儿子在为父亲节征文时写过的一篇文章，征得同意来投文轩小红花，英文版本还在他的file里，我会尽快link上。
爸爸，你要坚持！
作者: 李德伦
翻译: Nancy
我没有一个事业非常有成的父亲，没有一个可以在同学们面前值得炫耀的父亲，没有一个让我认为可以完完全全撑得起一个家的父亲，每当父亲节到来时，别的同学会写他们的父亲如何从点点滴滴的小事上关心他们，带着他们旅游，培伴他们成长，教会他们很多很多东西，但我和我的妹妹没有，我们为此抱怨，虽然爸爸是个聪明，自信的人。
我父亲原来是一个资深工程师，2008年经济萧条，公司大规模裁员，又加上老板刁难，他被裁掉了。由于爸爸已不算年轻，以前收入也不算低，公司眼看着一批批裁员，一个个倒闭，他一直找不到工作。全家的生活负担就全部落到了本来就收入不多的妈妈的身上。妈妈为此哭过，为此着急过，更为此担心过，她担心的是我们一家四口每月两千四百多的房租，全家一千四百的基本生活费用。我在读高中，妹妹才上小学。我们就靠着爸爸的失业救济和妈妈微薄的收入生活，同时也希望爸爸能快快找到一份工作。后来，爸爸找到了一份在外州的工作，他为了能支撑这个家，他决定到外州去工作。
看这他开车离去的背影，虽然以前有对他的抱怨，可我还是很难过，因为这意为着家便要从此两地分离，才五岁半的妹妹至少会非常非常地想念爸爸，也意为着妈妈要一个人照顾我们的生活，学习，而且她还要工作。从那时起，我就想，暑假我可以找点工作帮助他们。去年暑假还真的找到了一份在冰激凌店卖冰激凌的工作，这是我的第一份工作，虽然暑假我安排了很多学习，但我还是准备去打工，我会好好安排时间的。当爸爸得知我要去打工的消息，他马上告诉我不让我去，让我专心学习，不要分散精力，要好好抓紧时间，多多学习。不过这次我没有听他的话，我还是去了，但是我在心里向他保证，我一定不会耽误学习，一定会好好利用时间的。
没有过多久，爸爸又一次失业了，因为公司全部关掉了，他又回到了加州。
我听到爸爸和妈妈吵架，听到妈妈说她不要用她一个人的肩头来支撑这个家，听到她甚至说爸爸没用，听到她说别人家都不像我们这样。。。虽然妈妈很多是气话，但看到爸爸无奈的眼神，我也替他不平，公司也不是他要关掉的。
接下来又是找工作，发了不知多少封履历表，但他说连个回音都没有。有一次，我看他在染头发，他高兴的说有个公司要面谈他，那一天，妈妈没有做晚饭，我们去吃sweet tomato，爸爸也比平时话多，就好像已经拿到了那个工作似的，我们都很高兴。
一个星期以后，爸爸告诉我们，没有被录用，一个位置有几十个人应征，因为有比他更适合的人。
再以后，他好像不积极找工作了，没日没夜抽烟，为了一点小事和妈妈，我，甚至妹妹吵架，不要说他带领我们成长，不要说给我们一个好的榜样，甚至我觉得他不正常。我知道他的内心是很痛苦的，但是这个世界就是竞争的世界。
时间过得很快，爸爸离开职场四年了，大概是看找工作没有希望，他开始去想做点别的事情了。他复习了以前高中，大学学的数学，物理，化学，开始做家教，因为我们住在一个高中的旁边。他买了很多书，花了很多时间准备，备课 。经过一段时间，开始做家教了。并且他这个学期就有了三个学生，两个在补高中数学，一个在补物理。当我听到他的一个学生说，她的物理成绩从以前的B-提高到现在的A-时，我真的为爸爸骄傲，因为起码是在爸爸的帮助下。虽然他的教学方法还可能有待改进，但三个学生的学习都比以前有了很大的进步，这不正是他们和他们的家长想要的吗？
所以我想跟爸爸说，尽管我一个高中生，不好意思当面对你说，可是，在我内心深处，我还是看到了你的不懈努力，我还是会让你知道，爸爸，你要坚持！我们都支持你！这份工作没有刁难的老板，没有你无法控制的公司关门，我看到了你的认真，看到了你的努力，也看到了你的一点点成绩，你能行。如果你也认为你可以升任这个家教的工作，你一定要坚持！
最后，我还是有一点点小小的抱怨，在你坚持努力工作的同时，花些时间给我们，陪伴我们成长。
以下是英文原文，翻译有出入，望谅解。
Hang On, Dad
By: Clifford
For as long as I can remember, I’ve never been one to brag about my father. I never thought of him as something to be bragged about, frankly because I thought unlike most other fathers, he didn’t seem to be one hundred percent dedicated to the family. Our relationship wasn’t the kind you’d hear about from other kids, strong bonds that were tempered by years of unending attention and were able to endure the roughest of patches. On past Father’s Days, while my friends would shower their dads with love and praise, I would feel awkward in trying to do so. My dad and I weren’t like that, we were distant and generally silent around each other. Little did I know, there was a whole side to my father that I was too blind to see.
My father was a victim of the 2008 economy crisis, a time when large companies began laying off people left and right. Before, he was a senior engineer. After, due to the economy crisis and his relationship (or lack of) with his boss, he was unemployed. Normally, this wouldn’t have been too difficult of a challenge for my father, he could bounce back. However, things change as people grow older. He said himself that he was not the same young man that companies originally sought after in the job market and his salary was not one that most companies would even think of supporting. As a result, he was unemployed for an extremely long time. Without any income coming from my father, the bills, debts, and financial issues would all come to rest on my mother’s shoulders. As if her salary wasn’t already low