“Honey, I know Tiger’s academic performance is not very good, but you know what, he has a talent on art. I was a high school art teacher. Tiger was my best student. He is so creative. He is good at combining traditional Chinese art and Western oil painting. Please look this one, isn’t it amazing?”(我知道家宝的学习成绩不算太好,但是他很有艺术天分。我过去在高中教画画课,他是我教过的最好的学生。他很有创意,擅于把传统中国画技和西方油画相结合,请看这幅画,是不是很出色?)
“No, no, no, I didn’t teach him Chinese painting. He taught me. I only taught him watercolor and oil painting.” (错了,我没有教他,他教我中国画。我教他西方油画和水彩画)南希急切地用英语解释。
“About two years. Tiger was shy at first. Later we were like a family. My husband took Tiger to go fishing, hiking, biking and playing basketball. I taught Tiger English, painting and cooking. We had a great time, but it is all gone after my husband passed away…”说到后面,老太太情绪低落,声音哽咽。沈丽英侧身抽出一张面巾纸,递给南希。
南希道谢接过后,擦拭眼角,片刻抬头,红着眼圈看着客人强颜欢笑:“sorry,I just miss those happy days when we were together.”。(抱歉,我真是很怀念跟他们在一起的快乐日子)
张兰耐心地等南希情绪平静下来,轻声问:““Why did he move out?” Did he contact you after he moved out?”
“I was very sick after my husband passed away. My daughter came living with me for a while. Tiger moved out to stay with his girlfriend, but he called me every Saturday. Later I visited my friend in Italy for half a year. After that I never heard from him. The last time was two years ago. I got a Christmas card from Tiger. I also sent him a card, but it was returned.” (丈夫去世后我病得很严重,女儿来照顾我一段时间。家宝搬出去跟女朋友住,但他每周六都会给我打电话。后来我去意大利住了半年。再就没有他的消息了,两年前他给我寄过一张圣诞卡,那是最后一次他联系我。我也给他寄了张卡,但是被退回来了)
“Tiger has a girlfriend? Did you meet her? (他有女朋友?您见过她吗?)
“He told me so, but I never got a chance to see her.”(他是这么说的,但我没见过他的女友)南希回答。
“Do you still keep the card? May I take a look?” (您还保存着那张圣诞卡吗?我能看看吗?)