Some twenty years ago I was working at an insurance agency and drove to work every day. One day the highway was closed down by an accident, so I had to go a number of miles out of my way, through the countryside.

All went well on my way to work. At the end of the day I rushed home as I had a hair appointment. Not being familiar with this road, I topped a hill. A big pot hole appeared right in my path. After I’d crossed it I felt that I had a flat tire. Then, looking into my rearview mirror, I caught sight of a truck pulling out of a pasture behind me. I was relieved and scared at the same time. I kept thinking of all the bad things that had happened to people in deserted places like this.

I jumped out of the car and opened the trunk. I was struggling to get the spare tire out when the man in the truck came up behind me. He introduced himself and offered to help. When he got the spare tire out, we discovered that it was also flat. He told me that I could go with him and he would get it fixed. I called my husband with his phone, and on the way into town he told me that he was married and had a daughter. The pasture which I’d seen him coming from was part of his farm.

We got the tire fixed, and he took me back to my car. My husband was waiting for us there. The kind stranger stayed and helped my husband change the tire, and when they finished we both thanked him and offered to pay him for his help. I will never forget what he said. “Your thanks is more than enough pay, and I just hope that if something like this ever happens to my wife or daughter, someone will be so kind as to help them.”

I don’t remember the name of this gentleman but will never forget his kindness. I pass by that place almost weekly now, and think of him every time.

【日积月累】

tire n. 轮胎

rearview mirror 后视镜

pasture n. 牧场，牧草，草地

【参考译文】

帮助你遇到的下一个人

大约20年前，我在一家保险公司工作，每天开车去上班。有一天公路因为车祸而封闭了，所以我不得不绕道几里远的郊外。

去上班的路上一切都挺顺利。下班后我急匆匆赶回家，因为我预约好了要做头发。由于不熟悉路况，我把车开到了一座小山顶上，此时正前方出现了一个大坑，开过去后我感觉一个轮胎瘪了。这时，我从后视镜里看到一辆卡车正从草地里开了出来。我松了口气，又有点害怕，我不停地想在这样荒凉的地方可能遇上的种种倒霉事。

我下了车，打开后车厢。当我艰难地想把备用胎拿出来的时候，后面卡车上的男人走了过来。他自我介绍了一下，提出要帮我。当他把备用胎拿出来的时候，我们发现那也是瘪的。他说我可以跟着他走，他可以找地方修好它。我用他的手机给我丈夫打了个电话。在进城的路上，他告诉我他已经结婚了，还有一个女儿。刚才我看到他出来的那片草地是他农场的一部分。

轮胎修好后，他载我回到我的车边。我丈夫已经在那等着了。这位好心的陌生人没有离开，帮着我丈夫把车胎给换了。完事后，我们俩都向他道谢，并提出给他酬劳。我永远不会忘记他是怎样回答我们的：“你们的感谢比付给我更重要，我只希望如果我妻子或女儿遇到这样的事，有人会热心地帮他们一把。”

我不记得那位好人的姓名，但是我永远不会忘记他的好意。现在我每周都会从那经过，每次经过都会想起他。

【人生启迪】

我们老是听到这样的叮咛“不要和陌生人说话”或“不要轻信陌生人”，确实世界上不少拦路抢劫的恶棍，但也不乏“路见不平，拔刀相助”的好人。如果我们加入后者的行列中，正义的力量就又比邪恶的力量强大了一些。