Chapter 12 a snowy morning

New York's weather forecast is pretty accurate.After I got up, I lifted the curtains, and the sky was really full of goose feathers outside. When I went out, the snowflakes fell on me in large swaths, which almost made me unable to open my eyes; and those who got into the scarves and necklines mischievously, it was absolutely impossible to persuade them to come out, only to let them mess up their temples and necks. Got wet.But that doesn't annoy me.As long as it is snowing, my mood is always the best. As usual, the road is full of people in a hurry, but today everyone is stepping deep and shallow in the half-foot-thick snow, and the speed is obviously not as good as usual.Those who frequently looked at their watches probably might be late.In the United States, being late is almost the most unforgivable thing, and any reason, including the weather, cannot be an excuse.A film production company once fired twenty-eight employees in one month for one reason: being late.The professor who taught us said: "In the film and television industry, time is money. If one person is late, all shooting plans will be delayed. Even if you break your leg on the way, you must report to the studio on time." Last time it snowed, A classmate who was twenty minutes late explained that he was traveling from New Jersey.But the professor said mercilessly: "You are apologizing for New Jersey, not for yourself." Thinking of this, I quickened my pace a bit.

The bakery on the street opens at seven every day.At this time, the aroma of coffee and bagels and the hot air diffused from the shop to the street, making all the people who bowed their heads and necked involuntarily straighten their waists and take a deep breath.Those who expected time to spare dived headlong into the aroma and heat.The waiter is a tall, fat Italian, who should be a chef because of his body shape-maybe he has two jobs in the first place.He is using a big snow shovel to shovel the snow in front of the shop.After shoveling, sprinkle a handful of salt to speed up the melting of residual ice and snow.This year, because of the extra snow, New York's salt storage has plummeted.So if someone asks what is the best business to do in New York this year, the answer is probably "selling salt".People only want to melt the snow as soon as possible, and no one seems to worry about the salt water corroding the road surface and sewer pipes.Stores and residents on the street consciously cleared away the snow in front of their doors.It’s not because of high awareness, but New York has a law: If someone falls and is injured in front of a certain house due to snow slipping, all medical expenses will be borne by the family.In the United States, where medical expenses are extremely high, there is really no mobilization order for snow plowing that is more effective than this law.However, everyone sweeps the snow before their own door, regardless of the frost on others.It has been reported that a large piece of ice and snow fell from the eaves of a high-rise building, injuring passers-by, and it is not known who is responsible.But look at the people around you, and pay more attention to the movement under your feet than the movement above your head.

The snow fell harder and harder.At every intersection, drivers took snow brushes and got out of the car to shake off the snow accumulated on the windows, but within a minute, the glass was white again.At this time, the car behind had already honked its horn impatiently.The driver hurriedly put away the brush, and he himself was like a snowman. Really, why is it so rare to see New Yorkers making snowmen?If it were in Beijing, there would already be countless snow dolls standing in the heavy snow with black coal ball eyes and carrot noses erect.Young people get excited when they see snow, eager to find a partner, eager to go out, anxious to have a snowball fight, eager to enjoy the feeling and sound of stepping on the loose snow, eager to hide behind trees, and shake desperately when their companions pass by Branches... and those who had a problem, also laughed in the swirling snowball and forgot the barrier.Only when you are stuffed with snow all over your neck, your hands turn from cold to hot, from white to red, your hair and eyebrows are all white, and all wet, can you enjoy yourself, be proud, and look like a snowy day.

But in New York, everyone is on the move.Heavy snow clearly hinders people.Traffic jams, post offices closed, schools closed, roads muddy..everyone seems willing to go inside right away, take off their coats, have a cup of coffee, work warm and dry, negotiate, quarrel, make money..this is their life like spring all year round , is also an immutable life.Snow disrupts this rhythm, so it becomes an unwelcome guest in the city, New Yorkers don't appreciate its beauty, its humidity, its anti-bacteria, they just complain about it.Is it because Americans have never had the expectation of "auspicious snow heralds a good year", or they have no time to appreciate the romance that God bestows on winter city life.

Xue, why don't you go to China?There are people cheering for you. In New York, there are many intersections and crowded traffic, so most people who go to work take the subway.On snowy days, more people take the subway.The subway station is like a vacuum pipe, sucking people on the road into it.After avoiding the heavy snow, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.While shaking off the snowflakes on his body, he cursed the weather to himself.The New York subway is notoriously dirty, and from time to time there will be little mice scurrying between the tracks.It was hot and humid in the station at this moment, and the perfume mixed with the smell of garbage in the corner was almost disgusting.More and more people gathered, and more and more people were begging.Most of them are young and middle-aged, wearing dirty cotton clothes, wrapped in plastic sheets, holding a tin can in their hands, and shaking the few coins they have.They loudly complained about their homelessness, repeating "It's snowing again, I'm cold, I'm hungry, help me, no one can say that such a day has never happened." Most people ignored them and continued to read their newspapers .And the beggars walked away knowingly, without pestering them.There are often posters posted in the subway cars: "Begging in the subway is illegal. You have a reason to refuse. This is your hard-earned money, how do you know what they will do with it? Donate the money to charity institutions, not to beggars." And the beggars say, "Don't believe this nonsense, we don't get food from charities at all." I don't know who to believe.At this time, a dirty hand and a tin can were stretched out in front of me.I hesitated, but shook my head at him.I thought: "I gave it once yesterday. If it is like this every day, wouldn't this become a fixed expense item?" He walked away.I hoped in my heart that he could get some money elsewhere.In contrast, the street musicians in the subway are more likely to get sympathy.They didn't ask for it, they just sang, played, and played hard. Some of them were really good, and many of them were from Eastern Europe.Their income is probably enough for food and clothing.

This year, New York has had a lot of snow, and the weather has been in the news.Recently, the TV news has just finished the Olympic dispute between Nancy and Tonya, and there is news that the Jewish youth was shot and the World Trade Center bombing was convicted.The anchors all looked serious.At this time, only snow is an easy topic, a topic without conspiracy, without violence, and without worrying about hurting anyone.When snow was forecast for the near future, the anchors all smiled wryly and shook their heads, saying that their cars might need another scrub—none of them seemed to like snow.

When I got out of the subway station, the snow was still falling, but it was a little smaller.The whole New York looks beautiful and lovely in a piece of white.But the snow will melt, and then this filthy city will be revealed again.Animal droppings, litter litter the streets, and homeless people sleep on sidewalk radiators.Of course, the neon lights will be as bright as ever, and people will be as busy as ever.