《On The Same Days》橄榄树

7、5th July Friday 2002 Shenyang

　　Zo lopen de gootjes als het regent
　　(Sometimes things just fall into their places naturally)

　　“This is the best gift I can ever get from mom,” the little □□ of Ling’s Friday morning class Ben carefully holding a delicate deep blue car model in both hands, too excited to talk □□-like.
　　“I begged her for weeks; it drives like a real car.” He showed to the rest of the class, the model did drive very well and knew to make circles instead of normal ones that went only straight ahead, the rest stared in awe.
　　“Miss, I had no idea she would be so happy to know that jeans may shrink by wash,” He had loads respect for Ling now.

　　“While, I’d like you to recommend her to use some softener next time when washing, but don’t blackmail her to buy you another car model,” smiled Ling.

　　“Now, Jane, show us your beautiful princesses now, please.” Ling always tried to give that tiny shy one some chance to speak in front of all.

　　The tiny girl turned very pale, looked much nervous then before, “May I just tell a story instead, Miss, I left the doll bag at home this morning,” she started to bite her lips.

　　“But, Jane, this the 3rd time you forgot to bring your doll bag,” seeing Jane’s tiny face turns red, Ling knew it was a lie, “Maybe your story is more beautiful than the dolls, go ahead.” Ling wondered why this girl is so possessive with those dolls.

　　“Once there was a little girl lived with her father,” “and her mother,” some naughty boys added, “no, her mother was dead by giving birth to that baby,” very unusual, Jane continued her story without asking help from Ling, “The father was very sad at the beginning, often drunk. He sent the daughter to his parents for two years. He didn’t want to see her, because he hated her killing her mother.”

　　The class fell still, Ling frowned at the tiny girl, she was not telling her own story, was she?

　　“But later on he became normal, worked all the time, never visit her daughter. The little girl prays day and night, for god to forgive her and give her at least the father back, and, her dream come true one day, her father came for her birthday, brought her the most beautiful dolls and called her his little princess.” Jane finished with tears in her eyes.

　　The other children too, they seldom heard sad stories, and never know a mother would die by giving birth.
　　“Should he find a new wife?” it was Ben.
　　“Does the girl have friends to play with?” asked the twins of the class together.
　　“Now, she has.” Jane neglected Ben and walked back to her seat without looking at Ling.

　　Ling was too shocked to say anything, this was it then, the most terrible family tragedy, that iceberg lost his wife and blamed Jane for it, he called her his little monster last time, oh, that poor little thing, she never brought any dolls except talking about them with her dreamy voices, probably he never attended any of her birthdays at all and she might have no single piece of a doll.

　　“Well done, Jane,” Ling tried to focus on the class, “Dear children, you see not every family is complete, you should be very happy with the love you get from papa, mama, grandpa, grandma and uncles, aunties. Your homework for next week is to thank all your family members for what they have done for you, and tell me their reactions in class. Now lunch time,” Then she looked at Jane, “May I have a word with you?”

　　Looks as pale as ever, the girl nodded,
　　“Do we have to tell your… who is waiting for you outside?” Ling remembered the iceberg only showed up once for two years.
　　“Father’s driver, he will wait for me.”
　　“Ok, I just want to know if you have any plans for Tuesday, I would like someone to help me do some shopping.”
　　“Really? You think I can help you shopping?” Jane opened up her big eyes, too big for her tiny face.
　　“Sure, shall I ask you father or your grand parents if I want to borrow you for a day?”
　　“Uh, maybe you can give my father a call? But I am not sure if his driver has time on Tuesday for me.”
　　“You don’t need his driver, I will tell him that I am going to come over to pick you up, and we will go shopping by buses, eat McDonalds when we are tired.” Ling gave Jane a reassuring smile.
　　With a huge smile of disbelief on the tiny face, Jane walked to Mr. Driver and shocked that man with a kiss on his cheek, he had to try hard to focus on the traffic, this little iceberg had never showed a piece of kindness to him.

　　“I doubt if it is a good idea,” May frowned at Ling on the lunch table later on, “We’d better ask our Service Center to deal with this kind of problem child or problem parents, you won’t have enough energy to adopt hundreds of children.”

　　“I knew that tiny thing for two years already, without knowing what kind of problems she is in, I feel guilty, besides, she is the only problem child, no, the only one with a problem parents, a father to be exactly, so far in my groups, I should do something about it.” Ling insisted.

　　“Promise to tell me when it gets heavy. I have to protect teachers’ rights here.” May knew too well how precious the only free day of a week is, this rotten soft girl was going to waste her only free day of the week on babysitting.

　　“Yes, old hen, you will have to spend your day comforting me for not having me well protected.” Ling laughed at May’s overreaction; she only wanted that tiny thing to choose a real doll to complete her homework in class, that’s all.

