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「將來打算成為機師嗎?」一位日本老婦人一邊「撩牙」一邊問我。她的厚粉「英泥面」令我回想起中學時期地理堂學到的「旱地耕種」-在極度乾旱的地區,即使農夫再努力也是徒然。那些皺紋彷如荷里活電影地裂天崩的場境,簡直是神仙水也難以補救的地步。這位年過六十的小姐,嘴唇塗得比Taylor Swift更紅,和她紫黑色的眼影相輝映,形成一個充滿粗口的畫面。

黑色「眼影」,沿途與你有過一幀風景……

「我並沒有成為機師的打算」,我用日文回應,搖搖頭。「哦,你只做個空少呢,這樣好嗎……」老人家輕聲嘀咕。但這個漫不輕心的「只」字,卻如霧霾般纏繞著我的思緒,彷彿在說著:你只是個侍應,工作只是負責派餐;只是清潔廁所;只是收客人的垃圾。

突然,她把餐盤遞給我,我才回過神來。餐盤上亂七八糟到不能整理的狀態,我只好嘗試用死力把它塞回餐車。當我猛力一推時,用力過度使餐盤上的的豉油被震飛出來,濺到我的褲子,雙手上。

「謝謝」我強顏歡笑。

記得在我第一班衝上雲霄的飛機上,呀姐便語重心長地跟我說:「呀仔,在這裡玩一兩年可以,但還是早走早著吧。」果然,數年間我大學認識的朋友紛紛成為了機師,老師,醫生,設計師等等被社會「認可」的成功人士。

「成功」的定義,社會有一套潛規則,誰入流誰不入流,一目了然。

正所謂敬業樂業,我可從來沒有看不起自己的工作。我的同事們中有剛中學畢業的,也有自名大學出生的,英雄莫問出處,最重要的是我們都有夢想。這份工作給予我很多的自由時間,讓我可以逐片逐片拼湊心中的夢想。

所以,如果您也是我們一份子,請為自己而自豪,別因為旁人的不明白而灰心,微笑吧!我相信您會笑得很美,因為有夢想的人都很美,有自信的笑容都很美。

下次當有人說您只是個看不中用花瓶時,記得反問他們:「漂亮的花瓶都用來放什麼?」

美麗的「生命之花」。

〔如欲閱讀更原汁原味的文章,請按下頁觀看英文版本〕

Behind the Glamour

“So are you going to be a pilot in the future?” a Japanese old lady asked me, picking her teeth with a toothpick. Her heavy make up reminded me of the term “dryland farming”, which I learnt in the Geography class – nothing really grows despite the farmers’ endless efforts. Her wrinkles and lines cracked open every inch of her face. Her mouth was way too red for her age, her purple eye shadow like bruises caused by her violent husband at home. 

“No, I don't think I will,” I replied in Japanese, shaking my head. “Oh, so you will just be a flight attendant,” she mumbled, still picking her teeth. Just. A disapproving JUST. You will just never be as brilliant as those sitting in the cockpit. Your job is just cleaning toilets for people. You just collect passengers’ leftovers.

She handed me her meal tray – things on it were scattered literally everywhere. I tired a bit too hard to push it into the cart, soy sauce spiting onto my trousers, my hands all dirty. “Thank you,” I forced a smile.

 
The first day I officially flew, a senior told me, her voice serious but kind, “spending a year or two fooling around does you no harm, but please leave as soon as possible my son.” In only a few years, my university schoolmates have become pilots, teachers, PR mavens or anything considered “successful”.

Society forces you to think in certain way. And then regret.

What do I want to say? I honestly have never, ever, looked down on my job. Many of my colleagues are in fact from prestigious schools with decent degrees, and most important of all, we, too, have dreams. Our free time and flexibility find us these missing facets of the puzzle.

I don’t think I alone can change the status quo. But if you are one of us, please be proud of yourself. I’m sure you are probably very pretty, pretty smart, and definitely smile prettily! Don’t lose heart my dear, only because people don’t understand what you are doing “secretly” to fulfil your dreams.

Next time when people say you are just a pretty vase, ask them: What do you put in a beautiful vase? Of course beautiful flowers.