第16章 The Secret of the Outer Ears

"Can I see my baby?"the happy new mother asked.When the bundle was nestled in her arms and she moved the fold of cloth to look upon his tiny face,she gasped.The doctor turned quickly and looked out the tall hospital window.The baby had been born without ears.Time proved that the baby's hearing was perfect.It was only his appearance that was marred.

When he rushed home from school one day and flung himself into his mother's arms,she sighed,knowing that his life was to be a succession of heartbreak.

He blurted out,"A boy,a big boy...called me a freak."He grew up,handsome for his misfortune.A favorite with his classmates,he might have been class president,but for that.He developed a gift,a talent for literature and music."But you might mingle with other young people,"his mother reproved him,but felt a kindness in her heart.

The boy's father talked with the family physician.Could nothing be done?"I believe I could graft on a pair of outer ears,if we could get them,"the doctor decided.So the search began for a person who would make such a sacrifice for a young man.Two years went by.Then,"You are going to the hospital,son.Mother and I have someone who will donate the ears you need.But it's a secret,"said the father.

The operation was a brilliant success,and a new person appeared.His talents blossomed into genius,and school and college became a series of success.Later he married and entered the diplomatic service."But I must know!"He urged his father."Who gave so much for me?I could never do enough for him."

"I do not believe you could,"said the father,"but the agreement was that you are not to know...not yet."The years kept their secret,but the day did come...one of the darkest days that ever passed through a son.He stood with his father over his mother's casket.Slowly,tenderly,the father stretch forth a hand and raised the thick,reddish-brown hair to reveal the mother had no outer ears.

"Mother said she was glad she never let her hair be cut,"he whispered gently,"and nobody ever thought mother less beautiful,did they?"

外耳的秘密

“我能看看宝宝吗？”一位满心欢喜的新妈妈询问，包裹被她环抱在双臂里，她拨开折在一起的包布，抬眼瞧他那娇小的脸庞，一下子屏住了呼吸。医生迅速转过头，从医院高大的窗户外望出去。这个婴儿生下来就没有耳朵。后来证明婴儿的听力完好，仅仅是他的相貌受到了损伤。

一天，他从学校飞奔回家，一头扑进母亲的怀里。她叹了口气，明白他的一生会心碎不断。

他脱口而出：“一个男孩，一个大男孩……叫我畸形。”他长大了，他因自己的不幸而慷慨无私。他受同学喜爱，要不是因为那个缺陷，他本可以成为班长。他显示出了天赋，对文学和音乐的才能。“可你有可能和其他年轻人混在一起。”他母亲责备他，但她是一片好心。

男孩的父亲与家庭医生商讨。难道什么也做不了吗？“我想我能移植上一对外耳，如果我们能得到的话。”医生做出决定。于是他们开始搜寻一个能为一个年轻人做此捐献的人。两年过去了。“你要去医院，儿子。妈妈和我已经找到为你捐献耳朵的人了，但这个人是保密的。”父亲说。

手术非常成功，一个崭新的人出现了。他的才能脱颖而出，他在中学和大学不断成功。后来他结婚了，进入外交部门工作。“但我必须知道！”他敦促父亲，“谁为我付出这么多？我永远都报答不了他。”

“我想你不能，”父亲说，“但约定规定你不能知道……还不能。”岁月尘封了这个秘密，但这一天还是到来了……这是儿子经历的最黑暗的那几天中的一天。他和父亲站在母亲的棺椁旁，缓缓地，父亲轻柔地伸出一只手，撩开赭红色的浓密头发，揭开母亲早已没有了外耳的秘密。

“妈妈说她很高兴从没剪掉过自己的头发，”他柔声低语道，“而且也没有人认为妈妈不漂亮，是吗？”