　　“How is it going for the party? Only two weeks to go.” Ling did hope and believe May would be fine with it.
　　“How dare you to ask, because you are only interested in babysitting. The peacock recommended herself to help and I never know she can also dance with that mantis legs and sing with her honey bee voice.” May was allergic to those bony honey bees who thought they weigh millions times more on every occasion than those girls with actual weight. May actually weighed a bit.
　　“Congratulations for discovering a new talent for your stage.” Ling knew better to avoid any sensitive topics over shapes; not that was of any importance at all.

　　Mobile rang, it is May’s, she was always a busy girl, not only job-wise, she kept contact with those fellow members of Student Unions from college, her free day was never free, dating singles as well as groups, worried about Ling only because dating a 5 years old girl instead of a 25 years old man is really weird.
　　Mobile rang again, this time Ling’s, families knew only during lunch breaks and evening could they reach these teachers here,
　　“Don’t go back to Ting,” her father, “go direct to Hot Pot City after work, we will see you there.”
　　“Family dinner again, we just had one a few weeks ago.” Ling was not really interested in those family re-unions.
　　“Indeed, a few weeks already, come at 6, don’t be late.” His father hung up, never really a person you might chat through phone calls. He only told you what to do at what time.

　　Wait a second, it was not going to be a, a set up? Ling had a few peaceful weeks, and just felt a bit safe hoping those ancient aunts might have no single memory of the night before when they woke up with huge hangover the next morning, no mention Ling and Lily’s promises.
　　But what if they didn’t completely forget about it, what if they had fished a few weeks and now set a guy up there with her parents waiting for her? She looked pale, and gray.
　　“What is so bad about a family dinner? I wish to hear my cousins sing their Korea songs once more.” May was puzzled by Ling’s reaction.
　　“No, not at all,” Ling denied in a higher pinched voice than she expected, “It is just, you know, there aren’t really interesting topics from those ancients.” Ling would not tell May in a millions years that her family was still trying to give her set ups as farmers do, not to May, a free soul supplemented by a free body who even dared to laugh at male □□ staff’s blue jokes.
　　“Why not tell them you are going to adopt a tiny lovely baby of a problematic man.” May hardly ever took anything serious except her job.
　　“Please, they may recommend me to be her stepmother.” Ling said in a way not very much like a joke.

　　5pm, afternoon class ended. Ling just about to play the scenario of not showing up in her head, mobile shook, she hadn’t got time yet to set the tone on, her father again, “Don’t go automatically back to Tiffany and call me to tell you were absentminded, don’t tell me either that you will be late because of helping some problem child, see you at 6.” Before Ling could answer anything back, the King of the family hung up again.
　　“So, I have no choice but to go, your Majesty.” Ling sizzled to the silent phone through clenched teeth.

　　“Are you all right?” May passing by, Ling was talking to her mobile hold in front of her nose instead of ears.
　　“I am ok, see you tomorrow.” Ling smiled normal and sent May to the lift.
　　The Hot Pot City is 10 minutes by taxi, the King told her to be there at 6. She won’t risk show up early. Watching colleagues heading home with relief after a tight day, she wished her father hadn’t retired from the County government. He wouldn’t have so much time to fuss over his daughter’s marital status had he got better things to do.

　　Watching herself from the not very clean mirror in the washing room, small eyes behind glasses, no make up, unhealthy yellow face dropped with freckles up nose bridge, too thick hair, a childish orange T-shirt with Winnie de pooh print, loose blue jeans.
　　This was a woman who was 23 years old and going for a set up date, Ling gave herself a hysterical laugh. Not that she really cared about pretty face, Christina told her those Kui Lao’s were crazy getting suntans for a healthy brown skin as Ling’s, but, her cloths, dressed for children, would be a complete joke for a blind date, maybe she still had enough time to find something in the shopping mall on the first floor, but of course not, what the hell would she dress up for? A forced set up? Not in a million years.

　　Half an hour later, Ling was till busying correcting the same essay, to be exactly the same paragraph of her morning class, she had never been so inefficient. Collected all her text books, dialogue cards, student’s homework and a pack of Invitation letters she promised May to send, the big blue canvas bag was loaded, at least 4 kilos, whatever the hell laid ahead, she will just go for it. With the mode of a martyr she left her office, walked to the bus, it would bring her to Hot Pot City on time.

　　10 to six, she circled around the Hot Pot City to kill the 10 minutes, very good business for restaurants on Friday evening, family dinners, business dinners, especially this Hot Pot City, they had the largest number of those separate little rooms on the second floor where you might eat, drink, sing karaoke or even fight without being observed, might be heard, but nobody would admit their voices anyway.
　　A very distinguishable blue car drove near, Ling had no idea of car brands, but it was very impressive indeed among those red shabby Jetta’s. A few businesslike men in suits came out, walking to the entrance, wait, one of them seemed really familiar, huge, tense, Ling walked up for a clear look of his face,
　　“Aha, Mr. Jane’s father,” she spoke out without realizing, “I was just planning to call you.” She explained further to the bewildered man who seemed totally forgot this Miss Jane’s Miss.
　　“What about?” he frowned at Ling, searching his memory,
　　“About Jane of course, I invited her to spend next Tuesday with me.” Ling believed he finally found his memory. Because he excused himself from the curious fellow suits telling them he would be joining them very quickly.

