從前有一隻藤蔓毛怪
The Little Vine Monster
從前有一隻藤蔓毛怪
牠綠綠的，安安靜靜的。
牠聽著人們煩惱著。
明天要吃什麼？
為什麼這一期的電費那麼高？
怎麼辦？
口袋真的好空，錢錢真的好難賺。
紅綠燈前等候時，紅燈轉綠的那一刻，外送機車騎士不小心慢了一拍。後方的黑色轎車，就叭叭了兩下。
這個年代，真的很沒有耐心。
想當年，小毛怪偶爾還會給大家一點點甜甜、圓圓的東西。會讓你心裡跳一下，跳一下，像舞廳的燈球一樣閃閃發光。
深夜，小毛怪還很愛輕輕低哼歌。你如果太忙、太煩，估計是聽不到的。
但有一次，我騎著腳踏車經過，我有聽到：Come on Eileen
經過的時候，跟 Eileen 打個招呼。牠會給你好運的喔。
那種很安靜的好運，不會大聲，但會讓你覺得，自己好像還有一點點超能力。
The Little Vine Monster
從前有一隻藤蔓毛怪
Once upon a time, there was a little vine monster.
Green. Quiet.
The kind of quiet that doesn't ask for attention.
It listened to people worrying.
What are we eating tomorrow?
Why is the electricity bill so high this month?
What now?
My pockets are empty. Money is so hard to make.
At the traffic light, as it turns green, a delivery rider is just a beat too slow to start, and the black sedan behind them honks twice.
This era has very little patience.
Back then, the little monster would sometimes offer everyone a tiny bit of something sweet and round. Just enough to make your heart jump once, then again, sparkling like a disco ball in a dance hall.
Late at night, the little monster likes to hum under its breath. If you're too busy, too annoyed, you probably won't hear it.
But once, I rode past on my bike, and I did.
I heard it: Come on Eileen
When you pass by, say hi to Eileen.
It will give you good luck. A quiet kind of luck, nothing loud or dramatic, but just enough to make you feel you still have a little bit of superpower.
Image & Story by Eva Y.C. Chen