第11部分(第5/6 頁)

n　speech　and　at　school　my　brother　and　I　were　often　teased　for　the　way　we　spoke。

Our　mother’s　side　of　the　family　came　from　Illinois　and　they　had　a　tendency　to　talk　fast。　They　had　an　accent；　too；　and　my　brother　and　I　added　that　to　our　own　speech；　confusing　the　kids　at　school　all　the　more。

Our　father’s　side　of　the　family　loved　to　laugh　and　have　a　good　time。　Our　mother’s　side　of　the　family　was　more　serious　about　how　they　took　life　in—their　joys　more　silently　experienced　and　enjoyed。

It　was　a　rich　tapestry　of　culture　and　mores　to　draw　from　and　it　gave　my　brother　and　me　a　multi…faceted　perspective　at　life。

Thanksgiving　holiday　was　always　an　easygoing　day；　fortable　and　anticipated。　It　was　the　first　real　holiday　of　the　season　when　everyone　came　together　in　one　place；　and　a　“durn”good　time　was　had　by　all。

As　the　years　played　out；　more　of　the　family　passed　on　and　the　get…togethers　grew　smaller　and　smaller。　The　gentle　melodious　tones　that　once　filled　the　home　during　the　holiday　had　thinned　out。　Where　the　room　was　once　filled　with　TV　trays　and　long　tables；　now　only　one　table　is　set。　The　food　is　still　great。　But　the　room　is　more　quiet；　the　mood　subdued。

“Care　to　walk　a　spell？”　My　brother　asked　me　after　the　meal。

“Sure！”

We　put　our　jackets　on　and　stepped　outside。

“Which　way？”　I　said。

He　shrugged。“Doesn’t　matter。　Down　the　road　a　piece。”　He　pointed　to　the　left　and　we　took　off。

It　was　a　chilly　Thanksgiving　afternoon；　late　in　the　day　and　the　air　was　hazy　with　wood　smoke。　The　streets　were　quiet　as　we　strolled　through　the　neighborhood　we　once　played　in。　Remembering　the　families　that　once　lived　in　certain　homes。　We　passed　the　field　where　we　dug　the　earth　out　and　created　a　fort。　The　two　trees　we　used　for　tree　houses