Unit 3 Marriage

1Sheila stamped into the staff room, her uniform stained with someone’s dinner. “I don’t know how you do it!” She fumed to Helen, the nurse supervising the evening shift.Sheila slumped into a chair and looked gloomily at her  crumpled lunch bag. “Mrs. Svoboda just threw her tray at me again, and she’s so troublesome. I don’t know how I’ll  be able to clean her up before bed. Why don’t you have so  much trouble with her?”

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希拉跺着脚走进员工休息室，她的制服上沾着别人的晚餐。“我不知道你是怎么做到的!”她对监督晚班的护士海伦发火了。希拉瘫坐在椅子上，沮丧地看着她那皱巴巴的午餐袋。“斯沃博达太太刚刚又把她的盘子扔向我，她真麻烦。我不知道怎么才能在她睡觉前把她收拾干净。为什么你对她没有那么多麻烦呢?”

希拉大步走进员工室，她的制服上沾着别人的晚餐。“我不知道你是怎么做到的！”她向负责晚班的护士海伦发火。希拉瘫坐在椅子上，忧郁地看着她皱巴巴的午餐袋。“斯沃博达太太又把盘子扔给我了，她太麻烦了。我不知道我怎么能在睡前把她清理干净。你为什么不跟她闹这么多？”

2 Helen smiled sympathetically. How could she explain  what she saw underneath the aging exteriors of the nursing  home residents they care for?

海伦同情地笑了。她怎么能解释在他们照顾的养老院居民老化的外表下看到的东西呢?

海伦同情地笑了笑。她如何解释她在养老院护理人员老化的外表下看到的东西？

3 “Sheila,” she began slowly. “I know it’s hard to  work with people like Mrs. Svoboda. She’s rude and not  cooperative. But there’s more to her than the dementia you  see every day. I’d like to tell you about when I first met the  Svobodas.

“希拉，”她慢慢地说。“我知道和斯沃博达夫人这样的人共事很难。她很粗鲁，不合作。但除了你每天看到的痴呆，她还有更多的东西。我想告诉你我第一次见到斯沃博达一家的时候。

“希拉，”她慢慢地说。“我知道和斯沃博达夫人这样的人一起工作很难。她很粗鲁，也不合作。但对她来说，除了你每天看到的痴呆症之外，还有更多。我想告诉你我第一次见到斯沃博达斯夫妇的时候。

4 “When Mrs. Svoboda was admitted she wasn’t as  bad as she is now, but she was still pretty critical. She  used to give me grief over the smallest things. On her  bad days she’d accuse us all of stealing her things. I had  no patience with her, until one day her husband Troy  happened to be there during bath time. I was gearing up  for the usual fight with her when he asked if he could  help. ‘Sure.’ I said gratefully. She was OK until I started  lowering her into the tub. It’s a good thing that the safety restraints were on when she began kicking and  screaming.

“当斯沃博达夫人被承认时，她并不像现在这样糟糕，但她仍然很挑剔。她过去常常为一件小事而使我难过。心情不好的时候，她会指责我们所有人偷了她的东西。我对她再也没有耐心了，直到有一天她的丈夫特洛伊在洗澡的时候碰巧在那里。当他问我是否需要帮忙时，我正准备和她像往常一样吵架。的肯定。我感激地说。她本来没事，直到我开始把她放进浴缸里。好在她开始又踢又叫的时候安全带还在。

“当斯沃博达夫人被承认时，她没有现在那么糟糕，但她仍然很挑剔。她过去常常为最微小的事情而让我悲伤。在她不好的日子里，她会指责我们所有人都偷了她的东西。我对她没有耐心，直到有一天她的丈夫特洛伊在洗澡时碰巧在那里。我正准备和她进行通常的斗争，他问我是否可以帮忙。”。“当然。”我感激地说。她没事，直到我开始把她放进浴缸。当她开始踢腿和尖叫时，安全约束装置打开了，这是一件好事。

5 “I began washing her quickly, anxious to get it over  with, when Troy laid his hand on my arm. ‘Give her a  moment to get used to the water,’ he asked. Then he  began talking softly in Russian. After a few moments she  became calm and seemed to listen to him. Very gently, he took the cloth and soap from me and washed each of her hands. Then slowly and carefully, he washed her arms and shoulders, working his way over the wrinkled, sallow skin. Each touch was a caress, each movement a promise, and moment of intimacy. After a while, she closed her eyes and  I suddenly became aware that I was intruding on a rare relaxed into the warm water. ‘My beautiful Nadja,’ the old man murmured. ‘You are so beautiful.’ To my surprise, Mrs. Svoboda opened her eyes and murmured back, ‘My beautiful Troy.’ Even to my astonishment, she had tears in her eyes!

