2017-12-05

【Aiden in English】

        A boy sat alone in a graveyard. He was seven years old, his name was Phillip, and he was an orphan. Visiting the gravesite of his mother and father and deep in thought, the boy did not hear a stranger sneak up behind him.

        “Quiet, boy. Don’t say a word!” the stranger said, wrapping one arm around Phillip’s neck, almost choking him. “One word, and I’ll cut your throat!” He whipped out a clean blade, sparkling in the afternoon sun.

        Phillip, suddenly seized of control, limply hung in the man’s grip.

        Surprised at the lack of resistance, the stranger was astounded. “Kid, aren’t you going to do anything?”

        This man, Todd Bowles, a robber and murderer, terrorizer of a child who wandered too far from home. Towering in height, Todd’s hands could crush Phillip’s skull with a pinch.

        In total honesty, Todd was nothing more than a petty thief. A man who childishly defied society’s rules. A fraud. A man too lazy to work his way up society, and simultaneously too scared to murder. Some of his friends called him a wuss. He didn’t mind. Besides, most of the time, a knife pressed to the throat usually persuaded his victims to concede.

        However, the situation finally presented itself in the form of Phillip Cruso, a seven-year-old kid. At the end of the day, Phillip had no reason to live. While on a stroll through the park, his parents were murdered by a thief, the one who preyed off of the unsuspecting, much like Todd. Phillip watched it happen helplessly.

        Phillip’s life flew by, a sorrowing newspaper tossed around in the wind. He continued to watch it fly, moment to moment, until today.

        Phillip stiffened in Todd’s arms, realizing his situation, and how close he was to his parents’ same fate, nearly as helpless as he was ten years ago.

        In that instant, his parents emerged from the gravestone, kneeling beside him, faint outlines marking their presence. Although Phillip knew they weren’t there, and this was just all a part of his imagination, he was glad their spirits were with him. His mother’s perfume, sweet, floated through the brisk dusk air. His father, stout and tall, gingerly placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. Phillip relaxed again, accepting his parents’ touch.

        “Kid, you’re really annoying me right now!” Todd, sweating in nervousness, was mustering all his energy to stop his hand from shaking. He had no experience with such a quiet response.

        “Hey, ya know, this can all be ova’, if you just give me some money. But if ya’ don’t…” Todd readied himself. He took long, deep breathes, but even that couldn’t stop his beating heart.

        “C’mon, Todd, you’re a man,” he murmured to himself. “This is very unprofessional.”

        Phillip, still entrapped in a trance, staring into empty space. His parents, waving and smiling, was all he could think about. “I’m coming ma, pap. I’m coming.”

        “Well, time’s up, kid.” Todd held his breath. He leveled the knife, edge nicking the soft tissue of Phillip’s bare neck. Sweat dripped down his forehead. He readjusted his grip on the knife, holding the handle in an iron grip. Gritting his teeth, Todd tensed.

        The next morning, Phillip awoke to the sound of chirping birds and shrieking crows. He was lying in front of his parents’ tombstone, covered in a fine layer of frost. He wasn’t cold.

        Phillip shakily stood up. After glancing around, he turned and began to walk away. However, he stopped a few steps later, turned, and waved goodbye to his parents.

        His parents waved back.

【红霞译文】

        小男孩独自坐在墓地，时年七岁，名叫菲利普，是个孤儿。他呆在父母坟前沉思，没有察觉身后陌生人正朝自己走来。

        “安静，小子，别作声！” 陌生人说道，一只手臂卡住菲利普的脖子，差点叫他窒息。“一个字，我割断你的喉咙！”陌生人掏出干净刀片，在午后阳光下闪闪发光。

        菲利普一下子抓住对方手腕，转眼之间便赢得了主动。

        丝毫没有反抗迹象，陌生人甚感莫名其妙：“小鬼头，难道你不想搞点名堂出来？”

        这人叫托德·鲍尔斯，是个小偷、杀人犯，并且爱吓唬离家出走的孩子。他身材高大，双手一抡足以把菲利普打个稀巴烂。

        说实在的，托德顶多算个扒手，别看他玩世不恭，行窃诈骗游手好闲，但图财害命的把戏真不敢玩，难怪有些狐朋狗友叫他胆小鬼，这家伙并不在乎，何况多数情况下，只要把刀架到受害者脖子上，谁都会服软求饶。

        然而，这招终于在年仅七岁的屁孩面前失灵，菲利普·克鲁索没想到能死里逃生，当年散步路过公园时，其父母惨造小偷杀害，而这个小偷很像托德专门打劫无辜的人，菲利普亲眼所见发生的一切却又无能为力。

        光阴荏苒，悲伤的记忆一直随风飘落，菲利普至今历历在目。

        菲利普遭遇托德双臂挟持时便意识到自己的处境，这与十年前父母经历的情景极其相像，这回他依旧束手无策。

        说时迟那时快，菲利普的双亲从坟墓里走出并紧挨着他跪在一旁，身影轮廓依稀可见。尽管菲利普明白父母没在现场，所有一切只不过幻觉所致，但还是庆幸与父母心心相连，母亲的香水在暮色中散发出温馨可人的气息，魁梧高大的父亲伸出有力的手臂在他的肩膀上轻轻地拍了一下，菲利普重新镇定起来，沉浸在父母爱抚之中。

        “小鬼头，现在我特讨厌你！”托德紧张得直冒虚汗，竭力控制发抖的手，他从来没有见识过如此平静的场面。

        “嘿，你知道，只要你给我钱，这事就算过去了；但如果你不给…”托德做好准备。他深呼了几口气，即便如此，仍然无法掩饰内心慌乱。

        “来哟，托德，你是男子汉，” 他自言自语：“这太掉价了。”

        菲利普依旧神志恍惚，盯着空旷的地方发呆，只见父母摆手微笑，他满脑子在想：“妈爸我来了，我来了。”

        “好吧，时间到了，小鬼头。” 托德屏住呼吸，拿平刀子，将刀刃紧贴菲利普脖子后面软组织上，汗滴顺着前额流了下来。这时他又调整了一下刀把，用手握住铁柄。托德紧张得不行，牙齿咬得嘎嘎响。

        第二天早晨，鸟儿叽喳声与乌鸦尖叫声把菲利普吵醒，他躺在父母坟前，浑身上下盖满了薄薄白霜，一点不冷。

        菲利普摇摇晃晃站了起来，扫了一眼周围后便转身走开，不过没走几步又停了下来，他转过身，挥手向父母告别。

        他的父母向他挥了挥手。

Today in History(历史上的今天):

2013: First Day in UAE(初到阿联酋)

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3rd Grade Flash Story─Halloween(小小说─万圣节)