
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。790Please respect copyright.PENANAmyQQHs4yqo
790Please respect copyright.PENANAtl1ypNR39r
「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?」790Please respect copyright.PENANAooRX5R79Qd
790Please respect copyright.PENANAifMpcbEGVN
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。790Please respect copyright.PENANA9VuBt3zDBV
790Please respect copyright.PENANAlbtPmdSjPP
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。790Please respect copyright.PENANAdB94aZ7zAP
790Please respect copyright.PENANAQjuN1UxHGc
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。790Please respect copyright.PENANAIUIjArD8lM
790Please respect copyright.PENANAPiaQ09DZXB
「你回家去忙你的。往後不必來。」爸爸淡然望向窗外。790Please respect copyright.PENANAfWL1VVesnL
790Please respect copyright.PENANAIRNyOVAr37
「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。790Please respect copyright.PENANAeNAuNIHu2B
790Please respect copyright.PENANAcNZTG1S51v
「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。790Please respect copyright.PENANA7argQLkNKV
790Please respect copyright.PENANAONwH6l1mFr
「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。790Please respect copyright.PENANA8Irhm7jz2u
790Please respect copyright.PENANA3usK3wY75C
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》。」790Please respect copyright.PENANA0Oodd69pBR
790Please respect copyright.PENANAX0luUUQKZE
「兩者有何關連?」本已疲累的我此刻更是頭昏腦脹。790Please respect copyright.PENANAoSvmK4Q6qi
790Please respect copyright.PENANAl5Ao7dTdXB
「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。」790Please respect copyright.PENANAUT3mvzmkQV
790Please respect copyright.PENANAkSp9gKa7oL
「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。790Please respect copyright.PENANAmMjhiKWiap
790Please respect copyright.PENANA6Q4INudQyR
「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。790Please respect copyright.PENANAcOfUtjn3Uy
790Please respect copyright.PENANAY48c88zUw2
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。790Please respect copyright.PENANAIzfeZNbt1j
790Please respect copyright.PENANAernrSn6TT5
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。790Please respect copyright.PENANAp2ZIzK8so6
790Please respect copyright.PENANAkAVbSAHSDS
夜深,孩子們終於入眠,我和丈夫準備就寢去。790Please respect copyright.PENANApu4nicB4az
790Please respect copyright.PENANAZo8TWcpM9y
丈夫關心問我:「與岳父吵架?」790Please respect copyright.PENANAvpgLl64swO
790Please respect copyright.PENANAO22rcpzWaJ
「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?」790Please respect copyright.PENANA2qKUlleouE
790Please respect copyright.PENANA2feezzozhp
「記得。我們的答案全軍覆沒。」丈夫傻笑。790Please respect copyright.PENANAB8YcMyxCfj
790Please respect copyright.PENANAWTPQL9FN92
「原來答案是『《燕詩》』。」我嘆一口氣。790Please respect copyright.PENANAWNbJY6golw
790Please respect copyright.PENANAgSpMNfjekd
丈夫若有所思,沒有立即回話。790Please respect copyright.PENANArGDtN3lNd3
790Please respect copyright.PENANAsrHwSysESu
「你明白?」看見丈夫似懂非懂的表情,我莫名其妙地火冒三丈。790Please respect copyright.PENANA726LAfpcP2
790Please respect copyright.PENANA3qT8X34CYj
「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。790Please respect copyright.PENANAAzC1qC09Gs
790Please respect copyright.PENANAJWwiRWA0VC
「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。790Please respect copyright.PENANA4oljdLP0iv
790Please respect copyright.PENANAu4eKrWaARO
父母的唸書聲驀地在我耳邊響起——「當時父母念,今日爾應知。」790Please respect copyright.PENANA7yDDNWX56F