Mr. Hoag's Popcorn
霍格先生的爆米花
I crept up to the door and knocked.
我輕手輕腳地爬上門前的臺階，敲了敲門。
A gruff voice bellowed (just another part of the routine), "Who is it?"
一個粗啞的聲音吼道(這是慣例裡的另一個部分)：“誰？”
Quietly, I whispered, "It's Nancy, Mr. Hoag."
我平靜地輕聲說：“霍格先生，我是南茜。”
What do you want? he yelled (as if he doesn't already know). Then a tall old man appeared from the back door, with a warm, smiling face. I am instantly reassured and feel welcomed. In a matter of seconds, I lead my gang of four or five neighborhood kids and two brothers through the house to the living room.
“你想要什麼？”他大叫道(就好像他還不知道似的)。接著一個高大的老人從後門走了出來，臉上洋溢著溫暖的笑意。我懸著的心立刻放了下來，感覺自己受到了歡迎。不一會兒，我就領著我的一夥鄰居——四五個小夥伴——和我的兩個弟弟穿過房間走進了起居室。
There it was—the complete setup. Two chairs, with a table between them, stood facing each other. In the center of the table sat a huge, yellow enamel basin filled to the rim with fresh hot popcorn.
它就在那裡——已經完全擺好了。隔著桌子正對放著兩把椅子。桌子正中央則放著一個大黃瓷釉盆，裡面裝了滿滿一盆新鮮出爐的、熱氣騰騰的爆米花。
Mr. Hoag knew the way to my heart was through my nose!
霍格先生知道通過我的鼻子抓住我的心！
I was the most dedicated popcorn lover of the whole group of kids living on the hill. The aroma filled the air and caused a magnetic attraction... kids and snacks, a natural combination. There was no better smell on earth than Mr. Hoag's home-grown, fluffy, white popcorn.
我是住在這個山坡上的所有孩子中最喜歡吃爆米花的一個。爆米花的香味瀰漫在空氣中，產生了一股磁鐵般的吸引力……孩子們和零食是一種自然的組合。世上再也沒有比霍格先生自家產的、蓬鬆的、白花花的爆米花更好聞的味道了。
One by one, we took our turn sitting on the chair opposite this grand man, chatting with him while he fills our bag.
我們輪流坐到這個令人愉快的老人對面的椅子上，在他給我們裝爆米花的時候和他聊幾句。
He listened to each one of us with great interest. Whether we told him our troubles or victories, he listened intently . He never made fun of us or what we told him. He said few words but we knew we were valued and worthy of this man's attention. After all, he took the time to make us popcorn and to listen.
他饒有興致地聽著我們每個人說話。不管我們告訴他的是我們的困難還是勝利，他都十分專注地聽著。不管我們告訴他什麼，他都不會取笑我們。他話不多，但我們知道，我們得到了重視，是值得這位老人關注的。畢竟，他花時間為我們做爆米花，也花時間聽我們說話。
We each gave him a heartfelt "Thank you" and a warm hug, even the boys did! Well, except for John and Joey. They were the older ones and Mr.Hoag acknowledged their "big-boy" status with a handshake. We confidently ran off, treats in hand.
我們每個人都衷心地向他道謝，並給他一個熱情的擁抱，就連男孩子們也是如此！唔，除了約翰和喬伊。他們倆比我們大一些，霍格先生和他們握手，表示認可他們是“大男孩”。我們手裡拿著零食，信心十足地跑開了。
I'm not sure what we loved more ... the popcorn, or Mr. Hoag! I do know that my family were poor and I was a scapegoat for my peers at school, with their childish and often painful pranks. My parents loved me and suffered when I came home crying from school. They encouraged me as best they could. But, typical of a child, I thought they had to say all that! They were my Mom and Dad and had to love me.
我不能確定我們更愛哪一個……是爆米花還是霍格先生！我只知道我家很窮，我在學校是同齡人的“替罪羊”，他們會用幼稚並且常常令人痛苦的惡作劇來捉弄我。我的父母愛我，當我哭著從學校回家的時候，他們都很難受。他們竭盡所能地鼓勵我。但是，作為一個孩 子，我認為他們必須那麼說！他們是我的爸爸媽媽，他們不得不愛我。
So, heavenly backup was provided and my self-esteem was restored nightly, by a 75-year-old, ordinary man who knew the power of popcorn. He used that delicious treat to show how he cared for not only me, but for all the neighborhood kids.
因而，由於有霍格先生——這位深知爆米花威力的75歲普通老人——為我提供強大的支持，我的自尊心日漸恢復了。通過美味的零食，他對我還有我們鄰區所有的孩子表示了他的關心。
I am so thankful that this wonderful man took the time and effort to make a difference in our lives.
我十分感激這位善良的老人花時間和精力讓我們的生活有了意義。
Showing interest, acceptance, and love took so little time. But the effects will be with us for a lifetime.
展示對別人的興趣、接納和愛只需要非常少的時間，但其影響卻會伴隨人們一生。
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