我开始迅速地给她洗澡，急于把它洗完，这时托伊把手放在我的胳膊上。“给她一点时间来适应水，”他问。然后他开始轻声地用俄语说话。过了一会儿，她平静下来，似乎在听他说话。他轻轻地从我手里接过布和肥皂，为她洗了双手。然后，他慢慢地、仔细地洗她的胳膊和肩膀，洗过她那布满皱纹、蜡黄的皮肤。每一次触摸都是爱抚，每一个动作都是承诺，都是亲密的时刻。过了一会儿，她闭上了眼睛，我突然意识到我闯入了一个难得的放松到温暖的水中。“我美丽的娜佳，”老人喃喃地说。“你真漂亮。令我吃惊的是，斯沃博达太太睁开眼睛，低声回答道:“我美丽的托伊。”“甚至使我吃惊的是，她的眼里还含着泪水!”

“当特洛伊把手放在我的手臂上时，我开始迅速地给她洗衣服，急于把它洗干净。‘给她一点时间，让她习惯水，’他问道。然后他开始用俄语轻声说话。过了一会儿，她变得平静起来，似乎在听他的话。他非常温柔地从我身上拿走布和肥皂，洗了她的每一只手。然后，他慢慢而小心地洗了她的手臂，喊道德斯，在布满皱纹、蜡黄的皮肤上努力工作。每一次触摸都是一次爱抚，每一个动作都是一个承诺，都是亲密的时刻。过了一会儿，她闭上了眼睛，我突然意识到我正在闯入一个罕见的放松的温水中。”“我美丽的娜佳，”老人喃喃地说你真漂亮。”令我惊讶的是，斯沃博达夫人睁开眼睛，低声回答道：“我美丽的特洛伊。”甚至令我惊讶的是，她眼里含着泪水！

6 “Mr. Svoboda reclined the lift and released her hair into the water. The old woman sighed with pleasure as he stroked and lathered and rinsed. Then, he kissed her temple. ‘All done, my beauty. Time to get out.’

斯沃博达把电梯倾斜，把她的头发放进水里。老婆婆高兴地叹了口气，他一边抚摸，一边擦洗，一边冲洗。然后，他吻了她的太阳穴。“好了，我的美人儿。该出去了。”

“斯沃博达先生斜倚电梯，把她的头发放进水里。老妇人一边抚摩一边高兴地叹了口气，一边涂上肥皂，一边冲洗。然后，他吻了吻她的太阳穴。‘一切都好了，我的美女。该出去了。’

7 “I had to stay with them, even though they didn’t need me. But I’d caught a glimpse of the well-loved woman who hid deep within the ruin of old age.”

“我必须和他们呆在一起，即使他们不需要我。但我瞥见了一个深埋在老年废墟中的深爱的女人。”

“我不得不和他们在一起，尽管他们不需要我。但我瞥见了一个深爱的女人，她隐藏在老年的废墟中。”

8 Sheila was quiet as she stirred her yogurt without looking up. Helen took a deep breath and continued her story.

希拉在搅拌酸奶时很安静，头也不抬。海伦深吸一口气，继续讲她的故事。

希拉静静地搅拌着酸奶，头也不抬。海伦深吸了一口气，继续她的故事。

9 “Mrs. Svoboda stayed calm that whole afternoon. Her husband helped me dress her, slowly fed her the meal and talked to her until she was willing to go to bed.

斯沃博达太太整个下午都很冷静。她丈夫帮我给她穿衣服，慢慢地喂她吃饭，和她说话，直到她愿意去睡觉。

“整个下午，斯沃博达夫人都很平静。她的丈夫帮我给她穿衣服，慢慢地给她喂饭，并和她说话，直到她愿意睡觉。

10 “The old man looked completely exhausted. I asked  him why he insisted on doing so much himself when  we were paid to do it. He turned to me and said simply,  ‘Because I love her.’

老人看上去精疲力竭。我问他为什么要自己做这么多事，明明是我们付钱给他做的。他转向我，简单地说:“因为我爱她。”

“老人看起来筋疲力尽。我问他，当我们得到报酬时，他为什么坚持自己做这么多。他转向我，简单地说，‘因为我爱她。’

11 “‘But you’re wearing yourself out,’ I answered.

“‘可是你把自己累坏了，’我回答。

“但你累坏了，”我回答。

12 “‘You don’t understand,’ he continued. ‘We’ve been  married for almost forty-nine years. When we started out,  life on the farm was harder than you can imagine. The  drought killed our crops, and there wasn’t enough pasture  for the cattle. Our children were small, and I didn’t know  how we were going to survive the winter. I felt so helpless, and it vexed me. Nadja put up with my moods, and left  me alone, but one night I blew up at the supper table.  She’d made our favorite treat, rice pudding, and all I  could think about was how much sugar and milk she’d used.’

