English Original
"Sheesh! Give me a few points for self-control!" I snapped at my cranky husband. I wanted to stop at a sporting goods store "Going Out of Business" sale we passed in the mall.
"There's nothing we need," was his usual grumpy comment. "It's all overpriced junk. If they had anything good, they wouldn't be going out of business."
"But it's sporting goods," I wheedled. "Could be some good deals for the grandkids. And you like boats and fishing stuff. I've put up with that photo of your 'dream canoe' stuck on the bathroom mirror for years now. Maybe you'd enjoy just looking around?"
"Are you crazy?" His eyes got funny. "The boat I want is the Supremo Numero-Uno. Soon as I finish saving up 6,000 bucks for that baby, I'm going to order it custom, in silver, right from the manufacturer. This loser store wouldn't carry something like THAT. And I'm sure not going near those sucker crowds."
"You're so darn negative!" I retorted. "I happen to like crowds. I promise I won't buy anything, but I'm going to look around. You go for coffee, and I'll meet you back here in half an hour."
"Don't make promises you can't keep, old girl," he chuckled in that self-satisfied way that always riled me. "I know you're going to come out of there with useless junk. You always do."
His words made me mad. How dare he accuse me of being frivolous! I prided myself on being a wise shopper. "Boy, I'll show him," I promised myself. I would not buy a darn thing, no matter what.
I squared my chin and marched into the crowded store. Aisles and aisles of equipment were strung with huge signs: CLOSING OUT SALE - Up to 80% OFF. NO REFUNDS.
Up and down the aisles I strolled, enjoying the frenetic energy of a sale.
All of a sudden, there, at the back of the store, in gleaming silver, sat the exact canoe from my husband's picture. I gasped. My heart beat wildly. I elbowed my way through the crowds and scrambled over junk to find the price tag.
There it was: the manufacturer's suggested retail price of $6,750 crossed out, replaced with a handwritten TO CLEAR $750 AS IS. NO RETURNS.
Must be a mistake. I spotted a young fellow with a "Hi, I'm Mathew" tag. "Mathew, tell me about this canoe. Why is it only $750?"
"Oh, there's nothing wrong with it. It's brand new. We're closing the store, that's all. It's on clearance. I think that price includes lifejackets, paddles, and fishing gear, too. I'll go check."
A few minutes later, he returned. "I'm sorry, ma'am. Someone made a mistake on the sale tag. It's supposed to be $4,750 for the whole package. My dad, who's running the close-out, said it was worth more than $8,000 regular price, so it's still a real good deal."
Tears welled up in my eyes. "Oh well," I said sadly. "Of course, it was too good to be true. This is exactly my husband's dreamboat. He's going to be 62 on Friday. Had to retire early for his health. The stubborn old fool has been saving $10 every week for years to buy one just like this. Just an old man's silly dream. Always said he wanted to spend his retirement fishing in a canoe." My voice trailed off as I turned and walked away.
I was already at the mall door when Mathew caught up with me. "Do you have $750 plus $25 for delivery and a bit more for tax, ma'am?"
I gasped. "Yes. That's about all I have," I said, thinking fleetingly of the cataract surgery I was saving up for.
"Well then, you just have your husband sitting on the front porch Friday morning around 10 o'clock so he can be there when my dad and I come to unload his new boat. We'll even put a bow on it for his birthday."
I started to cry. My old hand shook as I wrote out the cheque. Mathew swallowed hard.
"Ma'am, there's something you should know. This store was my Grampa's. He ran it for over 30 years. He always promised to retire one day, said he wanted to spend time relaxing and fishing in a canoe. He ordered this one, custom, for himself last year but... just never took the time to use it." He swallowed harder. "My Grampa died, sudden-like, just last week. He was only 68. I think he'd be mighty happy that your husband will get this canoe. My dad thinks so too. You just have to make sure he uses it a lot, okay? Promise?"
I handed Mathew a tissue. We stood there for a moment, lost in our own thoughts.
"I promise," I said, as I dashed off to look for my dear sweet husband.
