英文短篇故事（紐約）255 She's All Ears

She was sitting in Washington Square Park. She was young and pretty. The huge arch was to her right. The fountain was to her left. It was a warm, sunny Saturday. Two empty beach chairs and a sign were next to her. The sign said, "Willing To Listen." Earl walked over. "I have two questions. One, does this cost anything? Two, what’s the point?" She said, "First, it's free. Second, people like to talk. They like to talk about themselves, their lives, and their problems. That's what I'm here for. I listen to them talk. When they finish, they leave. They feel better after they talk. I feel better after I listen. I never try to solve their problems. I never give advice. I never listen to rants about religion, politics, or conspiracies. But I listen to everything else. I've been doing this for eight years, when the weather's nice."