爷爷的双人毛毯

佚名+等

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.

彼得不相信爸爸真会把爷爷送走，可是爸爸买给爷爷的毛毯就在这里。今晚是他们在一起的最后一个晚上了。

爸爸去见那个要和他结婚的女人了，不会很快回来，所以彼得能和爷爷坐在月下聊聊天。

吃完晚饭，爷孙俩一块洗完碗碟，便把椅子搬到门廊。“我去拿小提琴给你拉几支老曲子。”爷爷说。

一会儿，爷爷从屋里出来了，拿来的不是小提琴，而是那条毛毯。那是条很大的双人毛毯，红颜色，上面有黑条纹。

“这毛毯多好！”老人轻抚着膝头的毛毯说，“你爸真好，给我这老家伙带这么条高级毛毯走。你看这毛，一定很贵的。”

爷爷总这么说，为了避免难堪。他一直装着很想去政府办的养老院的样子，想象着，去那个地方与许多其他老人一起安享晚年。可彼得从没想到爸爸真会把爷爷送走，直到今晚看到爸爸带回这条毛毯。

“是条好毛毯。”彼得搭讪着起身走进小屋。他不是个爱哭的孩子，更何况，他早过了爱哭鼻子的年龄了。他是进屋给爷爷拿小提琴的。

爷爷接过琴起身时毛毯滑落到地上。爷爷调了一会儿音，然后说：“你会记住这支曲子的。”

彼得坐在那儿怔怔地望着远方的溪谷。爸爸要娶那个姑娘了。是的，那个姑娘亲过他了，还说要做个好妈妈。

爷爷突然停下来：“你爸要娶的姑娘不错。有个这么漂亮的妻子他会变年轻的。像我这样的老家伙留在家里干什么？碍事吗？一个讨人厌的老家伙，一会儿这病一会儿那疼。还是像现在这样，走为上策呀。再拉一两支曲子我们就上床睡觉，睡到明天早晨，然后我带上毛毯走人。”

他们没有听到爸爸和那个姑娘正沿溪谷的小道走来。爸爸一手揽着她，她漂亮得像个洋娃娃。直到俩人走近门廊，爷孙俩才听到她的笑声。爸爸一声没吭，姑娘走到爷爷跟前恭敬地说：“明天早晨不能来送您，我现在来跟您告别。”

“你真好。”爷爷说。低头看到脚边的毛毯，爷爷弯腰拾起来。“你看。”爷爷说，“这是儿子送我的离别礼物。多好的毛毯！”

“是啊，真是条好毛毯。”她摸了一下毛毯，惊讶地感叹道，“多好的毛毯啊。”她转向爸爸，冷冷地说：“一定花了不少钱吧。”

爸爸清了清喉咙，支吾着说：“我想给他最好的。”

“哼，还是双人的。”姑娘似乎在指责爸爸。

“是的。”老人说，“是条双人毛毯。一条一个老家伙即将带走的毛毯。”

彼得突然跑进屋，去找东西。他听到那姑娘还在责备爸爸，爸爸开始动怒。姑娘气冲冲地走了。

彼得出屋时她正回头冲爸爸喊：“甭解释，他根本用不着双人毛毯。”

“她说得对。”彼得说，“爸爸，给！”彼得递给爸爸一把剪刀：“把毛毯剪成两块。”

爸爸和爷爷都惊讶地看着男孩。“把它剪成两块，爸爸！”他喊道，“把另一半留着。”

“好主意。”爷爷温和地说，“我用不着这么大的毛毯。”

“是的。”彼得冷冷地说，“老人家送走时给条单人毛毯就不错了。我们还能留下一半，爸爸，以后迟早会派上用场。”

“你这是什么意思？”爸爸问。

“我是说，”彼得慢腾腾地说，“等你老了，我送你走时给你这一半。”

一时间，三个人都沉默了。爸爸向爷爷走去，站在他面前，一言不发，但爷爷明白爸爸的意思。他把手放到爸爸的肩头。彼得听爷爷轻声说：“没关系，儿子。我知道你不是故意的。”彼得哭了，三个人都哭了。endprint