
媽媽是個有趣的女人,熱愛猜謎,亦愛看我猜謎時的苦惱模樣。808Please respect copyright.PENANA4G4jJ5WWqi
808Please respect copyright.PENANAx3rEkQ2JXq
「它偶爾像一個葡萄包,甜甜的,果腹的,令人感到快樂滿足的。它偶爾像一灘鼻水,黏黏稠稠的,令人寸步難行。更多時候,它像空氣,人們運用了它而不自覺……它到底是甚麼?」808Please respect copyright.PENANA1z7KTdCc3j
808Please respect copyright.PENANA2982eAnitM
當時我年紀尚小,曾花上數天認真探討謎底,奈何交出的多個答案統統不對。後來我遇上更多比猜謎更新奇有趣的玩意,自然而然淡忘了那個謎語。808Please respect copyright.PENANAgjnOW4g8sH
808Please respect copyright.PENANA6b7MKIUPBe
直至數十年後的今日,媽媽彌留之際,她竟再次提及那個謎語。我和丈夫齊齊動腦筋,卻沒有一個答案能令她點頭。808Please respect copyright.PENANAShGlDry7zQ
808Please respect copyright.PENANAeNX2ol0bJR
當晚,媽媽病逝。喪禮後,我重投正常生活,忙得不可開交,不過我每星期必會騰出一天回家探望獨居的爸爸。又一個星期天。老家還是老樣子,爸爸也還是那副深沉的模樣,不苟言笑。我默默完成打掃活,提議與爸爸一起到公園散步。808Please respect copyright.PENANAlzZkJjIm8p
808Please respect copyright.PENANAyUjtwEuJlH
「你回家去忙你的。往後不必來。」爸爸淡然望向窗外。808Please respect copyright.PENANAlj32F5MDTu
808Please respect copyright.PENANAo8VEufmWU9
「不要緊。我閒得很。」我強擠微笑,撒謊——其實我很想回家陪伴孩子。808Please respect copyright.PENANAnfrDdkTOm3
808Please respect copyright.PENANA3P9Ji2EcN2
「你記得《燕詩》嗎?」爸爸突然話鋒一轉,彷彿回到那個教書的年紀,彷彿我是他其中一個學生。808Please respect copyright.PENANAJXjvmzyLBX
808Please respect copyright.PENANABHvmq50WoU
「樑上有雙燕,翩翩雄與雌……」我人到中年仍可以隨口背誦出中學課本的課文,自問是個及格有餘的教師女兒。808Please respect copyright.PENANAMnMjhXOFC1
808Please respect copyright.PENANAjaDo3yAyQW
原以為爸爸打算說教訓話,誰料他拿出媽媽的遺書遞給我看:「謎底就是《燕詩》。」808Please respect copyright.PENANAfns4Rw1QNs
808Please respect copyright.PENANAEQh3LkeOvM
「兩者有何關連?」本已疲累的我此刻更是頭昏腦脹。808Please respect copyright.PENANA042SCCxNTF
808Please respect copyright.PENANA1nCs9nnKfP
「我起初也不明白,直至我剛剛看見你打掃完畢後的疲倦模樣。」爸爸苦笑:「難怪你媽那麼討厭《燕詩》,說它誤人子弟。」808Please respect copyright.PENANA1P2OMVdTqd
808Please respect copyright.PENANAVGDO6flVWz
「我不明白。」我開始不甚耐煩,希望爸爸可以直白講重點,不要轉彎抹角。808Please respect copyright.PENANAXGF6mGMWeR
808Please respect copyright.PENANACCwZDgaHeX
「你必須自己去想明白那個答案——你的外祖母臨終前也是這樣囑咐你媽。」爸爸沒有更多的解說,逕自回到睡房去,不再理會我。808Please respect copyright.PENANAsYndhfSukP
808Please respect copyright.PENANAYgG0GoQ5Vz
回家路上,我的腦袋不受控似的,不停在謎語和《燕詩》之間來回打圈轉。808Please respect copyright.PENANAZBtuXF8sMC
808Please respect copyright.PENANAsZPEtCSYFW
抵家。孩子一如平日,興奮無比上前迎接我。我摸摸他們的頭,讚他們乖,內心苦惱稍得舒緩。808Please respect copyright.PENANAGM2nSe3BAw
808Please respect copyright.PENANAj10WUX6hTn
夜深,孩子們終於入眠,我和丈夫準備就寢去。808Please respect copyright.PENANAS0pmwQHIPt
808Please respect copyright.PENANARODQ0e2OiH
丈夫關心問我:「與岳父吵架?」808Please respect copyright.PENANAEkYXrm4HH1
808Please respect copyright.PENANAtFhfSSd6pX
「不是。」既然丈夫察覺到我的異樣,我亦毋須隱瞞:「記得媽媽的那個謎語嗎?」808Please respect copyright.PENANAEmF92QgTgt
808Please respect copyright.PENANAwf2KJHaAL0
「記得。我們的答案全軍覆沒。」丈夫傻笑。808Please respect copyright.PENANAvmQsYQqUuC
808Please respect copyright.PENANAMXOPsuRG0Y
「原來答案是『《燕詩》』。」我嘆一口氣。808Please respect copyright.PENANAY5IvIqPN1O
808Please respect copyright.PENANAH1LUkqK2Gc
丈夫若有所思,沒有立即回話。808Please respect copyright.PENANA8ptD8bTKIy
808Please respect copyright.PENANA3lr0aMF4nu
「你明白?」看見丈夫似懂非懂的表情,我莫名其妙地火冒三丈。808Please respect copyright.PENANAdNzasVhzU6
808Please respect copyright.PENANAgXJthzUQaX
「你曾否覺得『養育孩子』是一件很偉大的事,或是覺得孩子對我們有所虧欠?」丈夫巧妙地以提問回應我的問題。808Please respect copyright.PENANAfQ0FfyKkH8
808Please respect copyright.PENANAPPApa1RPKK
「永不……」我一把倒進丈夫懷內,幻想著孩子將來成家立室後與我倆漸行漸遠——原來會是多麼的心甘情願。808Please respect copyright.PENANAu8a3dXABtx
808Please respect copyright.PENANAjhfhXHwSNn
父母的唸書聲驀地在我耳邊響起——「當時父母念,今日爾應知。」808Please respect copyright.PENANAVGLIsrKLgm