《On The Same Days》橄榄树

10、2nd Augustus 2002 Friday Doetinchem

　　Het geluk zit in een klein hoekje (Happiness hides in a small corner)

　　Those little monsters were crying again. God, Christina struggled to her feet, under the dim street light through the curtains, she saw Meily stood in her cage staring at her, saw Christina wasn’t her mother, and the crying gets louder. Every mid-night, these monsters had to be fed again. She ran to the kitchen, grab the two milk bottles and milk powder out of the cabinet, 4 spoonful powder, 200ml hot water, or 250ml again?

　　God, quickly turning the tap, waiting the water to get hot, poured the water in and shaking the bottles, hoping Meily hadn’t woke brother up yet. She ran back to the babies’ room, as expected the other monster Simon was also standing in his cage contesting with his sister who would tear the roof down first.
　　Christina held two bottles in both hands and tried to put them in their mouth, Meily saw no mom coming, turned her head vigorously left and right to refuse the milk bottle meanwhile screaming like hell, Simon had already sucked two mouthful of milk but suddenly spited the bottle out as well and joined the screaming contest again. Christina wished she’d be allowed to join as well, she could shout even harder.

　　The baby room’s door opened, Laura came in, took the bottles over from Christina, felt a drop with her tone, “too hot”, she said, then went to the kitchen and splashed it under cold water for a while, back again, fed the two monsters at the same time, Meily sucked with triumphant eyes to Christina, while Simon sucked with eyes full of complain. What had she done? Why did she have to feel so wronged? Christina asked herself in silence, half sleepy. She couldn’t go to her bed while the mother was helping her out in feeding these monsters.

　　Christina had to be on her duty, she was the babysitter. Till the two contently lay back in their cages with a full tummy, Christina helped to cover them under blankets then went back to her bed again, right beside the cages after a foldable wooden framed shield.
　　She swore to herself not in a million years would she ever have a child of her own once again then fell into sleep immediately.

　　“Ah oooh,” “xixi”, god, these monsters, Christina fought to open her eyes, 5:36, in the morning! It was barely light, the two monsters were standing in their cages and talking and giggling to each other in their own languages. What the hell, they got to sleep for some more time, otherwise they would be sleepy very early this morning, then very early this evening too, then woke up even more early tomorrow morning, god, please break the vicious cycle.
　　Please bless these monsters just lie down again and sleep for another hour at least.

　　“Aha ooh,” Christina observed them through her half opened eyes. Simon was playing with his elephant, the one with music sound if the tail is stretched. Meily was trying to stake her hand into Simon’s cage to grab it, she got the ear, and they started to pull, with noises from their mouths and noses. Simon had never won in any battle over his sister who was born one hour later than he was, this time neither. Meily proudly held the elephant back in her cage and played the tail, “wuaaaaaa…”Simon started another contest of tears and nasal noodles, declaring the opening of another day.

　　Christina quickly jumped in her clothes hung on the shield, took the nightgown off from the monsters, changed their diapers, and set them out of their cages. Immediately they forgot the elephant, but trying to explore out the baby room door. The parents must be still in bed. Christina quickly moved to block their way to the door.

　　She took the plastic building blocks and chained trains from the window sill on the very low round table, knowing the twins are curiously watching, then stapled the blocks very high and swayed it on purpose and acted scared for the potential falling, “oh, don’t fall, don’t fall’ while the two were giggling “val val”, they couldn’t really talk yet, both near 18 months old, then the building suddenly fell down, they giggled more and picked up all the blocks back on table.

　　It took Christina quite some energy to arbitrage the twins so that they finally each settled with one toy, Simon the block and Meily the train. But in less than 5 minutes, with all the building blocks and train blocks falling allover the ground they marched to the door again. Christina took the whole box of toys from the cupboard and pretended to keep the box for herself, they both came after her and running around the table twice then grabbed the box down.

　　The 3 of them sit on the carpet, started to pick up one thing after another from the magic box, teddy bears, long arm monkeys, lollipops, music box, each would hold their attention for around 5 minutes, then Meily discovered a whistle flute, she flew it with full strength before Christina’s could stop it, now the parents must be woke up by the sharp whistle.

　　The twins suddenly ran to the door, Laura was pulling smiles behind the glass. Relieved, Christina picked up all the animals and toys back into the big cartoon box again, folded the nightgown of the twins. Then she went on to tidy up the bed of her own and the cages of the twins. God, this was just a morning, far from a day yet, she hadn’t even washed up.

　　It had been 10 days already since Christina moved in this baby room; she left her things in Anna’s summer house. Laura called her for an interview after she came back from Shanghai with her husband, she knew Christina was not experienced with children, but satisfied with both of their schedules, as the family would move back to shanghai in September again.

　　As a matter of fact Christina was utterly shocked when she came for the interview, she was received by the husband from the bus stop, a Dutch man aged over 50, she thought his Chinese wife did have a young voice, when she saw Laura, she found out she did not only have a young voice, but also a young face too. She looked really young, must be less than 30, she thought. Truly beautiful, very tall and slim, dressed as those singers in MTV, she could be a movie star in China.

　　Christina learned later on that Laura is 36 already and her Dutch husband is 52, not a very unacceptable difference actually. They met in her husband’s firm in Shanghai, when they were both married with their own country folks and raising children with someone else, later on they both get divorced and married with each other.

