I Am Still Young

At the airport, there’s an Einstein Bros. Bagels. I ordered a nova lox bagel and a cup of coffee, placed them on the shiny steel table, and began to eat. Waiting for someone means you have to look like you’re waiting. The shop was busy with few tables. A refined lady in her sixties, who looked like a lawyer, wearing a suit and a very polite smile, asked to share my table. I was bored and welcomed the company, so I agreed gladly. She turned and called over an elegant older woman, probably in her eighties, dressed in an ivory suit and wedge shoes. The older lady stubbornly refused help with her bags as she struggled down the aisle toward me.

She sat across from me, smiling sweetly. Her hair was fine and soft, yet perfectly neat. “The owner could fit more tables in here, but they don’t want to,” she whispered, looking at me intently.

“That way, people would think the business is doing great,” I whispered back. She pursed her lips and smiled, blinking quickly. “Are you here for work?”

“Yes, attending a forum and a few days of an exhibition,” I answered honestly.

Meanwhile, the black-clad lady had bought their food and spotted an empty table opposite. They began moving their bags and cases over. Just as the older lady came to pick up her last handbag, she leaned in close and whispered, “You’ll be speaking at the forum, right? Young lady, only you know what you want to say. When the stage is given to you, you have to step up.” I still had a bite of salmon in my mouth, so I just looked at her and smiled foolishly in agreement. As she leaned close, a finely carved cross pendant around her neck swung right in front of my eyes.

Haha, honestly, I’m not much of a talker. As a woman who considers herself mature in the workplace, I’m used to reading, writing, and being alone during airport layovers. Even when something difficult needs thought, I prefer to sit in the smoking area and gather myself. Maybe we need to remember to open our hearts—just like the seasoned lady I met today, who offered care and advice in just a few words. We need strength—and above all, light. I am still young.

我还年轻

机场有家Einstein Bros. Bagels，我要了一份nova lox一杯咖啡，摆在光溜溜的钢面板桌面上开始吃。等人嘛，就要有个等人的样子。店里人多桌子少，一个看上去六十多岁的精致女士颇有律师范儿，她穿着西装，带着非常脸谱的微笑，提出要和我拼桌，我正百无聊赖，来者不拒，便欣然接受。她回头招手，一位看上去八十几岁的资深美女，穿着乳白色的套装和坡跟皮鞋，穿行过道，固执地拒绝着别人帮忙提包，正吃力朝我走来。

她坐在我对面，笑的特别可爱，她的头发明明细细软软的，却整理的丝毫不差。“店家明明可以摆更多桌子的，但是他们不想这样。”她附身小声跟我说，目光炯炯凝视着我。

“这样，别人会觉得店家生意好极了。”我也附身，小声回她。她抿着嘴笑，快速地眨着眼睛说，“来这里做工作吗？”

“嗯，来参加一个论坛，还有几天的展会。”我如实答。

这时黑色精致女士已经买好了她们的食物并物色了对面的一个桌子，她们开始把提包和提箱搬过去。老奶奶过来拿最后一个手包时，忽然又附身小声跟我说，“论坛上你要演讲吧？年轻人，你要讲什么只有你自己知道。舞台给你时，就要站上去。”我嘴里还有一口三文鱼，只好看着她，傻乎乎跟她笑着点头，她附身时，胸前有一条雕刻很复杂的十字架吊坠在我眼前晃来晃去。

哈哈，其实我不太爱说话。作为一个自认为很成熟的职场女性，机场时光我习惯了看书写作独处，即便是很麻烦的事情需要动脑子我也喜欢去吸烟区坐一会儿。也许我们要记得把心打开吧，就像今天偶遇的资深美女，聊了两句都是关照和提点。我们需要力量，更需要光，我还年轻。