第11章 长大成人When Allie Left Home2（第1页）

第11章长大成人WheHome（2）

&—afteralongperiodofsileweenus—IaskedwhatImighthavedoneorsaidtrywithme。Shesighedandsaid，“Mom，youhavehing。It’sfiisfidistant。

&hepastwehadalwaysfouoeAlliewasatoddler，Iwouldgototheday-terafterwork。I’dfiandshewouldnurse—oureyeslockedtogether，regwitheachother。

Inmiddlesothermotherswerealreadylameraheyfeltwiththeiradolestdaughters，Ihituponasolution:rescueraids。Iwouldshowupoallyatsheroutofdtakehersomewhere—outtolunovies，walkomaysoundirrespokeptusothermothersanddaughterswerefl。Wetalkedaboings—outifromfamilyandfriends。

&artedhighschool，I’dgetupwithherinthemtomakeherasandwidwe’dsilentlydrinkacupofteatogetherbeforethe6:40buscame。

Aesduringherseioff，butbeforesheweontheedgeofherbed，aellmeaboutproblems:ateacherwhradebecauseshewastooshytotalkinclass，aboywhoteasedher，afriendwhohadstartedsmoking。Hervoiingoutofthedarkness，wasyouioning。

AfewdayslaterI’dhearheronthephsomeofthethingsIhadsaid，thingsshehadadoptedforherown。

Butwokindss。Iwaicizedversiotolundleanacrossthetableandsayhoillmisseachother。Iwahroughtears，bittersweetmomentsofremiheelastbitsofwisdom。

Butasshepreparestodepart，Allie’sfeelingshaveground。Wheouchherarm，shepullsaway。Sheturnsdowatioend。Sheliesonherbed，readingEmilyDitilIsaylhavealwayslovedEmilyDidthehebook。

&hetighteryourbondwithyourchild，thegreaterherobreakaway，toestablishherowyihemoreitwillhurt，theysay。Afriethroughadifficulttimewithherdaughterbutnowhasbeeclain，tellsme，“Yhterwillbebacktoyou，”

“Idon’tknow，”Isay。IsometimesfeelsoangrythatIwanttogooverandshakeAllie。Iwanttosay，“Talktrounded!”Ifeelmyselfwantingtosaythatmosthorribleofallmotherphrases:“ThihingI’vedoneforyou。”

Lateo，asI’mgettingreadyforbed，sheestothebathroomdoorandwatchesmebrushmyteeth。Foramoment，IthinkImustbebrushihinawayshedoesn’tapproveof。Butthenshesays，“Iwanttoreadyousomething。”It’sapamphletfre。“Thesearetipsforparents。”

Iwatchherfaceasshereadstheadvicealoud:“‘Don’taskyourchildifsheishomesick，’itsays。‘Shemightfeelbadthefirstfewweeks，butdoworryyou。Thisisanaturaltimeoftransitioersa。Sendapackageofgoodies。。。’”

Hervoicebreaks，andsheeandburiesherheadinmyshoulder。Istrhtly，afraidshe’llboltifIsayaword。Westaherfmoments，swayiing。

Iknowitwillbehardagain。It’slikelytherewillbeafightaboutsomething。ButIamgratefultobestandimidnight，bothofustiredandsad，toothpastesmearedonmy，holdingtightto—whilealsolettinggoof—mydaughterwhtosaygood-bye。