　　The twins were born here for the sake of citizenship. They spent most of their time in Shanghai. This time the husband had to come back to deal with some legal matters with his ex-wife. Apparently before the ex-wife got married with someone else, it would be his responsibility to take care of her life since he made more money.

　　Again, Christina only read this kind of stories in books before, she had always choose to stand on the side of those ex-es who were dumped, yet she saw Laura as quite a nice person. Laura was at least honest, admitted her regret to her ex and her son who lived with her ex. Besides, Christina saw how Laura was treating these two monsters, with great love. Christina admired the great patience from Laura.

　　In fact Christina was only keeping an eye on the twins for Laura to cook meals, clean up the whole house, doing the laundry and grocery, giving water to the plants on balcony. Laura had to do all these very quick otherwise she may find 3 dead bodies in house.

　　Christina never really understood what prisoner means till she saw Laura, at least Christina was going to have her placement in a month time, but Laura had no break till these monsters would turn into some kind of human being. One day already felt like ages, how long would it take for them to grow up?

　　Breakfast had always been a disaster. Laura tried to feed the twins some apple puree and eggs, but the twins only wanted chips. Laura didn’t want them to cry and ruin the whole table; so she let them continue with their chips. The father refused adopt the soft-handed approach in raising children, he said that was something very Chinese, children had to learn disciplines, yes would be a yes, no would be a no. So he decisively set the twins outside of the kitchen door.

　　They cried like hell in anger, pleading Laura with their eyes. Laura couldn’t eat her own breakfast either. She sat there with her cloudy face, she hated it when he interfered her way to raise the children, the kids were still too small to understand any disciplines, she never bothered him on he managed his firm?

　　The father ate his breakfast up as usual and kissed his wife and crying children for goodbye. Then shout back at Laura with one foot outside the door, “I will be back early today, we go to visit my mother, it is her birthday today, Saskia come with us too.”

　　Laura took the twins indoor again after the father’s car disappeared from the corner. She fed them the eggs again, this time they did eat. It seemed discipline did work after all.

　　Around half past 9, the house was in order again. Laura took the double seat baby trolley out. Mostly they took the children with them when doing groceries or just for a random walk if the weather was nice. Christina dressed the twins up. She couldn’t handle those soft little arms at the beginning, wouldn’t dare to pull or turn them for fear of breaking them. Now she learned to dress them quickly with a rather hard hand, otherwise it would take you forever to get the other arm or leg in the same piece of cloth, and if you are not quick enough they will run away with only one shoe on.

　　It was a very small town, Doetinchem, as a matter of fact, a village actually, not much bigger than Christina’s village at home. But it had everything, a post office, a few banks, those chain stores and supermarkets like HEMA, Blocker, Etos and AH, C1000, and many buses to nearby cities and a train station a few steps away from town center. They wheeled the children around in the sound of bells from the little church; all the cafes were still closed.

　　Many pigeons flying around seeking bread scrapes, the twins got always excited when seeing the pigeons one minutes still walking in front of their car, the next minutes already flew high up to the sky. They stoke their hands out, trying to stand up from their seat to follow the pigeons; Christina had to push trolley really fast so that they couldn’t manage to stand up at all. Christina often does push the trolley around the church; try to surprise after those pigeon groups, with the twin giggling aloud.

　　When they got back home an hour later, Saskia was already waiting outside door. She was the sister of the twins from the father side. She hated Laura for quite long because her family was tore apart by this evil Chinese, later on she found out Laura wasn’t as bad as she expected, besides she wouldn’t say no for her father’s financial support simply because of this Chinese woman.

　　The twins were something else, they were her little brother and sister, and she loved them. Despite whatever played in the air, Christina felt a little bit relaxed as Saskia performing her sisterhood tasks and playing with the two little monsters. But Tina was paid to stay here; she couldn’t sit in sofa watching TV, so she helped Laura preparing their lunch instead, a far much easier task then to keep those children busy.

　　But Saskia was not much better than Christina. She couldn’t really keep them away from pulling around Laura’s legs either. Laura gave the 4 of them each an ice cream just to keep the twins quiet; they kept indeed quiet for a while before dropping around the smelt chocolate on the carpet and pawing their creamy hands on Laura’s nice blue skirt.

　　Laura fed the twins first, as they had to wait for the father. When lunch started, the twins were already full. Which turned the lunch into an even bigger disaster then breakfast as the twins kept playing their forks with all the dishes without eat anything, just don’t even think about the dinner.

　　It is around 2 pm, the 3 adults and 2 children were squeezed into the father’s car, on the way to the grandma’s birthday. Christina never heard anyone talked about this grandma before today, she had no idea either where did the elder lady live, with which son or daughter, she never even heard that the father had any brothers or sisters.

　　The drive seemed endless. The twins were always very difficult in cars. They couldn’t move, tightly bonded to their seats, they could only eat or staring out of the window. No giggling, they were bored to death, except when they caught a glance of some cows or sheep. Christina ran out all her tricks with the only two small toys they brought with them, besides, Christina used to have car sick, especially after such an early wake up morning, she felt dizzy and clumsy as she tries to remember what should come after “Jingle bells, Jingles bell, Jingle all the way, lalala…”

　　After ages, the twins fell into asleep. They drove into a bigger city, stopped at a flower shop; Laura picked up some flowers and two pot of plants. Then they parked outside of a big apartment with all red window shields. They woke the children up, marched to the apartment, Christina saw the “Bejaadentehuis” on the board as they came near, so, old people’s home. Apparently the lady was not living with any sons or daughters. A nice girl at reception smiles and greeted all of them. The hall was rather nicely decorated. They walked up the stairs to the grandma’s room-312.

