完整版EverydayUse原文+译文

EverydayUseAliceWalkerIwillwaitforherintheyardthatMaggieandImadesocleanandwavyyesterdayafternoon.Ayardlikethisismorecomfortablethanmostpeopleknow.Itisnotjustayard.Itislikeanextendedlivingroom.Whenthehardclayissweptcleanasafloorandthefinesandaroundtheedgeslinedwithtiny,irregulargrooves,anyonecancomeandsitandlookupintotheelmtreeandwaitforthebreezesthatnevercomeinsidethehouse.Maggiewillbenervousuntilafterhersistergoes:shewillstandhopelesslyincorners,homelyandashamedoftheburnscarsdownherarmsandlegs,eyinghersisterwithamixtureofenvyandawe.Shethinkshersisterhasheldlifealwaysinthepalmofonehand,that"no"isawordtheworldneverlearnedtosaytoher.You'venodoubtseenthoseTVshowswherethechildwhohas"madeit"isconfronted,asasurprise,byherownmotherandfather,totteringinweaklyfrombackstage.(APleasantsurprise,ofcourse:Whatwouldtheydoifparentandchildcameontheshowonlytocurseoutandinsulteachother?)OnTVmotherandchildembraceandsmileintoeachother'sface.Sometimesthemotherandfatherweep,thechildwrapstheminherarmsandleansacrossthetabletotellhowshewouldnothavemadeitwithouttheirhelp.Ihaveseentheseprograms.SometimesIdreamadreaminwhichDeeandIaresuddenlybroughttogetheronaTVprogramofthissort.Outofacarkandsoft-seatedlimousineIamusheredintoabrightroomfilledwithmanypeople.ThereImeetasmiling,gray,sportymanlikeJohnnyCarsonwhoshakesmyhandandtellsmewhatafinegirlIhave.ThenweareonthestageandDeeisembracingmewithtearsinhereyes.Shepinsonmydressalargeorchid,eventhoughshehastoldmeoncethatshethinksorchidesaretackyflowers.InreallifeIamalarge,big-bonedwomanwithrough,man-workinghands.InthewinterIwearflannelnightgownstobedandoverallsduringtheday.Icankillandcleanahogasmercilesslyasaman.Myfatkeepsmehotinzeroweather.Icanworkoutsideallday,breakingicetogetwaterforwashing;Icaneatporklivercookedovertheopentireminutesafteritcomessteamingfromthehog.OnewinterIknockedabullcalfstraightinthebrainbetweentheeyeswithasledgehammerandhadthemeathunguptochillbe-forenightfall.Butofcourseallthisdoesnotshowontelevision.Iamthewaymydaughterwouldwantmetobe:ahundredpoundslighter,myskinlikeanuncookedbarleypan-cake.Myhairglistensinthehotbrightlights.JohnnyCasonhasmuchtodotokeepupwithmyquickandwittytongue.Butthatisamistake.IknowevenbeforeIwakeup.WhoeverknewaJohnsonwithaquicktongue?Whocanevenimaginemelookingastrangewhitemanintheeye?ItseemstomeIhavetalkedtothemalwayswithonetootraisedinflight,withmyheadturnedinwhicheverwayisfarthestfromthem.Dee,though.Shewouldalwayslookanyoneintheeye.Hesitationwasnopartofhernature."HowdoIlook,Mama