芒果街上的小屋閣樓上的流浪者

閣樓上的流浪者

　　我想要一所山上的房子，像爸爸工作的地方那樣的花園房。星期日，爸爸的休息日，我們會去那裡。我過去常去。現在不去了。你長大了，就不喜歡和我們一起出去嗎？爸爸說。你傲起來了。蕾妮說。我沒告訴他們我很羞愧——我們一幫人全都盯著那裡的窗戶，像饑餓的人。我厭倦了盯著我不能擁有的東西。如果我們贏了彩票……媽媽才開口，我就不要聽了。

　　那些住在山上、睡得靠星星如此近的人，他們忘記了我們這些住在地面上的人。他們根本不朝下看，除非為了體會住在山上的心滿意足。上星期的垃圾，對老鼠的恐懼，這些與他們無關。夜晚來臨，沒什麼驚擾他們的夢，除了風。

　　有一天我要擁有自己的房子，可我不會忘記我是誰我從哪裡來。路過的流浪者會問，我可以進來嗎？我會把他們領上閣樓，請他們住下來，因為我知道沒有房子的滋味。

　　有些日子裡，晚飯後，我和朋友們坐在火旁。樓上的地板吱呀吱呀響。閣樓上有咕咕噥噥的聲音。

　　是老鼠嗎？他們會問。

　　是流浪者。我會回答說。我會很開心。

　　I want a house on a hill like the ones with the gardens where Papa works. We go on Sundays, Papa's day off. I used to go. I don't anymore. You don't like to go out with us, Papa says. Getting too old? Getting too stuck-up, says Nenny. I don't tell them I am ashamed——all of us staring out the window like the hungry. I am tired of looking at what we 't have. When we witery……Mama begins, and then I stop listening.

　　People who live on hills sleep so close to the stars they fet those of us who live too mu earth. They don't look down at all except to be tent to live on hills. They have nothing to do with last week's garbage or fear of rats. Night es. Nothing wakes them but the wind.

　　One day I'll own my own house, but I won't fet who I am or where I came from. Passing bums will ask, I e in? I'll offer them the attic, ask them to stay, because I know how it is to be without a house.

　　Some days after dinner, guests and I will sit in front of a fire. Floorboards will squeak upstairs. The attic grumble.

　　Rats? They'll ask.

　　Bums, I'll say, and I'll be happy.

學達書庫(xuoda.com)