　　The room was full. The twin’s father did have brothers as well as a twin sister. They were all here for the old lady’s birthday. The room wasn’t really small. There was a balcony full of flowers and plant pots, a big bed at one side of the room, two sofas and a table at the other side. It also had a private washing room. Around 10 people were trying to settle themselves down somewhere, Christina had no idea where should she sit or what should she do as the twins suddenly became the focus of the whole group, as if it was the twin’s instead of their grandma’s.

　　The grandma was already not very clear with her head, she kept ask Laura the same question over and over again about when did she come back from Beijing, “Shanghai, mom,” the twin sister of the father corrected the old woman, “oh, ja, Shanghai, is this your sister then?” she started to talk with Christina, Christina had great difficulties in understanding her Dutch from the half teethed mouth.

　　Someone brought those bloody sweet cakes and chocolates. The twins were struggling to feed themselves with anything that approachable from the table. Christina ran after them to fight those bloody chocolates out of their hands, the father wouldn’t be happy if they manage to swallow too many sweets; Simon was already quite a weighty child.

　　They didn’t stay by the old lady for long, something like one and half hours maybe, then all the guests got up and kissing goodbye to each other and headed to their own cars. When then started the engine under the old lady’s watching from her balcony, they waved their hands to her and drove away.

　　The father and Saskia talked about his schedules and her driving lessons. Laura was trying to cheer the twins up. No one even said one word about that old birthday lady up her balcony at all. Christina didn’t know what to think, she knew for long that family ties were loose here, not if she saw how the father was caring for the twins, even Saskia, but to those elders…while, they did get nurses in those homes to take care of them, might be much better and convenient than to stay with any of their sons or daughters.

　　The twins got sleepy very early as they didn’t get a proper lunch-sleep except in the car, right after the third disastrous meal of the day, they already started to cry for nothing, a sign of wanting to go to bed. Christina gave them a bath, dressed them in their nightgowns. Laura tried to keep them up for a little while then send them to their cages. Laura started the last round of cleaning up the kitchen and the whole house. Christina went for her shower. No one dared to go into the baby’s room before the twins would get too tired of the crying before falling into asleep. Usually it took more than half an hour.

　　It was not yet seven o’clock when Christina finished her shower. God, the two little devils might get up even before 5 the next morning. But she’d only get headaches if she also went to bed right away. Quietly Christina sneaked in the babies’ room, checked her mobile for missed messages. She always set the sounds off as it might ring during the twins sleep.
　　Nothing, good, it felt like a complete no where land since Christina moved in here, time seemed to have no meaning anymore, one day after another, it was just the same, simple yet busy like hell, too long to bear.

　　Luckily both Laura and the father were nice people, she never felt being treated as an inferior class or whatever, they asked her stories and even offered if she couldn’t find new place to live she could stay there further after they left for Shanghai. Though not really feasible, as it took hours to get to Amsterdam, or the Happy Concern. But it was really very nice of them to expressed concerns of her situation.

　　Christina hadn’t checked her mail ever since she moved in here. No Internet café in town, every family simply had their own computers and networks, no time to go anywhere. She knew the father had a laptop in his little office at home, but she felt a bit rude to ask.

　　“Join us for a drink?” asked the father from the kitchen seeing her in the hallway.
　　“No, thanks, I was just wondering if you have internet access at home, honestly I didn’t mean to bother you at all, it is just I haven’t checked my mail account for quite some days…”
　　“Come for a drink with us first, then you are allowed to use my computer, what would you like, apple juice or orange juice?”
　　“Apple juice please, thanks a lot.”

　　“You are such a polite girl, totally different from Laura.”
　　“She might be more confident than I am.” Christina was not really aware of what was he talking about.
　　“My friend told me that you were very helpful when you translate him the baby’s documents.” Aha, Christina remembered. A Dutch couple came over to visit Laura one day, to ask her translate some personal details of a 4 years old Chinese girl. They had been on the waiting list for 6 years already to adopt a child; they would go to pick up this Chinese girl from an orphanage next month.

　　Christina was so impressed at their eagerness to know every detail of this little girl dumped into an orphanage for whatever reasons, she knew this little girl would be on the right track now, maybe she should ask around if there are any old couples who might in any case want to adopt someone ages 23. Laura wasn’t really good at translate, so Christina took it over.
　　They brought the picture of the little girl with them, an ordinary girl in a winter coat, “Isn’t she beautiful?” the future mother asked affectionately, Christina said the tiny girl was a beautiful angel and she’d pick up Dutch and talk with them in their languages in no time. They were very glad and relieved to hear it. They were so much in tense. They even bought some Chinese cartoon books in case they couldn’t talk with the future daughter.

　　Laura looked at the photo of the girl too, said that was just an ordinary looking girl, not beautiful, not ugly either, she told the truth. She didn’t quite realize the couples’ longing for a child as she had the twins around. But they had tea and chatted about the twins, they had quite nice time together that afternoon.