?"Maggiesays,showingjustenoughofherthinbodyenvelopedinpinkskirtandredblouseformetoknowshe'sthere,almosthiddenbythedoor."Comeoutintotheyard,"Isay.Haveyoueverseenalameanimal,perhapsadogrunoverbysomecarelesspersonrichenoughtoownacar,sidleuptosomeonewhoisignorantenoughtobekindofhim?ThatisthewaymyMaggiewalks.Shehasbeenlikethis,chinonchest,eyesonground,feetinshuffle,eversincethefirethatburnedtheotherhousetotheground.DeeislighterthanMaggie,withnicerhairandafullerfigure.She'sawomannow,thoughsometimesIforget.Howlongagowasitthattheotherhouseburned?Ten,twelveyears?SometimesIcanstillheartheflamesandfeelMaggie'sarmsstickingtome,herhairsmokingandherdressfallingoffherinlittleblackpaperyflakes.Hereyesseemedstretchedopen,blazedopenbytheflamesreflect-edinthem.AndDee.Iseeherstandingoffunderthesweetgumtreesheusedtodiggumoutof;alookatconcentrationonherfaceasshewatchedthelastdingygrayboardofthehousetallintowardthered-hotbrickchimney.Whydon'tyoudoadancearoundtheashes?I'dwantedtoaskher.Shehadhatedthehousethatmuch.IusedtothinkshehatedMaggie,too.Butthatwasbeforeweraisedthemoney,thechurchandme,tosendhertoAugustatoschool.Sheusedtoreadtouswithoutpity,forcingwords,lies,otherfolks'habits,wholelivesuponustwo,sittingtrappedandignorantunderneathhervoice.Shewashedusinariverofmake-believe,burneduswithalotofknowledgewedidn'tnecessarilyneedtoknow.Pressedustoherwiththeseriouswaysheread,toshoveusawayatjustthemoment,likedimwits,weseemedabouttounderstand.Deewantednicethings.Ayelloworgandydresstoweartohergraduationfromhighschool;blackpumpstomatchagreensuitshe'dmadefromanoldsuitsomebodygaveme.Shewasdeterminedtostaredownanydisasterinherefforts.Hereyelidswouldnotflickerforminutesatatime.OftenIfoughtoffthetemptationtoshakeher.Atsixteenshehadastyleofherown'andknewwhatstylewas.回答人的补充2009-09-3018:43Ineverhadaneducationmyself.Aftersecondgradetheschoolwascloseddown.Don'taskmewhy.in1927coloredaskedfewerquestionsthantheydonow.SometimesMaggiereadstome.Shestumblesalonggood-naturedlybutcan'tseewell.Sheknowssheisnotbright.Likegoodlooksandmoney,quicknesspassedherby.ShewillmarryJohnThomas(whohasmossyteethinanearnestface)andthenI'llbefreetosithereandIguessjustsingchurchsongstomyself.AlthoughIneverwasagoodsinger.Nevercouldcarryatune.Iwasalwaysbetterataman'sjob.1usedtolovetomilktillIwashookedinthesidein'49.Cowsaresoothingandslowanddon'tbotheryou,unlessyoutrytomilkthemthewrongway.Ihavedeliberatelyturnedmybackonthehouse.Itisthreerooms,justliketheonethatburned,excepttheroofistin:theydon'tmakeshingleroofsanymore.Therearenorealwindows,justsomeholescutinthesides,liketheportholesinaship,butnotroundandnotsquare,withrawhideholdingtheshuttersupontheoutside.Thishouseisinapasture,too,liketheotherone.NodoubtwhenDeeseesitshewillwanttotearitdown.Shewrotemeoncethatnomatterwherewe"choose"tolive,shewillmanagetocomeseeus.Butshewillneverbringherfriends.MaggieandIthoughtaboutthisandMaggieaskedme,Mama,whendidDeeeverhaveanyfriends?"Shehadafew.Furtiveboysinpinkshirtshangingaboutonwashdayafterschool.Nervousgirlswhoneverlaughed.Impressedwithhertheyworshipedthewell-turnedphrase,thecuteshape,thescaldinghumorthateruptedlikebubblesinlye.Shereadtothem.WhenshewascourtingJimmyTshedidn'thavemuchtimetopaytous,butturnedallherfaultfindingpoweronhim.Heflewtomarryacheapcitygirlfromafamilyofignorantflashypeople.Shehardlyhadtimetorecomposeherself.WhenshecomesIwillmeet--buttheretheyare!Maggieattemptstomakeadashforthehouse,inhershufflingway,butIstayherwithmyhand."Comebackhere,"Isay.Andshestopsandtriestodigawellinthesandwithhertoe.Itishardtoseethemclearlythroughthestrongsun.ButeventhefirstglimpseoflegoutofthecartellsmeitisDee.Herfeetwerealwaysneat-looking,asitGodhimselfhadshapedthemwithacertainstyle.Fromtheothersideofthecarcomesashort,stockyman.Hairisalloverhisheadafootlongandhangingfromhischinlikeakinkymuletail.IhearMaggiesuckinherbreath."Uhnnnh,"iswhatitsoundslike.Likewhenyouseethewrigglingendofasnakejustinfrontofyourtootontheroad."Uhnnnh."Deenext.Adressdowntotheground,inthishotweather.Adresssoloudithurtsmyeyes.Thereareyel-lowsandorangesenoughtothrowbackthelightofthesun.Ifeelmywholefacewarmingfromtheheatwavesitthrowsout.Earringsgold,too,andhangingdowntohershoulders.Braceletsdanglingandmakingnoiseswhenshemovesherarmuptoshakethefoldsofthedressoutofherarmpits.Thedressislooseandflows,andasshewalkscloser,Ilikeit.IhearMaggiego"Uhnnnh"again.Itishersister'shair.Itstandsstraightuplikethewoolonasheep.Itisblackasnightandaroundtheedgesaretwolongpigtailsthatropeaboutlikesmalllizardsdisappearingbehindherears."Wa-su-zo-Tean-o!"shesays,comingoninthatglidingwaythedressmakeshermove.Theshortstockyfellowwiththehairtohisnavelisallgrinningandhefollowsupwith"Asalamalakim,mymotherandsister!"HemovestohugMaggiebutshefallsback,rightupagainstthebackofmychair.IfeelhertremblingthereandwhenIlookupIseetheperspirationfallingoffherchin."Don'tgetup,"saysDee.SinceIamstoutittakessomethingofapush.YoucanseemetryingtomoveasecondortwobeforeImakeit.Sheturns,showingwhiteheelsthroughhersandals,andgoesbacktothecar.OutshepeeksnextwithaPolaroid.ShestoopsdownquicklyandlinesuppictureafterpictureofmesittingthereinfrontofthehousewithMaggiecoweringbehindme.Shenevertakesashotwithoutmakingsurethehouseisincluded.WhenacowcomesnibblingaroundtheedgeoftheyardshesnapsitandmeandMaggieandthehouse.ThensheputsthePolaroidinthebackseatofthecar,andcomesupandkissesmeontheforehead.MeanwhileAsalamalakimisgoingthroughmotionswithMaggie'shand.Maggie'shandisaslimpasafish,andprobablyascold,despitethesweat,andshekeepstryingtopullitback.ItlookslikeAsalamalakimwantstoshakehandsbutwantstodoitfancy.Ormaybehedon'tknowhowpeopleshakehands.Anyhow,hesoongivesuponMaggie."Well,"Isay."Dee.""No,Mama,"shesays."Not'Dee',WangeroLeewanikaKemanjo!""Whathappenedto'Dee'?"Iwantedtoknow."She'sdead,"Wangerosaid."Icouldn'tbearitanylonger,beingnamedafterthepeoplewhooppressme.""YouknowaswellasmeyouwasnamedafteryourauntDicle,"Isaid.Dicieismysister.ShenamedDee.Wecalledher"BigDee"afterDeewasborn."Butwhowasshenamedafter?"askedWangero."IguessafterGrandmaDee,"Isaid."Andwhowasshenamedafter?"askedWangero."Hermother,"Isaid,andsawWangerowasgettingtired."That'saboutasfarbackasIcantraceit,"Isaid.Though,infact,IprobablycouldhavecarrieditbackbeyondtheCivilWarthroughthebranches."Well,"saidAsalamalakim,"thereyouare.""Uhnnnh,"IheardMaggiesay."ThereIwasnot,"Isaid,before'Dicie'croppedupinourfamily,sowhyshouldItrytotraceitthatfarback?"Hejuststoodtheregrinning,lookingdownonmelikesomebodyinspectingaModelAcar.EveryonceinawhileheandWangerosenteyesignalsovermyhead."Howdoyoupronouncethisname?"Iasked."Youdon'thavetocallmebyitifyoudon'twantto,"saidWangero."Whyshouldn'tI?"Iasked."Ifthat'swhatyouwantustocallyou,we'llcallyou.II"Iknowitmightsoundawkwardatfirst,"saidWangero."I'llgetusedtoit,"Isaid."Reamitoutagain."Well,soonwegotthenameoutoftheway.Asalamalakimhadanametwiceaslongandthreetimesashard.AfterItrippedoverittwoorthreetimeshetoldmetojustcallhimHakim-a-barber.Iwantedtoaskhimwasheabarber,butIdidn'treallythinkhewas,soIdon'task."Youmustbelongtothosebeet-cattlepeoplesdowntheroad,"Isaid.Theysaid"Asalamalakirn"whentheymetyoutoo,buttheydidn'tShakehands.Alwaystoobusyfeedingthecattle,fixingthefences,puttingupsalt-lickshelters,throwingdownhay.Whenthewhitefolkspoisonedsomeoftheherdthemenstayedupallnightwithriflesintheirhands.Iwalkedamileandahalfjusttoseethesight.Hakim-a-barbersaid,"Iacceptsomeoftheirdoctrines,butfarmingandraisingcattleisnotmystyle."