For three weeks, a folded note sat taped to the bench outside the bakery. Nobody knew who had put it there, and nobody wanted to open it in case it belonged to someone.
连续三个星期，面包店外的长椅上一直贴着一张折好的纸条。没人知道是谁放的，也没人愿意打开，怕那是留给某个人的。
An old man named Mr. Ellis finally read it. It said: “To whoever sits here first, I water the roses at six. If you see a blue cup, leave a message.”
一位叫埃利斯先生的老先生终于读了它。上面写着：“给第一个坐在这里的人：我六点给玫瑰浇水。如果你看到一只蓝杯子，请留个口信。”
Mr. Ellis looked across the street. There was a blue cup on the windowsill of the flower shop. He wrote, “The roses look thirsty. I will bring tea tomorrow.”
埃利斯先生望向街对面。花店的窗台上放着一只蓝杯子。他写道：“玫瑰看起来渴了。明天我带茶来。”
The next day, the florist appeared with two cups. She was the note writer. Her shop had closed early for months, and she had missed talking to people. The bench became their meeting place.
第二天，花店老板端着两只杯子出现了。纸条是她写的。她的店早早关门好几个月，她一直想念和人说话。那张长椅成了他们见面的地方。
Soon others began leaving notes. A neighbor offered blankets; a student promised to help carry boxes. Mr. Ellis still brings tea, but now he brings five cups.
很快，别人也开始留纸条。一位邻居送来毯子；一个学生答应帮忙搬箱子。埃利斯先生仍旧带茶，不过现在他带五只杯子。