“Wakeupoldman,”theboysaidandputhishandononeoftheoldmansknees.
Theoldmanopenedhiseyesandforamomenthewascomingbackfromalongwayaway.Thenhesmiled.
“Whathaveyougot?”heasked.
“Supper,”saidtheboy.“Weregoingtohavesupper.”
“Imnotveryhungry.”
“Comeonandeat.Youcantfishandnoteat.”
“Ihave,”theoldmansaidgettingupandtakingthenewspaperandfoldingit.Thenhestartedtofoldtheblanket.“Keeptheblanketaroundyou,”theboysaid.YoullnotfishwithouteatingwhileImalive.
“Thenlivealongtimeandtakecareofyourself,”theoldmansaid.“Whatareweeating?”
“Blackbeansandrice,friedbananas,andsomestew.”
Theboyhadbroughttheminatwo-deckermetalcontainerfromtheTerrace.Thetwosetsofknivesandforksandspoonswereinhispocketwithapaper-napkinwrappedaroundeachset.
“Whogavethistoyou?”
“Martin.Theowner.”
“Imustthankhi”
“Ithankedhimalready,”theboysaid.“Youdontneedtothankhi”
“Illgivehimthebellymeatofabigfish,”theoldmansaid.“Hashedonethisforusmorethanonce?”
“Ithinkso.”
“Imustgivehimsomethingmorethanthebellymeatthen.Heisverythoughtfulforus.”
“Hesenttwobeers.”
“Ilikethebeerincansbest.”
“Iknow.Butthisisinbottles,Hatueybeer,andItakebackthebottles.”
“Thatsverykindofyou,”theoldmansaid.“Shouldweeat?”
“Ivebeenaskingyouto,”theboytoldhimgently.“Ihavenotwishedtoopenthecontaineruntilyouwereready.”“Imreadynow,”theoldmansaid.“Ionlyneededtimetowash.”
Wheredidyouwash?Theboythought.Thevillagewatersupplywastwostreetsdowntheroad.Imusthavewaterhereforhim,theboythought,andsoapandagoodtowel.WhyamIsothoughtless?Imustgethimanothershirtandajacketforthewinterandsomesortofshoesandanotherblanket.
“Yourstewisexcellent,”theoldmansaid.
“Tellmeaboutthebaseball,”Theboyaskedhi
“IntheAmericanLeagueitistheYankeesasIsaid,”theoldmansaidhappily.
“Theylosttoday,”theboytoldhi
“Thatmeansnothing.ThegreatDiMaggioishimselfagain.”
“Theyhaveothermenonthetea”
“Naturally.Buthemakesthedifference.Intheotherleague,betweenBrooklynandPhiladelphiaImusttakeBrooklyn.ButthenIthinkofDickSislerandthosegreatdrivesintheoldpark.”
“TherewasnothingeverliketheHehitsthelongestballIhaveeverseen.”
“DoyourememberwhenheusedtocometotheTerrace?IwantedtotakehimfishingbutIwastootimidtoaskhiThenIaskedyoutoaskhimandyouweretootimid.”
“Iknow.Itwasagreatmistake.Hemighthavegonewithus.Thenwewouldhavethatforallofourlives.”
“IwouldliketotakethegreatDiMaggiofishing,”theoldmansaid.“Theysayhisfatherwasafisherman.Maybehewasaspoorasweareandwouldunderstand.”
“ThegreatSislersfatherwasneverpoorandhe,thefather,wasplayinginthebigleagueswhenhewasmyage.”
“WhenIwasyourageIwasbeforethemastonasquareriggedshipthatrantoAfricaandIhaveseenlionsonthebeachesintheevening.”
“Iknow.Youtoldme.”
“ShouldwetalkaboutAfricaoraboutbaseball?”
“BaseballIthink,”theboysaid.“TellmeaboutthegreatJohnJ.McGraw.”HesaidJotaforJ.
“HeusedtocometotheTerracesometimestoointheolderdays.Buthewasroughandharsh-spokenanddifficultwhenhewasdrinking.Hismindwasonhorsesaswellasbaseball.Atleasthecarriedlistsofhorsesatalltimesinhispocketandfrequentlyspokethenamesofhorsesonthetelephone.”
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