(Theydidn'ttellme,andIdidn'task,whetherWangero(Dee)hadreallygoneandmarriedhim.)Wesatdowntoeatandrightawayhesaidhedidn'teatcollardsandporkwasunclean.Wangero,though,wentonthroughthechitlinsandcornbread,thegreensandevery-thingelse.Shetalkedabluestreakoverthesweetpotatoes.Everythingdelightedher.Eventhefactthatwestillusedthebenchesherdaddymadeforthetablewhenwecouldn'taffordtobuychairs."Oh,Mama!"shecried.ThenturnedtoHakim-a-barber."Ineverknewhowlovelythesebenchesare.Youcanfeeltherumpprints,"shesaid,runningherhandsunderneathherandalongthebench.ThenshegaveasighandherhandclosedoverGrandmaDee'sbutterdish."That'sit!"shesaid."IknewtherewassomethingIwantedtoaskyouifIcouldhave."Shejumpedupfromthetableandwentoverinthecornerwherethechurnstood,themilkinitclabberbynow.Shelookedatthechurnandlookedatit."ThischurntopiswhatIneed,"shesaid."Didn'tUncleBuddywhittleitoutofatreeyouallusedtohave?""Yes,"Isaid."Uhhuh,"shesaidhappily."AndIwantthedasher,too.""UncleBuddywhittlethat,too?"askedthebarber.Dee(Wangero)lookedupatme."AuntDee'sfirsthusbandwhittledthedash,"saidMaggiesolowyoualmostcouldn'thearher."HisnamewasHenry,buttheycalledhimStash.""Maggie'sbrainislikeanelephants,"Wanglerosaid,laughing."Icanusethechurntopasacenterpieceforthealcovetable,”shesaid,slidingaplateoverthechurn,"andI'llthinkofsomethingartistictodowiththedasher."回答人的补充2009-09-3018:56Whenshefinishedwrappingthedasherthehandlestuckout.Itookitforamomentinmyhands.Youdidn'tevenhavetolookclosetoseewherehandspushingthedasherupanddowntomakebutterhadleftakindofsinkinthewood.Infact,therewerealotofsmallsinks;youcouldseewherethumbsandfingershadsunkintothewood.Itwasbeautifullightyellowwood,fromatreethatgrewintheyardwhereBigDeeandStashhadlived.AfterdinnerDee(Wangero)wenttothetrunkatthefootofmybedandstartedriflingthroughit.Maggiehungbackinthekitchenoverthedishpan.OutcameWangerowithtwoquilts.TheyhadbeenpiecedbyGrandmaDeeandthenBigDeeandmehadhungthemonthequiltframesonthefrontporchandquiltedthem.OnewasintheLoneStarpattern.TheotherwasWalkAroundtheMountain.InbothofthemwerescrapsofdressesGrandmaDeehadwornfiftyandmoreyearsago.BitsandpiecesofGrandpaJarrell'sPaisleyshirts.Andoneteenyfadedbluepiece,aboutthesizeofapennymatchbox,thatwasfromGreatGrandpaEzra'suniformthatheworeintheCivilWar."Mama,"Wangerosaidsweetasabird."CanIhavetheseoldquilts?"Iheardsomethingfallinthekitchen,andaminutelaterthekitchendoorslammed."Whydon'tyoutakeoneortwooftheothers?”1asked."TheseoldthingswasjustdonebymeandBigDeefromsometopsyourgrandmapiecedbeforeshedied.""No,"saidWangero."Idon'twantthose.Theyarestitchedaroundthebordersbymachine.""That'llmakethemlastbetter,"Isaid."That'snotthepoint,"saidWanglero."TheseareallpiecesofdressesGrandmausedtowear.Shedidallthisstitchingbyhand.Imagine!"Sheheldthequiltssecurelyinherarms,strokingthem."Someofthepieces,likethoselavenderones,comefromoldclotheshermotherhandeddowntoher,”Isaid,nmgouvpitotouchthequilts.Dee(Wangero)movedbackjustenoughsothatIcouldn'treachthequilts.Theyalreadybelongedtoher."Imagine!"shebreathedagain,clutchingthemcloselytoherbosom."Thetruthis,"Isaid,"IpromisedtogivethemquiltstoMaggie,forwhenshemarriesJohnThomas."Shegaspedlikeabeehadstungher."Maggiecan'tappreciatethesequilts!"shesaid."She'dprobablybebackwardenoughtoputthemtoeverydayuse.""Ireckonshewould,"Isaid."GodknowsIbeensavage'emforlongenoughwithnobodyusing'em.Ihopeshewill!”Ididn'twanttobringuphowIhadofferedDee(Wangero)aquiltwhenshewentawaytocollege.Thenshehadtoldmetheywereold-fashioned,outofstyle."Butthey'repriceless!"shewassayingnow,furiously,forshehasatemper."Maggiewouldputthemonthebedandinfiveyearsthey'dbeinrags.Lessthanthat!""Shecanalwaysmakesomemore,”Isaid."Maggieknowshowtoquilt."Dee(Wangero)lookedatmewithhatred."Youjustwillnotunderstand.Thepointisthesequilts,thesequilts!""Well,"Isaid,,stumped."Whatwouldyoudowiththem?""Hangthem,"shesaid.Asitthatwastheonlythingyoucoulddowithquilts.Maggiebynowwasstandinginthedoor.Icouldalmosthearthesoundherfeetmadeastheyscrapedovereachother."Shecanhavethem,Mama,”shesaidlikesomebodyusedtoneverwinninganything,orhavinganythingreservedforher."Ican'memberGrandmaDeewithoutthequilts."Ilookedatherhard.Shehadfilledherbottomlipwithcheckerberrysnuffanditgaveherfaceakindofdopey,hangdoglook.ItwasGrandmaDeeandBigDeewhotaughtherhowtoquiltherself.Shestoodtherewithherscarredhandshiddeninthefoldsofherskirt.Shelookedathersisterwithsomethinglikefearbutshewasn'tmadather.ThiswasMaggie'sportion.ThiswasthewaysheknewGodtowork.WhenIlookedatherlikethatsomethinghitmeinthetopofmyheadandrandowntothesolesofmyfeet.JustlikewhenI'minchurchandthespiritofGodtouchesmeandIgethappyandshout.IdidsomethingIneverhaddonebefore:huggedMaggietome,thendraggedheronintotheroom,snatchedthequiltsoutofMissWangero'shandsanddumpedthemintoMaggie'slap.Maggiejustsatthereonmybedwithhermouthopen."Takeoneortwooftheothers,"IsaidtoDee.ButsheturnedwithoutawordandwentouttoHakim-a-barber."Youjustdon'tunderstand,"shesaid,asMaggieandIcameouttothecar."Whatdon'tIunderstand?"Iwantedtoknow."Yourheritage,"shesaid.AndthensheturnedtoMaggie,kissedher,andsaid,"Yououghttotrytomakesome-thingofyourself,too,Maggie.It'sreallyanewdayforus.ButfromthewayyouandMamastillliveyou'dneverknowit."Sheputonsomesunglassesthathideverythingabovethetipofhernoseandherchin.Maggiesmiled;maybeatthesunglasses.Butarealmile,notscared.AfterwewatchedthecardustsettleIaskedMaggietobringmeadipofsnuff.Andthenthetwoofussattherejustenjoying,untilitwastimetogointhehouseandgotobed.NOTESAliceWalker:born1944inEatonton,Georgia,AmericaandgraduatedfromSarahLawrenceCollege.HerbooksincludeTheThirdLifeofGrangeCopeland(1970),Meridian(1976),TheColorPurple(1982),etc."madeit":tobecomeasuccess,tosucceed,eitherinspecificendeavororingeneralJohnnyCarson:amanwhorunsalatenighttalkshowhooked:injuredbythehornofthecowbeingmilkedJimmyT:'T'istheinitialofthesurnameoftheboyDeewascourting."Wa-su-zo-Tean-o!":phoneticrenderingofanAfricandialectsalutation"Asalamalakim":phoneticrenderingofaMuslimgreetingPolaroid:acamerathatproducesinstantpicturestheCivilWar:thewarbetweentheNorthandtheSouthintheU.S.(1861-1865)branches:branchesordivisionsofafamilydescendingfromacommonancestorReamitoutagain:"Ream"isperhapsanAfricandialectwordmeaning:"unfold,display".Hencethephrasemaymean"repeat"or"sayitonceagain"porkwasunclean:Muslimsareforbiddenbytheirreligiontoeatporkbecauseitisconsideredtobeunclean.Chitlins:alsochitlingsorchitterlings,thesmallintestinesofpigs,usedforfood,acommondishinAfro-Americanhouseholdsrumpprints:depressionsinthebenchesmadebyconstantsittingsink:depressionsinthewoodofthehandleleftbythethumbsandfingers外婆的日用家当艾丽斯?沃克尔我就在这院子里等候她的到来。我和麦姬昨天下午已将院子打扫得干干净净，地面上还留着清晰的扫帚扫出的波浪形痕迹，这样的院子比一般人想象的要舒服，它不仅仅是一个院子，简直就像一间扩大了的客厅。当院子的泥土地面被打扫得像屋里的地板一样干净，四周边缘的细沙面上布满不的细纹时，任何人都可以进来坐一下，一边抬头仰望院中的榆树，一边等着享受从来吹不进屋内的微风。麦姬在她姐姐离去之前将会一直心神不定：她将会神情沮丧地站在角落里，一面为自己的丑陋面孔和胳膊大腿上晒出的累累疤痕而自惭形秽，一面怀着既羡慕又敬畏的心情怯生生地看着她姐姐。她觉得她姐姐真正是生活的主人，想要什么便能得到什么，世界还没有学会对她说半个“不”字。你一定从电视片上看到过“闯出了江山”的儿女突然出乎意料地出现在那跌跌撞撞从后台走出来的父母面前的场面。（当然，那场面必定是令人喜悦的：假如电视上的父母和儿女之间相互攻击辱骂，他们该怎么样呢？）在电视上，母亲和儿女见面总是相互拥抱和微笑。有时父母会痛哭流涕，而那发迹了的孩子就会紧紧地拥抱他们，并隔着桌子伸过头来告诉他们说若没有他们的帮助，她自己就不会有今日的成就。我自己就看过这样的电视节目。有时候我在梦里梦见迪伊和我突然成了这种电视节目的剧中人。我从一辆黑色软座垫大轿车上一下来，立刻被人引进一间宽敞明亮的屋子里。屋里有许多人，其中一个身材高大威武，满面微笑，有点像著名电视节目主持人约翰尼.卡森的美男子迎上来和我握手，并对我说我养了个好女儿。然后，我们来到台前，迪伊热泪盈眶地拥抱着我，还把一朵大大的兰花别在我的衣服上，尽管她曾对我说过兰花是很低级的花。在现实生活中，我是一个大块头、大骨架的妇女，有着干男人活儿的粗糙双手。冬天睡觉时我穿着绒布睡衣，白天身穿套头工作衫。我能像男人一样狠狠地宰猪并收拾干净。我身上的脂肪是我在寒冬也能保暖。我能整天在户外干活儿，敲碎冰块，取水洗衣。我能吃从刚宰杀的猪体内切下来、还冒着热气、而后在明火上烧熟的猪肝。有一年冬天，我用一把大铁锤击倒一头公牛，锤子正大在小牛两眼之间的大脑上。天黑之前，我把牛肉挂起来凉着。不过，这一切当然都没有在电视上出现过。我的女儿希望我的样子是：体重减去一百磅，皮肤像下锅煎之前的大麦面饼那样细腻光泽，头发在炽热耀眼的灯光下闪闪发亮。而且，我还是一个伶牙俐齿的人，说起话来妙语连珠，就连约翰尼.卡森也望尘莫及。可是，这是个错误，我还没醒来之前就知道了。谁听说约翰逊家的人士伶牙俐齿的？谁能想象我敢直视一个陌生的白人？和他们讲话时，我总是紧张不安，随时准备溜走。我的头总是转到离他们最远的方向。不过，迪伊就不这样。她对任何人都不畏惧。犹豫不决可不是她的本性。“我看上去怎么样啊，妈妈？”麦姬的声音传来。