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When we got inside, he introduced us.
我們進去后，他給我們做了介紹。
I addressed her as Miss Myrtle to show extra respect.
我稱呼她為桃金娘小姐，表示額外的尊重。
She was a strong- looking 75-year-old with roller-set hair.
她看上去有75歲，很強壯，頭發卷成一圈。
Her greeting was polite but not particularly warm.
她的問候很有禮貌，但并不是那么熱情。
But over the next week I took her to Tulsa to run errands, I fixed her chicken coop,
但接下來的一個星期，我幫她去塔爾薩跑腿，我修好了她的雞舍，
and I used all my best manners, and by that Friday I was winning her over.
我盡了最大的努力，到那個星期五，我已經贏得了她的心。
At dinner that night she said to me, “You know, Alistair, it’s been nice having you here.
那天晚飯時，她對我說：“你知道嗎，阿利斯泰爾，你在這里真好。
Now, you know this Sunday is Mother’s Day.
現在，你知道這個星期天是母親節。
Of course, at my age I never know if this could be my last Mother’s Day. There’s just one thing I want.
當然，在我這個年紀，我永遠不知道這是否會是我最后一個母親節。我只想要一樣東西。
I would like you to be my special guest at church on Sunday.” Then she said, “Of course, I know you are into your traditional ways.
我希望你星期天在教堂做我的特別客人。然后她說：“當然，我知道你喜歡你們的傳統方式。”
So if you don’t feel comfortable going it’s OK, as long as you know this could be my last Mother’s Day.”
所以如果你覺得不想去，沒關系，只要你知道這可能是我最后一個母親節。”
When the invitation is put like that, there is really only one thing I could say, which was,
當這樣發出邀請時，我能說的只有一件事，那就是，
“I’d love to be your special guest on Mother’s Day.” We got to the church. It was a one- room country church.
“我很樂意在母親節成為你的特別客人。“我們到了教堂。這是一座只有一間房的鄉村教堂。
There were about 50 to 60 people, mostly elders from Miss Myrtle’s tribe.
大約有50到60人，大部分是來自桃金娘部落的長者。
The services started, and they weren’t that different from the ones that I remembered my mom taking me to when I was young, until they got to one part.
這些儀式開始了，它們和我記憶中我小的時候媽媽帶我去的那些儀式并沒有什么不同，直到進行到一個環節。
People could walk up the center aisle and put some money into this little wooden collection box,
人們可以沿著中間的通道走，往這個木制的小收集箱里放一些錢，
and that bought them the privilege of inviting somebody from the congregation to come up and sing a “Special.” A Special, it turned out, is a solo hymn.
這使他們有幸邀請會眾中的某個人來唱“特別”。結果發現，特別是一首獨唱贊歌。
A few people walked up, donated their money, selected their guests, their guests all sang beautifully, and everyone was happy.
幾個人走上前來，捐錢，挑選客人，客人們都唱得很動聽，每個人都很高興。
And then Miss Myrtle started up the aisle.
接著，桃金娘小姐走上了過道。
