佚名/Anonymous
AfterMomdied, , buthealwayshadaglassoffreshlysqueezedorangejuiceonthekitchentableforme, alongwithanunsignednotereading,“Drinkyourjuice.”Suchagesture, Iknew, , Iremember, asakidIhadquestionedMom“Whydoesn'tDadloveme?”Momfrowned.“Whosaidhedoesn'tloveyou?”“Well, henevertellsme,”Icomplained.“Henevertellsmeeither,”shesaid, smiling.“Butlookhowhardheworkstotakecareofus, tobuyusfoodandclothes, 'showyourfathertellsushelovesus.”ThenMomheldmebytheshouldersandasked,“Doyouunderstand?”
InoddedslowlyIunderstoodinmyhead, , ', andMomwasalreadyworriedenoughthathe', withbladesthickerthanmyfather''tfeedthoseterrifyingbladesjustright, heriskedseriousinjury.
“Whydon'tyouhiresomeonetodothatforyou?”MomaskedDadonenightasshebentoverhimandrubbedhisachingshoulderswithastrongsmellingliniment.“Whydon'tyouhireacook?”Dadasked, .“What'sthematter, Ike?Don'tyoulikemycooking?”“SureIlikeyourcookingButifIcouldaffordahelper, thenyoucouldaffordacook!”Dadlaughed, ', andwhenheusedittocutthroughsteel, itblewoffthousandsoftinypiecesofmoltenmetalthatswarmedaroundhimlikeangryfireflies.
Manyyearslater, duringmyfirstdailyvisit, afterdrinkingthejuicemyfatherhadsqueezedforme, Iwalkedover, huggedhimandsaid,“Iloveyou, Dad.”, , pressedfortime, Idrankmyjuiceandmadeforthedoor.
