The Hands 大手贴小手

What I never understood in elementary school was why my dad would always tell me to go on the bus last. At first I believed he merely wanted me to be respectful to others by letting them go on first. Now I realize he just wanted to spend as much time as possible with me. As others were boarding the bus， my father whispered， “Behave， son. I love you.” I responded， “Dad， I love you too.” I would then give my father a big hug. At that moment， my turn came and I walked up the stairs. I quickly hurried into my usual seat （second seat on the right side） and strapped on my seat belt. I looked at the window and， as sure a day， my fathers hand was already there. I followed our time—practiced ritual， and I put my hand in front of his.

Even though there was a glass window between us， it was almost as if we were actually touching each other， my small hand in his bigger one. For a moment we were connected as one， and it seemed that all outside noises were filtered out and the whole world was resolving around the two of us. My mind was calm and full of love， and it seemed to me that we were out of sync with the surroundings. Everybody was moving around with the busy morning， but we were there as calm as ever. As the bus roared to life， I watched my dad wave goodbye to me. I leaned back in my seat and felt the warmth of my fathers hand soak into me.

讀小学的时候，父亲总是让我最后一个上校车，对此我一直很困惑。起初，我以为他是为了教我学会礼让，尊重他人。现在我才明白，父亲是想尽可能和我多待一会儿。其他同学上车的时候，父亲就会凑近我的耳朵低声说：“好好表现，儿子，我爱你。”我马上回应道：“爸爸，我也爱你。”然后总是给父亲一个大大的拥抱。往往是话一说完就轮到我上车了，我一脚迈上校车台阶，快步坐到我通常的座位上（右边第二个座位），系好安全带，然后习惯性地把目光投向窗外。果不其然，父亲已经把手贴到了窗户上，我也按照老规矩，十分默契地把小手举起来，和父亲的手合在一起。

尽管我们之间隔着一扇玻璃窗，却依然好像能够触摸到彼此，我的小手好像被父亲握在他的手心里。瞬间，我们感情交融，心灵相通，外界的喧闹声好像被过滤了一般全然感受不到，整个世界好像只是为了我们俩而存在。此刻的我内心充满宁静，周身洋溢着父爱的温暖。我们眼里除了彼此，周围的一切仿佛不存在。在如此忙碌的早晨，身边的人个个都是行色匆匆，唯有我们俩一如既往淡定如常。校车呼啸着启动了，父亲向我挥手再见，然后消失在我的视线外。我回身倚靠在座位上，回味着父亲的爱抚，倍感温暖。

Vocabulary

merely adv. 仅仅；只不过

respectful adj. 表示敬意的；尊敬的

board v. 上船（或火车、飞机、公共汽车等）

strap v. 用带子系（或绑、捆、扎）

surroundings n. 环境