Steady Hands

By Thomas Hong, guest contributor

Today we commemorate the life and grieve over the departure of a devoted husband, an admirable father, a compassionate grandfather, and a loving friend. I’ve never experienced the passing of a family member, nor have I ever been to a funeral before, much less give a eulogy. However, when the recipient of this solemn occasion is my grandfather, the man who took care of me in the first four years of my life, nothing can stop me from this honour.

穩重的雙手

原文：洪斯民 | 中譯：楊光

今天，我們紀念這位忠誠的丈夫，令人欽佩的父親，富有同情心的爺爺，充滿愛的朋友的一生，並為他的離去而哀悼。我從來沒有經歷過家庭成員的離世，也沒有參加過葬禮，更沒有致過悼詞。可是這莊嚴的時刻是為了記念我的爺爺，這位在我生下後替我父母親扶養了我四年的人，我無論如何都不能推辭這樣的榮幸。

Figs and Olive Trees: A Story

By Linda Yang

“You’re a spy for the American Empire! How can you believe in a foreign devil’s God?!” spat out the pock-faced village gossip next to her ear, as she knelt on the cold dirt floor. The jeers of the rest of the villagers who turned up were rising up in volume on the threshing ground, used for larger meetings. Tears threatened to break free, but she bit her lip and kept her head down, waiting for the participants of the “struggle session” to get tired of “re-educating” her. She began going over her favourite song in her head in an attempt to fade out the angry voices. “Even though the fig trees have no—” Suddenly, a thick wet glob fell onto her neck—someone had spat on her. This was not the first time it happened, and she knew better than to wipe it away then—it would provoke them to spit again.

無花果與橄欖樹：一個故事

原文：楊光

「你是一個美帝特務！既然還相信洋鬼子的上帝！」村子裡滿臉麻痕的長舌婦在她耳邊喊道，而她卻跪在冰冷的土地上。其他來湊熱鬧的村民們的譏笑唾罵聲也在村子裡的打谷場上越吵越大。她熱淚盈眶，卻狠狠地咬著嘴唇，把頭低著，等著這些來「批鬥」她的人「鬥」累了。她在腦海中開始唱她最喜歡的歌，試著將他們氣憤的聲音蓋住：「雖然無花果樹不——」突然，濕漉漉的一團東西掉在她的脖子上，有人向她吐了唾沫。這不是第一次了，所以她知道不能現在擦掉，這會使他們繼續向她吐唾沫。