“‘你不明白，’他继续说。“我们结婚快四十九年了。刚开始的时候，农场的生活比你想象的要艰苦得多。干旱杀死了我们的庄稼，又没有足够的牧场放牧。我们的孩子还小，我不知道我们要怎么熬过这个冬天。我感到很无助，这让我很恼火。娜佳容忍了我的情绪，让我一个人呆着，但有一天晚上，我在晚餐桌上发了火。她做了我们最喜欢的米布丁，我满脑子想的都是她用了多少糖和牛奶。”

“你不明白，”他继续说道。“我们结婚差不多49年了。刚开始时，农场的生活比你想象的要艰难。干旱杀死了我们的庄稼，也没有足够的牧场养牛。我们的孩子很小，我不知道我们如何度过冬天。我感到很无助，这让我很恼火。纳贾忍受了我的情绪，让我一个人呆着，但有一天晚上我在晚餐桌上发了脾气。她做了我们最喜欢的食物，大米布丁，我所能想到的就是她用了多少糖和牛奶。”

13 “‘Suddenly, I picked up my bowl and threw it  against the wall, and stormed out to the barn. I don’t  know how long I stayed there, but around sundown,  Nadja came out to find me. “Troy,” she said, “you are  not alone in your troubles. I promised to stand beside  you through everything life brought our way. But if you  won’t let me, then you have to go.” She had tears in her  eyes, but her voice was firm. “You are not yourself right  now, but when you are ready to be with us again, we  are here.” Then she kissed my cheek and walked back to  the house.

“‘突然，我捡起我的碗，把它扔到墙上，然后冲到谷仓。我不知道我在那里呆了多久，但日落时分，娜佳出来找我。“特洛伊，”她说，“你不是一个人在烦恼。我答应过会陪在你身边度过生活中遇到的一切。但如果你不让我去，那你就得走。”她眼里含着泪水，但声音坚定。“你现在不是你自己，但当你准备好再次和我们在一起时，我们就在这里。”然后她吻了我的脸颊，走回了房子。

“突然，我拿起碗，把它扔在墙上，怒气冲冲地走到谷仓。我不知道我在那里呆了多久，但在日落时分，娜佳出来找我。”特洛伊，“她说，”你不是唯一一个有麻烦的人。我答应在生活给我们带来的一切中都站在你身边。但如果你不让我走，那你就得走了。”她眼里噙着泪水，但她的声音很坚定。“你现在不是你自己，但当你准备好再次和我们在一起时，我们就在这里。”然后她吻了吻我的脸颊，走回了房子。

14 “‘I stayed in the barn that night, and the next day I  headed into town to look for a job. After about a week, I  was ready to give up. I felt a complete failure, at farming,  as a man. I started for home, not knowing if I’d be  welcome, but I didn’t have anywhere else to go. When she  saw me coming down the lane, Nadja came out running,  threw her arms around me and I began to weep. I clung  to her like a newborn baby. She just stroked my head and  held me. Then we went in the house, as if nothing had ever  happened.

“‘那天晚上我呆在谷仓里，第二天我去镇上找工作。大约一个星期后，我准备放弃了。作为一个男人，我觉得自己在务农方面完全失败了。我开始回家，不知道我是否会受到欢迎，但我没有其他地方可去。娜佳看见我沿着小路走过来，就跑出来，搂着我，我哭了起来。我像抱着刚出生的婴儿一样抱着她。她只是抚摸着我的头，抱着我。然后我们进了房子，好像什么事都没发生过。

“那天晚上我呆在谷仓里，第二天我进城找工作。大约一周后，我准备放弃。作为一个男人，我觉得自己在农业上完全失败了。我开始回家，不知道是否会受到欢迎，但我没有其他地方可以去。当她看到我从车道上下来时，娜佳跑了出来，搂着我，我开始哭泣。我像刚出生的婴儿一样紧紧抓住她。她只是抚摸着我的头，抱着我。然后我们走进房子，好像什么都没发生过一样。

15 “‘If she could stay committed to me during my  worst times, during the hardest times of our life, the least  I can do is comfort her now. And remind her of the good  times we had. We always smiled at each other when we  ate rice pudding, and it’s one of the few things she still remembers.’”

“‘如果在我最糟糕的时候，在我们生命中最艰难的时候，她能一直陪在我身边，至少我现在能做的就是安慰她。让她想起我们一起度过的美好时光。当我们吃米布丁时，我们总是互相微笑，这是她仍然记得的为数不多的事情之一。’”

“‘如果她能在我最糟糕的时候，在我们生活中最艰难的时候，对我不离不弃，我现在至少能安慰她。提醒她我们曾经的美好时光。我们吃米饭布丁时总是彼此微笑，这是她至今仍记得的为数不多的事情之一。’”

16 Helen was quiet. Suddenly Sheila pushed back her  chair. “My break is over,” she said, dabbing at the tears  that rolled down her cheeks. “And I know an old lady  who needs another dinner.” She smiled at Helen. “If I ask  them nicely, I’ll bet the kitchen can rustle up a dish of rice pudding for her, too.”

海伦很安静。突然希拉把椅子往后推了推。“我的休息时间结束了，”她说着，轻轻擦了擦脸颊上滚落的眼泪。“我还认识一位老太太，她还需要一顿晚餐。”她对海伦微笑。“如果我好好地请他们，我敢打赌厨房也能给她做一盘米饭布丁。”

海伦很安静。突然，希拉把椅子往后推。“我的休息结束了，”她说，轻抚着脸颊上滚落的泪水。“我认识一位老太太，她需要另一顿晚餐。”她对海伦微笑。“如果我问得好，我敢打赌厨房也能为她做一盘米饭布丁。”

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