Every Saturday, the bike workshop opens at nine. It is a small room behind the community center. There are tools on the walls. Old wheels lie on the floor.
每个星期六，自行车工坊九点开门。它是社区活动中心后面的一间小屋。墙上挂着工具，旧车轮散放在地上。
Adrian runs the workshop. He is a calm man with oil on his hands. He teaches people to fix bikes. It costs nothing.
阿德里安负责这间工坊。他是个沉稳的男人，手上沾着机油。他教大家修自行车，不收一分钱。
Today a new person comes in. She is a young woman with a big bag. Her name is Daria.
今天来了一位新人，是个背着大包的年轻女子，名叫达莉娅。
"Hello," she says. "I want to learn about bikes. I know nothing."
“你好，”她说，“我想学学自行车。我什么都不懂。”
"That is a good place to start," says Adrian. "What do you want to do?"
“那是个好的开始，”阿德里安说，“你想做什么？”
"I want to build a bike for my niece. She is seven. Her birthday is in a month."
“我想给我侄女做一辆自行车。她七岁，一个月后过生日。”
Adrian smiles. "A small bike. Good. Come with me."
阿德里安笑了。“小自行车，好。跟我来。”
He shows her the back room. There is an old pink frame on a stand. It is dusty, but it is strong. Next to it, there is a box of parts.
他带她去了后屋。架子上放着一个旧的粉色车架，蒙着灰，但很结实。旁边有一箱零件。
"This frame is for you," he says. "First, we clean it."
“这个车架给你，”他说，“先把它清洗干净。”
They wash the frame with soap and water. Daria works hard. She makes a mess. Water runs down her sleeve. Adrian gives her a towel. He says nothing, but he smiles.
他们用肥皂和水清洗车架。达莉娅干得很卖力，弄得一团糟，水顺着袖子往下流。阿德里安递给她一条毛巾，什么也没说，只是笑了笑。
The next Saturday, they put on the wheels. The wheels are hard to fit. Daria pushes, and the wheel does not move. She pushes again. It still does not move.
下一个星期六，他们装车轮。车轮很难装进去。达莉娅用力推，车轮纹丝不动，再推，还是不动。
"Stop," says Adrian. "Do not push so hard. Look at the small holes. They must match."
“停，”阿德里安说，“别那么用力。看这些小孔，它们得对上。”
She looks. The holes do not match. She turns the wheel a little. Then it slides into place.
她仔细看，孔没有对上。她把车轮稍微转了一下，它就滑进了位置。
"Oh!" she says. "That is easy."
“哦！”她说，“这么简单。”
"Everything is easy when you see it," says Adrian.
“看明白了，什么都简单，”阿德里安说。
In the third week, they work on the brakes. Adrian shows her the small cable. His hand is near hers. Daria does not look at the cable. She looks at his hand. It is big and slow and careful.
第三个星期，他们装刹车。阿德里安给她看那根细细的刹车线，他的手靠近她的手。达莉娅没有看刹车线，她在看他的手，那么大，那么慢，那么小心。
"Do you see it?" Adrian asks.
“你看明白了吗？”阿德里安问。
"Yes," she says quickly. "The cable. Yes."
“嗯，”她很快地说，“刹车线。嗯，明白了。”
She pulls the cable too tight. The brake sticks. Adrian laughs. It is a low, nice laugh.
她把刹车线拉得太紧，刹车卡住了。阿德里安笑了，笑声低低的，很好听。
"Again," he says. "Soft hands."
“再来一次，”他说，“手要轻。”
In the fourth week, the bike is nearly done. There is only one job left. They must add the seat and the bell. They also add white tape.
第四个星期，自行车快做好了，只剩最后一件事：装上车座和车铃，再缠上白色胶带。
Daria brings a surprise. It is a small paper bag. Inside, there are two bread rolls with cheese.
达莉娅带来了一个惊喜，是一个小纸袋，里面装着两个夹奶酪的面包卷。
"For you," she says. "You help me every week."
“给你的，”她说，“你每周都帮我。”
"Thank you." Adrian takes a roll. "This is the best job of the day."
“谢谢，”阿德里安拿起一个面包卷，“这是今天最好的工作。”
They sit on two boxes and eat. The workshop is quiet. A bird sings outside the window.
他们坐在两个箱子上吃东西。工坊里很安静，窗外有一只鸟在唱歌。
"Why do you teach this class?" Daria asks.
“你为什么开这个课？”达莉娅问。
"My father taught me," says Adrian. "He said, 'A bike is a good first friend.'"
“是我父亲教我的，”阿德里安说，“他说：‘自行车是人生的第一个好朋友。’”
"I think he was right," says Daria.
“我觉得他说得对，”达莉娅说。
She puts the bell on the handle. It makes a small, bright sound. Daria rings it three times. Adrian laughs again.
她把车铃装在车把上，铃声清脆明亮。达莉娅按了三下，阿德里安又笑了。
"One more thing," he says. "We must test it."
“还有一件事，”他说，“我们得试骑一下。”
"But it is a bike for a seven-year-old," says Daria.
“可这是给七岁孩子的车呀，”达莉娅说。
"We are not heavy. We will go slowly."
“我们又不重，慢慢骑就行。”
They carry the pink bike outside. The street is empty and sunny. Daria sits on the seat. Her knees are high. Adrian runs next to her and holds the back.
他们把粉色自行车推到外面。街上空荡荡的，阳光明媚。达莉娅坐上车座，膝盖抬得高高的。阿德里安跟在她旁边跑，扶着车子的后座。
"Do not let go," she says.
“不要放手，”她说。
"I will not," he says.
“我不会放的，”他说。
The little bike wobbles down the road. Daria rings the bell the whole way. Adrian does not let go.
小自行车摇摇晃晃地沿着马路骑去。达莉娅一路都在按车铃，阿德里安一直没有放手。