　　“Oh, them, I am very relieved that a poor Chinese girl is going to have a totally different future, in some way, I felt they are helping my people rather then I help them.”

　　They went to the living room, joined Laura on the sofa. Laura was knitting a scarf for Simon. That’s another reason Christina liked her. Laura spent hundreds of euros everyday on food or cloths or flowers, but she still enjoyed doing something with her own hands.

　　“Christina, you tell me, what did I do wrong, I treated them with hospitality and they complain I insulted their future daughter. I can’t believe it.” Laura was obviously frustrated. She thought all the Dutch appreciated straightforward honesty.
　　“No, you’ve done nothing wrong. It is just they are so fragile and nervous at this stage that they have to look for something to blame. You gave them the chance.” Christina knew to be straight with Laura.
　　“But it turned out to be a good thing for you.”
　　“What does that mean?” Christina was a bit taken aback, was Laura mad at her reaction to them?
　　“You told us that you have nowhere to stay in Amsterdam now,” the father joined.
　　“That is why I want to check e-mails, maybe there will be news about the HAS apartment.”
　　“Do you know what the profession of my friend is? He is a real estate agent. I mentioned your situation when he thanked me for your help the other day. He said he would look around and see if he may find something suitable in Amsterdam for you. Just now he called and told that there might be a house available from October, the kind of house that you may register under you name and live there forever as long as you pay the rent, which means you are some kind of owner of the house, no fear to be thrown out.” He talked normally as if Christina would get this kind offer everyday.

　　Christina got almost a heart attack. God, what was he talking about, a house, to put under her name? She bitted her finger, “ouch”, not a dream. But she was a foreigner, not a permanent resident yet, just a student with a yearly student visa, would one month from babysitting enough for deposits and all that?

　　“God, it is not going to be true!” she spoke the last sentence out loud.
　　“It can be true if you want to. Shall I tell him to reserve the house for you? Not advertise it to others I mean.” He asked friendly.
　　“But how much is it going to cost, I surely can not afford that?” Christina was desperate.
　　“ No worries, it’s a regular rental, you do not need to pay deposits, only the monthly rent and the house is not big, with the salaries you get from us, you can already pay 2 to 3months rent in advance.” The father beamed.
　　“That’s great; please do let him know how grateful I am. I hope I am not in the middle of a nice dream am I?”
　　“Just believe you have good luck.” They both laughed.
　　“Actually you may go back with me to Shanghai in September, then come back for the house in October, you may even go back home a few days as my mother will help me with the twins.” Proposed Laura,

　　Christina did feel her eyes getting warm, “Thanks Laura, I’d love to, but I have to stay here to extend my residence permit, besides I promised to start the placement in a firm begin September. Maybe I will be able to go back to China once for that placement firm, I will go to see you in Shanghai if I pass by there.”

　　“Sure you will. Now go to check your e-mail, you don’t have to ask me, just open the laptop yourself and dial for connection whenever you want to check you mail.”
　　“Thanks a lot.” Maybe after a whole lot of disasters, good luck would visit you once or twice, Christina walked to the little office upstairs with a dreamy smile.

　　Her mailbox was overloaded with junk. She canceled pages after pages till the red warning disappears. Lisa got her placement in Paramount, in financial department.

　　Christina wasn’t surprised, but very happy that Lisa’s time came. She said she would invite her little brother and Christina for a nice dinner on the Floriade day, oh, God, Christina totally forgot their appointment at Floriade, how the hell could she go without the twins for a whole day? She had to cancel it, what a pity she couldn’t catch a look of that little brother of Lisa. She would send the personnel pass to Lisa then Lisa wouldn’t have to pay for the entrance.

　　Helen was back to Taiwan just for vacation. Jenny was back to Hong Kong.
　　Anna was going to attend a symposium in Beijing for nearly two months! Beijing, wow, it would be the first time that Anna would stay in China without Christina.
　　Maria was telling stories of her son, daughter and granddaughter, inviting Christina for dinner. Of course Christina couldn’t.
　　Happy Concern told the working permit for placement was ready.
　　Nothing from Ling

　　阿川的译文：

　　2002年八月2日 Doeatinchem
　　幸福有时候就藏在不经意的角落

　　小怪物们又哭了。上帝，Christina费尽力气爬起来，借着透过窗帘的街灯灯光，看见Meily站在婴儿床上盯着她，发觉Christina不是妈妈，哭得更大声了。每天半夜，要喂这些小怪物一次奶。她跑进厨房，从橱柜里抓出两人的奶瓶和奶粉，4勺奶粉，200毫升热水，还是250毫升来着？

　　上帝，她迅速打开开关，等水热起来，把水倒进瓶子，边摇晃边希望Meily还没把哥哥弄醒。等她跑回婴儿室，不出所料，另一个小怪物Simon也站在婴儿床上，正跟他妹妹比赛谁能先把屋顶哭下来。

　　Christina 两手各抓一只奶瓶，试图塞到他们嘴里，Meily看见妈妈没来，使出吃奶的力气把头摇来摆去，不让奶瓶进嘴，同时嘶声儿尖叫，Simon已经吸了两口奶，可是突然也把奶嘴吐了出来，重新加入了尖叫大赛。Christina希望她也有资格参加比赛，她有本事叫得更大声。

