第40章 A Kindness Returned（第1页）
第40章AKiurned
Atthetimemysonwasbornin1956，Isharedahospitalroomwithayoungwomanwhoboreasononthesameday。Partlybecausemyparentsoselliheroomwassoohelovelystofroses。
Astheseventhflementwasbroughtin，Iwasbeginningtofeelunfortable，fornoflowershadarrivedformyroommate，Aheedgeofherbedandleanedforwardtoadmirethelatestbouquet。Sherettyyoungwomaherewassomethingabe，browmademethinkshehadknownto，toomuessforonesoyoung。Ihadthefeelingshehadalwayshadtoadmiresomeoneelse'sflowers。
“I'menjoyieofthis”，shesaidasthoughshehadreadmythoughtsandwastryingtoreassureme。“os;tItheluetogetyouforaroommate?”
Istillfeltunfortable，however。IfonlythereweresomemagiIcouldpushtotakeawaythesadnessinhereyes。Well，Ithought，atleastIseethatshehassomeflowers。Wheherethatday，Iaskedthemtosendhersome。
TheflowersarrivedjustasAnnandIwerefinishingsupper。
“Aforyou，”shesaid，laughing。
“No，notthistime，”Isaid，lookiheseareforyou。”
Aheblossomsalosayinganything。Sheranherfingersacrossthepale-blueceramicbooteeandlightlytouchedeachofthesweetheartrosesledihtoehemonhermemory。
“HowIeverthankyou?”shesaidsoftly。
Iwasalmostembarrassed。Itwassuchalittlekindnessonmypart。Thesonborntomyhusbadayin1956turobeouronlychild。Fornearly21yearshefilledourliveswithloveandlaughter，makie。ButinApril1977，afteralong，painfulbattlewithcer，hediedquietlyinourarms。
AtthefuneralhomeIwasalohmysoninaroomfilledwiththestofroses，whenadeliverymanbroughtinati。Ididn'treadthetillater，aswerodetothecemetery。“ToW。Johhecardsaid，“fromtheboyithyouatMemorialHospital，andhismother。”
OnlytheheceramicbooteeIhadgiventoasadyoungwomansomanyyearsago，nowonfilledwithroses。AnnandIhadloouch。Shehadneverknownourson，neverbeenawareofhisillhavereadthenoticeofhisdeathinaneassedthebesideme。She，too，remembered。
“Akiurhersaid。
Afewdayslater，myhusbandandI，withseveralmembersofourfamily，weerytop;apos;sgrave。Thebooteeofrosessatatitsfoot，toweredoverbytallrays。
“Hethatanyonewouldsehioafuneral，”someonesaid。“Itseemsmoreappropriateforabirth。”
“Therewasabirth，”saidmyhusbaly。“Johnwasborer;Ilookedathimwithsurprise，knowingthosewordswerediffianwhohadneverspokesuchmatters。
&iedouttheflowersaheceramicbootee。Ihelditand，justasAnraceditwithmyfihinkingofallthemessagesited:theembersoffriendshipthatglhtheyears，gratituderememberedaall，thepromiseofResurre，whifortsusnow。