enough at the time, the surge of new costs would stress her out to no end. Every week or so, there would be another incident in my home where my parents would snap under all the stress. There were times when mom would cry, when dad would panic, and when my sister and I would be dragged into the whole fiasco. Their lashing out was understandable though, mom was always worried about our house’s monthly rent and our family’s fundamental living costs and dad was trying desperately to find work. Our family would have to support two grown adults, a teenager, and a five year old girl solely on welfare and small paychecks. And all the while, as we toughed out this rough patch, my father was laboriously searching for work. Eventually, my father would find a new job, but it came with a catch.
With the new job came a new work site, one that was out of state, meaning that dad would have to move out of state just so he could find work. Although our relationship hadn’t been the greatest before, I understood all too well what dad’s departure meant for our family as his car vanished down the street. From this point onwards, our family would be split in two. I thought about how my sister would miss her dad, how we would come home and not see our dad patiently awaiting our arrival. There was also the question of how my mom would be able to take care of the two children at home. With a demanding job and strenuous home life, I wondered if my mom would be able to stand the pressure. From that time on, I resolved that it was my duty to help as well. I decided that I would go to work in order to help mom out with the money issues. Last year, I had actually found a job working at a small ice cream shop. Even though I had plans to study and learn over the summer, I was prepared to work at my new job. I figured I was fully capable of balancing my schedule out, I could handle this job. One night, I called my father and the topic of my new job came up. When he heard about it, he began to scold me for my “poor” decision. He said that education was my top priority and that I shouldn’t have to worry myself with the family’s finances. At the time, I thought he was angry with me, that he didn’t think I could help. It would be months before I understood his true intentions. His warning wasn’t out of spite, it was out of his concern for me.
Dad would work at his job for a brief time. Unfortunately, his time at the company was just that, brief. This time, the entire company had been shut down and all the workers had been sent home unemployed. Dad returned to California shortly after we had heard the news. Life at home had returned to its volatile state, with the atmosphere caked with tension and bad emotions. My mother had made it clear that she was tired of supporting the family by herself; it was mentally and physically exhausting. During my parents’ arguments, my mother would sometimes throw the word “useless” around. Even though much of my mother’s words were out of sadness and exhaustion, not out of hate or actual spite, my dad was clearly hurt when he heard her. It was a sorry sight, something that didn’t expect from my father. There was nothing but guilt and frustration in that face and I felt nothing but pity.
