
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。830Please respect copyright.PENANAb2nN0EPKyk
830Please respect copyright.PENANAcQxKbOKVfS
「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?」830Please respect copyright.PENANAJpT1jtM9nW
830Please respect copyright.PENANAj4hLW9Q5OV
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。830Please respect copyright.PENANAlj8pOm8mKu
830Please respect copyright.PENANAn3hqY13lXV
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。830Please respect copyright.PENANAxU55AsgKiE
830Please respect copyright.PENANAyuo4QkNAHv
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。830Please respect copyright.PENANAVI4DoQ5wDs
830Please respect copyright.PENANAFo6tWVGYgI
「你回家去忙你的。往後不必來。」爸爸淡然望向窗外。830Please respect copyright.PENANAR14MFDTp4X
830Please respect copyright.PENANAHNUpaABo3z
「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。830Please respect copyright.PENANAEAp0huJoIn
830Please respect copyright.PENANArvokTluIQO
「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。830Please respect copyright.PENANArnyF6HaqOr
830Please respect copyright.PENANAJ1P60PPIbL
「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。830Please respect copyright.PENANAlMorOBLONB
830Please respect copyright.PENANAGk2xUNzMtN
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》。」830Please respect copyright.PENANAanOAaCGs7K
830Please respect copyright.PENANA4SyxfOXfPf
「兩者有何關連?」本已疲累的我此刻更是頭昏腦脹。830Please respect copyright.PENANAaPrJZZOzXl
830Please respect copyright.PENANA4pSwBzGFEs
「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。」830Please respect copyright.PENANAvu19RrOXOr
830Please respect copyright.PENANA8b0NPEuPqb
「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。830Please respect copyright.PENANAUJO4WJajH0
830Please respect copyright.PENANAvmejvAOfEr
「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。830Please respect copyright.PENANAJFhHa5AC9r
830Please respect copyright.PENANA9AtEXIWZey
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。830Please respect copyright.PENANAWcoGFwjPJY
830Please respect copyright.PENANAlyDdG5NY0d
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。830Please respect copyright.PENANAJPN7U5Tsnh
830Please respect copyright.PENANAkEtObaoc4s
夜深,孩子們終於入眠,我和丈夫準備就寢去。830Please respect copyright.PENANACZ9ChlPRio
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丈夫關心問我:「與岳父吵架?」830Please respect copyright.PENANAFQMCJghQgX
830Please respect copyright.PENANADrHDw3bz5H
「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?」830Please respect copyright.PENANAaF6KfRQU7E
830Please respect copyright.PENANAsy9y13L5tW
「記得。我們的答案全軍覆沒。」丈夫傻笑。830Please respect copyright.PENANAl69tfPo3Hh
830Please respect copyright.PENANAdJhJ6LRFso
「原來答案是『《燕詩》』。」我嘆一口氣。830Please respect copyright.PENANA4Nk3xyLOm4
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丈夫若有所思,沒有立即回話。830Please respect copyright.PENANAzbCR4CtAAe
830Please respect copyright.PENANA8sF5RzNTrz
「你明白?」看見丈夫似懂非懂的表情,我莫名其妙地火冒三丈。830Please respect copyright.PENANAYaKWoCmwHI
830Please respect copyright.PENANAnXhgYTKi7H
「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。830Please respect copyright.PENANACZQBdfVcp1
830Please respect copyright.PENANAy7NIqGploU
「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。830Please respect copyright.PENANAsuJD6DldV6
830Please respect copyright.PENANAgsO26jBGZ5
父母的唸書聲驀地在我耳邊響起——「當時父母念,今日爾應知。」830Please respect copyright.PENANASoqtA2DlCw