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。554Please respect copyright.PENANAAEUAwjJkmG
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「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?」554Please respect copyright.PENANAiEYgQ1lX6C
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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。554Please respect copyright.PENANACWno1iHbhA
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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。554Please respect copyright.PENANAiDiIaBsJzi
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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。554Please respect copyright.PENANAZP8Bp7sgpG
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「你回家去忙你的。往後不必來。」爸爸淡然望向窗外。554Please respect copyright.PENANAjTsIuzbXK3
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「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。554Please respect copyright.PENANAze0548AknP
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「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。554Please respect copyright.PENANALif6cZIs1m
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「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。554Please respect copyright.PENANA8Y87Lcm9RY
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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》。」554Please respect copyright.PENANAaNi6HZvs6A
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「兩者有何關連?」本已疲累的我此刻更是頭昏腦脹。554Please respect copyright.PENANAGQzWh6cJdu
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「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。」554Please respect copyright.PENANAqVMX8c42ej
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「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。554Please respect copyright.PENANAprOfJLghLt
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「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。554Please respect copyright.PENANAAQG7NyNsVw
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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。554Please respect copyright.PENANANPD0EAjpE3
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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。554Please respect copyright.PENANAWIoorFGiNJ
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夜深,孩子們終於入眠,我和丈夫準備就寢去。554Please respect copyright.PENANA81MG6ctzD7
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丈夫關心問我:「與岳父吵架?」554Please respect copyright.PENANATIGX9ZjiOZ
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「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?」554Please respect copyright.PENANAnBbkmYjPCy
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「記得。我們的答案全軍覆沒。」丈夫傻笑。554Please respect copyright.PENANA7fg460uRG8
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「原來答案是『《燕詩》』。」我嘆一口氣。554Please respect copyright.PENANA9mM426pOaf
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丈夫若有所思,沒有立即回話。554Please respect copyright.PENANAMMqKwj7hvM
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「你明白?」看見丈夫似懂非懂的表情,我莫名其妙地火冒三丈。554Please respect copyright.PENANAkItSrhBt7N
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「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。554Please respect copyright.PENANAqk9NGxHhqR
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「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。554Please respect copyright.PENANAcV5dyVWjGO
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父母的唸書聲驀地在我耳邊響起——「當時父母念,今日爾應知。」554Please respect copyright.PENANAws5DnuvqJQ