We were back at square one, with my father looking for a job and my mother struggling to support the family. He sent mountains upon mountains of resumes out. Not a single response came. One day, I spotted him dyeing his hair in the bathroom. When asked what the occasion was, he beamed and responded that a company had offered him an interview. To our family, this was big news, big enough news to warrant going out for dinner. We went out to the local Sweet Tomato’s to commemorate dad’s new chance. Even though it was just a chance, my family still seemed to be willing to celebrate. It reassured me that our family, no matter what the trouble we had experienced, was still supportive and caring. For once in a very long time, my dad seemed alive and energetic; it was as though he had already received the job. One week later, he told us that he had not been chosen. Tens of other candidates had lined up for the position, only one was chosen.
Even later, it seemed that his efforts to find a job slowed down. Day and night, he would be out in the backyard smoking away his problems. The bonds between our family members were still stressed and our conversations, if any, were usually very loud. Even I eventually gave in to the tension that came with our family’s predicament. I would argue with mom and dad about the smallest things. At the end of the day, when all the shouting matches were over, I wouldn’t be able to call my father caring, nor would I be able to call him a proper role model. I thought he was something different, something that not even the harshest words could describe. However, although it was hard to admit, deep down I knew he was a victim of circumstance. He, like many other people in this world, could not avoid the cruel obstacles that life had to offer. This world is a tough world; my father knew that lesson all too well.
Time passed extremely quickly after his last job, my father was slowly running out of ideas, until he came up with a new plan for work. Back when he attended high school and university in Taiwan, he was at the top of his classes in mathematics, chemistry, and physics. If he couldn’t apply his knowledge in one job, perhaps he could pass them on as a teacher. He invested a lot of time and money into going over the curriculum from the local high school, spending countless hours reading and understanding. After his studying spree, he was prepared for his tutoring job. As of this semester, he’s had a total of three students, two studying for math and another for physics. When I heard that his students’ grades were rising steadily, I was relieved and proud that my father found work that he could both enjoy and do well at. Although there’s always room for improvement, I’m glad that he’s found a job that he’s comfortable with.
After all these years of distance and estrangement between me and my father, it’s hard to express my feelings to him. Dad, I know that we don’t talk a lot and that our relationship could be better, but I just want you to know that I admire your solid perseverance and unwavering dedication. And although at times our true feelings may be clouded by yells or tears, I just want you to know that we will support you in any of your endeavors. There will not be any rude co-workers or managers in this job, nor will there ever be the threat of a company shutting down. We’ve seen your dedication, we’ve seen your improvement, and we know you’ll be fine. If you believe that you’ll thrive in this new job, then you’ve got to hang on.
One last, small thought, while you thrive in your newfound job, please spend some more time with us. We understand that you value your job and means of supporting us, but it’s not worth it if you can’t even watch us while we grow.
