Odette is the receptionist at a small clinic. She sits at the front desk. She answers the phone. She gives people forms and a smile.
奥德特是一家小诊所的前台接待员。她坐在前台，接电话，给人们递上表格，再送上一个微笑。
Every Tuesday at ten, an old man comes in. Odette sees him through the glass door. She always says hello. He wears a grey coat and a brown hat. He does not go to the desk. He goes to the green chair by the window. He sits down. He opens a newspaper.
每个星期二的十点，都有一位老先生走进来。奥德特隔着玻璃门就能看见他，每次都会向他问好。他穿一件灰色外套，戴一顶棕色帽子。他不走向前台，而是走到窗边的绿色椅子旁坐下，打开一份报纸。
He stays until noon. Then he folds the paper. He puts on his hat and goes home.
他会一直待到中午。然后他把报纸折好，戴上帽子，回家去。
He has no appointment. He does not see a doctor. He does not ask for tea or water. Odette checks the list every week. His name is never on it.
他没有预约，也不看医生，更不要茶或水。奥德特每周都查看名单，他的名字从来不在上面。
On the fourth Tuesday, Odette asks the nurse. The nurse is a kind woman called Pearl. She knows every patient in town.
到了第四个星期二，奥德特去问护士。护士是个和善的女人，名叫珀尔，镇上的每一位病人她都认识。
"Do you know the old man in the green chair?" Odette asks.
“你认识窗边绿椅子上的那位老先生吗？”奥德特问。
"I know him," says Pearl. "He comes every week. I think he waits for someone."
“认识，”珀尔说，“他每周都来。我想他是在等什么人。”
"Who?"
“等谁？”
"I do not know," says Pearl.
“我不知道。”珀尔说。
Odette thinks about it all morning. At eleven she fills a cup with tea. She walks to the window.
奥德特想了一上午。十一点，她倒了一杯茶，走到窗边。
"Good morning," she says. "Would you like some tea?"
“早上好，”她说，“您想喝点茶吗？”
The old man looks up. His eyes are pale and kind. "That is very nice," he says. "Thank you."
老先生抬起头。他的眼睛颜色很浅，目光温和。“你真好，”他说，“谢谢你。”
Odette sits on the next chair. "Are you waiting for a doctor?"
奥德特在旁边的椅子上坐下。“您是在等医生吗？”
"No," he says. He looks at his hands. "I am not here for the doctor."
“不是，”他说。他低头看着自己的手。“我不是为医生来的。”
Odette waits.
奥德特静静地等着。
"My wife had a test every Tuesday," he says. "For two years. We came here together. I sat in this chair and read the paper. She went in. Then she came out and we had lunch."
“我妻子以前每个星期二都要做检查，”他说，“做了两年。我们总是一起来。我坐在这把椅子上看报纸，她走进去。她出来以后，我们就一起去吃午饭。”
"I see," Odette says softly.
“我明白了。”奥德特轻声说。
"She died in the spring," he says. "On Tuesday I woke up. I did not know what to do. So I came here. I sat in the chair. It felt right."
“她春天走了，”他说，“到了星期二，我醒来，不知道该做什么。于是我就来了这里，坐在这把椅子上。感觉很对。”
Odette puts her hand on his arm. She does not speak. There are no words.
奥德特把手放在他的手臂上，没有说话。这时候，任何话语都显得多余。
"I am sorry to bother you," says the old man. "I know I have no reason to be here."
“打扰你了，真对不起，”老先生说，“我知道我没有理由待在这里。”
"You are not a bother," Odette says. "Please. Stay as long as you like."
“您没有打扰我，”奥德特说，“请您想待多久就待多久。”
At noon he folds the paper. He puts on his hat. He stops at the door.
中午，他折好报纸，戴上帽子，在门口停下脚步。
"The tea was good," he says. "Thank you."
“茶很好喝，”他说，“谢谢你。”
That night Odette cannot stop thinking about the green chair. She thinks about the empty hours. She thinks about other people in town. Some of them sit alone.
那天晚上，奥德特怎么也忘不了那把绿椅子。她想到那些空荡荡的时光，想到镇上的其他人。他们中有些人独自坐着。
The next morning she talks to Pearl and the doctor. They listen. Then they smile.
第二天早上，她去找珀尔和医生谈了谈。他们认真听着，然后都笑了。
On Tuesday at nine, Odette moves a small table. She puts it by the green chair. She puts a plate of biscuits on it. She writes a sign with a blue pen. It says, "Tuesday Tea. Everyone is welcome."
星期二早上九点，奥德特搬来一张小桌子，放在绿椅子旁边，在桌上摆了一盘饼干。她用蓝色的笔写了一块牌子，上面写着：“星期二茶会，欢迎所有人。”
At ten the old man comes in. He stops at the door and reads the sign. Then he looks at the table. His mouth moves, but no words come.
十点，老先生走进来。他在门口停下，读着牌子上的字。然后他看向那张桌子。他的嘴唇动了动，却没有说出话来。
Odette is already pouring his tea.
奥德特已经在给他倒茶了。
