难忘的钢琴曲

There are advantages and disadvantages to coming from a large family. Make that a large family with a single parent，and they double. The disadvantages are never so apparent as when someone wants to go off to college.

My mother knew that she could not send me to school and pay for it. She worked in a retail store and made just enough to pay the bills and take care of the other children at home. If I wanted to go to college，it was up to me to find out how to get there.

I found that I qualified for some grants because of the size of our family，my mom’s income and my SAT scores. There was enough to cover school and books，but not enough for room and board. I accepted a job as part of a work-study program. While not glamorous，it was one I could do. I washed dishes in the school cafeteria.

To help myself study，I made flash cards that fitted perfectly on the large metal dishwasher. After I loaded the racks，I stood there and flipped cards，learning the makeup of atoms while water and steam broke them down all around me. I learned how to make y equal to z while placing dishes in stacks. My wrinkled fingers flipped many a card，and many times my tired brain drifted off，and a glass would crash to the floor. My grades went up and down. It was the hardest work I had ever done.

Just when I thought the bottom was going to drop out of my college career，an angel appeared. Well，one of those that are on earth，without wings.

“I heard that you need some help，”he said.

“What do you mean？”I asked，trying to figure out which area of my life he meant.

“Financially，to stay in school.”

“Well，I make it okay. I just have trouble working all these hours and finding time to study.”

“Well，I think I have a way to help you out.”

He went on to explain that his grandparents needed help on the weekends. All that was required of me was cooking meals and helping them get in and out of bed in the morning and evening. The job paid four hundred dollars a month，twice the money I was making washing dishes. Now I would have time to study. I went to meet his grandparents and accepted the job.

My first discovery was his grandmother’s great love of music. She spent hours playing her old，off-key piano. One day，she told me I didn’t have enough fun in my life and took it upon herself to teach me the art.

Grandma was impressed with my ability and encouraged me to continue. Weekends in their house became more than just books and cooking；they were filled with the wonderful sounds of the out-of-tune piano and two very out-of-tune singers.

When Christmas break came，Grandma got a chest cold，and I was afraid to leave her. I hadn’t been home since Labor Day，and my family was anxious to see me. I agreed to come home，but for two weeks instead of four，so I could return to Grandma and Grandpa. I said my goodbyes，arranged for their temporary care and returned home.

As I was loading my car to go back to school，the phone rang. “Daneen，don’t rush back，”he said.

“Why？What’s wrong？”I asked，panic rising.

“Grandma died last night，and we have decided to put Grandpa in a retirement home. I’m sorry.”

I hung up the phone feeling like my world had ended. I had lost my friend，and that was far worse than knowing I would have to return to dishwashing.

I went back at the end of four weeks，asking to begin the work-study program again. The financial aid advisor looked at me as if I had lost my mind. I explained my position，then he smiled and slid me an envelope. “This is for you，”he said.

It was from Grandma. She had known how sick she was. In the envelope was enough money to pay for the rest of my school year and a request that I’d go on taking piano lessons.

Now，years later，when I walk by a piano，I smile and think of Grandma. She is tearing up the ivories in heaven，I am sure.

出生在一个家庭成员众多的大家庭里既有有利的一面，也有不利的一面。在单亲大家庭里成长，这种有利和不利都会变成双倍的。而当你想离开家去上大学的时候，这种不利的条件就更加明显了。

我母亲知道她没钱供我上大学。她在一家零售商店工作，挣的钱只够付账单和养活家里其他的孩子。如果我想上大学的话，一切就全得靠自己了。

我发现根据我的家庭人口、母亲的收入以及我的学习成绩，我有资格获得学校的助学金。但那只够付学费和书本费，不够付我的食宿费。于是，我参加了学校里的一项半工半读计划，找到了一份工作。虽然这份工作一点也不吸引人，却是我可以干的。我在学校的自助餐厅里洗盘子。

为了学习，我做了一套正好能够安装在那台庞大的金属洗碗机上的抽认卡。当我把碗碟装到架子上以后，我就站在那里，在水珠飞溅和烟雾弥漫中翻阅卡片，学习原子结构。在把碗碟摞起来的同时，我学会了如何解数学方程式。我起皱的手指翻过许多卡片。有许多次，我的大脑极度疲劳，整个人昏昏欲睡，此时往往会把一只玻璃杯掉到地上摔碎了。我的学习成绩时好时坏。那是我曾经做过的最艰难的一份工作。

就在我认为我最终还是要退学的时候，一位天使来到了我的身边。当然，他没有翅膀，他是地球上的那些天使中的一个。

“我听说你需要一些帮助。”他说。

“你什么意思？”我问道，力图弄清他所指的是我生活中的哪方面。

“经济上的，让你继续读完大学。”

“噢，我能应付。我只是在工作这么多小时和找时间学习上有困难。”

“嗯，我想我有办法帮你。”

接着，他向我解释说，周末的时候，他的祖父母需要佣工。我所要做的就是为他们做饭和早晚帮他们起床、上床。这份工作的报酬是一个月400美元，是我洗碗所挣的钱的两倍。这样，我就有时间学习了。我去见了他的祖父母，接受了这份工作。

我的第一个发现是他的祖母非常热爱音乐。她长时间地弹奏她那架走调的旧钢琴。有一天，她说我的生活缺乏乐趣，并毅然决定教我艺术。

我的能力给祖母留下了深刻的印象，她鼓励我继续学下去。在他们家，周末并不仅仅只有书本和烹饪，还充满了那架走调钢琴奏出的动听音乐和两个老跑调的歌唱者的美妙歌声。

当圣诞假期到来的时候，祖母患了伤风咳，我害怕离开她。但我从劳动节就一直没有回过家，家人都盼望着见到我。我同意回家，但只答应住两个星期，而不是四个星期。这样，我就能回到祖母和祖父的身边了。我安排好他们的临时护理，向他们道别后就回家了。

当我正在把行李搬上汽车准备返校时，电话铃响了。“丹宁，你不要急着赶回来了。”他说。

“为什么？出了什么事？”我问，心里升起一阵恐慌。

“祖母昨晚去世了。我们决定把祖父送到养老院去。对不起。”

我挂断电话，感觉我的世界就像到了末日一样。我失去了我的朋友，那比知道我又要回去洗碗要糟糕得多。

四个星期快结束时，我回到了学校，又去请求参加半工半读计划。财政援助顾问看着我的样子，就像我精神错乱了似的。我向他说明了情况，然后，他微笑着塞给我一个信封，说：“这是给你的。”

信是祖母寄来的。她早就知道她的病有多严重了。信封里有足够支付我剩余学年的学费的钱以及一封请求我继续上钢琴课的信。

现在，多年之后，每当从钢琴旁走过，我都会微笑着想起祖母。我相信，她正在天堂里尽情地弹着钢琴呢。（责任编校彭益）