约翰丹佛是霭青熟悉的歌手之一，他那首“乡村的路带我回家”人人都能哼唱。霭青现在坐在乔治和维克之间，“你会唱吗？” 乔治摇摇头，琴弦一拨，欢快的曲调出来。 Grandma's Feather Bed by John Denver When I was a little bitty boy just up off the floor We used to go down to grandma's house every month end or so We'd have chicken pie, country ham Homemade butter on the bread But the best darn thing about grandma's house Was the great big feather bed It was nine feet high and six feet wide And soft as a downy chick It was made from the feathers of forty 'leven geese Took a whole bolt of cloth for the tick It could hold eight kids and four hound dogs And a piggy we stole from the shed We didn't get much sleep but we had a lot of fun On grandma's feather bed After supper we'd sit around the fire, the old folks'd spit and chew Pa would talk about the farm and the war And granny'd sing a ballad or two And I'd sit and listen and watch the fire till the cobwebs filled my head Next thing I'd know I'd wake up in the morning In the middle of the old feather bed It was nine feet high and six feet wide And soft as a downy chick It was made from the feathers of forty 'leven geese Took a whole bolt of cloth for the tick It could hold eight kids and four hound dogs And a piggy we stole from the shed We didn't get much sleep but we had a lot of fun On grandma's feather bed Well, I love my ma and I love my pa, I love granny and grandpa too I've been fishin' with my uncles, I wrestled my cousin I even kissed Aunt Lou, ew! But if I ever had to make a choice I guess it oughta be said That I'd trade them all plus the gal down the road For grandma's feather bed I'd trade them all plus the gal down the road It was nine feet high and six feet wide And soft as a downy chick It was made from the feathers of forty 'leven geese Took a whole bolt of cloth for the tick It could hold eight kids and four hound dogs And a piggy we stole from the shed We didn't get much sleep but we had a lot of fun On grandma's feather bed We didn't get much sleep but we had a lot of fun On grandma's feather bed 歌曲欢快俏皮，乔治唱完，朝霭青挤了挤眼睛。 霭青拍了拍乔治的脸，“我的乡村小子。” 乔治笑道，“我是。” “哎呀，我都忘了，我带来了礼物，还留在车里呢。” 霭青说着，跑到外面，从车里拿出三个纸袋，她首次见公婆，不知道送什么礼物，乔治也没想法，什么都行。 霭青给婆婆挑的果盘，送给公公一瓶威士忌，维克一套毛线围巾帽子手套。 维克谢了霭青，“我也找个中国女孩做老婆。” 汤姆问儿子，“你上次那个姑娘呢？不是中国人？” “哪个？安妮？她是菲律宾人吧。” “分开好，菲人都是淘金女。” “爸，”乔治止住汤姆，“政治不正确。” “不是吗？” “安妮有点，可不代表所有人。” “我看差不多。” “爸，我们先回去了，再晚就堵车了。你考虑一下阳光屯的地产。” “你问塞蒙吧。”汤姆推给大儿子做主。 乔治搂着妈妈，“我下星期再来。” 罗丝抱着霭青给的果盘，“乔治，” “哎，妈。” “你结婚了。” “是，这是霭青。” 罗丝把果盘递给霭青，“送给你的礼物。” 霭青接过来，“谢谢罗丝。” 回家的路上，乔治话不多，想着家里的事，找公寓，找工作。 霭青也想着同样的事情。 湾区有两大就业市场，北边的旧金山市里，和南湾的硅谷，这边的工作比较多。 乔治需要照顾妈妈，这是他搬回加州的原因，工作离家里越近越好，东湾沿着580高速快活屯附近的公司都可以申请。 两人都是MBA，霭青早就想好了找哪些类的工作。乔治还没有定下来了，搞管理，市场，销售，哪个工资高就做什么。 霭青在爱迪逊银行丽姿那里有过成功的经验，会计是她的强项，依然是她的目标。 她现在缺的是一辆车。一辆二手车就可以。 乔治说去大姐辛迪家一趟，回来就有车了。 到了辛迪在湖边的家，霭青才明白为什么乔治说的这么肯定。 清水湖在湾区北边山里，经过Napa纳帕谷葡萄酒区，沿着29号公路就能到达。 这里真是蓝天白云绿水青山，远离湾区喧嚣尘世的污染，比较慢生活。 辛迪是中学老师，瘦高的个子，棕黄色的长头发编了个辫子，拖在脑后，穿着一件老式连衣裙，肤色苍白，也不化妆，连嘴唇都是苍白的，看见乔治，笑着张开双臂，“嗨，乔治！” 姐弟相拥片刻，辛迪向霭青伸手，“你一定是我弟媳了？” “辛迪，你好。”霭青握了握手。 这次她没有忘了礼物，送给辛迪一个小水晶摆设，辛迪爱不释手，欣赏了半天，才放在壁炉上一堆摆设中最明显的地方。 乔治来访的目的之一，有关有机农场的事，给维克出出主意。 目的之二，有关阳光屯的地产，争取辛迪支持开发房地产。 目的之三，给霭青找辆车。 辛迪的丈夫奥托是个二手车批发商，各个卖车行在卖出新车的时候，通常把买主的旧车低价收购。这些旧车有的修理清洗一下，就在车行转卖，有的就由奥托这样的批发商买走，再运到其他地区的其他旧车行出售。 奥托这样的批发商眼睛很尖，一眼就能估算出一辆二手车的价值，转手有没有赚头。 “奥托到南加州进车去了，你要什么样的车，我让他给你留意一个。” 霭青对车没什么概念，“小轿车吧，日本牌子，丰田，本田，省油的。” “我建议大点的SUV之类的，安全。”乔治说，“而且必须有空调。” |
