I sitatmykitchentable, while mydaughter,Anna,sitsnexttomymother. On the wall hangsa photo of my father.
“WhenisRickgoingtobehere?” Mymotherasks,referringtomyhusband.
“Idon’tknow,Mom,”Ianswerpatiently.“He’llbeherefordinner.”
Isighandgetupfromthetable.Thisisatleastthetenthtimeshehasaskedthatquestion.
Whilemymotheranddaughterplay,Ibusymyselfmakingasalad.
“Don'tputinanyonions,”Momsays.“YouknowhowDaddyhatesonion.”
“Yes,Mom,”Ianswer.
Iscrub(洗擦)offacarrotandchopitintobite-sizepieces.
“Don'tputanyonionsinthesalad,”sheremindsme.“YouknowhowDaddyhatesonion.”
ThistimeIcan’tanswer.
Mymotherhadbeenbeautiful.Shestillis.Infact,mymotherisstilleverythingshehas
been,justabitforgetful.
Icutofftheendofthecucumberandrubittotakeawaythebitterness. Cutandrub.This
isatrickIhavelearnedfrommymother,alongwithatrillionotherthings: cooking,sewing,
dating,laughing,thinking.Ilearnedhowtogrowup.
AndIlearnedthatwhenmymotherwasaround,Ineverhadtobeafraid.
SowhyamIafraidnow?
Istudymymother'shands.Hernailsarenolongerabrightred,butpaintedalightpink.
Almost nocoloratall.AndasIstareatthem,IrealizeIam feelingthemastheyshapedmy
youth.Handsthatpackedathousandlunchesandwipeda milliontearsoffmycheeks.
Now myhandshavegrownintothoseofmymother's.Handsthathavecookeduneaten
meals,heldmyowndaughter'sfrightenedfingersonthe firstdayofschoolanddriedtears
offherface.
Igrowlighthearted.Icanfeelmymotherkissmegoodnight,checktoseeifthewindowis
locked,thenblowanotherkissfromthedoorway.ThenIammymother,blowingthatsame
kisstoAnna.
Outsideeverythingisstill.Shadowsfallamongthetrees,shapedlikepiecesofapuzzle.
Somedaymydaughterwillbestandinginmyplace,andIwillrestwheremymothernowsits.
WillIrememberthenhowitfelttobebothmotheranddaughter?WillIaskthesame
questiontoomanytimes?
Iwalkoverandsitdownbetweenmymotherandhe
rgranddaughter.
“WhereisRick?”mymotherasks,restingherhandonthetablenexttomine. Andinthat
instantIknowsheremembers.Shemayrepeatherselfalittletoomuch.Butsheremembers.
“He’llbehere,”Ianswerwithasmile.
What’s wrong with the writer’s mother?
| A.She is very old. |
B.She suffers forgetfulness. |
| C.She is absent-minded. |
D.She is eager to see Rick. |
What can we learn about the writer’s father according to the passage?
| A.He might have passed away for years. |
| B.He goes out for a walk by himself. |
| C.He is out doing something with Rick. |
| D.He loves the writer’s mother deeply. |
The underlined sentence “IrealizeIam feelingthemastheyshapedmyyouth” probably means that ______.
| A.Mother’s hands witnessed my growth as a youth |
| B.Mother’s hands are similar to mine as a youth |
| C.I like to feel mother’s hands when she was young |
| D.I realize her hands were exactly like those in her youth |
Which of the following words best describe the writer’s mood towards her mother?
| A.Content. |
B.Disappointed. |
C.Loving. |
D.Considerate. |
The best title for the passage would be ______.
| A.Mother’s beauty |
B.My father hates onion |
| C.Hard-working mother |
D.Mother’s hands |