　　婴儿室的门开了，Laura走进来，从Christina手里拿过奶瓶，用舌头舐了一滴奶，“太烫了”，她说，然后进了厨房，用凉水跋了一会儿，重新回来，同时给两个小怪物喂奶。Meily吸着奶，用胜利的眼光看着Christina，Simon也吸着奶，满眼控诉。她到底做错了什么？为什么她觉得自己根本一无是处？Christina半梦半醒，无声地问自己。孩子的妈妈还在这儿帮她喂这些小怪物，她不可能径自回去睡觉。

　　Christina是保姆，得坚守岗位，直到俩孩子吃饱喝足，心满意足地躺回各自的婴儿床，Christina帮他们盖好毯子，然后才回到自己的床上，就在婴儿床旁边，一个可拆装的木制挡板后边。

　　她再一次对自己发誓：哪怕再过一百万年，她也不要有自己的孩子，然后就立马沉入了梦乡。

　　“啊噢，”“嘻嘻”，上帝，这些小怪物，Christina挣扎着睁开眼，5：36，凌晨！天色几乎没有亮光，俩小怪物站在婴儿床上，用他们自己的语言交谈，咯咯欢笑。真见鬼，他们得多睡一会儿，要不上午早早地就会瞌睡，接下来晚上也会早早睡觉，再接下来明天一早醒得更早，上帝，请行行好打破这种恶性循环。请保佑，让这些小怪物重新躺下，至少再睡一个小时。

　　“啊哈，噢，”Christina半睁着眼观察俩孩子，Simon在跟他的小象玩耍，一拉象的尾巴就会发出乐声，Meily正试图把手伸进Simon的小床来抓小象，她揪住了耳朵，俩人开始较劲，嘴巴鼻子哼哼唧唧。无论哪场争战，Simon从没赢过他妹妹，尽管对方比他晚出生一个小时，这次也不例外。Meily骄傲地把小象拖回自己的小床，玩弄着尾巴，“呜哇哇哇哇。。”Simon开始了又一场鼻涕眼泪的较量，宣告这一天的开幕。

　　Christina赶紧跳起来，穿上搭在挡板上的衣服，给俩个小怪物脱下睡衣，换了尿不湿，把他们抱出小床。俩人立刻忘了小象，寻思着跑出婴儿室的门。他们的父母肯定还在床上，Christina迅速堵住他们，不让他们往门边走。

　　她从窗台上的矮圆桌上拿来塑料积木和小火车车厢，知道那对双胞胎正好奇地盯着看，然后把积木订到高处，故意让积木来回摇晃，自己则做出担心积木会掉下来，害怕被砸到的表情，“哦，不要掉下来，不要掉下来”，那俩只就咯咯地笑“val val”，他们俩快满18个月了，还不太会说话。积木突然掉了下来，俩人笑得更欢，把积木捡回圆桌上。

　　Christina费了好大一番力气跟双胞胎斡旋，才让他们各自拿着一个玩具安顿下来。Simon玩积木，Meily玩火车，可是不到5分钟，所有的积木和火车车厢掉了一地，俩个又朝门口进发。Christina从茶几上拿起玩具盒子，假装要把盒子归为己有，俩个见状都来追她，绕着桌子跑了两圈，把盒子抓了回去。

　　三个人坐到地毯上，开始从魔法盒子里一件件往外掏玩具，泰迪熊，长臂猿，萝莉娃娃，音乐盒，每个能吸引他们大约5分钟，然后Meily找到了一个口琴，Christina还来不及阻止，她就使尽全身力气吹了一口，这下他们的父母肯定被尖啸声惊醒了。

　　双胞胎突然跑到门口，Laura正在玻璃后扯开笑容。Christina松了口气，把所有的动物和玩具捡回到大玩具盒里，叠好双胞胎的睡衣，然后收拾干净自己的床和双胞胎的小床。上帝，这不过才刚是早上而已，她都没捞着洗漱。

　　Christina搬进这间婴儿房已经10天了；她把自己的东西留在了Anna的夏屋里。Laura跟丈夫从上海回来后给她打电话安排面试，她知道Christina没有带孩子的经验，可是两边都觉得时间安排上很合拍，因为这一家九月份要重新回上海去。

　　说实话，Christina来面试时很震惊，这家的丈夫，一个年过50的荷兰男子，去公车站接的她，她想他的中国妻子有一副年轻的嗓音，等她看到Laura，她发现她不光声音年轻，脸也很年轻。她看上去真的很年轻，肯定不超过30，她想。非常漂亮，又高又苗条，穿着打扮跟MTV里的歌星似的，她有资格在中国作电影明星。

　　之后Christina得知Laura已经36岁了，她的荷兰丈夫52，说实话，也不是太让人接受不了的年龄差。他们在上海她丈夫的公司里相遇，当时他们俩都跟各自国内的伴侣结了婚，也有了孩子，之后就各自离了婚，俩人结了婚。

　　为了国籍，双胞胎在这儿出生。他们多部分时间呆在上海。这次丈夫回来跟前妻处理一些法律问题。很明显，在前妻重新结婚以前，他得承担起照顾她的责任，因为他挣的钱比较多。

　　又是这样，Christina以前只在书上读过这种故事，她总是选择站在那些前妻前夫一边，他们是被抛弃的，可是她明白Laura是个很好的人。至少Laura诚实，承认她很对不起她的前夫和跟了前夫的儿子。而且，Christina看见了Laura怎么对待这俩个小怪物，很有爱心。Christina佩服Laura的无尽耐心。

