Karls Garden-卡尔的花园

Karl’sGarden|卡尔的花园Beforehisretirement,hetookthebustoworkeachmorning.Thesightofhimwalkingalonedownthestreetoftenworriedus.Hehadaslightlimp1fromabulletwoundreceivedinWWII.Watchinghim,weworriedthat,althoughhehadsurvivedWWII,hemaynotmakeitthroughourchanginguptown2neighborhoodwithitsever-increasingrandom3violence,gangs4,anddrugactivity.Whenhesawtheflyer5atourlocalchurchaskingforvolunteersforcaringforthegardensbehindtheminister’sresidence,herespondedinhischaracteristicallyunassuming6manner.Withoutfanfare7,hejustsignedup.Hewaswellintohis87thyearwhentheverythingwehadalwaysfearedfinallyhappened.Hewasjustfinishinghiswateringforthedaywhenthreegangmembersapproachedhim.Ignoringtheirattempttointimidate8him,hesimplyasked,“Wouldyoulikeadrinkfromthehose?”Thetallestandtoughest-lookingofthethreesaid,“Yeah,sure,”withamalevolent9littlesmile.AsCarlofferedthehosetohim,theothertwograbbedCarl’sarm,throwinghimdown.Asthehosesnakedcrazily10overtheground,dousing11everythinginitsway,Carl’sassailants12stolehisretirementwatchandhiswallet,thenfled.Carltriedtogethimselfup,buthehadbeenthrowndownonhisbadleg.Helaytheretryingtogatherhimselfastheministercamerunningtohelphim.Althoughtheministerhadwitnessedtheattackfromhiswindow,hecouldn’tgettherefastenoughtostopit.“Carl,areyouokay?Areyouhurt?”theministerkeptaskingashehelpedCarltohisfeet.Carljustpassedahandoverhisbrowandsighed,shakinghishead.“Justsomepunk13kids.Ihopethey’llwise-upsomeday.”Hiswetclothesclungtohisslightframeashebenttopickupthehose.Headjustedthenozzleagainandstartedtowater.Confusedandalittleconcerned,theministerasked,“Carl,whatareyoudoing?”“I’vegottofinishmywatering.It’sbeenverydrylately,”camethecalmreply.SatisfyinghimselfthatCarlreallywasallright,theministercouldonlymarvel14.Carlwasamanfromadifferenttimeandplace.Afewweekslaterthethreereturned.Justasbefore,theirthreatwasunchallenged15.Carlagainofferedthemadrinkfromhishose.Thistimetheydidn’trobhim.Theywrenched16thehosefromhishandanddrenched17himheadtofootintheicywater.Whentheyhadfinishedtheirhumiliation18ofhim,theysauntered19offdownthestreet,throwingcatcalls20andcurses,fallingoveroneanotherlaughingatthehilarity21ofwhattheyhadjustdone.Carljustwatchedthem.Thenheturnedtowardthewarmthgivingsun,pickeduphishose,andwentonwithhiswatering.Thesummerwasquicklyfadingintofall.Carlwasdoingsometillingwhenhewasstartledbythesuddenapproachofsomeonebehindhim.Hestumbledandfellintosomeevergreenbranches.Ashestruggledtoregainhisfooting22,heturnedtoseehissummertormentors’23tallleaderreachingdownforhim.Hebraced24himselffortheexpectedattack.“Don’tworry,oldman.I’mnotgonnahurtyouthistime.”Theyoungmanspokesoftly,stillofferingthetattooed25andscarredhandtoCarl.AshehelpedCarlgetup,themanpulledacrumpled26bagfromhispocketandhandedittoCarl.“What’sthis?”Carlasked.“It’syourstuff,”themanexplained.“It’syourstuffback.Eventhemoneyinyourwallet.”“Idon’tunderstand,”Carlsaid.“Whywouldyouhelpmenow?”Themanshiftedhisfeet,seemingembarrassedandillatease27.“Ilearnedsomethingfromyou”,hesaid.“Iranwiththatgangandhurtpeoplelikeyou.Wepickedyoubecauseyouwereoldandweknewwecoulddoit.Buteverytimewecameanddidsomethingtoyou,insteadofyellingandfightingback,youtriedtogiveusadrink.Youdidn’thateusforhatingyou.Youkeptshowingloveagainstourhate.”Hestoppedforamoment.“Icouldn’tsleepafterwestoleyourstuff,sohereitisback.”Hepausedforanotherawkward28moment,notknowingwhatmoretherewastosay.“Thatbag’smywayofsayingthanksforstraighteningmeout29,Iguess.”Andwiththat,hewalkedoffdownthestreet.Carllookeddownatthesackinhishandsandgingerly30openedit.Hetookouthisretirementwatchandputitbackonhiswrist.Openinghiswallet,hecheckedforhisweddingphoto.Hegazedforamomentattheyoungbridewhostillsmiledbackathimfromallthoseyearsago.CarldiedonecolddayafterChristmasthatwinter.Manypeopleattendedhisfuneralinspiteoftheweather.Inparticular,theministernoticedatallyoungmanhedidn’tknowsittingquietlyinadistantcornerofthechurch.TheministerspokeofCarl’sgardenasalessoninlife.Inavoicemadethickwithunshed31tears,hesaid,“Doyourbestandmakeyourgardenasbeautifulasyoucan.WewillneverforgetCarlandhisgarden.”Thefollowingspringanotherflyerwentup.Itread:“PersonneededtocareforCarl’sgarden.”Theflyerwentunnoticedbythebusyparishioners32untilonedayaknockwasheardattheminister’sofficedoor.Openingthedoor,theministersawapairofscarredandtattooedhandsholdingtheflyer.“Ibelievethisismyjob,ifyou’llhaveme,”theyoungmansaid.TheministerrecognizedhimasthesameyoungmanwhohadreturnedthestolenwatchandwallettoCarl.HeknewthatCarl’skindnesshadturnedthisman’slifearound.Astheministerhandedhimthekeystothegardenshed,hesaid,“Yes,gotakecareofCarl’sgardenandhonorhim.”Theyoungmanwenttoworkand,overthenextseveralyears,hetendedtheflowersandvegetablesjustasCarlhaddone.Duringthatperiod,hewenttocollege,wasmarried,andbecameaprominent33memberofthecommunity34.ButheneverforgothispromisetoCarl’smemoryandkeptthegardenasbeautifulashethoughtCarlwouldhavekeptit.Onedayheapproachedthenewministerandtoldhimthathecouldnolongercareforthegarden.Heexplainedwithashyandhappysmile,“Mywifejusthadababyboylastnight,andshe