mongolian rabbits hiding somewhere in each of our lives？I’m not surprised Jeff’s risen up the ranks. He has a rare gift. He knew how to listen loudly to my special plea. “Mrs. Nunn.”he exclaimed, “I think of you and your family often. How is the rabbit？”he inquired softly. Taking Jeff’s hands into mine, I whispered with a wink, “Thanks for asking. The rabbit moved on long ago, and we couldn’t be better. ”