　　其实Christina只不过在Laura做饭，打扫房间，去洗衣店和杂货店以及浇阳台上的植物时才照看双胞胎，Laura做这所有一切都得十分迅速，要不她回房间后可能发现3具尸体。

　　见到Laura以前，Christina没真正体味过坐牢意味着什么，起码一个月后Christina可以去实习，而Laura呢，这俩小怪物长得有点儿人样儿以前别想有空闲。一天就让人觉得像几年，等他们长大得花多长时间呀？

　　早餐总是像一场灾难。Laura试图给双胞胎喂一些苹果泥和鸡蛋，可是双胞胎光想吃炸薯条。Laura不想惹他们哭叫破坏整个早餐氛围，于是她让他们接着吃薯条。养孩子方面，作父亲的拒绝采取怀柔手段，他说那样做太中国式，孩子们要学会遵守纪律，是就是是，不是就是不是。所以他很干脆地把双胞胎扔到了厨房门外。

　　俩人气坏了，哇哇大哭，用眼神儿请求Laura。Laura也吃不下饭了，沉着脸坐那儿，她讨厌他插手她教育孩子的方式，孩子们还太小了，理解不了什么是纪律，她可从来没唠叨过他怎么管理公司吧？

　　作父亲的照常吃完早饭，跟妻子和哭泣的孩子们吻别。等他一只脚跨出门去时，回头冲Laura嚷道，“今天我早回家，咱们去看我母亲，今天她生日。Saskia跟咱们一起去。”

　　作父亲的轿车消失在拐角，Laura把双胞胎抱回门里，又
　　喂他们吃鸡蛋，这次他们吃了。看起来纪律到底有作用。

　　大约9点半，屋子里终于恢复正常。Laura拿出双座婴儿车。采买杂货时他们一般带着孩子们，或者天气好就随便走走。Christina给双胞胎穿好衣服。刚开始她对付不了这些软软的小胳膊小腿，不敢拉扯怕把他们弄折了。现在她学会了动作迅速毫不手软地给他们穿衣服，要不你这辈子都来不及把另一只胳膊或腿穿进同一件衣服里，如果动作不够迅速，他们会穿着一只鞋跑掉.

　　Doetinchem,很小的城镇，其实就是个村子，不比Christina家的村子大多少。可是什么都有，一个邮局，几家银行，那些诸如Hema，, Blocker, Etos 和AH, C1000等连锁店和连锁超市，很多往附近的城市跑的公车，离镇中心几步远有个火车站。她们推着孩子在小教堂的钟声里绕了几圈；咖啡店没有一家开门的。

　　鸽子们欢快地盘旋，寻找面包渣，看着鸽子们这一分钟还在自家汽车前漫步，下一分钟就一飞冲天，双胞胎总是变得很兴奋。他们把手伸出车外，试着从座位上站起来跟着鸽子们走；Christina不得不推着车子快走，让他们想站也站不起来。她经常推着车子绕教堂转圈，跟着鸽群吓唬它们，双胞胎就咯咯咯地大声笑。

　　一个小时以后，她们回了家，saskia 已经在门外等着了。她是双胞胎的同父异母姐姐。她恨了Laura好长时间，因为这个可恶的中国女人她的家破碎了，后来她发现Laura不像她想的那么坏，而且她不想因为这个中国女人而拒绝她父亲的资助。

　　双胞胎是另一回事儿，他们是她的小弟弟小妹妹，她爱他们。不管气氛是否异样，Christina觉得稍稍松了口气，因为Saskia担起了姐姐的职责，带两个小怪物玩耍。可是她呆在这儿是有薪酬的，不可能光坐在沙发上看电视，于是她就去帮Laura准备午餐，这可比领着一刻不闲的孩子们轻松多了。

　　不过Saskia比Christina强不了多少。她也没办法阻止双胞胎去Laura身边捣乱。为了让双胞胎安静，Laura给了四个人每人一个冰激凌；他们也确实安静了一小会儿，接着就开始四处把化了的巧克力掉到地毯上，把粘粘的小手往Laura漂亮的蓝裙子上抹。

　　因为大家要等作父亲的，Laura先给双胞胎喂饭，等开始吃午饭，他们已经饱了，所以俩个小家伙用叉子挑菜玩，每个菜都玩玩可是什么也不吃，这样一来午餐变得比早餐更像一场灾难，更别提还有晚餐等在那儿。

　　大约下午2点，三个大人2个小孩儿挤进父亲的汽车，去给祖母过生日。在此之前，christina 没听任何人谈起过这位祖母，她也不知道这位老妇人住在哪儿，跟哪个儿子或女儿住，她从来没听说过这位父亲有什么兄弟姐妹。

　　车程显得没完没了。双胞胎在车上特别不好过。他们被牢牢固定在座位上不能动，只能吃东西或者朝窗外望。俩个快被闷死啦，也不咯咯笑了，除非瞟到一眼奶牛或是绵羊会好一些。他们只带来两个玩具，被Christina拿来用尽了一切招术逗他们，再说，Christina经常晕车，尤其是早上起得那么早，她一边忍住晕眩和恶心，一边使劲回想“Jingle bells, Jingle bells, Jingle all the way, lalala….”后边应该是什么词儿。

