如果他回来(If It Comes Back)

charlessawthembothatthesametime:thesmallwhitebirdfloatingfromamongtheparktreesandthegirlwheelingdownthewalk.1thebirdglideddownwardandrestedinthegrass;thegirldirectedthechairsmoothlyalongthesunlit,shadowywalk.2hercollapsible3metalchairmighthavebeenmotorized4:itcarriedheralongsosmoothly.shestoppedtowatchtheducksonthepondandwhensheshovedthewheelsagain,charlessprangtohisfeet."mayipushyou?"hecalled,runningacrossthegrasstoher.thewhitebirdflewtothetopofatree.

itwasmostlyhewhotalkedandheseemedafraidtostopforfearshedaskhimtoleaveherbyherself.nothinginherfacehadsupportedtheideaofhelplessnessconveyedbythewheelchair,andheknewthathisassistancewasnotviewedasafavor.5heaskedthecauseofherhandicap;notbecauseitwassoimportantforhimtoknow,butbecauseitwassomethingtokeeptheconversationgoing.

"itwasanautomobileaccidentwheniwastwelve,"amyexplained."iwasreadingtomyyoungerbrotherinthebackseatandsuddenlymymotherscreamedandtriedfrantically6tomissthetruckthathadpulledoutinfrontofus.wheniwokeupinthehospital,mymotherwasscreamingagainoutsidethedoor.thistimeshewastryingtoescapethefactthatiwouldneverwalkagain."

"prettyroughonbothofyou.7whataboutyourbrother?"

"hecameoutofitalittlebetterthanidid;atleasthewasdismissedfromthehospitalbeforeiwas.ittookusallalongtimetoacceptandadjust."

theywentforlunch,andhewouldhavefeltawkwardexceptthatsheknewcompletelyhowtotakecareofherself.itwashewhoseemedclumsyandbumpedintoatable;shewhomovedcompetentlythroughtheaisle.8

"doyoulivewithsomeone?"heaskedthenextdayforhedmadeapointof9askingtomeetheragain.

"justmyself,"sheanswered.hefeltaqualm10inhisstomach,anditwasmoreinmemoryofhisownlonelinessthananticipationofhers.11

hecametoliketofeelthewhitehandlesinhisgrasp,towalkbetweenthetwowhite-rimmedmetalwheels.andhegrewalmostmorefamiliarwiththeslightwaveatthebackofherhairthanwithhereyesorhermouth.thechairwasamoveablewonder;helovedthefeelingofpowerandstrengthitgavehimforsolittleexertion.12once,hesaidtothewaveatthebackofherhair,"ihopeimtheonlychair-pusherinyourlife,"butshehadonlysmiledalittleandhereyeshadadmittednothing.whenhelookedup,henoticedawhitebirdflyingfromonetreetoanother,tracingtheirroutewiththem.

shecookeddinnerforhimonceinjune.heexpectedhertobeproudofherabilitytodoeverythingfromherseatinthewheelchair?nbsp;andwasfaintlydisappointedtoseethatshewouldnotfeelprideatwhatwas,forher,simplyamatterofcourse.13hewatchedhisownhandpickupthesaltshaker14andplaceitononeofthehigher,unusedcabinetshelves,thenawaitedherpleaforassistance.hedidntknowwhyheddoneit,butthelookinhereyesamomentlatergavehimashockinhiseasyjoy.hefeltasthoughhewereplayingpokerandhehadjustaccidentallyrevealedhishandtotheopponent.15tomakeherforgetwhatheddone,hetoldheraboutthelittlewhitebirdinthepark.

"iveseenit,too,"shesaid."ireadapoemonceaboutalittlewhitebirdthatcametorestonawindowsillandtheladywholivedinthehousebegantoputoutfoodforit.soontheladyfellinlove,butitwasamismatchedlove.everydaythelittlebirdcametothewindowandtheladyputoutfood.whentheloveaf