继续跳舞（2）（2/2）
《穿过爱的时光》作者：杨柳青 2017-01-24 02:12
r eyes from the blinding lights. “Hello. ” she says.
“What time do you call this?” I reply.
And so begins the usual script. A quick lecture from me, a sigh of exasperation from her, and then off to bed to salvage a few hours of sleep. Only tonight, things aren’t running to pattern. There’s a glint of defiance in her gaze.
“You won’t be waiting up for me after tonight. I’m moving in with Eddie tomorrow. ”
My legs feel kind of wobbly, so I sit down on the top stair and scan her face for signs that it’s all bluff and bravado. No, she’s perfectly serious. She climbs the stairs and sinks down next to me. She sighs gently, and her features soften as she takes my hand.
“I’m sorry I was so blunt. I know this is difficult for you. But I really have to live my own life now, ”she says in the same quiet, soothing tones I recall from my own childhood.
“Eddie is good for me, ”she continues. “He makes me laugh, and I haven’t been doing a lot of that lately. He may or may not be the right one, but I’m ready to find out. I’m strong enough to look after myself now. You’ve been so good to me since Dad moved out, but it’s time for us both to start living our own lives again. ”
In the silence I feel her anxiety, waiting for my reaction. Slowly, I realize she’s right. For the past year our lives have been on hold as we’ve struggled to come to terms with the upheaval and tumult that has affected all of our lives but almost destroyed hers. I’ve spent months urging and coercing her to live again, and now she’s telling me I’ve succeeded. It’s my turn to let go, to move on.
A great sense of relief floods through me. I’m no longer solely responsible for her happiness. She’s found friends from her own generation who also have an input. That’s how it should be. I feel a tremor of excitement at the prospect of making my dreams a reality. I could return to college, take that holiday...
Smiling, I stand, pulling her up with me.
“Okay, Mum, you win, ” I laugh. “I guess at seventy, you’re old enough to go it alone. Now c’mon, let’s get some sleep. You’ve got a big day ahead of you. ”
“Yes,” she laughs. “I’m so happy. I think I’ll wear my beautiful fuchsia dress tomorrow. Eddie will be so pleased. It’s his favorite. ”
My mum has, indeed, picked up the threads of her life. She teaches ballroom dancing three days a week at the local leisure center, visits her friends for dinner, takes embroidery lessons, and, of course, still enjoys the company of Eddie. She is a wonderful example of it never being too late to start again, whatever your age.
“What time do you call this?” I reply.
And so begins the usual script. A quick lecture from me, a sigh of exasperation from her, and then off to bed to salvage a few hours of sleep. Only tonight, things aren’t running to pattern. There’s a glint of defiance in her gaze.
“You won’t be waiting up for me after tonight. I’m moving in with Eddie tomorrow. ”
My legs feel kind of wobbly, so I sit down on the top stair and scan her face for signs that it’s all bluff and bravado. No, she’s perfectly serious. She climbs the stairs and sinks down next to me. She sighs gently, and her features soften as she takes my hand.
“I’m sorry I was so blunt. I know this is difficult for you. But I really have to live my own life now, ”she says in the same quiet, soothing tones I recall from my own childhood.
“Eddie is good for me, ”she continues. “He makes me laugh, and I haven’t been doing a lot of that lately. He may or may not be the right one, but I’m ready to find out. I’m strong enough to look after myself now. You’ve been so good to me since Dad moved out, but it’s time for us both to start living our own lives again. ”
In the silence I feel her anxiety, waiting for my reaction. Slowly, I realize she’s right. For the past year our lives have been on hold as we’ve struggled to come to terms with the upheaval and tumult that has affected all of our lives but almost destroyed hers. I’ve spent months urging and coercing her to live again, and now she’s telling me I’ve succeeded. It’s my turn to let go, to move on.
A great sense of relief floods through me. I’m no longer solely responsible for her happiness. She’s found friends from her own generation who also have an input. That’s how it should be. I feel a tremor of excitement at the prospect of making my dreams a reality. I could return to college, take that holiday...
Smiling, I stand, pulling her up with me.
“Okay, Mum, you win, ” I laugh. “I guess at seventy, you’re old enough to go it alone. Now c’mon, let’s get some sleep. You’ve got a big day ahead of you. ”
“Yes,” she laughs. “I’m so happy. I think I’ll wear my beautiful fuchsia dress tomorrow. Eddie will be so pleased. It’s his favorite. ”
My mum has, indeed, picked up the threads of her life. She teaches ballroom dancing three days a week at the local leisure center, visits her friends for dinner, takes embroidery lessons, and, of course, still enjoys the company of Eddie. She is a wonderful example of it never being too late to start again, whatever your age.