　　时间长得跟过了几年时间似的，双胞胎才睡着了。他们驶进一个稍大点儿的城市，在一家花店门口停下；Laura挑了些花和两盆植被。然后他们在一所镶红色窗框的大公寓门外泊好车，把双胞胎叫醒，朝公寓进发。走近以后，Christina看见门板上写着“Bejaadentehuis”那么，是所老人院。显然老妇人没跟儿子或女儿一起住。前台一位热心的女孩子微笑着招呼他们。大厅装饰得相当不错。他们走楼梯上了老祖母的房间--- 312。

　　房间里满是人。双胞胎的父亲果然有兄弟，还有一对双胞胎姐姐。他们都来给老妇人过生日。房间不算小，阳台上摆满了花儿和盆装植物，房间一边搁张大床，另一边摆着两个沙发和一张桌子，还有独立卫生间。房里大约10个人正在想办法找地方坐下来，因为双胞胎忽然成了众人的焦点，Christina不知道自己该坐在哪儿或是应该做点儿什么，这倒好似双胞胎过生日而不是他们的祖母过。

　　老祖母脑子已经不太清楚，反复地问Laura同一个问题，她什么时候从北京回来的，“妈妈，是上海，”父亲的一个双胞胎姐姐纠正老太太，“哦，对，是上海，那这是你妹妹？”她开始跟Christina讲话，Christina很难听明白从她漏风的嘴里出来的荷兰话。
　　不知是谁带来一些甜的要命的蛋糕和巧克力。双胞胎不管从桌上够得到什么都往嘴里塞，Christina跟在他们身后，从他们手里抢过那些该死的巧克力。如果他们吞下太多糖果的话，他们父亲会很不高兴：Simon已经够重了。

　　跟老太太呆了不长时间，大约有那么一个半小时，所有来客站起身来，互相亲吻脸颊告别，然后各自去开车。老太太从阳台上看着他们发动汽车，大家冲她挥挥手，就开车离开了。
　　作父亲的跟Saskia谈论着他的安排和她的驾驶课，Laura试着让双胞胎高兴起来。老太太孤零零站在阳台上，根本没有人说过一句有关她今天过生日的话。Christina不知道该怎么想这件事儿，她早就知道这儿的家庭纽带很松散，当然她看到了这位父亲如何照料双胞胎，甚至包括Saskia，可是对待老年人就。。。也对，他们住在那些房子里有护士照看，可能比跟任何一位儿子或是女儿住在一起更好更方便。

　　因为除了在车上睡了一会儿，双胞胎没好好午睡，他们今晚睡的挺早，刚刚结束今天第三次灾难性的进食，他们就开始无缘无故哭闹，这是想睡觉的表示。Christina给他们洗了澡，穿好睡衣。Laura试着让他们多呆了一小会儿就把他们送进了婴儿床，然后开始最后一轮清洗厨房和整间屋子。Christina去淋浴。没人敢在双胞胎哭得太累而入睡之前进婴儿房，通常这要耗时半个多小时。

　　Christina洗完淋浴还不到7点。上帝，那两个小恶魔明早可能5点就醒，可是如果她现在也马上上床的话，只会让自己头痛。Christina偷偷溜进婴儿房，检查自己的手机短信。她总是把手机保持静音，以防双胞胎睡觉时来电话。

　　没有短信，很好，自从Christina搬进这里，就好像进了与世隔绝之地，时间显得不再有意义，一天又一天，过得都一样，简单却又忙得要命，长得让人受不了。

　　幸运的是Laura和作父亲的都是好人，她从来没觉得被怠慢了或是被看低了，他们询问她的经历，甚至提出如果她找不到新的住房，可以在他们去上海期间继续呆在这儿。尽管不太现实，因为从这儿去阿姆斯特丹或者幸福集团要花几个小时，可是他们对她的处境表示关心让人觉得很窝心。

　　自从搬进来住Christina就没收过邮件。镇上没有网吧，各家都有自己的电脑和网线，没时间出去上网。她知道作父亲的有一台手提电脑搁在家里的小办公室里，可是总觉得有些难以开口。
　　“来一起喝点儿什么？”看见她站在门厅里，作父亲的从厨房里伸头问道。

　　“不了，谢谢，我不过想问问你在家能不能上网，说实话，我真不想给你们添麻烦，可是我必须得隔几天查一下我的邮箱。。。”

　　“先来跟我们喝杯东西，然后你就可以用我的电脑了。来点儿什么，苹果汁还是桔子汁？”

　　“苹果真，多谢啦。”

　　“你真有礼貌，跟Laura完全不同。”

　　“也许她比我有自信。”Christina没太搞懂他想讲些什么。

　　“我的朋友告诉我你帮了他们很大的忙，把宝宝的资料翻译过来。”啊哈，Christina想起来了。有一天一对荷兰夫妇来拜访Laura，请她翻译一个4岁的中国女孩儿的个人资料。他们已经登记申请收养孩子等了6年，下个月就要去一家孤儿院领回这个中国女孩儿。

　　Christina印象很深刻，他们迫切地想了解那个不知什么原因被遗弃到孤儿院的小女孩儿的每个细节，她知道这下小女孩儿的生活将被导入正轨了，也许她应该问问周围有没有哪对老夫妇心血来潮想收养个年满23的什么人。Laura不太擅长翻译，所以Christina接过了这活儿。

