Left Hand and Right Hand
左手加右手
I was a 20-year-old nursing student in 1968, preparing to be a real nurse in a hospital. I was assigned as Chris's post-operative nurse.
1968年，我是个20岁的护理专业学生，为了成为一名真正的护士而在一所医院实习。我被指派为克里斯的术后护士。
Chris was an eight-year-old boy bundle of energy, who excelled in every sport he played. Disobeying his parents' words, he explored a neighbor's construction site, climbed a ladder, and fell, which got him a broken arm that later had to be cut off.
克里斯是一个八岁的小男孩，浑身似乎有使不完的劲儿，他参加每一项体育运动都表现突出。他因为不听父母的警告，到邻居家尚未完工的建筑工地去玩，爬上一架梯子，结果跌下来摔断了一只胳膊， 后来不得不截肢。
The first few days passed quickly. I provided Chris's physical care with forced cheerfulness. As his need for medication decreased, his level of awareness increased, as did his moodiness. When I saw how alert he seemed as he watched me bring in things for a sponge bath , I offered him the towel and suggested he take over. He washed his face and neck, then quit. And I finished.
开头的几天过得很快。我在护理克里斯的时候尽量显出高兴的样子。随着他药物治疗的减少，克里斯对自己的病情也就知道得越来越多，他变得越来越闷闷不乐。我注意到，当看见我拿着纱布浴的用品进来时，他立刻变得十分警觉。我把毛巾递给他，示意他接过去。他洗了脸和脖子，就停下不洗了。我只好帮他洗完澡。
The next day I said that he'd do his whole bath by himself. He refused. I insisted. He was more than halfway through when he sat down suddenly and said, "I'm too tired."
第二天，我告诉他必须自己洗澡。他不肯。而我坚持要他这样做。他刚洗到一半，突然坐下说：“我太累了。”
You won't be in the hospital much longer, I said gently. "You need to learn to take care of yourself."
“你不会在医院里待太久的，”我轻声说。“你必须学会自己照顾自己。”
Well, I can't, he scowled . "How can I do anything with just one hand?"
“噢，我做不到，”他皱了皱眉，说，“我只有一只手，能做什么？”
Putting on my brightest face, I searched for a silver lining in my mind. Finally I said, "Sure you can do it, Chris. At least you have your right hand."
我换上一副最灿烂的笑脸，在大脑中寻找一丝希望之光。最后， 我说：“克里斯，你当然可以做到。至少你还有右手。”
He turned his face away and muttered , "I'm left-handed. At least I used to be." He glared at me, "Now what?"
他把脸转向别处，低声咕哝道：“我是左撇子。至少过去是。”他瞪着我说：“怎么办？”
Suddenly, I felt phony and insincere. How could I have taken right- handedness for granted? It seemed he and I both had a lot to learn.
突然，我觉得自己又虚伪又不真诚。我怎么能够想当然地认为他的右手很得力呢？看来，我和他都还有很多东西要学。
The next morning I greeted Chris with a big smile and a rubber band.He looked at me suspiciously . Wrapping the rubber band loosely around my wrist, I said, "You're left-handed and I'm right-handed. I am going to put my right hand behind my back and keep it there by winding the rubber band around my uniform buttons. Every time I ask you to do something with your right hand, I will do it first, with my left hand. And I promise not to practice before I see you. What should we try first?"
第二天早晨，我拿着一根橡皮筋，微笑着跟克里斯打了个招呼。他不解地看着我。我把橡皮筋松松地缠在自己的右手腕上，说：“你是左撇子，我是右撇子。我将把右手背在身后，然后把橡皮筋缠到我的制服纽扣上，将右手固定在那儿。以后，我让你用右手做什么，我自己就先用左手做一遍。我还答应你不会预先练习。现在，我们应该先练什么呢？”
I just woke up, he grumbled . "I need to brush my teeth."
“我刚刚睡醒，”他嘟囔着说，“我要刷牙。”
I managed to take the top off the toothpaste, and then placed his toothbrush on his table. Awkwardly , I tried to get toothpaste onto the toothbrush. The harder I struggled, the more interested he became. After almost ten minutes, and a lot of wasted toothpaste, I succeeded.
我设法拧掉牙膏盖，然后把他的牙刷放在他的桌上，再笨拙地把牙膏挤在牙刷上。我越是费劲，他就越感到有趣。这样弄了大约十分钟，并且浪费了许多牙膏之后，我成功了。
I can do it faster than that! Chris declared. And when he did do so, his triumphant grin was just as real as mine.
“我一定做得比你快！”克里斯宣称。当他确实做到时，他胜利的笑容就和我的一样真切。
The next two weeks passed quickly. We did his daily activities with enthusiasm and a competitive spirit. We buttoned his shirts, buttered his bread and so on. Despite our age difference, we were playing a game as equal competitors.
接下来的两周飞逝而去。我们以极大的热情和竞争的心态来处理他的日常活动。我们扣他衬衫的纽扣，在他的面包上涂黄油等等。尽管我们的年龄存在差异，但我们以平等竞争的方式进行着我们的游戏。
By the time my work ended, he was almost ready for discharge , and ready to face the world with more confidence. We hugged each other goodbye with sincere friendship and tears.
当我实习结束的时候，他差不多已经能够出院，而且准备好更加自信地面对生活了。我们眼里噙满了泪水，相互拥抱着道别，心中充满了真挚的友情。
More than 30 years have passed since our time together.I've encountered some ups and downs in my life, but I've never let a physical challenge pass without thinking of Chris and wondering what he would do. Sometimes I put a hand behind my back and give it a try.
从我们分别到现在已经有三十多年了。我一生中曾经遇到过很多坎坷。而每当我在生活中遇到一件我从没有做过的事情时，我就会禁不住想起克里斯，想想他会如何处理。有时候，我会将一只手背在身后，试着只用一只手去做这件事。
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