资源描述：
《名著欣赏《ahandtohold》》由会员上传分享，免费在线阅读，更多相关内容在应用文档-天天文库。
1、名著欣赏《AHandtoHold》 IrememberhearingabouttheWillisgirlsjustbeforemyfather's80thbirthdayparty.RelativesandfriendswerecomingfromthousandsofmilesawaytoSpur,Texas,atownof1300.AmongthoseexpectedweretheWillisgirls--foursisters,allintheir70's.TheyhadgrownuparoundSpurbuthadbeengonefora
2、longtime.Iwasn'tsurewhymydadwassohappytoheartheywerecoming--orsodisappointedwhentheychangedtheirminds. Twoyearsaftermyfather'sbigparty,mymotherdied.They'dbeentogether53years.Allthroughherillness--foralmosttwomonths--hestayedwithherinthehospital,often24hoursaday. Afewdaysafte
3、rthefuneral,mydadandIplayedgolfonSpur'shard-scrabblecourse.Ontheninthtee,hesurveyedthelandscape:scrawnymesquitetrees,dyinggrass,sandandatick-riddenjackrabbit. "It'sapretty,oldworld,"hesaid. ItwasoneofthebraveststatementsI'deverheard.Mydadknewthathehadalotoftrialsaheadofhim--
4、loneliness,anagingbody--butitwasstillapretty,oldworld. Worriedabouthimbeingalone,IcalledhimonceadayafterIreturnedhometoNewYork.OccasionallyhementionedoneoftheWillisgirls--GussieLee--whonowlivedinSacramento,Calif.She'dlostherhusband,andsheandmyfather,Clyde,hadbeguntotalkonthep
5、hone.TheirdiscussionswouldendwithClydepressinghertovisit."Someday,"she'dreply. ItwasalmosttwoyearsbeforeGussiecamebacktoSpur.Clydemettheflightandstudiedthepassengerswithgrowingdisappointment.Shewasn'tontheplane.Shehadn'tcome.Thenshemarchedrightuptohimanddemanded,"AreyouClydeL
6、atham?" Startledandsuddenlysmiling,headmitted:"Why,yes,Iam." Theyheadedforbaggageclaim."I'msorryIdidn'trecognizeyou,"hesaid. "Youweren'tlookingforalittleoldlady,"saidGussie. "That'stheproblem.Iwaslookingforalittleoldlady.Whennonegotofftheplane,Iwasstumped." "Liar." "Cros
7、smyoldheart." Theycollectedherbagandheadedforthecar.Gussiehaddeliberatelypackedforonlyfourdays——anexcuseforashortvisit. AstheydrovetowardSpur,ClydekeptGussielaughingwithhisstoriesofyouthfulpranksandTexasgoatdrives.Soontherectangularfarmsgavewaytoruggedranchland,canyons,ravin
8、es,redearth——andlotsofmesquitetrees. "Aren'ttheypretty?"Guss