　　“Except Friday, my driver doesn’t have time for her.” Answered him, not a yes, not a no, just the same as his daughter had said.

　　Ling explained her public transportation plan and added, “A child shouldn’t be locked up from the outside world.”
　　“Are you saying locked up?” that icy voice again.
　　“I mean, I am sorry for you wife, but it’s not her fault for the tragedy, as a father…”
　　“What the hell are you talking about?” he cut in, irritated, “Sorry for my wife? What do you know about my wife? I don’t think it is a good idea for Jane to go out with any of her babysitters, beyond their working time.” He thought that he finished the conversation.
　　“Good,” Ling was beside herself again, “I will take that as a yes, since I am none of Jane’s babysitters and I am certainly not going to charge you for my free day with a little girl friend.”
　　“Are you playing a mother?” he never had to fight anything like this even with Jane’s real mother, never had the chance anyway.
　　“If that will remind someone who might forget how to play a father,” Ling wanted to hit him right into his motionless face. It is his daughter they were talking about, not hers.

　　“Aha, so you do know that I am the father and I tell you once more, No.”

　　“Don’t you think I will believe someone who never showed up for Jane’s birthday, never bought her a single doll claims to be his father, I will pick her up at Tuesday by her grandparents and now I have to go in.” finished with disgust, Ling walked to the entrance.

　　“Wait,” she didn’t want to stop, but she knew he wouldn’t risk beat her right in front of a busy restaurant.
　　“Where are you going to pick her up?” he asked as if she hadn’t shouted hard enough as a farmer wife.
　　“From her grandparents,”
　　“Then you may need to look very carefully in South lake graveyard.” He exhausted his good temper now.

　　Ling dropped her jaw, “but, she told me, no, she told us that, or was she really telling us a story?” she is not so sure any more, she don’t think this man would be evil enough to curse his last generation.
　　He frowned at her, not very well aware what she was trying to say.
　　“Listen, Mr…uh, would you mind to tell me your surname?”
　　“Lee.”

　　“I am sorry, Mr.Lee, I might misinterpret some stories that Jane told us in class.” Ling tried to explain.
　　“But I don’t think it is the right time to talk about her stories, Miss…” “Liu”, “Miss Liu, I believe there were two seats there waiting for their guests, if you insist on Tuesday with Jane without my driver, we may talk another time about her ability of imaginations.”
　　“Fine,” She followed him into the Hot Pot City.

　　The reception gave them two room numbers, up on the second floor, Ling turned left. Mr. Lee turned right with no hands shaking for the second farewell, neither the first, this time with even greater puzzle in Ling’s mind.

　　Pushed the door open, Ling fell back to her own problems again. A big round table circled with some 9 or 10 people, her parents plus a couple of familiar aunts lined up at one side of the table, some unfamiliar faces lined up the other side, but none of the male citizen looked younger than 40, Ling was relieved, her parents would never in a million years set her up with a divorced man, it was after all just a family reunion.
　　God, look at her father’s face, she realized she must be late because of the problem father, or might be Jane, “I am terribly sorry, father, I just met a father of my student and we had something to…” “It doesn’t matter, sit down.” She could hardly ever finish her sentence whenever talked with her father, but she couldn’t believe her ears, god, this was the easiest escape she ever had.
　　Went to the empty seats beside her mother, Ling poured herself some tea, and asking around if they want any, she was actually quite hungry, she kept walking, and jumping in front of those children the whole day, it took energy.
　　“Sorry, I am going to make a phone call,” an uncle across the table excused himself and walked out of the room.
　　Ling felt a bit strange why the alcohol and bear glasses were all still full, they weren’t shouting and laughing as usual either, father didn’t introduce her these unfamiliar aunts who busy examining her suspiciously as if she had tattoo on her face instead of freckles.
　　This was abnormal. Then she noticed, there were still two seats empty, one was that of the excused uncle, the one next to it, right facing that of Ling’s still expecting its guest. It must be a set up after all, and her set up was late too, ever later then she was.

　　The warm tea suddenly found its way to Ling’s windpipe, she coughed badly with tea splashing out of the cup held in her right hand, god, that very expensive blouse of the cousin of Lily might be ruined, had she held the cup with her left hand, her own mother never had anything too expensive.
　　“Oh, Ling,” Lily’s cousin looked at her with great patience,
　　“I am so sorry, aunt, I was just…, may I clean it for you?” Ling noticed the examining eyes all stare at her sympathetically. For god’s sake, she was not nervous about the set up.
　　“Never mind, Ling.” unbelievable, the sun must have rose from the west today, Lily’s cousin smiled at Ling after having her best property just ruined.
　　Forced her smile back, Ling said out loud in her head: this was natural revenge, Mrs. Match-maker.

