面包店男孩  Bagel boy

My parents divorced when I was three years old. Looking back, their marriage was doomed from the start, a fast-tracked union facilitated by the Vietnam War during a time of extreme geopolitical uncertainty.
我三岁时，父母就离婚了。回过头看，他们的婚姻从一开始就注定要失败，那是在政治极其动荡的年代中，越战促成的仓促结合。

We moved from New Jersey to Great Neck, Long Island, and lived in a small apartment overlooking a park. My brother and I shared a room and adapted to life without a father. Our mom took a job in Manhattan, and her income allowed us to enjoy a solid middle-class existence.
我们从新泽西搬到长岛大颈(Great Neck)，住在一所俯瞰公园的小公寓里。我和哥哥共用一个房间，我们适应了没有父亲的生活。妈妈在曼哈顿找到了一份工作，她的收入让我们得以享受殷实的中产阶级生活。

We lived in an affluent town, though we weren't in the wealthiest of neighborhoods. Great Neck was a place where children measured each other by the logo on their shoes and labels on their shirts. That was my first taste of money, having some, but seemingly never having enough.
我们住在一个富裕的小镇上，但我们并没有住在最富有的社区。在大颈这个地方，孩子们彼此之间是靠鞋和衬衫上的商标来分三六九等的。这就是我对财富的第一印象：虽然有些钱，但对它的欲望似乎永远无法满足。

When I visited friends on the wealthier side of town, I marveled at the sprawling lawns and fancy cars. I asked my mother why we lived with such modest means, unaware of how painful it must have been for a single parent with two young boys to field such questions. Her response was always the same: 'If you want more money, get a job.'
当我去住在镇子上富人区的朋友家做客时，我感叹于大片的草坪和昂贵的汽车。我问妈妈，为什么我们生活得那么简朴，当时完全没有意识到，对于一个带着两个儿子的单身母亲而言回答这个问题是多么痛苦。她的回答总是千篇一律：如果你想要更多的钱，就去找份工作。

It was the single best piece of advice she ever gave me.
这是她给过我的最好的建议。

At the age of 13, I began working at the local bagel shop. I awoke at 5 a.m. on Saturdays to prepare for the mad rush of customers, many of whom were the families I aspired to emulate.
13岁时，我开始在当地的一家面包店打工。周六早上5点我就要起床，准备迎接蜂拥而至的顾客。他们中的很多人是我立志要仿效的对象。

I never forgot the symbolism of that counter, a divide representing the chasm between the 'haves' and 'have nots,' as money changed hands for goods and services. Little did I know that I would experience life on both sides of that cash register.

我永远也忘不了那个柜台的象征意义。当人们递钱过来交换商品和服务时，柜台就是一个有钱人和穷人的分界线。当时我并不知道，我将经历收银台内外两侧的人生。