父 爱
Daddy just didn’t know how to show love. It was Mom who held the family together. He just went to work every day and came home and she’d have a list of sins we’d committed and he’d scold us about them.
Once when I stole a candy bar, he made me take it back and tell the man I stole it and that I’d unpack boxes to pay for it. But it was Mom who understood I was just a kid.
I broke my leg once on the playground swing and it was Mom who held me in her arms all the way to the hospital. Dad pulled the car right up to the door of the emergency room and when they asked him to move it because that space was reserved for emergency vehicles. He shouted，“What do you think this is ? A tour bus ?”
At my birthday parties, Dad always seemed sort of out of place. He just busied himself blowing up balloons，and setting up tables，and running errands. It was Mom who carried in the cake with candles on it for me to blow out.
When I leaf through picture albums people always ask，“What does your Dad look like？”Who knows？He was always fiddling around with the camera taking everyone else’s picture. I must have a zillion pictures of Mom and me smiling together.
I remember when Mom told him to teach me how to ride a bicycle. I told him not to let go，but he said it was time I fell and Mom ran to pick me up，but he waved her off. I was so mad I showed him. Got right back on that bike and rode it myself. He didn’t even feel embarrassed. Just smiled.
When I went to college，Mom did all the writing. He just sent checks and a little note about how great his lawn looked now that I wasn’t playing football on it.
Whenever I called home，he acted like he wanted to talk，but he always said，“I’ll get your mother.”
When I got married，it was Mom who cried. He just blew his nose loudly and left the room.
All my life he said，“Where are you going？What time are you coming home？No，you cannot go.”Daddy just didn’t know how to show love…unless…
Is it possible he showed it and I didn’t recognize it？
［译文］
爸爸根本不知道怎样表达爱。把这个家维系在一起的人是妈妈。爸爸天天去上班，回家，然后是妈妈向他数落我们所做的一连串错事，爸爸再为了这些事把我们骂一顿。
有一次我偷了一根棒棒糖。爸爸硬是要我送回去，还要我告诉卖糖的人是我偷了糖，并说我愿意帮他拆箱开包作为赔偿。但妈妈却理解我，她知道我只不过是个孩子。
再有一次，我在操场荡秋千摔坏了腿，一路抱着我到医院的人是妈妈。爸爸将车正好停在急诊室门口。因为那儿是专供急救车停靠的，医院里的人就叫我爸爸把车开走。爸爸大声吼叫起来：“你以为这是什么车？难道是旅游车吗？”
在我的生日聚会上，爸爸总显得有点不得其所。他不是忙于吹气球，就是摆桌子，或做些跑腿的活儿。将插着蜡烛的生日蛋糕捧进来让我吹灭的人总是妈妈。
我随便翻阅相册时，别人总会问“你爸爸长什么模样？”这还真说不出。他总是摆弄着相机为别人拍照。我和妈妈在一起微笑的照片一定多得都数不清了。
我还记得有一次妈妈叫爸爸教我骑自行车。我叫他扶着车子别松手，他却说是时候了。我摔了下来，妈妈跑来扶我，他却挥手让妈妈开走。我真是气得发疯，决心非要让他看看我的本事不可。我马上骑上车，竟能一个人骑了。爸爸却一点也不尴尬，只是笑笑。
我上大学了，给我的信总是妈妈写的。爸爸只是寄来支票，还有一张小便条，说他的草坪因我不在上面踢足球了现在长得好极了。
每次我打电话回家，爸爸总像是有话要说，但结果他总是说：“我把你妈叫来接”。
我结婚的时候，妈妈哭了，爸爸只是大声地擤擤鼻子，离开了房间。
在我一生中，他总是说：“你去哪儿？你什么时候回家？不，你不能去。”爸爸完全不知道怎样表达爱……除非……
会不会是他已经表达了而我却没有意识到呢？