| 海云 (2012-06-29 22:36:00) |
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唉唉，Nancy,我好感动，眼泪停不住！你的儿子真的懂事啊！这样的懂事令人心疼。为了孩子，你也要和孩子爸爸把这个家经营的温温暖暖的！ 好可惜，我在湾区的时候，竟然没有见过你的儿子，（虽见过你可爱的女儿）以后一定要见见你这么懂事理的孩子，请替我给他一个拥抱！ |
| panda13 (2012-06-29 23:12:53) |
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为你先生终于为自己闯出一条出路欣慰。更羡慕你们有这么个好儿子。祝福你们！
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| 天地一弘 (2012-06-30 00:01:28) |
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可爱儿子给父亲的一份支持是父亲坚持下去最温暖的鼓励，在爸爸工作的一系列努力中，儿子看到了父亲工作的一份艰辛，一个感恩父母的好儿子是爸爸坚持的动力，在儿子心里，希望爸爸妈妈用爱心陪伴，一路成长！ 爸爸也会感受这份子爱的喜悦，祝福Nancy的好儿子！ |
| 雨林 (2012-06-30 00:29:29) |
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"一个感恩父母的好儿子", 我和一弘有同样的赞美。 |
| 幸福剧团 (2012-06-30 00:53:52) |
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坚持啊，一定坚持下去！！！ 爸爸找到了一条好路，儿子太懂事了，祝福你们全家！ |
| 西山 (2012-06-30 01:53:10) |
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生活中总会有柳暗花明的时候的，不放弃，坚持下去！ |
| 阿朵 (2012-06-30 07:05:32) |
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Nancy，很感动你能把这篇贴出来，儿子很懂事，你应该感到欣慰。有多少高中孩子能这么体谅爸爸的？ 你LG也不容易，有坎，大家一起迈，会觉得容易些。别泄气，天无绝人之路，路，也都是人走出来的，为你和你老公加油和祝福！ |
| Sujuan (2012-06-30 17:29:14) |
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Nancy, 您们的儿子太成熟了也太懂事。真为他感到骄傲。请您不要太担忧，也多多鼓励您先生在新的career上坚持不懈，总能找一条出路。也多多鼓励表扬您的儿子呵！虽然您们现在经历一些困难，但前途一定是光明的！就看您这个可爱的儿子，不出几年，就是能为您家分忧排难的好汉了。多多保重！ |
| Nancy的心情小栈 (2012-06-30 23:08:59) |
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谢谢以上各位的鼓励，我不一一回复了。但我会把每一个字，每一句话，转告儿子，老公，希望共度难关。真心再次谢谢大家的关心和鼓励！！！ 正如海云所说，为了孩子，应该让他们生活在一个充满爱的环境里，我们真的是不够。尽量吧。你让我给的拥抱，我一定给到。近来为了孩子暑假的事经常到以前你曾住的地方，也曾想什么时候再见吧。 周末快乐！！
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| 牧童歌谣 (2012-07-01 02:17:24) |
| 太感动了! 真是好孩子! 你们全家都不容易，愿神祝福你们! |
| 天婴 (2012-07-01 03:32:29) |
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懂事的孩子，是父母的福气。 |
| 好吃 (2012-07-06 04:51:03) |
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Nancy, 感动！ 你也要坚持， 老公不容易的时候， 你也不会容易， Take Care ! |
| 韦唯 (2012-07-07 03:21:22) |
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Nancy, 真的好感动，我是从头到尾流眼泪，还叫上老公和儿子一起来读。Clifford 真棒还会激励他的爸爸。我也看到了他的爸爸其实是很爱Clifford，他爸爸叫他不要去打工，专心学习。所以你们全家要好好的努力哦！ |
| Nancy的心情小栈 (2012-07-09 14:29:51) |
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想必你就是我认识那个多年的朋友吧，很高兴在海云的平台上见到你。谢谢你的鼓励，我们会的。我以前只是知道儿子的英文不错，全年级老师英文能给到A+的真的少之又少。后来连续读了一些他的东西，我发现他的感染力挺好的，包括给他自己写的竞选广告，他很在意遣词造句，细节描述。当然还有不少地方要改，这篇文章写得太匆忙，他好像在应付我，我让他参与投稿，15分钟一气呵成，一点不想再改了，所以推敲加工一下会更好。 你知道吗，感情是一个很复杂的事情，他们父子平时关系看不出怎样怎样，当一旦爸爸要离开，Clifford的痛是不会说出来的，孩子毕竟大了嘛。再有当他看到我们的争吵，他也很无耐，所以我想我会尽力避免这些。 谢谢。 |
| Nancy的心情小栈 (2012-07-09 14:34:51) |
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谢谢好吃，我也感动你鼓励的话语，我们会坚持！！ |