　　Then the door opened again, the uncle came back with a young man whose two eyelashes almost connect each other by deep frown, why men of these days were all so stressed, as if their mission to save the world were all tested with the clasping Twin Tower.

　　With a relieved smile, the uncle introduced his son to the table, “Fan, graphic designer in Sunshine Construction, he had to work on an urgent construction plan just now.”
　　No single word of sorry for his son’s half an hour too late for a blind date.

　　After every seat was loaded, the dinner formally started. Both parents on both sides were the most talkative, busying exchange information from their grandfather till their grandchildren. To Ling’s father’s great regret, he hadn’t had any grandchildren yet.
　　With the corner of her eyes, Ling glanced at the Fan unintentionally a few times, looking away immediately when met the corner of his eyes. Not bad looking at all, with eyes, nose, mouth and everything else all in their places, wrapped in a black suit, eat very little, almost nothing more than one cup of tea after another.

　　“This is my youngest son, already 25, time is flying, we just have to hurry up to complete our tasks to settle them all down,” Fan’s father signed.
　　“Exactly, this is my youngest daughter, already 23; we are not going to waste too much time in waiting. Children just never understand their parents’ hearts.” Coincided Ling’s father, as if two long tortured cancer patients both decided to go for euthanasia. Better go to Holland, Christina said it is legal there. Ling couldn’t help but laugh at the thought.
　　To her surprise, Fan was laughing too.
　　The corners of their eyes finally stop turning away from each other this time, “Where did you have you college? I heard you are an English teacher.” Fan started.
　　The whole table suddenly became quiet. Someone next door was singing, “You never know, what the next minute life brings you.”
　　“Shenyang Institute of Technology, actually a college of science rather than arts. I was the first generation Language student there.” Ling heard herself saying at ease.
　　“Oh, yeah, I graduated from Computer Department there 2 years ago,” see, so big a Shenyang city, but you would met schoolmates as your set ups.
　　“Me too, which dormitory building did you live in?” Ling did feel at ease now, at least they didn’t have to embarrass the table by speechlessly staring at each other or avoiding each other’s eyes.
　　See it went unexpectedly well, the table continued with its interrogation, even laughing and drinking.
　　“Dormitory No.4, opposites that No.2 of the girls.”
　　“So, opposites mine. Are you one of those telescopes observing us?”
　　“Don’t deny you girl got those too.” They both couldn’t help laughing.

　　They talked, laughed, just as two real old schoolmates, through the whole dinner. There weren’t anything to talk with those ancients anyway. In the end the two fathers were shaking hands, promising who go to whose home first for chess, and the two mothers talking about a home make Hot Pot dinner someday. Giving each other an eye, Ling and Fan let them set a date for the two of them to meet again, they both realized to play their parents’ games would make life much easier, after all a set up was not as dreadful as they thought.

　　Later on in her bed next to the room of Tiffany and Roc’s, Ling suddenly got red cheeks by thinking one day she had to share a bed with someone else also, not necessarily Fan, but she had never shared a bed with anyone yet, must be a very rare piece of work in Sex Museum in Amsterdam, said Christina once, because they certainly wouldn’t be able to find a virgin above 16 in the whole western world. That constituted enough reason for Ling never wanting to go to any of those western Countries despite her fluent English.

　　川大的译文：

　　2002年七月5日，沈阳
　　水到渠成

　　“这是我从妈妈那儿得到的最好的礼物，”周五上午，玲班上的小大人Ben 小心翼翼地双手捧着一个精致的深蓝色车模，激动得顾不上学大人样说话了。

　　“我求了她好几个星期；它跑起来跟真车一样。”他给班上的其他同学演示了一下，车模果然跑得很好，知道自己拐弯，不象普通车模那样只能跑直线。班上的人都敬畏地盯着看。

　　“Miss，我真没想到她知道了洗过的牛仔裤会缩水能这么高兴，”现在他对玲的敬仰之情成筐成箩的。

　　“这很好，我还想请你跟她推荐一下，下次洗衣时用些柔顺剂，不过别再勒索她再给你买个车模哦，”玲笑着说。

　　“接下来，Jane，请你给我们展示一下你的漂亮公主吧，”玲总是试图给这个羞涩的小东西当众讲话的机会。

　　小姑娘的脸变得十分苍白，看上去比以前更紧张了，“Miss，我可不可以讲个故事来代替，今天早上我把装娃娃的袋子忘在家里了，”说完她开始咬嘴唇。

　　“可是Jane，这是你第三次忘记带娃娃袋了，”玲看着Jane的小脸儿由白变红，知道她在撒谎，“不过也许你的故事比娃娃更好，讲吧。”玲想不明白为什么这个小姑娘对那些娃娃的独占欲这么强。

