Who Is Really Handicapped?|谁才是真正的残疾？

Who Is Really Handicapped?

by Olivia Wycech

Sometimes it's hard to look past your own handicap in times of need.

　　I am used to needing help. I am used to not being able to do things for myself or for others. This is because I am disabled. I have a disease that affects my nerves and impedes the functioning of the right side of my body. Even with this disadvantage, I drive to work every day with the help of special equipment installed in my car. On one particular night last year, I was driving home through gusty winds and harsh rain. I was on a deserted road when I heard a loud pop and felt the front end of my car slam into the pavement. One of my front tires had blown out.

　　I pulled over and contemplated all of my options, but the truth of the matter was that with my handicap, there was no way I could change a tire by myself. I also knew that there was little chance of a motorist passing by and stopping to help. I decided to drive on, and my car slowly crept along the rain-slicked shoulder until I saw a faint light. I turned down a dirt road and approached a small farm house. A small girl and a man welcomed me, and they immediately got to work changing my tire while I sat inside their toasty place. While I was appreciative of their help, it took them so long that I was starting to feel irritated. Finally, the girl came over and announced that they had finished. Only then did I realize that the girl was no older than eight and the man looked about 80. When I offered them money, the man ignored me and the girl explained that he couldn't see the money because he was blind. I sat there stunned as disturbing feelings of shame and horror overcame me. Who was the one with the real handicap here?

 

谁才是真正的残疾？

有时在需要人帮助时真的很难忽略自身的残疾。

　　我很习惯要人帮忙。我也习惯了不能替自己或为他人做点事。这都是因为我患有残疾的缘故。我患有一种会影响神经功能的疾病，这使得我右半边的身体失去功能。即便有这样的缺陷，在车上安装有特殊装置的帮助下，我还是每天开着车去上班。就在去年的某个夜晚，我在狂风大雨中开车回家。我开到一条荒凉的路时，我听到了一声巨响，并感觉到我车子的前端撞上人行道。我车子的其中一个前轮爆胎了。

　　我把车停在路边，并仔细想了想所有我能做的选择，但事实上因为我的残疾，我不可能自行换轮胎。我也知道不太可能会有经过的驾驶停下来帮我。于是我决定继续开，我的车子沿着雨后溼滑的路肩慢慢行驶，直到我看见了微弱的灯光。我驶离这条泥泞的道路，开往那栋小农舍。一个小女孩和一名男子出来迎接我并马上帮我换轮胎，而我则坐在他们温暖舒适的家中。尽管我很感谢他们的帮助，但花了这么长的时间让我开始感到烦躁。终于那个小女孩走过来告诉我他们已经换好轮胎了。这时我才发现这个女孩的年纪不到八岁，而那名男子看起来也快八十岁了。我要拿钱给他们时，那名男子没有理我，女孩随后解释道，因为那名男子是盲人，所以看不见我给他的钱。我目瞪口呆地坐在那里，一股羞耻和恐惧的不安感淹没了我。到底现在谁才是真正有残疾的人？