人外有人

    區公所職員大喊:「來賓546號。」
    距離區公所結束時間只剩一小時。大廳有準備很多椅子,但是現場等候的人更多。如我所料地非常忙碌。
    我遞出遷入戶籍的表單,找到張椅子坐下,打開筆電開始工作。為自己的周全準備感到得意。
    抬頭休息,環顧四周,覺得自己比其他人更有效地等待的利用時間。突然發現旁邊比我更早到的女士,正在用鉤針,串尼龍繩,裝飾剛勾好的手機袋。
    嗯,人外有人。

There were always some people better than me

    ”Customer number 546," yelled the ward office staff.
    It’s the last hour before the ward office closed. Several stall were calling the next customers. There were a lot of seats in the lobby but there were more much more people waiting. It’s as busy as I expected.
    I submitted my application for move-in registration, found a seat in the lobby, and started working on my laptop. I was proud of myself that I was well prepared for the long wait.
    I left up my head to relax, looked around, and felt superior to others who were wasting their time. Then, I noticed the woman next to me was using a needle hook to decorate her knitting masterpiece.
    Hmm… there were always some people better than me.

雪與櫻花

    「已經是四月了⋯」
    「好大的雪,」服務生和我一樣驚訝。在餐廳吃晚餐時就看到窗外的大雨,沒想到要離開時變成下大雪。
    「雪與櫻花。」服務生接著說。
    好奇妙的組合。我對夜櫻沒興趣,更不愛下雪。不過,還是繞路去看看雪中的夜櫻。

Snow and Cherry Blossoms

    "It's already April," I said.
    "A lot of snow," the waitress replied.
    I had seen the heavy rain when having my dinner in a steakhouse, but it became the heavy snow when I was leaving.
    "Snow and cherry blossoms," continued the waitress.
    What a rare combination. I was not interested in cherry blossoms at night. I did not like snow at all. But I took a detour to see the cherry blossoms while snowing.