　　“从前有个小姑娘跟他父亲一起生活，”“还有她母亲，”有几个顽皮的男孩子从旁补充，“不，她母亲生她时死掉了，”跟平时不同，Jane没有向玲求助，接着往下讲，“她父亲一开始很难过，经常喝醉。他把女儿送到他父母那儿呆了两年。他不想见到她，因为他恨她杀死了她的母亲。”

　　整个班级一片寂静，玲对着小女孩皱了眉头，她讲的是自己的故事，不会吧？

　　“不过他后来又正常了，整天工作，从来不去看他女儿。那个小女孩儿日夜祈祷，请上帝原谅她，起码把父亲还给她。有一天，她的梦想成真了，她父亲来给她过生日，给她买了世上最漂亮的娃娃，管她叫他的小公主。“Jane两眼含泪讲完了故事。

　　其他的孩子也眼含热泪，他们很少听悲伤的故事，也从来不知道母亲会因为生小孩而死去。

　　“他应该再找个妻子吧？”是ben在问。

　　“那个女孩儿有朋友陪她玩儿吗？”班上的一对双胞胎一起问。

　　“有，现在有了。”Jane没理会Ben，也没看玲就回了自己的座位。

　　玲被震呆了，什么也说不出来。原来如此，世上最可怕的家庭悲剧。那个冰山男失去了妻子，为此谴责Jane。上一次他管她叫小怪物，哦，可怜的小东西，她从来拿不出娃娃，只能用做梦一般的语气提起她们。也许他从来没给她庆祝过生日，她可能连个娃娃毛都没有。

　　“讲得不错，Jane，”玲试着把孩子们的注意力拉回课堂。“亲爱的孩子们，你们看，不是每个家庭都是完整的。你们能得到来自爸爸，妈妈，爷爷，奶奶和叔叔，阿姨的爱应该说很幸福了。下周的家庭作业就是向你们全家每个人表达你的谢意。谢谢他们为你所做的一切。下节课告诉我他们有什么反应。现在，去吃午饭吧。”然后她看着Jane说，“我可以跟你说句话吗？”

　　小女孩点了点头，脸色还很苍白。

　　“我们要不要告诉你的——，外面等你的是谁？”玲想起那个冰山男，两年才来一次。

　　“我父亲的司机，他会等我的。”

　　“好吧。我只是想问问你周二有没有计划，我想找个伴儿帮我买东西。”

　　“真的？你觉得我能帮你买东西？”Jane睁大了一双明眸，相对于她的小脸，太大了。

　　“当然了。如果我想借你一天，我应该问你父亲还是爷爷奶奶？”

　　“呃，也许你可以给我爸爸打个电话？可是我不知道他的司机周二有没有空送我。”

　　“你用不到他的司机，我会告诉他我去接你，我们坐公交车去买东西，等逛饿了就吃麦当劳。”玲冲着Jane安抚地微笑，让她放心。

　　Jane的小脸上挂着一个大大的恍恍惚惚的笑容，走到司机先生那儿，在那位男士脸上吻了一下，把他给震呆了。他不得不努力集中精力才能开车。这个小冰山可从来没对他表露过一丝好意。

　　“我怀疑这主意好不好，”在午餐桌上，May对着玲皱起了眉头，“我们最好请学校的服务中心来对付这种问题小孩或是问题父母。你没有足够的精力去收养几百个孩子。”

　　“我认识那个小东西两年了，却不知道她一直面临什么样的问题，我觉得很愧疚。而且，她是我的团队里迄今为止唯一的问题小孩，不，是唯一的有问题父母，确切的说，有问题父亲的孩子，我应该做点儿什么。”玲坚持。

　　“你保证如果负担变得过重一定要告诉我。我得保护好这儿的老师的权利。”Ｍａｙ知道得很清楚一周一天休息日有多么珍贵，可是这个软心肠的老好人却要浪费自己唯一的休息日去看孩子。

　　“遵命，你这只老母鸡，到时候你得花一整天来安慰我，检讨自己没保护好我。”玲取笑Ｍａｙ反应过度：她只是想让那个小东西选一个真正的娃娃，好完成她的家庭作业，如此而已。

　　“晚会准备的怎么样了？只剩一个星期了。”玲真心希望，同时也坚信Ｍａｙ会表现不俗。

　　“你还敢问，你就对怎么做保姆感兴趣。那个孔雀女毛遂自荐，我还不知道原来她的两条蟑螂细腿也能跳舞，跟蜜蜂一样的嗓音也能唱歌。”Ｍａｙ很讨厌那些骨感的蜜蜂女，她们总以为自己在各种场合都比正常体重的女孩子更有分量。实际上，May的分量（体重）是有点超标的。

