第4章 Mom's Cookies 妈妈的小甜饼(1)

Anonymous

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尽管这些话在我听来觉得很苍白无力，然而母亲却坐了起来。

她擦了擦眼睛，满是泪痕的脸上绽开了一丝微笑。

我也不好意思地笑了，然后她就把我揽在了怀里。

As I sat perched in the second-floor window of our brick schoolhouse that afternoon，my heart began to sink further with each passing car.This was a day I'd looked forward to for weeks：

Miss Pace's fourth-grade，end-of-the-year party.Miss Pace had kept a running countdown on the blackboard all that week，and our class of nine-year-old had bordered on1 insurrection by the time the much-anticipated'party Friday'had arrived.

I had volunteered my mother happily when Miss Pace requested cookie volunteers.Mom's chocolate chips reigned2 supreme on our block and I knew they'd be a hit with my classmates.But two o'clock passed and there was no sign of her.Most of the other mothers had already come and gone，dropping off their offerings of punch and crackers，chips，cupcakes and brownies.My mother was missing in action.

'Don't worry，Robbie，she'll be along soon.'Miss Pace said as I gazed forlornly down at the street.I looked at the wall clock just in time to see its black minute hand shift to half-past.

Around me，the noisy party raged on，but I wouldn't budge3 from my window watch post.Miss Pace did her best to coax4 me away，but I stayed out，holding out hope that the familiar family car would round the corner，carrying my rightfully embarrassed mother with a tin of her famous cookies tucked under her arms.

The three o'clock bell soon jolted5 me from my thoughts and I dejectedly grabbed my book bag from my desk and shuffled6 out the door for home.

On the four-block walk to our house，I plotted my revenge.I would slam the front door upon entering，refuse to return her hug when she rushed over to me，and vow never to speak to her again.

The house was empty when I arrived and I looked for a note on the refrigerator that might explain my mother's absence，but found none.My chin quivered with a mixture of heartbreak and rage.For the first time in my life，my mother had let me down.

I was lying face-down on my bed upstairs when I heard her come through the front door.

'Robbie，'she called out a bit urgently，'Where are you？'

I could then hear her darting frantically7 from room to room，wondering where I could be.I remained silent.In a moment，she mounted the steps—the sounds of her footsteps quickening as she ascended the staircase.

When she entered my room and sat beside me on my bed，I didn't move but instead stared blankly into my pillow refusing to acknowledge her presence.

'I'm so sorry，honey，'she said，'I just forgot，I got busy and forgot—plain and simple.'

I still didn't move.'Don't forgive her，'I told myself，'She humiliated you.She forgot you.Make her pay.'

Then my mother did something completely unexpected.She began to laugh.I could feel her shudder as the laughter shook her.It began quietly at first and then increased in its velocity8 and volume.

I was incredulous9.How could she laugh at a time like this？I rolled over and faced her，ready to let her see the rage and disappointment in my eyes.

But my mother wasn't laughing at all.She was crying.'I'm so sorry，'she sobbed softly，'I let you down10，I let my little boy down.'