In 1943, I was 19 years old and worked at a barbecue located about a mile from my home.

1943年（時值第二次世界大戰），當時我只有19歲，在離家一英里的燒烤店工作。

It was a beautiful, warm June night, so I decided to walk home from work rather than take a bus.

那是一個美好溫暖的六月夜晚，于是我決定不坐公交車而是步行回家。

As I walked up the back porch steps, I heard a male voice: “Kiss me, or I’ll scream.”

當我正準備走上屋后門廊的臺階，聽到一個男性的聲音：“親吻我，不然我就尖叫。”

After my initial shock, I turned around to see a young soldier in an Army uniform.

一開始我感到非常害怕，等我轉過頭我看到一名身著軍裝的年輕士兵。

I kissed him softly on the cheek.

我在他的臉頰上輕輕地吻了一下。

He smiled.

他微笑了。

“Thank you,” he said, and walked off into the night.

然后他說：“謝謝你。”接著就走入了夜幕之中。