　　“恭喜你，为你的舞台表演发掘了一位新的天才。”玲知道最好回避任何有关体形的话题，而且这话题本身根本不具备重要性。

　　手机铃响，是May的。她总是很忙，不光工作方面的人，大学里学生会的同伴们也跟她保持联络。她的休息日从来不休息，不是跟某个人单独约会，就是跟一大群人集体去玩儿。为玲担心，是因为跟一个五岁的小女孩而不是25岁的小伙子约会实在够怪异的。

　　手机铃又响，这次是玲的。这儿的老师家里人都知道只有午休时间和晚上，才能找到他们。

　　“下班别回你大姐那儿，”是父亲，“直接去火锅城，我们在那儿等你。”

　　“又要家庭聚餐，我们几周前刚聚过。”玲对这种家庭亲情大联络实在没兴趣。

　　“说得是，已经几个星期了。六点钟，别迟到。”父亲挂了电话，永远别指望跟他在电话里聊天，他就会告诉你什么时候去做什么事儿。

　　等等，不会是去，去相亲吧？这几个周过得风平浪静，玲刚刚有几分安全感，希望那些老阿姨们第二天一早醒来宿醉难消，没有一丝关于前一晚上的记忆，更不用提玲和Lily的诺言了。

　　可是如果她们没忘彻底怎么办？如果经过几个周的搜罗她们现在给她安排了一个人而她的父母正在等着她怎么办？她脸色先变白，再变灰。

　　“什么家庭聚餐这么糟糕？我可一直盼着听我的表姐妹们再唱一次她们的韩国歌曲呢。”May对玲的反应颇为迷惑。

　　“不，不糟糕，”玲矢口否认，声音却出乎意料的高了几个分贝，“不过就是，你也知道，那些老祖宗们没什么让人感兴趣的话题。”玲永远也不会告诉别人家里人正在试图给她安排相亲，跟农民似的。尤其不能告诉May，这个自由的身体孕育了自由的灵魂，听到□□的男同事讲黄色笑话她甚至于敢哈哈大笑。

　　“为什么不告诉他们你要收养一个问题男士名下的可爱小宝宝？”除了工作，May很少严肃对待别的事情。

　　“拜托，她们可能推荐我去做她的后妈，”玲说话的语气不太像开玩笑。

　　5点钟，下午班结束了。玲正在脑子里设想不去赴约的场景，手机震动，她还没挤出时间打开铃声设置。又是父亲，“别自动跑回Tiffany那儿，然后打电话说你心不在焉没听见我的话，也别告诉我你要帮某些问题儿童所以要迟到，六点见。”玲还没来得及回答，一家之王已经挂了电话。

　　“那么，我没有选择只能去了，陛下，”玲对着静静的手机咬牙切齿。

　　“你还好吧？”May经过玲身边，看见她对着举在鼻子底下的手机讲话，而不是放在耳边。

　　“我很好，明天见。”玲如常微笑，把May送上了电梯。

　　坐出租车十分钟就到火锅城，陛下父亲说六点要到达。她可不想违背命令早到。看着同事们紧张工作一天后轻松往家赶，她真心希望父亲还没从镇政府退下来。如果他现在有更重要的事情做，就没有这么多时间在女儿的婚事上小题大做了。

　　在洗手间不太清晰的镜子前，玲打量自己：眼镜后面一对小眼睛，没化妆，脸色有点病态的发黄，鼻梁上有着几点雀斑，头发很粗硬，身穿一件孩子气的印□□熊的桔黄色T恤，配了宽松的蓝色仔裤。这，是一个23岁的女人，正准备去参加一个相亲会！玲突然禁不住赏给自己一阵神经质的大笑。

　　并不是她真的对漂亮脸蛋儿不能释怀，Christina告诉过她那些鬼佬简直疯了一样想晒出玲这样的健康的棕色皮肤。可是，她的衣着，为了给孩子们上课而穿的衣服，穿去参加盲约就是个彻头彻尾的笑话。或许她还有足够的时间去一楼的商场换件衣服，可是她当然不想去，见鬼了，她为什么要特意打扮？为了一次不情愿的约会？再过几辈子也没门儿。

　　半小时过去了，玲还在埋头批改的上午班的一份作文，确切点儿说，是同一个段落，她的效率前所未有的低下。她把教科书，对话卡片，学生的家庭作业和答应帮May送出去的一扎请柬都收起来，蓝色的帆布包满当当的，至少4公斤。管它前头有什么等着呢，她这就去会会。玲心怀壮烈地离了办公室，走去公车站，应该能准点到达火锅城。

　　差10分钟六点。玲绕着火锅城转了转，消磨掉这十分钟。周五晚上酒店生意红火，家庭聚餐，生意应酬多多。特别是这家火锅城，他们家二楼的单间最多，你可以吃饭，喝酒，唱卡拉Ok，甚至可以不被发现干一架，可能会有人听到，不过没人会承认那些动静是自己弄出来的。

