第7章 爸爸的秘密

Father's Secret

贝蒂·斯坦尼 / Betty Stanley

My father was raised in a fatherless home at a time when government assistance was unheard of. The family of five struggled mightily to survive. That Spartan upbringing caused my father to be extremely tightfisted.

When we children—two older brothers and myself—became aware that other children got spending money from their parents， we made the mistake of asking father for some. His face turned stone cold. “If you’re old enough to ask， you’re old enough to earn，” he rumbled. And so， when the need arose， we scurried about the neighborhood seeking odd jobs or peddling produce from the garden.

His attitude didn’t soften as we grew into adulthood and drifted away to jobs or college. There was a period of time when none of us had a car， so we had to ride the bus whenever we came home. Though the bus stopped about two miles from home， Dad never met us， even in inclement weather. If someone grumbled (and my brothers grumbled a lot)， he’d say in his loudest father-voice， “That’s what your legs are for！”

So when I went away to college， I knew I was in for a long walk whenever I came home. The walk didn’t bother me as much as the fear of walking alone along the highway and country roads. I also felt less than valued that my father didn’t seem concerned about my safety. That feeling was canceled one spring evening.

It had been a particularly difficult week at college. Tests and long hours in labs had left me exhausted. I longed for home and a soft bed. As other students were met at their stops， I gazed wistfully out the window. Finally， the bus shuddered to a stop at my destination point， and I stepped off， lugging my suitcase to begin the long trek home.

A row of privet hedge edged the driveway that climbed the hill to our house. Once I had turned off the highway to start the last lap of my journey， I was always relieved to see the hedge because it meant that I was almost home. On that particular evening， the hedge had just come into view when a gentle rain began to fall. I stopped to put a book in my suitcase and when I stood up， I saw something gray skimming along the top of the hedge， moving toward the house. Upon closer observation， I realized it was the top of my father’s head. Then I knew—each time I’d come home， he had stood behind the hedge， watching， until he knew I had arrived safely. I swallowed hard against the threatening tears. He did care， after all.

On subsequent visits， that spot of gray became my beacon. I could hardly wait until I was close enough to watch for its covert movement above the greenery. Upon reaching home， I would find my father sitting innocently in his chair. “So！ It’s you！” he’d say， his face lengthening into mock surprise.

I replied， “Yes， Dad， it’s me. I’m home.”

爸爸是在单亲家庭中长大的，从小就没了父亲。那时候 “政府援助”这个词更是闻所未闻。这个五口之家辛辛苦苦才勉强度日。那种简朴的环境，造就了爸爸的过分小气。

当我们还是小孩子时，我和两个哥哥意识到其他孩子的零花钱都是从父母那里得到的。我们天真地去央求爸爸，却不知道这是一个错误的决定。他板起铁青的脸说，“如果你们可以来要钱，你们就到了赚钱的年纪，”他用低沉的语气对我们说。从那以后，缺钱花的时候，我们不是慌忙地跑到街坊四邻找零工，就是看看菜园里有什么可以卖的东西。

当我们长大成人，在外面工作或上大学后，他的态度还是那么强硬。由于这段时间我们兄弟几个都没有自己的车，所以，无论我们何时回家，都只好乘坐公共汽车。尽管公共汽车站离我们家有两英里，但爸爸从未接过我们，即便是在天气恶劣的时候。如果有人埋怨(我的哥哥们常常牢骚满腹)，爸爸就会显露出自己做父亲的威严，扯开嗓门用最大的声音喊道：“你们长两条腿就是用来走路的！”

因此，离家上大学期间，我知道无论何时回家，自己都要徒步走一段很长的路。我倒不担心走路，真正让我害怕的是在公路和乡村的小路上独自行走。因为爸爸好像并不在乎我的安全，我就觉得自己更加不受重视。然而，在一个春天的傍晚，我的这种感觉不复存在了。

那时，我在大学里度过了相当艰难的一周。不计其数的考试以及实验室里数小时的实验使我疲惫不堪。我向往自己的家和那张柔软的床。其他学生都陆续到了站，而我满怀渴望地看着窗外，看着他们被父母接走。最终，公车颠簸着停在我的目的地，然后我拖着手提箱下了车，开始了一段既漫长又艰难的回家之旅。

在那条通往山丘的车道边有一排女贞树篱，而我的家就在山丘上。每次我一离开公路，转向最后一段路程时，那道树篱便会映入眼帘，我总会感到很轻松，因为这说明我就快到家了。在那个特殊的傍晚，我刚刚看到那道树篱，天空中就飘起了毛毛细雨。我便停下脚步，将一本书放进手提箱。当我站起身的时候，我发现一个灰色的小点沿着那道树篱的顶端快速移动，正向我家的房子移去。近一些看，我才知道那是爸爸的头顶。接着，我如梦初醒——每一次我回家的时候，他都会站在那道树篱的后面，观察着，直到他确信我已安全到达。我强忍住呼之欲出的泪水。毕竟，他还是在乎我的。

从那以后，每次回家，那个灰点都成了指引我道路的灯。我迫不及待地走近，就想看着它偷偷摸摸地在那些绿树叶里移动。而当我到家的时候，我会发现爸爸正假装坐在椅子上。“噢！是你呀！”他会这样说，并拉长脸，装出一副惊讶的表情。

我就会回答：“是的，爸爸，是我。我回来了。”

记忆填空

1. When we children—two older brothers and —became aware that other children got spending from their parents， we made the mistake of asking father for . His face turned stone .

2. Though the bus stopped about two miles from ， Dad never met us， even in inclement weather. someone grumbled (and my brothers grumbled a lot)， he’d say in his loudest father-voice，“That’s your legs are for！”

佳句翻译

1. 那以后，缺钱花的时候，我们不是慌忙地跑到街坊四邻找零工，就是看看菜园里有什么可以卖的东西。

2. 我倒不担心走路，真正让我害怕的是在公路和乡村的小路上独自行走。

3. 接着，我如梦初醒——每一次我回家的时候，他都会站在那道树篱的后面，观察着，直到他确信我已安全到达。

短语应用

1. I longed for home and a soft bed.

long for：渴望

2. On that particular evening， the hedge had just come into view when a gentle rain began to fall.

come into view：看得见；进入视野