佚名 /Anonymous
“Don'tyoujustlovemynewshoes?”
Rebecca', andnothingbutmyoldknobbyhandsmartheirsleeklines.
“Suchfineleather! Thesearelovely.”
“Andonlyeighty-fivedollars!”
“Heavens! Imustbegettingold, .”
“Oh, Nana, Iknewyou'dsaythat.”
Rebecca'-three, sheisthebabyofthefamily.
“Now, don'tfallasleep, 'sabouttobegin,” shewhispers, andslipsoutoftheroom.
, , coolleatherofRebecca'snewshoes, , Irelax, -nine? Impossible! IcanalmosthearthevoicethatcalledtomeasIstoodinmygardenonthatscorchingafternooninthatrelentlesssummerof1935.
“Missus, say, Missus!”
, hardlytwenty, withblondhairtousledlikealittleboy', , tired, solitarymenpassbythehousefromtherailyardsnearby, menoffthefreights, menmovingaboutthecountry, , too.
“Missus, couldIpleasehaveadrinkofwater?”
“Comeintotheyard.” Icalled, .
Hedrankingreatgulps, swallowingslowly, andthensplashedwateronhisfaceandranhishandsoverhisdustyhairandalongthebackofhisneck.“Thatfeelsgood,” hesaid, bywayofthanks, andstoodthere, self-consciousandawkward, asuddentensenesscomingoverhimwhenhenoticedthepailssittinginthesun.
“HaveyouanyworkIcandoforyou? Weedandwateryourgarden?”
Somegarden! Thebeanandtomatoplantsstruggledtosurviveingroundthatwashardandcracked, ? Thehouserequiredacoatofpaint, butpaintcostmoney, , beforeshakingmyhead.
Whenhedroppedtothegrassandplacedhisheadonfoldedarms, , ? Theiceboxheldsolittle: somemilk, aknobofbutter, andafewslicesofbolognaforAice'ssupper.
