AlightdrizzlewasfallingasmysisterJillandIranoutoftheMethodistChurch,eagertogethomeandplaywiththepresentsthatSantahadleftforusandourbabysister,Sharon.AcrossthestreetfromthechurchwasaPanAmericangasstationwheretheGreyhoundbusstopped.ItwasclosedforChristmas,butInoticedafamilystandingoutsidethelockeddoor,huddledunderthenarrowoverhanginanattempttokeepdry.IwonderedbrieflywhytheyweretherebutthenforgotaboutthemasIracedtokeepupwithJill. 　　天上下着毛毛细雨,我和姐姐吉尔跑出卫理公会教堂,满心只想着快点回到家玩圣诞老人给我们和小妹妹莎伦准备的礼物玩具.教堂的对面是泛美油站,灰狗长途汽车会在那里中途停站.因为是圣诞节,那天油站没开,不过我发现在紧锁的站门外站着一家人,他们挤在狭小的檐篷下,想尽量不被雨淋湿.我闪过一个疑问,他们为什么站在那里呢?但在我赶上吉尔的时候也就把这个疑团抛诸脑后了. 　　Oncewegothome,therewasbarelytimetoenjoyourpresents.Wehadtogoofftoourgrandparents'houseforourannualChristmasdinner.Aswedrovedownthehighwaythroughtown,Inoticedthatthefamilywasstillthere,standingoutsidetheclosedgasstation. 　　回到家后其实根本没时间让我们尽情把玩礼物,因为我们马上又得去爷爷奶奶家共进一年一度的圣诞大餐.在开车经过刚才那条大路时,我看到那一家人仍然站在紧闭的油站门外. 　　Myfatherwasdrivingveryslowlydownthehighway.Thecloserwegottotheturnoffformygrandparents'house,theslowerthecarwent.Suddenly,myfatherU-turnedinthemiddleoftheroadandsaid,"Ican'tstandit!" 　　在那主干道上爸爸的车开得很慢.越接近去爷爷奶奶家的分岔路口,车子就越慢.突然,爸爸在半路中途来了个180度转弯,把车子原路驶回,他说："我实在不忍心! 　　"What?"askedmymother. 　　"什么?"妈妈问他. 　　"It'sthosepeoplebackthereatthePanAm,standingintherain.They'vegotchildren.It'sChristmas.Ican'tstandit." 　　"那几个在雨中站在泛美油站外的人.他们还带着小孩呢.圣诞节当前,我真的不忍心啊." 　　Whenmyfatherpulledintotheservicestation,Isawthattherewerefiveofthem:theparentsandthreechildren-twogirlsandasmallboy. 　　爸爸把车开到油站旁停下,我看见那一家总共有5个人：父母俩和三个孩子--两个女孩跟一个小男孩. 　　Myfatherrolleddownhiswindow."MerryChristmas,"hesaid. 　　爸爸摇下车窗对他们说："圣诞快乐!" 　　"Howdy,"themanreplied.Hewasverytallandhadtostoopslightlytopeerintothecar.Jill,Sharon,andIstaredatthechildren,andtheystaredbackatus. 　　"那个男人回了一句.他长得很高,要稍微弯下腰来往我们车里瞧.我和吉尔、莎伦盯着那几个小孩,他们也瞪眼看着我们. 　　"Youwaitingonthebus?"myfatherasked. 　　"你们在等汽车吗?"爸爸问他们.