她那瘦小的身躯几乎被一件粉红色裙子和大红罩衫全遮住了，人有躲在门背后，身子给门遮去一大半，我好容易才看出她来。“快出屋到院子里来，”我说。你有没有见到过一个跛了腿的动物，比如说一只狗，被一个粗心莽撞的有钱买得起汽车的人压伤后侧着身子向一个愚昧的对它示关切的人走去时的样子？我的麦姬走路时就是那个样子。自从那次大火烧跨房屋之事发生后，她一直是这个样子，下巴贴近胸口，眼盯着地面，走路拖着脚。迪伊生的比麦姬白一些，头发也好看一些，身材也丰满一些。她现在已是一个成年女子了，不过我经常忘记这一事实。那座房屋被火烧毁是多久以前的事？十年？十二年？有时候我似乎还能听见燃烧的火焰发出的呼呼的响声，可以感觉到麦姬用手紧紧抓住我，看到她的头发冒烟，她的衣服烧成黑灰一片片脱落的情景。当时她的眼睛瞪得大大的，亮亮的，反射出闪烁着的火苗。还有迪伊，我远远看见她站在她经常从其中挖树胶的那棵香枫胶树底下，望着屋上最后一块烧成灰黑色的木板朝着烧红了的滚烫的砖砌烟囱方向塌下来时，她脸上呈现出一幅非常专注的神色。你干吗不在那堆废墟上跳个舞？我当时像这样问她。她对那所房屋恨得要命。过去我以为她也讨厌麦姬。但是那是在教堂和我筹钱送她到奥古斯塔上学之前的事。那时她常给我们读点什么，读时毫无同情之心，将文字、谎言、别人的习惯以及整个生活强加于我俩。我和麦姬毫无办法，一无所知地困坐在那里，她的声音凌驾于我们之上。她对我们灌输一大堆编造出来的事物以及我们不需要掌握的知识。她严肃地强迫我们听她读书，把我们两人看成傻瓜一样，刚有点似懂非懂的时候又把我们挥之而去。迪伊好打扮。中学毕业时她要一件黄色玻璃纱连衣裙穿着去参加毕业典礼；为了与她用别人送我的一套旧衣服改制的绿色套服配着穿，她又要了一双黑色浅口皮鞋。她要什么东西时总是不顾一切地拼命地要，不达目的不罢休，她可以一连好几分钟不眨眼地死瞪着你。我常常是费了好大的劲才克制住自己没把她抓着使劲摇抖。到十六岁时她的言谈举止开始形成自己的风格，她也知道什么叫时髦。我自己从未受过教育。我上完小学二年级时，学校关门了。别问我为什么：1927年时有色人种不像现在问这么多问题。有时麦姬给我读点东西。她温厚地、结结巴巴地读者，因为她看不清楚。她知道自己不聪明。正如姣好的相貌和金钱一样，机敏也没有光顾她。不久她就要嫁给约翰.托马斯（他有一张诚实的面孔和一口像长了苔的牙齿）。麦姬结婚后，我将闲坐在家里，也许只对自己唱唱教堂歌曲，尽管我从来唱不好，总是走调，我对于男人活儿倒是更在行。我一向喜欢挤牛奶，直到1949年我的肋部被牛顶伤了为止。母牛生性恬静、动作缓慢，不会伤害人，除非你挤奶时动作不得法。我故意背对这房子。这房子有三个房间，除屋顶是锡皮的外，其他方面都与被烧掉的那所房屋一样。现在再也找不到做木瓦屋顶的了。房子没有真正的窗户，只是侧面墙上挖了几个洞，有点像船上的舷窗，但又不是圆的，也不是方形的。窗格子向外开，用生牛皮悬吊起来。这房子也像那所被烧的房子一样建在一个牧场上。毫无疑问，只要迪伊看见这所房子，她一定又要毁掉它。她曾写信告诉我说，无论我们“选择”何处定居，她都会设法来看我们，但却不会带她的朋友上门。麦姬和我对这话考虑了一会，麦姬突然问我：“妈妈，迪伊什么时候有过朋友的呀？”她有过几个朋友的。有的是在洗衣日放学后到处闲荡得穿着粉红衬衣的鬼鬼祟祟的男孩子；有的是从来不笑一笑得神经质的女孩子。他们为她所吸引，并崇拜她的得体的言语、她的漂亮身材以及她那像碱水里的起泡一样的尖酸幽默。她还为他们读书。她在追求吉米的那段日子里便没有时间来管我们的闲事，而是把她的全副挑刺儿的本领全部用在他的身上。可他很快娶了一个很差劲儿的、出身于愚昧而俗气的家庭的城市姑娘。当时她难过得很，冷静不下来。她到这儿来时我要去迎接——但他们已经到了。麦姬拔腿就要往屋里跑去，但我第一眼看见从车上下来的那条腿就知道那是迪伊。她的腿看起来总是那么齐整，好像是上帝亲自为她特意定做的似的。从车子的另一边走下来一个矮胖的男人，他满头的头发都有一英尺长，从下巴颏上垂下来，像一只卷毛的骡子尾巴。我听见麦姬吸气的声音，听起来像是“呃”音，就像你路上突然发像一条蛇尾巴在你脚尖前蠕动时发出的声音。“呃。”接着我便看见了迪伊。这样大热天里，她竟穿着一件拖地长裙。裙子的颜色也花哨的耀眼，大块大块的黄色和橙色，亮得可以反射太阳的光线。我感到我的整个脸颊都被它射出的热浪烫的热烘烘的。耳环也是金的，并且直垂到肩膀上。臂上还带着手镯，当她举起胳臂去抖动腋窝部衣服上的皱褶时，臂上的手镯叮当作响。衣裙长大宽松，迎风飘荡。当她走近时，我觉得挺好看。我听见麦姬又发出“呃”声，这次是为她姐姐的发型而发的。她姐姐的头发向羊毛一样挺得直直的，像黑夜一样乌黑，边上扎着两根长辫子，像两条小蜥蜴，左盘右绕在耳朵后面。“瓦-苏-左-提-诺！”她一边说着，一边拖着长裙步态轻盈飘然而至。随着她的一句“阿萨拉马拉吉姆，我母亲和妹妹！”那位头发垂至肚脐眼的矮胖男人也笑着走上前来。他作势要拥抱麦姬，但麦姬下的往后退，直到我的椅子背挡住她的退路为止。我感觉到她身子在发抖，抬头一看，只见汗水从她的下巴上直往下滴。“别站起来，”迪伊说道。因为我长的肥胖，站起来颇需费点劲。你瞧，我身子要挪动挪动才站得起来。她转身往汽车方向走回去。我可以透过她穿的凉鞋看到她的白生生的脚后跟。接着他拿起一架“拍立来”照相机瞄过来。她很快蹲下去抢拍了一张又一张的照片，选取的镜头都是我坐在屋前，而麦姬缩成一团躲在我背后。她每拍一张照片总要认认真真地选好镜头把屋子拍进去。当一头奶牛走过来在院子边啃青草时，她立即抢镜头把它和我和麦姬、房子一起拍了一张照片。然后，她将照相机放在汽车的后排座位上，跑过来吻了吻我的前额。与此同时，阿萨拉马拉吉姆正在努力拉着麦姬的手行礼。麦姬的手像鱼一样软弱无力，恐怕也像鱼一样冷冰冰的，尽管她身上正在出汗。而且她还一个劲儿地把手往后缩。看起来阿萨拉马拉吉姆是想同她握手，但又想把握手的动作做的时髦花哨一点。也许是她不晓得正当的握手规矩。不管怎么说，她很快就放