Traveling in Taipei 10 / 台北城市生活旅行 10

三十和十五的相遇

東方出版社在我的少年時期，是我和那廣大夢想世界的接口。每天四點放學之後，上六點半的補習班之前，還有點時間蹓躂，我便一個人自在地穿過總統府，心裡期待著書店新進口的外文小說，其實我的一整天都是靠著這個精神支柱活下來的。我喜歡在書店裡晃，聞書的味道，摸摸精美的文具，試寫新發行的原子筆，這些不經意的小動作是我高中生活裡放鬆的儀式，一旦完成，我又抬頭挺胸地向補習班邁進。

後來上了大學，我對自己說，我再也不要回到烏煙瘴氣的台北車站，那裡只有被補習班壓縮的記憶，我徹徹底底忘了東方書店的回憶。

之後也曾斷斷續續地經過東方書局，可是我都是匆匆路過，大部份時候經過的心情，天空冒著幾朵烏雲，沒有閒情逸致重溫舊夢。而且追求時尚的台北人在書店方面不斷推陳出新，誠品、Page1等講究讀書氣氛的書店讓我忘記過去在東方書局，就是沒有咖啡香或高雅的裝潢，我依然閱讀地很快樂。

今年夏天我又回到東方出版社，等待友伴的同時，我才有時間好好端詳多年前的老朋友。雖然路過多次，我居然未發現東方書局已被富士藥局取代，二三樓則掛著西堤牛排斗大的招牌，對面的正中書局也收到只剩一層樓，斜對面則被星巴克進駐，這樣的街景對我來說非常陌生。

和朋友分手後，我在路口駐足一陣子，書店已不復蹤影，我卻遠遠地，看到十多歲的自己，那樣充滿希望地昂首闊步，還有我在書店裡讀書作夢的樣子。我和她輕輕地打招呼，和她說，她總夢想著這個小島以外的世界，但是我回來了，因為夢想就要在原來出發的地方實現。我低著頭離開，現在的我沒有辦法不腳踏實地，我們都感受到彼此的存在，也互相祝福。

三十和十五的相遇，有些感傷，但也充滿美麗的新希望。

The encounter between 30 and 15

1945 Bookstore was my window on the world when Iwas a teenager. School was over at 4 pm and before the six-pm cram school class, I had some time to kill. I would stroll leisurely across the presidential hall, anticipating the arrival of new books from abroad. As a matter of fact, that was my spiritual pillar in the stressful high school life. I loved to hang around in the bookstore, smell books, touch the fine stationery or try new pens. Insignificant as they seemed, they were very important rituals that helped me relax. Once done, I would go on my way to endless learning with my head high, fatigue well-hidden.

Then I went to college. I decided not to return to the crowded Taipei Train Station Area anymore. I was sick and tired of the inhumane educational style of cram schools. I forgot all about 1945 on purpose.

I passed by the bookstore once in a while, but I was never in the mood to go in and relive the past moments. Besides, more and more new bookstores like Eslite or Page1 were established. I simply didn't remember how happy I was reading in 1945 even though there was neither coffee aroma nor fashionable decor.

This summer I had a big chance to return to the publishing house of 1945. While waiting for Huei, I could finally slow down my pace and take a closer look at my old friend. Though I was there again and again, I never noticed that 1945 Bookstore was long gone. It was replaced by a gigantic pharmacy which seemed to have been burned. At 10:30 am, the door to the pharmacy was still closed. It felt quite lonely. The second and third floors where the previous bookstore lay, now belong to the City chain Steak House. Across from 1945, another old bookstore was replaced by restaurants and convenience stores. On the other side, the tall Starbuck coffeehouse stands there as a dominant symbol of chic urban culture. To me, these scenes are very foreign and distant.

After I said goodbye to Huei, I stayed for a few seconds at the crossroads. I saw my 15-year-old counterpart in the distance. I couldn't miss her unique style of strutting forth. Further, in the now-gone bookstore, I saw her standing somewhere reading books she'd desired to purchase. I greeted her and said to her: "You've always dreamed of the big world outside this island. But I am back because my dream has to be realized where I left." I walked away with my head lowering. I can't but be down-to-earth, but she was aware of my existence. We gave each other the most sincere wishes and we went on with our journeys.

The encounter between 30 and 15 was kind of sentimental, but it was full of brand-new hopes too.