The Phone in the Taxi

The young man

年轻人

Claire lives in Paris. She is forty-four. She drives a taxi.

克莱尔住在巴黎。她四十四岁。她开出租车。

She works every day, from seven to eight. Her taxi is old, but it is very clean.

她每天工作，从早上七点到晚上八点。她的出租车很旧，但是很干净。

Claire is divorced. She has a son, but he is a man now. He lives in Lyon. He does not call her much.

克莱尔离婚了。她有一个儿子，但是他现在长大了。他住在里昂。他不常给她打电话。

It is Monday morning, and it is raining. A young man runs to the taxi. He has a big bag and a small bag.

这是星期一的早上，在下雨。一个年轻人跑向出租车。他有一个大包和一个小包。

“Good morning! To the big bank on Rue de Rivoli, please. And fast, please! I am late.”

“早上好！请去里沃利街的大银行。请快一点！我迟到了。”

“Everybody is late in Paris,” says Claire. She smiles.

“在巴黎，每个人都会迟到。”克莱尔说。她笑了。

The young man does not smile. He talks on his phone. He looks at his watch. He talks on his phone again.

年轻人没有笑。他在打电话。他看手表。他又在打电话。

“Yes, Mum. No, Mum. I know, Mum. Tonight at nine. Yes, I have everything.”

“好的，妈妈。不，妈妈。我知道，妈妈。今天晚上九点。对，东西我都带了。”

Claire listens. She thinks of her son. Her son never says “Yes, Mum” on the phone. Her son does not call.

克莱尔听着。她想到了她的儿子。她的儿子在电话里从不说“好的，妈妈”。她的儿子不打电话来。

“Is that your mother?” she asks.

“那是您的母亲吗？”她问。

“Yes. She calls every hour. She worries about everything.”

“是的。她每个小时都打来。她什么都担心。”

“Mothers worry,” says Claire. “It is their job. And young men forget everything.”

“妈妈们都会担心，”克莱尔说，“这是她们的事。而年轻人什么都会忘。”

The taxi stops in front of a big bank. The young man gives her the money. He takes his bags and runs.

出租车停在一家大银行前面。年轻人给她钱。他拿着包跑了。