中文翻译
"哎呀！夸我一句有自制力行不行！"我没好气地对脾气暴躁的丈夫嚷道。我们在商场里路过一家体育用品店，正在"清仓倒闭大甩卖"，我想进去看看。
"我们什么都不需要，"这是他惯常的抱怨。"都是些标价虚高的破烂。要是有好东西，他们就不会倒闭了。"
"但这是体育用品啊，"我哄着他。"说不定能给孙子们淘到些好货。而且你喜欢船啊钓鱼的东西。你那张'梦想独木舟'的照片贴在浴室镜子上都好几年了，我都忍了。也许逛逛看看也挺好？"
"你疯了吗？"他的眼神变得古怪。"我想要的是Supremo Numero-Uno那款。等我攒够6000块，我就要直接从厂家定制一艘，银色的。这种破店才不会卖那种高级货。而且我才不去凑那群冤大头的热闹。"
"你真是又扫兴又无聊！"我反驳道。"我偏偏喜欢人多热闹。我保证什么都不买，就是进去逛逛。你去喝杯咖啡，半小时后我们在这儿碰头。"
"别许下你做不到的承诺，老太婆，"他得意地笑起来，那副"眼见为实"的样子总让我火大。"我知道你准会买些没用的破烂出来。你每次都这样。"
他的话激怒了我。他竟敢说我轻浮！我向来以精明购物为傲。"好小子，我非得证明给你看，"我暗下决心。无论如何，我一件东西都不会买。
我扬起下巴，大步走进拥挤的商店。一排排的货架上挂满了醒目的标语：清仓倒闭大甩卖——低至2折。概不退换。
我在过道里穿梭，享受着大甩卖带来的狂热氛围。
突然，在商店的后面，一艘闪闪发光的银色独木舟映入眼帘，正是我丈夫照片里的那一艘。我倒吸一口气，心跳加速。我挤过人群，爬过过道里的杂物，差点一头栽进独木舟里去找价签。
找到了：制造商建议零售价6750美元（含税）被划掉了，手写着"清仓价750美元，现状出售，概不退换"。
肯定是弄错了。我瞥见一个戴着"你好，我是马修"胸牌的年轻人。"马修，跟我说说这艘独木舟。为什么只要750美元？"
"哦，它没什么问题。是全新的。我们只是要关店了，所以清仓。我想这个价格应该也包括救生衣、船桨和一些渔具。我去确认一下。"
几分钟后，他回来了。"抱歉，女士。价签写错了。整套应该是4750美元。我刚问了我爸，他是负责清仓的。他说这船原价超过8000美元，所以还是很划算的。"
泪水涌上我的眼眶。"哦，好吧，"我伤心地说。"当然，哪有这么好的事。这正好是我丈夫梦寐以求的船。他看到那个价签时，我自己也开始做梦了。他周五就62岁了。因为健康原因不得不提前退休。光靠养老金日子挺紧的，但这个固执的老傻瓜每周省下10块钱，攒了好多年就想买一艘这样的船。你知道，就是一个老人的傻梦想。他总是说退休后想划着独木舟去钓鱼。"我的声音渐渐低了下去，转身离开。
我已经走到商场门口时，马修追上了我。"女士，您有750美元，加上25美元运费和一点税钱吗？"
我吃了一惊。"有……有。这大概是我所有的钱了，"我说，脑海中飞快闪过我正在攒钱做的白内障手术。
"那好，您就让您丈夫周五早上10点左右坐在前廊，这样我和我爸去送他的新船时，他就能在场了。我们还会为他的生日系个蝴蝶结。"
我哭了起来。写支票时，我苍老的手颤抖着，不得不眯起眼睛。马修艰难地咽了咽口水。
"女士，有件事您应该知道。这家店是我爷爷的。他经营了三十多年。他总是说有一天要退休，想悠闲地划着独木舟去钓鱼。去年他为自己定制了这艘船，但是……唉，一直没抽出时间去用它。"他哽咽得更厉害了。"我爷爷上周突然去世了。他才68岁。我想他会非常高兴这艘船能到您丈夫手里。我爸也这么想。您一定要保证他会经常用它，好吗？答应我？"
我递给马修一张纸巾。我们静静地站了一会儿，各自陷入沉思。
"我答应你，"我说着，匆匆跑去找我那亲爱的丈夫了。