爺爺的雙人毛毯

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P etey hadnt really believed that Dad would be sending Granddad away. But here was the blanket that Dad had bought for Granddad. This was the last evening theyd be having together.

Dad was off seeing that girl he was to marry. He would not be back till late， so Petey and Granddad could sit up and talk， with a silver moon riding high.

They washed up the supper dishes and then took their chairs out onto the porch. “Ill get my fiddle，” said the old man， “and play you some of the old tunes.”

But instead of the fiddle he brought out the blanket. It was a big double blanket， red with black stripes.

“Now， isnt that a fine blanket！” said the old man， smoothing it over his knees. “And isnt your father a kind man to be giving the old fellow a blanket like that to go away with？ It cost something， it did—look at the wool of it！”

It was like Granddad to be saying that. He was trying to make it easier. He had pretended all along that he wanted to go away to the great brick building—the government place. There hed be with so many other old fellows， having the best of everything. But Petey hadnt believed Dad would really do it， not until this night when he brought home the blanket.

“Oh， yes， its a fine blanket，” said Petey. He got up and went into the house. He wasnt the kind to cry and， besides， he was too old for that. Hed just gone in to fetch Granddads fiddle.

The blanket slid to the floor as the old man took the fiddle and stood up. He tuned up for a minute， and then said， “This is one youll like to remember.”

Petey sat and looked out over the gully. Dad would marry that girl. Yes， that girl who had kissed Petey， saying shed try to be a good mother to him.

The tune stopped suddenly. Granddad said， “Its a fine girl your fathers going to marry. Hell be feeling young again with a pretty wife like that. And what would an old fellow like me be doing around their house， getting in the way？ An old nuisance， what with my talks of aches and pains. Its best that I go away， like Im doing. One more tune or two， and then well be going to sleep. Ill pack up my blanket in the morning.”

They didnt hear the two people coming down the path. Dad had one arm around the girl， whose bright face was like a dolls. But they heard her when she laughed， right close by the porch. Dad didnt say anything， but the girl came forward and spoke to Granddad prettily，“I wont be here when you leave in the morning， so I came over to say goodbye.”endprint

“Its kind of you，” said Granddad. Then， seeing the blanket at his feet， he stooped to pick it up. “And will you look at this，” he said. “The fine blanket my son has given me to go away with.”

“Yes，” she said. “Its a fine blanket.” She felt the wool and repeated in surprise， “A fine blanket—Ill say it is！” She turned to Dad and said to him coldly， “That blanket really cost something.”

Dad cleared his throat and said， “I wanted him to have the best.”

“Its double， too，” she said， as if accusing Dad.

“Yes，” said Granddad， “its double—a fine blanket for an old fellow to be going away with.”

The boy went suddenly into the house. He was looking for something. He could hear that girl scolding Dad. Dad became angry. And now she was suddenly going away in a huff.

As Petey came out， she turned and called back， “All the same， he doesnt need a double blanket！”

“Oh， shes right，” Petey said. “Here， Dad.”—and he held out a pair of scissors. “Cut the blanket in two.”

Both of them stared at the boy， startled. “Cut it in two， Dad！” he cried out. “And keep the other half.”

“Thats not a bad idea，” said Granddad gently. “I dont need so much of a blanket.”

“Yes，” the boy said harshly， “a single blankets enough for an old man when hes sent away. Well save the other half， Dad. Itll come in handy later.”

“Now what do you mean by that？” asked Dad.

“I mean，” said the boy slowly， “that Ill give it to you， Dad—when youre old and Im sending you away.”

There was a silence. Then Dad went over to Granddad and stood before him， not speaking. But Granddad understood. He put out a hand and laid it on Dads shoulder. And Petey heard Granddad whisper， “Its all right， son. I knew you didnt mean it.” And then Petey cried； they were all crying together.

