第5部分(第3/6 页)

led　with　the　lovely　scent　of　roses。

As　the　seventh　floral　arrangement　was　brought　in；　I　was　beginning　to　feel　unfortable；　for　no　flowers　had　arrived　for　my　roommate；　Ann。　She　sat　on　the　edge　of　her　bed　and　leaned　forward　to　admire　the　latest　bouquet1。　She　was　a　pretty　young　woman；　yet　there　was　something　about　her　large；　brown　eyes　that　made　me　think　she　had　known　too　much　struggling；　too　much　sadness　for　one　so　young。　I　had　the　feeling　she　had　always　had　to　admire　someone　else’s　flowers。

友好的报答（2）

“I’m　enjoying　every　minute　of　this”；　she　said　as　though　she　had　read　my　thoughts　and　was　trying　to　reassure　me。　“Wasn’t　I　the　lucky　one　to　get　you　for　a　roommate？”

I　still　felt　unfortable；　however。　If　only　there　were　some　magic　button　I　could　push　to　take　away　the　sadness　in　her　eyes。　Well；　I　thought；　at　least　I　can　see　that　she　has　some　flowers。　When　my　mother　and　father　came　to　see　me　that　day；　I　asked　them　to　send　her　some。

The　flowers　arrived　just　as　Ann　and　I　were　finishing　supper。

“Another　bouquet　for　you；”　she　said；　laughing。

“No；　not　this　time；”　I　said；　looking　at　the　card。　“These　are　for　you。”

Ann　stared　at　the　blossoms　a　long　time；　not　saying　anything。　She　ran　her　fingers　across　the　pale…blue　ceramic2　bootee　and　lightly　touched　each　of　the　sweetheart　roses　nestled　inside　as　though　trying　to　engrave　them　on　her　memory。

“How　can　I　ever　thank　you？”　she　said　softly。

I　was　almost　embarrassed。　It　was　such　a　little　kindness　on　my　part。　The　son　born　to　my　husband　and　me　that　day　in　1956　turned　out　to　be　our　only　child。　For　nearly　21　years　he　filled　our　lives　with　love　and　laughter；　making　us　feel　plete。　But　on　Easter　morning　in　April　1977；　after　a　long；　painful　battle　with　cancer；　he　died　quietly　in　our　ar