　　一辆扎眼的蓝色轿车驶近了，玲对汽车牌子没概念，可是混在一片红色破旧捷达车当中，这车实在惹眼。几个穿西装，生意样貌的男士下了车，朝酒店入口走去，等等，其中一个看上去很面熟，高大，充满张力，玲上前几步好瞧清楚他的脸。

　　“啊哈，Jane的父亲先生，”玲不经大脑顺口打起了招呼，“我正打算给你打电话，”玲进步一解释，男人显得很困惑，看来已经彻底忘了她这位Miss Jane的老师。

　　“什么事儿？”他皱眉看着玲，搜寻记忆。
　　“当然是关于Jane，我请她跟我共度下周二，”玲相信他终于找回了记忆，因为他请同来的不明所以的西装革履们先行一步，他随后就到。

　　“除了周五，我的司机没工夫伺候她。”他回道，没说行，没说不行，跟他女儿说的一样。

　　玲告知她的公车计划，又加了句，“小孩子不应该被锁起来，跟外界隔绝。”

　　“你说被锁起来？”又是冷冰冰的声调。

　　“我是说，我很为你的妻子难过，可这悲剧不是她的过错，作为一个父亲……”

　　“你到底在说些什么鬼话？”他插进来，很不耐烦，“为我妻子难过？你对我妻子有什么了解？我认为Jane跟任何一个保姆出去都不合适，超出她们的工作时间了。”他自认话题到此可以结束了。

　　“好的，”玲再次抓狂，“我就当你是答应了，因为玲的任何一个保姆不包括我，当然我也没打算为了休息日跟我的小小女朋友出去再跟你要钱。”

　　“你这是在扮演母亲？”他从来不必做这种争斗，甚至跟Jane的亲生母亲都不必，怎么说呢，也没这个机会。

　　“如果能提醒某个可能忘了怎么做父亲的人的话，我不介意，”玲想给那张面无表情的脸来上一拳，毕竟他们谈论的是他的女儿，不是她的。

　　“啊哈，这么说你还知道我是她父亲，我再告诉你一遍，不行。”

　　“难道你觉得我会相信某个从来不为Jane过生日的人，从来不给她买哪怕一个娃娃的人声称是她父亲？我周二会去她爷爷奶奶那儿接她，现在我得进去了。”玲厌恶地说完，往入口走去。

　　“等一下，”她不想停，不过她也知道在繁忙的酒店门前，他还不至于动手打人。

　　“你要去哪儿接她？”他问道，好像她泼妇骂街似的喊叫声还不够大。

　　“从她爷爷奶奶那儿。”

　　“那么你去南湖墓园可千万看仔细了。”这下他的好脾气告罄。

　　玲的下巴颏掉下来，“可是，她这么样告诉的我，不，告诉我们大家，或者她真的在给我们讲故事？”她不再那么有把握了，她可不认为这个男人凶悍到了诅咒自己长辈的地步。

　　他又冲她皱眉，没大弄懂她想说些什么。

　　“听着，先生。。。呃，你不介意告诉我您贵姓？”

　　“李”

　　“我很抱歉，李先生，我可能误解了Ｊａｎｅ在班上告诉我们的一些故事。”玲试着解释。

　　“我可不认为现在是讨论她的故事的恰当时间，这位小姐，”“刘”，“刘小姐，我相信里面有两个空位正等着客人呢，如果你坚持周二不用司机带Jane出去，我们可以另找时间谈谈她的想象力。”

　　“好的，”她跟着他进了火锅城。

　　迎宾给了他们两个房间号，上了二楼，玲向左，李先生向右，也没挥手就完成了第二次道别，第一次固然也没有，不过这次，玲的头脑更混乱了些。

　　玲推开门，又跌回到自己的困境中。大约九到十个人围坐在一张大圆桌边，她的父母和一对熟悉的阿姨坐在一边，一些不太熟悉的面孔坐在另一边，不过没有一位男性看上去小于40，玲松了口气，再过多少年她父母也不可能给她约个离过婚的人，看来就是个家庭聚会而已。

　　上帝，看到父亲的脸色，她意识到因为那个问题父亲，或者说因为Jane，她铁定迟到了，“爸，我真的很抱歉，刚刚碰到一位学生的父亲，我们有点儿事……”“不要紧，坐吧。”不管她什么时候跟父亲讲话，都很少能讲完整个句子，不过她真不敢相信自己的耳朵，上帝，这次逃脱得最轻松。

　　玲坐到母亲身边的空椅上，自己到了杯茶，问了一圈有没有人要茶。她确实很饿，一整天，她不停地走动，在那些孩子们面前跳来跳去，很消耗精力。

　　“不好意思，我去打个电话，”有个叔叔在桌子那边道了声歉，走出了房间。

　　玲觉得怪怪的，白酒啤酒都满在杯子里没动，大家也没跟往常一样又说又笑，父亲不给自己介绍那些不熟的阿姨们，那些阿姨也正满面疑惑地忙着打量她，好像她脸上长的不是雀斑而是纹身。

