The Quiet Neighbor
小明住在五楼。
Xiaoming live at five floor.
Xiaoming lives on the fifth floor.
他的邻居是一位很安静的老人。
His neighbor is one (M) very quiet (POSS) old person.
His neighbor is a quiet old man.
三年了，他们没说过几句话。
Three year (PERF), they not say (EXP) several sentence.
In three years, they’d barely exchanged a few words.
一天，电梯坏了。
One day, elevator broken (PERF).
One day, the elevator broke down.
小明上楼的时候，看见老人在四楼坐着。
Xiaoming go-up floor (POSS) time, see old person at four floor sit (CONT).
On his way up, Xiaoming saw the old man sitting on the fourth-floor landing.
老人看上去很累，脸有点儿白。
Old person look up-go very tired, face a-bit white.
He looked tired, his face pale.
小明走过去：“您没事吧？”
Xiaoming walk pass-go: "You(formal) no matter (SUGG)?"
Xiaoming walked over: “Are you alright?”
老人慢慢说：“没事，就是上楼有点儿累。”
Old person slowly say: "No matter, just is go-up floor a-bit tired."
The old man said slowly, “I’m okay, just tired from the stairs.”
小明帮他拿了东西。他们一起慢慢上楼。
Xiaoming help him take (PERF) things. They together slowly go-up floor.
Xiaoming took his bag, and they climbed together.
到了五楼，老人对他说：“真的谢谢你。进来喝杯茶吧。”
Arrive (PERF) five floor, old person toward him say: "Really thank you. Enter come drink cup tea (SUGG)."
On the fifth floor, the old man said, “Thank you. Come in for tea.”
小明进了他的房间。
Xiaoming enter (PERF) his (POSS) room.
Xiaoming stepped inside.
房间里有很多旧照片。
Room inside have very many old photos.
The room was full of old photos.
老人拿起一张：“这是我妻子。她离开十年了。”
Old person take-up one (M): "This is my wife. She leave ten year (PERF)."
He picked one up. “That was my wife. She’s been gone ten years.”
小明听他讲了很久。
Xiaoming listen him speak (PERF) very long.
Xiaoming listened for a long time.
他了解到，老人以前是数学老师。
He understand-to, old person previously is math teacher.
He learned the man had been a math teacher.
他也喜欢看书，喜欢一个人安静地走路。
He also like read book, like one person quietly walk-road.
He also loved reading, and walking quietly alone.
走的时候，老人说：“以后有时间，再来。”
Leave (POSS) time, old person say: "After have time, again come."
As Xiaoming left, the old man said, “Come again when you have time.”
从那天起，小明每个星期都会去老人家里。
From that day from, Xiaoming every (M) week all will go old person home inside.
From then on, Xiaoming visited him every week.
他想：邻居安静三年，可以一天变成朋友。
He think: neighbor quiet three year, can one day change-become friend.
He thought: a neighbor of three quiet years could become a friend in one afternoon.