芒果街上的小屋我們的好日子

我們的好日子

　　如果你給我五塊錢，我會永遠做你的朋友。那個小的這麼對我說。

　　五塊錢很便宜，因為我沒有任何朋友，除了凱茜，她是我星期二之前的朋友。

　　五塊錢，五塊錢。

　　她想找人湊錢，那樣，她們可以從那個叫提陀的小孩那裡買一輛自行車。她們已經有十塊了，她們再添五塊錢就夠了。

　　只要五塊。她說。

　　別和他們說話。凱茜說，你難道看不出來他們聞起來像掃把？

　　可是我喜歡她們。她們的衣服又皺又舊。她們穿著鋥亮的禮拜天的鞋子，卻沒穿短襪。鞋子把她們的光腳踝擦得紅紅的。我喜歡她們。尤其是那個大的，笑的時候露出一口牙齒。我喜歡她，儘管她讓小的出來說話。

　　五塊，小的說，只要五塊。

　　凱茜在拽我的胳膊，我知道，接下來我不管做什麼，都會讓她永遠生我氣的。

　　等等。我說著跑到屋裡拿了五塊錢。我自己存有三塊，又拿了蕾妮兩塊。她不在家，可我肯定，她發現我們有輛自行車會很高興的。我回來的時候，凱茜走了，我知道她會這麼做，可我不在乎。我有了兩個新朋友和一輛自行車。

　　我叫露西。大的說。這是我妹妹拉切爾。

　　我是她妹妹。拉切爾說。你是誰？

　　我希望我的名字是卡桑德拉，或者阿樂克西絲，或者瑪芮查——只要不是埃斯佩朗莎，什麼名字都可以。可我告訴她們我的名字的時候，她們沒有笑。

　　我從得克薩斯來，露西說著咧嘴一笑。塔是在這裡出生的，而我在得克薩斯。

　　你是說她吧。我說。

　　不，我是從得克薩斯來。她沒聽明白我的意思。

　　這輛車我們三個這麼分配吧，拉切爾已經想在前面了。今天是我的，明天是露西的，後天是你的。

　　可每個人都想今天騎，因為車是新的。於是我們決定從明天開始輪流。今天它屬我們大家。

　　我還沒有告訴她們蕾妮的事。事情太複雜了。尤其是，為了誰第一個騎的問題，拉切爾差點把露西的眼睛挖出來。最後我們同意一塊騎，為什麼不呢？

　　露西腿長，她來踩踏板。我坐在後座上，拉切爾足夠苗條，她坐到了前杠上，弄得車子一個勁搖晃，好像輪子是實心意粉做的。不過一會兒我們就習慣了。

　　我們越騎越快，騎過了我的家，那破落又悲哀、牆磚碎裂的紅色小屋，騎過了街角賓尼先生的小賣鋪，騎在了危險的大道上。自助洗衣店、舊貨店、藥店、一個個窗子、一輛輛汽車，越來越多的汽車，都經過了。我們圍著街區繞了一圈，騎回芒果街。

　　巴士上的人向我們揮手。一個很胖很胖的女人邊過街邊說，你們的裝載量很大呀。

　　拉切爾喊道，你的裝載量也很大呀。她說話好冒失。

　　我們沿著芒果街前行。拉切爾、露西、我，還有我們的新自行車。歪歪扭扭的回程上，我們一直笑呀笑。

　　If you give me five dollars I will be your friend forever. That's what the little oells me.

　　Five dollars is cheap since I don't have any friends except Cathy who is only my friend till Tuesday.

　　Five dollars, five dollars.

　　She is trying to get somebody to chip in so they buy a bicycle from this kid ito. They already have ten dollars and all they need is five more.

　　Only five dollars, she says.

　　Don't talk to them, says Cathy. 't you see they smell like a broom.

　　But I like them. Their clothes are crooked and old. They are wearing shiny Sunday shoes without socks. It makes their bald ankles all red, but I like them. Especially the big one who laughs with all her teeth. I like her even though she lets the little one do all the talking.

　　Five dollars, the little one says, only five.

　　Cathy is tugging my arm and I know whatever I do will make her mad forever.

　　Wait a minute, I say, and run io get the five dollars. I have three dollars saved and I take two of Nenny's. She's not home, but I'm sure she'll be glad when she finds out we own a bike. When I get back, Cathy is gone like I knew she would be, but I don't care. I have two new friends and a bike too.

　　My name is Lucy, the big one says. This here is Rachel my sister.

　　I'm her sister, says Rachel. Who are you?

　　And I wish my name was Cassandra or Alexis or Maritza——anything but Esperanza——but when I tell them my hey don't laugh.

　　We e from Texas, Lucy says and grins. Her was born here, but me I'm Texas.

　　You mean she, I say.

　　No, I'm from Texas, and doesn't get it.

　　This bike is three ways ours, says Rachel who is thinking ahead already. Mioday, Lucy's tomorrow and yours day after.

　　But everybody wants to ride it today because the bike is new, so we decide to take turns after tomorrow. Today it belongs to all of us.

　　I don't tell them about Nenny just yet. It's too plicated. Especially since Rachel almost put out Lucy's eye about who was going to get to ride it first. But finally we agree to ride it together. Why not?

　　Because Lucy has long legs she pedals. I sit on the back seat and Rachel is skinny enough to get up on the handlebars which makes the bike all wobbly as if the wheels are spaghetti, but after a bit you get used to it.

　　We ride fast and faster. Past my house, sad and red and crumbly in places, past Mr. Benny's grocery on the er, and down the avenue which is dangerous. Laundromat, junk store, drugstore, windows and cars and more cars, and around the block baango.

　　People on the bus wave. A very fat lady crossing the street says, You sure got quite a load there.

　　Rachel shouts, You got quite a load there too. She is very sassy.

　　Down, down Mango Street we go. Rachel, Lucy, me. Our new bicycle. Laughing the crooked ride back.

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