　　他们随身带来了小女孩儿的照片，一个身穿冬衣的很普通的女孩子，“她漂亮吧？”未来的妈妈满怀爱心地问，Christina说小女孩儿是个漂亮的天使，她很快就会学会荷兰语，用他们的语言跟他们聊天了。听到这些话，夫妇俩很高兴，也松了口气。他们很紧张，甚至买了一些中国的卡通书，以备他们没法跟未来的女儿交谈时好用来哄她。

　　Laura也看了女孩儿的照片，说就是个普通的女孩儿，不漂亮，也不丑。她讲的是实话，可是她自己身边有双胞胎，没意识到这对夫妇多么渴望有个孩子。不过那天大家喝了茶，聊关于双胞胎的事儿，他们在一起过了个快乐的下午。

　　“噢，他们呀，有个中国的穷女孩儿就要有个完全不同的未来，我心里很感激，某种程度来说，我觉得他们正在帮助我的同胞而不是我在帮他们。”

　　他们进了起居室，跟Laura一起坐到沙发上。Laura正在给Simon织围巾。这是另一个让Christina喜欢她的理由。Laura每天花几百欧元买食品或是衣服或是鲜花，可她还是愿意自己动手做某些事情。

　　“Christina，你说说，我做错什么了。我热心招待他们，他们反而抱怨我侮辱他们未来的女儿。我真不敢相信。“很显然，Laura出离愤怒了。她认为所有的荷兰人都欣赏直来直去的诚实劲儿。

　　“不，你没做错任何事。只不过他们在这件事儿上太脆弱又太紧张，需要找些东西来宣泄。你给了他们这个机会。“Christina知道跟Laura相处最好坦诚。
　　“对你倒是变成了一件好事儿。”
　　“这话什么意思？”Christina大吃一惊，莫非她对他们的反应惹恼Laura了？
　　“你告诉我们你现在在阿姆斯特丹没地方呆？”作父亲的问。
　　“这就是为什么我想查查邮件，也许HAS的公寓有消息了。”

　　“你知道我朋友干什么的？他是房地产经纪。前几天他跟我道谢说你帮了他，我提到了你的情况。他说他会留意看看能不能在阿姆斯特丹找到适合你的房子。刚才他来电话告诉我可能有所房子10月份空出来，是那种你可以登记在自己名下，只要付房租就可以永久住在里面的房子，就是说你是某种房子的房主了，不必再害怕被撵出来。“他说稀松平常，好像christina每天都能碰到这种好运。

　　Christina差点儿没心脏病突发。上帝，他在说什么，一所房子，在她名下？她咬了一口手指头，”哇噻“，不是做梦。可是她是个外国人，还没有永久居留权，只是一个有一年期签证的留学生，作一个月的保姆够付首期和房钱吗？
　　“上帝，这不可能是真的！”　她大声说出了最后一句。
　　“如果你想就能成真。我应该告诉他帮你把房子定下来吧？我意思是不要再跟别人宣传了。”他友好地问
　　“可是得多少钱呀，我肯定能付得起？”Christina很绝望。
　　“不要担心，租金是定期付款，不需要付首期，只有月租金，房子不大，从我们这儿挣的钱已经够你提前预付2到3个月的租金了。”作父亲的微笑不止。

　　“太棒了；请一定告诉他我多么感激他。我希望我这不是正做好梦做到一半儿吧？”
　　“相信你自己有好运就行了。”他们俩都笑了。
　　“其实你可以九月份跟我回上海，然后十月份再回来租房子，你甚至可以回家呆几天，我母亲会帮我带双胞胎的。”Laura提议。

　　Christina觉得自己的眼睛变湿了，“谢谢，Laura，我很想去，可是我得呆在这儿给居留证搌期，另外我答应九月初到一家公司实习。也许我能代表那家实习公司回一次中国，如果我过关了，一定去上海看你。”

　　“你当然能过。现在去查你的邮件吧，往后不管什么时候想查邮件了，不必再问我，自己开手提电脑拨号连线就行。”
　　“多谢。”可能经历过一系列灾难以后，好运也会降临那么一两次，Christina 面带梦幻微笑，上楼去了那间小工作室。

　　她的邮箱快被垃圾邮件挤暴了，删了好几屏红色警告信号才消失。Lisa在Paramount（派拉蒙）找到了实习机会，在财务部。

　　Christina 并不吃惊，她很高兴Lisa的时机来了。Lisa说过要邀请她的小弟弟和Christina一起去Floriade过一天吃顿好的，哦，上帝，她彻底忘了她们的Floriade之约，她怎么可能不带双胞胎离开一整天呢？不得不取消这次约会，很遗憾见不到Lisa的小弟弟了。可以把员工卡给Lisa，这样Lisa就不用买门票了。

　　Helen回台湾度假了，Jenny回了香港。
　　Ａｎｎａ要去北京参加一个研讨会，大约两个月！北京，wow, 这将是Anna第一次不跟Christina一起单独待在中国。
　　Maria讲了些她儿子，女儿和孙子的事儿，邀请Christina去吃晚餐。当然了，Christina不会去的。
　　幸福集团告诉她实习期间的工作许可办好了。
　　没有玲的信儿。