因德拉·夏尔马/IndraSharma
In1945，-fivedollars-wasfarbeyondReubenEarle’’sgroceriesforhisfamily.
Reubencouldn’, Newfoundland, ’smother, Dora, stretchedlikeelastictofeedandclothetheirfivechildren.
Nevertheless, heopenedtheshop’-sackshirtandwashed-outtrousers, hetoldtheshopkeeperwhathewanted, adding,“ButIdon’?”
“I’lltry,”theshopkeepersmiled.“Folksaroundheredon’.”
.
Hearingthesoundofhammeringfromasidestreet, Reubenhadanidea.
, , .
Theboy’shandtightlyclutchedthefive-centpiecesasheranthetwokilometershome.
Nearhishousestoodtheancientbarnthathousedthefamily’, , readytoservedinnerasReubentookhisplaceatthetable.
, shewasthecenterofthehome, thegluethatheldittogether.
, cookingmealsandbakingbread, plantingandtendingavegetablegarden, -beingwereherhighestpriority.
Everydayafterchoresandschool, Reubenscouredthetown, -roomschoolclosedforthesummer, .
Allsummerlong, despitechoresathome-weedingandwateringthegarden, cuttingwoodandfetchingwater-Reubenkepttohissecrettask.
Thenalltoosoonthegardenwasharvested, thevegetablescannedandstored, , diligentlysearchingforhishessiantreasures.
Oftenhewascold, tiredandhungry, :“Reuben, wherewereyou?Wewerewaitingforyoutohavedinner.”
“Playing, Mum, Sorry.”
.
FinallyspringburstintogloriousgreenandReuben’!Heranintothebarn, .
?.
.“Mister!Pleasedon’tcloseupyet.”ThemanturnedandsawReuben, dirtyandsweatstained.“Comebacktomorrow, boy.”
“Please, -please.”ThemanheardatremorinReuben’svoiceandcouldtellhewasclosetotears.
“Whydoyouneedthismoneysobadly?”
“It’sasecret.”