　　太不正常了。然后她注意到还有两个座位空着，一个是借口出去的叔叔，另一个紧靠他，在玲的正对面，还在等人来坐。说到底，这还是一次相亲，而她的相亲对象迟到了，比她还迟。

　　温热的茶水突然呛到了玲的气管里，她使劲地咳嗽，茶水从右手端的茶杯中溅出来，天哪，Lily的表姐身上那件贵重的衬衫有可能毁了，她要是左手端茶杯该多好，她母亲从来没什么贵重东西。

　　“哦，玲，”lily的表姐万分忍耐地看着她。

　　“真对不起，阿姨，我刚才。。。我给你洗干净吧？”玲注意到一双双审视的眼睛都同情地盯着她。看在上帝的面儿上，她才不是因为相亲紧张的。

　　“没关系，玲，”不可思议，今天的太阳莫非从西边出来的，最贵重的衣服毁了，Lily的表姐却在冲着玲微笑。

　　玲挤出个笑容回给她，在心里大声说：这叫一报还一报，媒婆女士。

　　这时门又开了，那位叔叔领了个年轻人进来，年轻人双眉紧皱，两道眉毛都快要连一块儿了。怎么现在的男士们都这么紧绷绷的，好像他们拯救世界的信念都面临着9.11世贸大楼崩溃的考验一样。

　　那位叔叔总算松口气，笑着把儿子介绍给桌上的各位，“帆，阳光建筑所的平面设计师，刚才他有个紧急设计任务，不得不加班。”

　　迟到了半个小时，盲约来说太迟了，他的儿子没有半句道歉的话。

　　所有的位子都坐好了人，晚宴正式开始。双方的父母在席间最健谈，忙于交换从祖辈到孙辈的各类信息。玲的父亲很是遗憾，他还没抱上孙子。

　　玲用眼角无意识地瞟了那个帆几次，碰到他的眼角余光马上转向。长得不难看，眼睛，鼻子，嘴巴和每一个部件都各安其位，裹着身黑色西装，吃的很少，除了一杯接一杯地喝茶外几乎不吃东西。

　　“这是我最小的儿子，25了，时间过得真快，我们得捉紧时间把他们安顿好才算完成使命。”帆的父亲叹了口气。

　　“说的是啊，这是我最小的女儿，已经23了，我们没打算浪费太多时间往下等。孩子永远不懂父母的心。”　玲的父亲附和着，好似两个长期遭受癌症折磨的病人已经决定去安乐死一样。最好去荷兰，Christina说那儿的安乐死合法。玲想着想着忍不住笑出声来。

　　出乎意料，帆也在笑。

　　这次两人的眼角终于没有各自移开，“你在哪个学校上的大学？我听说你是位英语教师。”帆开了口。

　　整张桌子突然静下来，隔壁有人在唱歌，“你永远不知道，下一秒生活带给你什么。”

　　“沈阳科技学院，其实是所理科院校，不是文科。我是那儿的第一届语言类毕业生。”玲听见自己的声音很轻快。

　　“哦，是吗，我两年前从那儿的计算机系毕业，”看，沈阳是座大城市，可是你会在相亲时遇到校友。

　　“我也是，你住哪座宿舍楼？”玲现在真正觉得放松了，至少他们不必互相盯着对方却无话可说，或者根本不敢看对方，那样子整桌人都陪着尴尬。

　　看着相亲出人意料的顺利，桌上的人继续各自的问讯大业，甚至开始大笑，喝酒。

　　“4号楼，女生的2号楼对面。”

　　“这样啊，在我住的楼对面。你也拿望远镜偷看过我们吧？”

　　“别否认你们女生也有望远镜。”两个人都撑不住笑起来。

　　整顿晚餐他们谈啊，笑啊，像两个真正的老校友。不管怎么说，没必要跟那些老前辈们聊天了。最后，两位父亲紧紧握手，许诺谁先去谁家下场象棋，两位母亲商量着哪天在家里吃一次火锅。玲和帆互相递个眼色，任由他们定下了两人下次见面的时间，他们俩都认识到顺着父母做游戏日子更好过，毕竟相亲会也没有他们想的那么不堪。

　　晚些时候，玲躺在Tiffany和Roc隔壁房间的床上，想到有一天她也得跟某个人分享同一张床，脸突然就红了，不一定是帆，可是她从来没跟别人同床，拿到阿姆斯特丹的性博物馆肯定是奇事一桩，Christian有一次提到过，因为整个西方世界都找不到一个16岁以上的处女。就这一条足够了，尽管玲英语流利，她可不想去任何一个西方国家。