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第25章 一架红木钢琴2（第1页）

第25章一架红木钢琴（2）

Thehadadirtfloorandthereweresinthehouse。Obviously，theoldladyothavequalifiedtopurythi-noophone，norealjob，nothingbutaroofoverherheadandnoodo。Icouldseedaylightthroughitinseveralplaces。Herlittlegranddaughterwasabout10，barefootandwearingafeed-sackdress。

Iexplaiheoldladythatweotsellanewpianofor＄10amonthandthatsheshouldsttouseverytimeshesawourad。Idroveawayheartsick，butmyadvioeffect—shestillsentusthesamepostcardeverysixantinganewpianany，please，andswearingshewouldnevermissa＄10payment。It>

Acoupleofyearslater，Iownedmyoany，andwheisedihepostcardsstartedonths，IigelsecouldIdo？

Butthen，onedaywhenIwasihinge。Ihadaredmahoganypianoonmylittletruck。DespiteknowingthatIwasabouttomakeaterriblebusinessde，IdeliveredthepiaoldherIwouldcarrytheyselfat＄10amonthwithhatayments。ItookthenewpianointhehouseawhereIthoughttheroofwouldbeleastlikelytorainonit。Iadmohelittlegirltotrytokeepthesoffit，a—sureIhadjustthropiano。

Butthepayments，all52ofthemasagreed—sometimeswithstapedtoa3×5intheewasincredible！

So，Iputtheiofmymindfor20years。

ThenonedayIhisonotherbusiness，andafterdiheHolidayInnointothelounge。AsIwassittingatthebarhavinganafter-dinnerdrihemostbeautifulpianomusidme。Ilookedaround，andtherewasalovelyyounglayingaverynidpiano。

Beingapianistofsomeabilitymyself，Iwasstuuosity，andIpickedupmydrinkaablebesideherwhereIcouldlistenandwatch。Shesmiledatme，askis，aookabreakshesatdownatmytable。

&hemanwhosoldmygrandmaapianoalongtimeago？”

Itdidn’tringabell，soIaskedhertoexplain。

&edtotellme，andIsuddenlyremembered。MyLord，itwasher！Itwasthelittlebarefootgirlinthefeedsackdress！

&oldmehernamewasEliseandsincehergrandmother’taffordtopayforlessons，shehadlearoplaybylisteningtotheradio。Shesaidshehadstartedtoplayinchurchwheresheandhergraowalkovertwomiles，andthatshehadthenplayedinschool，hadwonmanyawardsandamusicscholarship。ShehadmarriedanattorneyinMemphisandhehadbrandpiano。

&hieredmymind。“Look，Elise，”Iasked，“MayIaskyouwhatkindofwoodisyourfirstpiaherayou？”

“It’sredmahogany，”shesaid，“Why？”

I’tspeak。

Didsheuhesigheredmahogany？Theunbelievableaudacityrainganypianowhennooneinhisrightmindwouldhavesoldherapianoofanykind？Ithinknot。

Aheoldladyuhemarvelousaentofthatbeautiful，terriblyunderprivilegedthefeedsao，I’msureshedidhateither。ButIdid，andmythroattightened。

Finally，Ifoundmyvoice。“Ijustwondered，”Isaid。“I’mproudofyou，butIhavetogotomyroom。”AndIdidhavetogotomyroom，bedoobeseenpublic。