彼得不相信爸爸真會把爺爺送走，可是爸爸買給爺爺的毛毯就在這里。今晚是他們在一起的最后一個晚上了。

爸爸去見那個要和他結婚的女人了，不會很快回來，所以彼得能和爺爺坐在月下聊聊天。

吃完晚飯，爺孫倆一塊洗完碗碟，便把椅子搬到門廊。“我去拿小提琴給你拉幾支老曲子。”爺爺說。

一會兒，爺爺從屋里出來了，拿來的不是小提琴，而是那條毛毯。那是條很大的雙人毛毯，紅顏色，上面有黑條紋。

“這毛毯多好！”老人輕撫著膝頭的毛毯說，“你爸真好，給我這老家伙帶這么條高級毛毯走。你看這毛，一定很貴的。”

爺爺總這么說，為了避免難堪。他一直裝著很想去政府辦的養老院的樣子，想象著，去那個地方與許多其他老人一起安享晚年。可彼得從沒想到爸爸真會把爺爺送走，直到今晚看到爸爸帶回這條毛毯。

“是條好毛毯。”彼得搭訕著起身走進小屋。他不是個愛哭的孩子，更何況，他早過了愛哭鼻子的年齡了。他是進屋給爺爺拿小提琴的。

爺爺接過琴起身時毛毯滑落到地上。爺爺調了一會兒音，然后說：“你會記住這支曲子的。”

彼得坐在那兒怔怔地望著遠方的溪谷。爸爸要娶那個姑娘了。是的，那個姑娘親過他了，還說要做個好媽媽。

爺爺突然停下來：“你爸要娶的姑娘不錯。有個這么漂亮的妻子他會變年輕的。像我這樣的老家伙留在家里干什么？礙事嗎？一個討人厭的老家伙，一會兒這病一會兒那疼。還是像現在這樣，走為上策呀。再拉一兩支曲子我們就上床睡覺，睡到明天早晨，然后我帶上毛毯走人。”

他們沒有聽到爸爸和那個姑娘正沿溪谷的小道走來。爸爸一手攬著她，她漂亮得像個洋娃娃。直到倆人走近門廊，爺孫倆才聽到她的笑聲。爸爸一聲沒吭，姑娘走到爺爺跟前恭敬地說：“明天早晨不能來送您，我現在來跟您告別。”

“你真好。”爺爺說。低頭看到腳邊的毛毯，爺爺彎腰拾起來。“你看。”爺爺說，“這是兒子送我的離別禮物。多好的毛毯！”

“是啊，真是條好毛毯。”她摸了一下毛毯，驚訝地感嘆道，“多好的毛毯啊。”她轉向爸爸，冷冷地說：“一定花了不少錢吧。”

爸爸清了清喉嚨，支吾著說：“我想給他最好的。”

“哼，還是雙人的。”姑娘似乎在指責爸爸。

“是的。”老人說，“是條雙人毛毯。一條一個老家伙即將帶走的毛毯。”

彼得突然跑進屋，去找東西。他聽到那姑娘還在責備爸爸，爸爸開始動怒。姑娘氣沖沖地走了。

彼得出屋時她正回頭沖爸爸喊：“甭解釋，他根本用不著雙人毛毯。”

“她說得對。”彼得說，“爸爸，給！”彼得遞給爸爸一把剪刀：“把毛毯剪成兩塊。”

爸爸和爺爺都驚訝地看著男孩。“把它剪成兩塊，爸爸！”他喊道，“把另一半留著。”

“好主意。”爺爺溫和地說，“我用不著這么大的毛毯。”

“是的。”彼得冷冷地說，“老人家送走時給條單人毛毯就不錯了。我們還能留下一半，爸爸，以后遲早會派上用場。”

“你這是什么意思？”爸爸問。

“我是說，”彼得慢騰騰地說，“等你老了，我送你走時給你這一半。”

一時間，三個人都沉默了。爸爸向爺爺走去，站在他面前，一言不發，但爺爺明白爸爸的意思。他把手放到爸爸的肩頭。彼得聽爺爺輕聲說：“沒關系，兒子。我知道你不是故意的。”彼得哭了，三個人都哭了。endprint