THE SNEEZE : 適時的噴嚏聲

THE SNEEZE : 適時的噴嚏聲 Note: 你知道打噴嚏的藝術? 適時的噴嚏聲是機智地替人解困? They walked in tandem, each of the ninety-two students filling into the already crowded auditorium. With their rich maroon gowns flowing and the traditional caps, they looked almost as grown up as they felt.  九十二位學生，直排地走著，魚貫地進入已經擁擠的禮堂。他們穿著鮮豔的褐紅色、飄動著的畢業袍服,與帶著傳統的帽子，看起來長大了，如同他們内心的感覺一樣。 Dads swallowed hard behind broad smiles, and Moms freely brushed away tears.  在裂齒而笑的背後，父親們使勁地咽了口氣，而母親們隨意地擦眼淚。(註：父母終於鬆口氣，孩子的扶養責任告一段落) This class would NOT pray during the commencements, not by choice, but because of a recent court ruling prohibiting it.. 畢業典禮進行中, 學生將不祈禱，並非他們選擇如此，而是因為最近的法院裁決禁止...... The principal and several students were careful to stay within the guidelines allowed by the ruling. They gave inspirational and challenging speeches, but no one mentioned divine guidance and no one asked for blessings on the graduates or their families.  校長和幾位同學，小心地遵照法院裁決所允許的範圍內行事。他們發表鼓舞人心和富有挑戰性的演講，但沒有人提到聖神的指示，也沒有人要求祝福畢業生或其家屬。 The speeches were nice, but they were routine until the final speech received a standing ovation. 一些演講内容都不錯，但了無新意(全是例行的);直到最後一位演講完後, 全體才起立致意。  A solitary student walked up to the microphone. He stood still and silent for just a moment, and then, it happened... 一位單獨的學生走到麥克風。他呆立著，沉默了一會兒，然後大事情發生了...... All 92 students, every single one of them, suddenly SNEEZED!!  所有 92位學生，每一個人突然打了個噴嚏!! 雖然聽起來好笑, 假噴嚏也許引起真的噴嚏!! The student on stage simply looked at the audience and said, 站在舞臺上的學生, 向台下瞄了一眼，然後他說︰ 'GOD BLESS YOU!'  願上帝保佑你 ！ 每當你打噴嚏時,人們會說"祝福你"因為你的心臟已停了一毫秒 And he walked off the stage...  他走下舞臺......        The audience exploded into applause. This graduating class had found a unique way to invoke God's blessing on their future with or without the court's approval.  這時台下群眾爆發出掌聲。這個畢業班終於找到了獨特的方式，來懇求上帝祝福他們的未來，不論有無法院的批准。 Isn't this a wonderful story? 故事太妙了 GOD BLESS YOU!!!!  This is a true story; it happened at Eastern Shore District High School in Musquodoboit Harbour, Nova Scotia. 這是發生在東岸地區高中的真實故事 I  hope this goes around Canada ...and the USA ....and the rest of the world!!! 希望本故事傳遍加拿大, 美國, 和世界其他各地 【編註】: 美國多年前法院裁定, 明令禁止在學校使用傳統的傳教語言, 即使如一般普通話, “God bless you” 也不可使用. 故事中的畢業生, 正期待被人祝福而苦無機會時, 心中憋了很久. 大概有人暗中串連, 同時(simultaneously)集體打了噴嚏(sneezing), 而給予台上人講出一聲“God bless you” 的藉口 , 也舒解了大家急盼聽到「祝福語」的焦慮. 大家頗有「好家在」, 如釋重負的感覺(Such a relief!) 英美信奉基督教或天主教國家的人, 常在聽到别人「噴嚏」聲時, 適時送一句“God bless you” , 這並非真正的祝福, 可能取自‘bless you’ 兩字之發音接近「噴嚏」諧音聲-接近『哈啾』. 或另有他義? 我只說"Bless you"兩次,若你打第三次,我就不賣帳; 我會認為你是該毀的怪物 Justin Lai 譯、註 05/27/2017