第18部分(第4/6 頁)

n　books　or　I　see　on　TV。　In　their　opinion；　“I　love　you”is　too　luxurious1　for　them　to　say。　Sending　flowers　to　each　other　on　Valentine’s　Day　is　even　more　out　of　the　question。　Finally　my　father　has　a　bad　temper。　When　he’s　very　tired　from　the　hard　work；　it　is　easy　for　him　to　lose　his　temper。

One　day；　my　mother　was　sewing　a　quilt。　I　silently　sat　down　beside　her　and　looked　at　her。

“Mom；　I　have　a　question　to　ask　you，”　I　said　after　a　while。

“What？”she　replied；　still　doing　her　work。

“Is　there　love　between　you　and　Dad？”　I　asked　her　in　a　very　low　voice。

My　mother　stopped　her　work　and　raised　her　head　with　surprise　in　her　eyes。　She　didn’t　answer　immediately。　Then　she　bowed　her　head　and　continued　to　sew　the　quilt。

I　was　very　worried　because　I　thought　I　had　hurt　her。　I　was　in　a　great　embarrassment2　and　I　didn’t　know　what　I　should　do。　But　at　last　I　heard　my　mother　say　the　following　words：書　包　網　txt小說上傳分享

愛如絲線（2）

“Susan；”　she　said　thoughtfully；　“look　at　this　thread。　Sometimes　it　appears；　but　most　of　it　disappears　in　the　quilt。　The　thread　really　makes　the　quilt　strong　and　durable3。　If　life　is　a　quilt；　then　love　should　be　a　thread。　It　can　hardly　be　seen　anywhere　or　anytime；　but　it’s　really　there。　Love　is　inside。”

I　listened　carefully　but　I　couldn’t　understand　her　until　the　next　spring。　At　that　time；　my　father　suddenly　got　sick　seriously。　My　mother　had　to　stay　with　him　in　the　hospital　for　a　month。　When　they　returned　from　the　hospital；　they　both　looked　very　pale。　It　seemed　both　of　them　had　had　a　serious　illness。

After　they　were　back；　every　day　in　the　morning　and　dusk；　my　mother　helped　my　father　walk　slowly　on　the　country　road。　My　father　had　never　been　so　gentle。　It　seemed　they　were　the　most　harmonious4　couple。　Along　the　cou