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第37章 昔为人子今为人父 1（第1页）

第37章昔为人子，今为人父（1）

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&ereveningasIsatreading，myyoungson，Luke，approachedmyshysileoodjustoutsidethehalf-moonoflightmadebyanoldbrassstudentlampIcherish。Itoorfather’sofficedesk。

Inthosedays，Lukelikedtoapproachmewithhismostseriousproblemswheheyearbefore，hedidthiswheneverIwaswinthegarden。Perhaps，hefeltmostateasewithdifficultieswhenIwasdoiiodo。Wheerestedingrowingthioplantseedsaheminthegroundinsteadofdiggiheverymtoseeiftheyhadgroasbeginohimself—althoughhewouldn’tadmittomethathecoulddothat。

Ilookedupfrommypaper，andhegavemehiswide-opengrin。Thenhisexpressiolyserious，anot-timitationofme。“Ibrokemysaw，”hesaid，withdrawioyfrombehindhisback。“Here。”

&askifIcouldfixit。HistrustthatIcouldlimentfromasmallboytothemiraclefixeroftricycles，wagonsahesaw’sblueplastidlehadsher，whotreasuredthetoolsofallprofessions，wouldnothaveapprovedofaplastidledsaw。

Isaid，“Therearepieg。Doyouhavethem？”

Heopenedhischedfisttorevealtheremainis。Ididhesawcouldbeproperlymended。

&tently，hisexpressiabsolutecethatIcoulddoanything。Thatlookstirredmemories。IexamihgreatihebrokenpiemyhandsasIturhepastinmymind。

WhenIwasseven，I’dgoomyfather’sofficeaftersberday。MyfatherwasclearlythebestdoctorwithinathousahesmallOhioRivertoelived。Healwaysastonishedme—andhispatients—bythethingshecoulddo。Heotoeverwasthematterwithahecouldalsobreakahorse，carveatopandslidedownLongHilloandingup！Ilikedtohangaroundhiswaitingroomandhearpeoplecallme“littleDodIlikedtheatientsalwayslookedbetterwhehisoffice。

Butonthisday，whenIwasseven，mypurposewastoseemybestfriend，JimmyHardesty。Hehadn’tbeeninschoolforthreedays，andhismotherhadsentwordtomyfather’sshejustmightbringJimmyiortoday。

&helastoftheafternooshadgone，Jimmyhadstillheraofftomakehousecalls。Helikedtohavemewithhim，becausehelikedtotellstorieswhewasnearlysevenwhenwefinished。Aswestartedhome，myfathersaidsudde’sgoupandy。”Ifeltsquirmywithgratitude，thatmyfatherwasdoingthisjusttopleaseme。Butwheoftheoldgraystoherewasalightiairsbadowahebackportbeasoftrouble。

Myfatherpulledthecarrightintothedooryard。Alice，Jimmy’soldersister，ingoutofthehouseandthrewherarmsaroundmyfather，dshakingandtryingtotalk。“Oh，Doc。Jimmy’sdying！Dad’sgalloverthetylookingforyou。Thankgoodnessyou’rehere。”

Myfatherneverraosaytherewasohurry。Ifyouhadtohurry，itwastoolate。ButhetoldAlicetoletgooffhim，ahen。Ifollowedthemthroughtheyeasty-smellingkitdupthenarrow，darkhallstairs。Jimmywasbreathiandmadeahigh，airysound。Hehadmoundsofquiltspiledoverhim，sothatIcouldbarelyseehisfathefliglightofthekerosenelamps。Helookedallwornoutandhisskinglistened。

Hismothersaid，“Oh，Doc。Helpus。Itwasjustalittlethisafteredthisterribles>

IhadneverseenJimmy’smotherronooodbehihherhandsonmyshoulders，asmyfatherlisteoJimmy’schest。Hefixedahypodermidheldthehelight。Iwasthatitwasthemiracleweallmusthave。MyfathergaveJimmytheshot。HethengotagauzepadfromhisbladputitoverJimmy’smouth。Hebentoverhimaobreathewithhim。Nooroomandtherewasnoothersoueadypushingofmyfather’sbreathandJimmy’shigh，wheezingresponse。

Thensuddenlyaslightheawfulsoundofmyfather’sbreathihismother’shandstightenonmyshouldersandknew，assheksomethinghadsmyfatherkeptintoJimmy’slungs。Afteralongtime，Mrs。Hardestywehebed，putherhandonmyfather’sarmandsaid，veryquietly，“He’sgone，Doeaway。Myboy’snotwithusamyfatherwouldnotmove。

Mrs。Hardestytookmebythehandthedow。ShesatinarodAligasforlornasI’veeverseenanybodylook，threwherselfoher’slap。Iwentoutontothepordsatdowepintheess。Iwantedoseeorhearme。