佚名/Anonymous
-dancinglessonsforsixmonths, 'chorusline, Iwasawareofmylovelystatus.
, blushingfuriouslyandgazingoverthefootlightstoseemyfather'sgrinasheapplaudedloudly.
, , butflusteredbytheextravagance.
, , whenMothertoldhimneededanewpartydress, hebroughthomeadozen.
, therewasnomoneyforthewintercoatIreallyneededorthenewiceskatesIwanted.
SometimesIwouldbeangrywithhim, -anactthatundoubtedlyperpetuatedhisbehavior.
, thereonthetablenexttomycakewasahugebouquetofflowers, biggerthananybefore.
.Sweet16，, butmybestfriend, Phyllis, whispered,“Boy, you'reluckytohaveafatherlikethat.”
Astheyearspassed, otheroccasionslikebirthdays, recitals, awards, graduationsweremarkedwithDad'.
WhenIgraduatedfromcollege, though, 'sflowersymbolizedhispride, .
NowtherewerebrightorangemumsforthanksgivingandahugepinkpoinsettiaatChristmas, whiteliliesatEaster, .
Asmyfortunesgrew, myfather'swaned, , Icoveredhiscoffinwiththelargest, reddestrosesIcouldfind.
Ofteninthedozenyearssince, Ifeltanurgetogooutandbuyabigbouquettofluthelivingroom, butIneverdidIknewitwouldnotbethesame.
Thenonebirthday, , andmytwodaughterswereaway.My13yearoldson, Matt, hadrunoutearlierwitha“seeyoulater”，.
“Forgotmykey,”hesaid, shrugging.“, Ihopeyoulikeflowers, Mom,”hepulledabunchofdaisiesfrombehindhisback.
“Oh, Matt,”Icried, hugginghimhard,“Iloveflowers!”
九岁时，父亲送我一束鲜花。那时，我已经上了六个月的踢踏舞蹈课，学校要举行年度实习公演。作为初级歌舞队的成员，我的心情格外激动，虽然我也知道自己参演的角色微不足道。
公演结束时，我异常吃惊地发现，自己的名字和领舞演员们的名字一起被点到了。我的怀里抱着一大束玫瑰站在舞台上的情形，至今记忆犹新：我满脸通红，父亲在舞台脚灯的照射下一个劲儿地鼓掌，开怀大笑。
