Moonlight in London / 倫敦的月光

中秋節出門赴約之前，坐在書桌前，外面天清氣爽，年輕的樓友們聊天聊得好開心，我一時興起便練起刷睫毛，好像比較上手。頂著曼玉姐的亂髮就出發了。

Before going on my Mid-Autumn Festival dinner date, I sat in front of my desk, again, taking in the lovely view of a sunny autumn day. My young floor mates were chatting happily outside in groups. It occurred to me that I should go on with the lesson of applying mascara. Looked like I made some progress. I thus left Brooke Hall with Maggie Chang's style of crazy hair.

上了雙層巴士的第二層，想好好欣賞倫敦市區風光，但不到多久和我一起上車的黑人小弟就跑過來和我閒聊，本來是以問我公車有否到大象和城堡站作開頭，不過我想他應該是想說說話，而我卻聽不太懂他的英文，心裡是有防備的，不過也不見他有惡意，我就佯裝輕鬆，聊著聊著，他問我可不可以給他電話，我說目前沒有號碼也沒有固定住所，他說不然讓我記下他的電話好了，平常我可以對男人非常刻薄，當下我居然很溫良地拿出筆記本，認真地把號碼抄下來，他又問：我想知道你有沒有男朋友？我這輩子從來沒有以如此迅雷不及掩耳的速度回答：有，答案中帶著大樹般的堅定，他說：是要先弄清楚才行。接著他就下車了，我鬆了一口氣。

I got to the second floor of the double-decker, wanting to enjoy the cityscape of London, but the moment I sat down, a young African British boy approached me. He started the conversation by asking me if the bus goes to the Elephant and Castle station. I suggested that he ask the driver, but later I found that he just wanted to talk. But to be honest, I didn't understand his English very well. I was on the defense, but since he didn't have any bad intention, I pretended to be laidback. Then he asked me if I could give him my phone number and address. I said that I don't have permanent ones for the time being. He then took out his cell and gave me his number. Well, I can be very mean to men, as some people know, but at that moment, I took out my journal very nicely and copied the number. He went on to ask, "Do you have a boyfriend?" I replied before I thought about the answer, "Yes, I do." with unshakable firmness in my words. Afterwards, he got off the bus, which gave me a huge relief. 

進了聖潘克拉國際車站，被一陣叫喊聲吸引住，是個爺爺在發免費的晚報，他的standard發音發得很有意思，會讓人以為他在賣糖炒栗子，我拿了一份報時，他對我說：Good evening my dear。我知道他一定都這麼稱呼每個人，但那一刻我的心暖了起來。

When I entered St. Pancras International Train Station, I was attracted by a voice calling with a dramatic rhythm. It was an old sir distributing free evening papers. He pronounced the word "standard" with such intonation that I mistook him for a fried chestnut vendor. When I took a copy from him, he said to me, "Good evening my dear." I certainly knew that he said that to everyone, but at the instant, his words warmed my heart. 

聖潘克拉是通往其它歐洲國家的車站，走進去會聞到空氣中有股旅行的興奮氣息。

St. Pancras International Train Station is the door to other European countries, so there's excitement about traveling in the air when people walk in. 

今天的晚餐其實完全都不出自於我手，十一年前在紐約見過James，之後並沒有連絡，剛好要來倫敦的這個時間點，他住在這裡，貼心的卡洛怕我中秋節會有落寞之感，便幫我邀了James。

In fact, the dinner date today totally dropped out of the sky. I met James 11 years ago in New York City, but we haven't stayed in contact at all. He happens to be living in London at this point, and considerate Carol invited him to have dinner with me for fear that I might feel lonely on Mid-Autumn Festival. 

我一直把自己定義成貧困的留學生，但是礙於年紀，朋友引見的朋友都不會是像宿舍裡那些頹廢的年輕藝術家，既然因為命運的指引來到了高級餐廳，不如拍些照片回來嚇嚇大家。

I've defined myself as a poor overseas student. However, due to my age, the new friends introduced by my existing friends won't bear resemblance to any of my floor mates who fall more into the category of decadent artists. Since fate took me to such a classy restaurant, I could at least take photos to impress my blog readers. 

James看我猛拍照，直問：你是那種有拍照瘋的人嗎？我不好意思和他說，我在這裡的每一天都在燒錢，當然要留下些記錄，不過這種話不適合在那樣的場合說，我回答：因為部落格有讀者要看啊！

On seeing me taking one shot after another, James asked: Are you one of those photo-taking maniacs? I was too embarrassed to tell him that my every day here is paid by the hard money I earned over the past few years. Of course I have to keep some records. Simple as I am, I know that was the right occasion for such bare reality. I simply answered, "For my blog readers." 

搭公車回家路上，不論走到哪月亮都跟著，下了車走在寒風裡，我忙著用相機捕捉她的蹤影，似乎不覺得冷了。

On my bus ride home, the moon followed the double-decker no matter where we went. After I got off, I was so busy capturing her with my camera that I didn't feel the chill. 

如果年輕個十來歲會很得意地和大家說有豔遇，現在我明白，別人在某一刻的寂寞向我借了肩膀，就像我也常無形中借靠在別人身上。如果這樣還不夠，就看月亮吧！

If I were ten or more years younger, I would boast of my romantic encounter. Now I know, I lent the boy my shoulder at his moment of loneliness, just as I often borrow others' shoulders when I feel lonely. If that doesn't suffice, turn to the moon then. 

走回家的途中，昨天看到三次的水果行弟弟突然冒出一句：你好！我從相機螢幕抬起頭來說：你家的蘋果很好吃！他有點摸不著頭緒，我猜他認不得我了，還幫他複習：昨天我買了一盤，你忘了嗎？本來可以發展成王家衛式的電影就這麼被我大嬸的菜市場氣息給毀了，他很沒情趣地把頭轉過去就是這個故事典型的收尾，只能說，牛牽到倫敦還是牛啊！

On my walk home, the young boy at the grocery shop shouted to me, "Ni hao!" I raised my head from the camera screen, saying with glee, "Hey, your apples are good!" He looked so puzzled that I guessed he either forgot me or couldn't recognize me after I put on makeup. I tried to refresh his memory by saying, "I bought some yesterday remember?" Well, this could have been the beginning of a Wong Kar-wai film, but I ruined it totally with my middle-aged women's down-to-earth question. The lame story ended with his turning his head in another direction. Well, what can you say? I can be mean to guys and it doesn't make a difference even though I am in London...