[MyStoryMySpeech] A Touching Story of a Taxi Driver,not my

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AprilMei
楼主 (文学城)

script, but my reading.  It's a bit long but it put me in tears each time when I listen to it.  First time attending an event here so I want to show some sencerity.  Happy holidays!

The script is not exactly the same as the reading.

I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I honked again. Since this was going to be my last ride of my shift I thought about just driving away, but instead I put the car in park and walked up to the door and knocked.. 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.

 After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940's movie.

 By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.

 There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard

box filled with photos and glassware.

 'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman.

 She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.

 She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her.. 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to be treated.'

'Oh, you're such a good boy, she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, 'Could you drive through downtown?'

 'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly..

 'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice.

 I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she continued in a soft voice..'The doctor says I don't have very long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.

 'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.

 For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.

 We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.

 Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

 As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired.Let's go now'. We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.

 Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her.

 I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

 'How much do I owe you?' She asked, reaching into her purse.

 'Nothing,' I said

 'You have to make a living,' she answered.

 'There are other passengers,' I responded.

 Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly. 

'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said. 'Thank you.'

 I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life.

 I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?

 On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life.

 We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.

 But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.

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beautifulwind
沙发!太棒啦,丰富了活动内容!先占个座!
b
beautifulwind
沙发!太棒啦,丰富了活动内容!先占个座!
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moiausis
Wow, what a touching and fantastic story !!! I am in tears!!
小公主
What a heartwarming story! I am in tears too...
一荷
声音很美, 朗读也很正. 
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beautifulwind
Wow, another touching story with “secret garden” as BGM, yr

reciting is perfect,especially the tone you mimic the old lady.
Wonderful masterpiece! Tears in eyes


佩服你学英语的方式,非常厉害,我已经买了chat pack,但是很多时候看见topic,我都不知道该说什么。

A
AprilMei
我也有不喜欢的topic。有时候稍微twist一下说下去,实在没话说就skip。
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beautifulwind
刚才的帖cut off了,我又加在内容里了:)
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AprilMei
谢谢鼓励。这篇我曾背下来,在toastmasters meeting上present过。非常喜欢它的朴实。
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beautifulwind
哇。我这次又回到美坛,遇到这么多英语爱好者,用不同的方式学习英语,都这么出色,收获太大了!
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Ha65494
Heart-warming, great presentation!
移花接木
you've a convincing voice, love it. Violin BGM mood driving

 violin in the BGM is also mood driving.

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woodwishper
brilliant and congrats.
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beautifulwind
恭喜AprilMei。首页进来,谢谢网管,圣诞MSMS活动“A touching story”挂首成功。:)
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AprilMei
多谢!才明白什么是挂首成功。
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beautifulwind
就是挂在文学城首页的缩写:)我用这种统一跟帖格式记录美坛的所有挂首,公开透明有据可查:)
移花接木
没被吓着吧,我第一次被挂时觉得挂首有点恐怖
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AprilMei
还好,心脏还在。
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beautifulwind
哈哈哈,早说啊,现在可以改成“挂城头”,嘿嘿,最开始和小艾学的:)

https://bbs.wenxuecity.com/bbs/archive.php?SubID=ktv&pos=bbs&keyword=挂首&username=&x=30&y=8

 

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AprilMei
都差不多,首级挂在城门上的感觉。
忒忒绿
Your story touched me too. A nice reading.
忒忒绿
有钩吗:)
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AprilMei
绳子?
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AprilMei
Thanks. The story was really well written.
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beautifulwind
LOL。那就把美坛变笑坛,挂着挂着就习惯了:)
耳机
把最后4段去掉就是一篇非常好的小小说,喜欢你选的背景音乐和带着人物性格的声音

我的一个朋友以前对我说,人生就是无数个moment拼接在一起的...

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just_4_fun
Kindness is love made visible