时间：2022-02-03 02:15:52
When I arrived at 6 a.m. in the large hospital kitchen， Rose was already checking name tags on the trays against the patient roster. Stainless steel shelves held rows of breakfast trays which we would soon be serving.
“Hi， I’m Janet.” I tried to sound cheerful， although I already knew Rose’s reputation for being impossible to work with. “I’m scheduled to work with you this week.” A stocky middle-aged woman with graying hair， Rose stopped what she was doing and peered over her reading glasses perched on her nose. I could tell from her sour expression she wasn’t pleased to see a student worker.
“What do you want me to do？ Start the coffee？” I was feeling less confident by the minute. Rose sullenly nodded and went back to checking name tags. Moments after I filled the pot with cold water， Rose gruffly snapped， “That’s not the way to make coffee.” She stepped in and took over.
“I was just doing it the way our supervisor showed us to do it，” I said in astonishment. “The patients like the coffee better the way I do it，” she replied curtly.
Nothing I did pleased her after that. All morning her eagle eyes missed nothing and her sharp words stung. She literally trailed me around the kitchen. Later at break time， some of the older full-time workers decided to have some fun and started teasing me. “Are you having a good time working with Rose？” Margaret baited me. “That’s not even funny，” I said， biting my lip to keep back the tears.
Totally exhausted， I trudged the six blocks home from the University of Minnesota Hospital late that June afternoon. As a third year university student working my way through school， I had never before encountered anyone like Rose. I wrestled with my dilemma alone in my room. I turned the possibilities over in my mind. Should I see if my supervisor would switch me to work with someone else？ On the other hand， I didn’t want to be a quitter.
Working with Rose next morning， I ignored the barbs thrown in my direction and did things her way as much as possible to avoid friction. As I worked， I silently began to surround Rose with a warm blanket of prayers. “Lord， help me love Rose.” Over the next few days， an amazing thing began to happen. As I prayed for this irritating woman， my focus shifted from what she was doing to me， and I started seeing Rose as the hurting person she was.
As I worked with this lonely woman， I listened to her. I learned she was burdened by elderly parents who needed her care， by her own health problems and by an alcoholic husband she was thinking of leaving. I began to understand what made her the way she was. As I listened， I discovered that her unique way of doing things resulted from her desire to do something special for the patients. She had her own reasons for everything.
In return， she wanted the patients to appreciate her for doing special things for them. This woman―whom I once considered so unlovable―was actually begging for someone to love and appreciate her！
The days slipped by quickly as I finished the last several weeks of my summer job. I soon would be returning as a full-time student. One day， while I was working alone in one of the kitchens， Rose entered the room. Instead of her uniform， she was wearing street clothes. I looked at her in surprise. “Aren’t you working today？” “I got me another job and won’t be working here any more，” she said， as she walked over and gave me a quick hug. “I just came to say goodbye.” Then she turned abruptly and walked out the door. Although I never saw Rose again， I still remember her vividly.
In that summer， I learned a lesson I’ve never forgotten. The world is full of people like Rose―irritating， demanding―yet hurting inside. I’ve found that love is the best way to turn an enemy into a friend.
我早上六点到达医院的大厨房时，罗斯已经在对照病人名册核对贴在盘子上的姓名标签了。不锈钢架子上摆放着一排排的盘子，里面盛着我们马上就要端给病人的早餐。
“你好，我是珍妮特。”我尽力使自己听起来显得很高兴，尽管我早就听说了罗斯很难共事的坏名声。“这星期我被安排和你一起干活。”罗斯是一个身材矮胖、头发灰白的中年妇女。她停下手头的活，透过架在鼻梁上的眼镜盯着我看。从她那阴郁的表情看得出，她并不喜欢来个学生跟她干活。
“我可以帮些什么忙？泡咖啡？”每过一秒钟，我的自信心就减弱一分。罗斯一脸阴沉地点点头，走回去继续核对姓名标签。等我将水壶灌满冷水后，罗斯粗声喝道：“不是你那样泡咖啡的。”接着她便插手自己来干。
“我刚才只是按着我们主管演示的方法去做的。”我惊讶地说。“病人更喜欢喝按我的方式泡出来的咖啡。”她不客气地回答。
在那以后，我做的任何事她都不满意。整个早上，任何事情都逃不了她那锐利的目光，她那刻薄的话语也让人心烦意乱。她在厨房里简直就是将我赶得团团转。后来到了休息时间，一些年纪较大的全职工人决定找些乐子，开始来取笑我。“跟罗斯一起干活开心吗？”玛格丽特故意拿话激我。“这一点儿也不好笑。”我说完，咬着嘴唇，努力克制住泪水。
那个六月的傍晚，我感到筋疲力尽，步履艰难地穿过六个街区，才从明尼苏达州大学附属医院走回家中。作为一名一直勤工俭学的大三学生，我从没遇到过像罗斯那样的人。我独自在房间里绞尽脑汁地思考自己的困境，脑子里闪过各种改变现状的可能性。我要不要问一下主管，能否把我调去和其他人共事？但另一方面，我不想轻易打退堂鼓。
翌日早上和罗斯一起工作时，我对她朝我说的挖苦的话充耳不闻，并尽量按照她的方式做事以避免摩擦。工作时，我在罗斯的身边默默地为她祈祷。“上帝啊，请帮助我去爱罗斯吧。”接下来的几天里，令人惊异的事发生了。当我为这个惹人讨厌的女人祷告时，我的注意力从她对我的所作所为上转移开了，我开始留意到罗斯是内心有创伤的人。
当我和这个孤独的女人一起工作时，我会聆听她说话。我了解到，她年迈的父母需要她照顾，她自己也被健康问题困扰，而且丈夫酗酒，所以她正在考虑要离开他。这种种负担都将她压得透不过气来。我开始理解她为什么会变成现在这样了。听着听着，我发现她那种独特的做事方式源自她想要为病人做一些特别的事的愿望。她做每件事都有自己的理由。
作为回报，她希望病人能对她为他们所做的特别的事情心怀感激。这个女人――我曾认为她是那么不讨人喜欢――事实上一直在乞求得到别人的爱和感激。
日子过得很快，我就要结束那年夏天我在医院最后几个星期的实习工作了。我将马上重返校园，开始新学期的学习。有一天，我正独自在其中一个厨房里干活，罗斯走了进来。她没穿工作服，而是穿着休闲装。我诧异地看着她：“你今天不用上班了吗？”“我找了新工作，不再来这里上班了。”她边说边走向我，并快速地拥抱了我一下。“我只是来跟你说声再见的。”然后，她突然转过身走出了门外。尽管从那以后我再没见过罗斯，但我仍对她印象深刻。
在那个夏天，我上了一堂毕生难忘的课。这个世界到处都是像罗斯那样的人――令人反感、待人苛刻――然而他们的内心也伤痕累累。我已经明白，爱是化敌为友的最佳方法。