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第15部分（第2页）

一双新鞋（4）

“e　in　out　of　the　sun。　Sit　on　the　porch；”　I　said；　surprised　at　the　frankness　of　my　mand。　“I’ll　get　you　something　to　eat。”　Emotions　had　a　way　of　getting　mixed　up　these　difficult　days　and　I　couldn’t　trust　mine；　just　as　I　couldn’t　bear　the　shame…faced　look　of　gratitude　in　his　eyes。　As　I　climbed　the　steps　to　the　house；　I　became　angry　at　myself；　at　my　helplessness；　at　my　empty　cupboards；　at　the　unrelenting　drought；　at　the　whole　damned　suffering　country。

I　sliced　a　loaf　of　bread　with　vicious　swipes　of　the　knife；　jerked　open　the　ice…box　for　milk；　twisted　the　lid　off　a　jar　of　home…made　jam；　as　though　my　frenzied　actions　would　wipe　out　the　feeling　of　guilt　at　offering　him　so　little。　When　I　carried　the　food　to　the　porch；　I　saw　the　boy　near　the　garden；　rinsing　his　shirt　in　one　of　the　pails。　I　beckoned　to　him；　left　him　my　scanty　offering；　and　returned　indoors。

Despite　the　drawn　blinds；　the　house　had　trapped　the　heat　and　had　bee　an　airless　box　of　yellow　light。　My　flowered　print　dress　clung　to　me　in　wet　patches。　On　each　patch；　the　faded　daisies4　dared　to　bloom。　I　dropped　into　an　armchair　and　swung　my　swollen　feet　up　on　a　hassock。

When　the　sharp　slap　of　the　screen　door　awakened　me；　I　was　startled。

“Mama；　where　are　you？”

I　struggled　to　my　feet　and　found　Alice　sitting　at　the　kitchen　table；　her　head　and　shoulders　bowed　in　dejection。

“Mama；　Acme　Stores　are　hiring　next　week。”　She　raised　her　head　and　stared　into　my　face。　“The　employment　officer　said　girls　would　be　hired　only　if　they　were　properly　dressed。”　Her　brown　eyes　sought　confirmation　that　I　understood　her　statement。　“That　means　stockings　and　a　decent　pair　of　shoes；　Mama；　and　look　at　me！”　She　thrust　out　her　feet　in　their　dusty　running　shoes。

Instinctively；　I　glanced　at　the　old　felt　slippers　I　wore。　There　were　no　shoes　in　the　house　that　could　meet　Acme’s　standards；　and　there　was　no　money　to　buy　a　new　pair。　My　heart　ached　with　the　folly　of　having　sent　my　young　one　to　find　work；　and　I　stepped　behind　her　chair　to　fort　her　with　a　hug。

“Honey；　we　have　a　whole　week　to　work　on　it。”　I　kissed　her　soft　hair；　still　warm　from　the　sun。　“Maybe　something　will　e　our　way。”

“That’s　what　you　always　say；　Mama。　What’s　the　use　of　hoping！”

It　wasn’t　till　I　began　to　prepare　our　meager　supper　that　I　remembered　the　young　man；　and　I　went　to　the　porch　for　my　tray。　Had　I　found　him　sitting　at　the　old　wicker　table；　as　dejected5　as　Alice；　I　suppose　I　would　have　kissed　the　top　of　his　head；　too；　before　sending　him　on　his　way。　I　sent　him　a　silent　wish；　instead。　Take　care；　young　man。

All　that　week　the　sun　continued　to　scorch　the　land。　I　watered　my　garden　in　the　cool　of　the　mornings；　with　each　cupful　willing　the　plants　to　grow　and　bear　fruit。　This　morning　ritual　of　mine　became　my　morning　prayer。　As　I　stooped　in　the　garden　with　my　pitiful　cups　of　water；　I　prayed　for　Jack　and　Alice　to　find　work；　I　prayed　for　Jack’s　safety　on　the　road；　I　prayed　for　the　forlorn；　beaten　land；　and　for　the　young　man　who　had　e　and　gone　and　had　asked　for　so　little。书　包　网　txt小说上传分享

一双新鞋（5）

The　week　after　his　stop　at　my　gate；　I　watered；　as　usual。　A　hot；　fitful　breeze　sent　sheets　of　torn　and　dirty　newspapers　scudding　across　the　yard　and　into　the　caragana　hedge。　Trapped　in　the　branches；　the　papers　flapped　and　rustled　like　large　alien　birds。　As　I　crossed　the　yard　to　gather　them　up；　a　flash　of　white　in　the　mailbox　caught　my　eye。　Jack；　I　thought　immediately；　and　hurried　to　the　box。

The　envelope　bore　no　stamp；　no　name；　and　no　address；　but　contained　a　message　penciled　on　a　scrap　of　brown　paper：

To　the　lady　in　the　garden：

I　got　a　job　at　a　warehouse　after　you　fed　me　and　let　me　rest。

You　helped　me　feel　and　look　respectable。　Now；　let　me　help　you。

Folded　within　the　paper　were　three　one…dollar　bills。

I　stared　at　the　money　in　my　hand　and　saw　again　the　young　man　with　tousled　hair　and　dusty　shirt。　My　lips　began　to　quiver；　but　this　wasn’t　the　time　for　crying。　“Alice；　honey；　please　hurry；”　I　called；　as　I　ran　into　the　house。　“You　are　going　shopping　for　the　best　pair　of　shoes　you　can　find。　You　will　be　the　neatest　girl　in　Acme’s　lineup　tomorrow　morning！”

“Mama；　are　you　awake？　Are　you　ready　for　your　birthday　dinner？”

I　open　my　eyes　and　see　I　am　surrounded　by　the　people　I　love：　gentle　Alice；　now　gray　and　heavy；　young　Rebecca；　vivacious　and　pretty；　and　all　the　others；　old　and　young。

“You　were　telling　yourself　a　story；　weren’t　you；　Mama？”　Alice　says；　teasing。　“It　must　have　been　a　happy　story；　Mama。　You　had　a　smile　on　your　face。”

“It　was　a　beautiful　story。”

As　I　struggle　to　my　feet；　Rebecca’s　new　shoes　slide　off　my　lap　and　fall　to　the　carpet　with　a　soft　thud。

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