第20部分(第5/6 页)

of　my　twenty…second　year　teaching　high　school　seniors；　while

The　new　arrangement　was　a　disaster。　Exhausted　after　a　day　of　dealing　with　faculty　meetings　and　students；　all　I　wanted　was　a　hot　home　cooked　meal　and　a　good　night’s　sleep。

A　microwave　package　greeted　me　at　the　table。

One　night；　I　was　horrified　to　discover

“l　found　out　how　to　save　on　water；　soap　and　electricity。”　“Just　wash　everything　together。”

During　the　months　that　followed；　his　cooking　somehow　managed　to　get　worse。　At　least　I　cooked　us　balanced　meals；　I　wanted　to　say。　But　then　I　would　remember　the　time　；　though　I　discovered　later　how　he　detested　the　sight　of　beets。　So　I　wouldn’t　say　anything　to　him。

As　far　as　I　was　concerned；　things　couldn’t　get　much　worse。　So　that　rainy　morning　when　I　found　a　now…blue　half…slip　stuffed　in　a　dresser　drawer；　I　could　only　grit　my　teeth；　l　had　it！

Lord；　can’t　you　help　him　with　just　the　basics　of　taking　care　of　us？　I　stormed　out　of　the　house。

Ten　minutes　later；　ignoring　’s　warning　about　taking　the　shortcut　in　bad　weather；　I　turned　off　the　main　route。

But　as　I　rounded　the　corner　a　swirling　mess　gushed　across　my　path。　It　can’t　be　that　deep；　I　thought。　But　after　a　few　feet；　the　car　stalled。　Almost　20　minutes　passed；　the　car　swayed。　The　chocolaty　water　surged。　Please；　God；　I　prayed；　take　care　of　me。

Three　long　blasts　of　horn　interrupted　my　praying。　Looking　over　my　shoulder； ！

“Donna！I’m　throwing　a　rope；”　he　yelled。　“Hang　on　to　it　and　walk　straight　toward　me。”

I　opened　the　door；　grabbed　the　rope。　I　slipped　in　the　rushing　water；　“　I　can’t！”I　screamed；　straining　at　the　rope。

“Yes；　you　can。”　His　voice　was　calm。

If　it　had　been　anybody　but ；　I　don’t　think　I　could　have　done　it。　But　I　trusted