itookmylibrarybookstoherhouse.ireadherstories.ilikedthebookthewaterbabies.shelikedittoo.ineverknewhowsickshewasuntilthatdayitriedtoshowheroneofthepicturesinthebook,abeautifulcolorpictureofthewaterbabiesswimminginthesea.iheldthebookuptoherface.icantseeit,shesaid,imblind.andtheniwasashamed.

    shelistenedtoeverybook,everypoemireadher.onedayireadheroneofmyown.icameveryclose.iwhispereditintothepillow:

    iwanttobe

    likethewavesonthesea,

    likethecloudsinthewind,

    butimme.

    onedayilljump

    outofmyskin.

    illshakethesky

    likeahundredviolins.

    thatsnice.thatsverygood,shesaidinhertiredvoice.youjustremembertokeepwriting,esperanza.youmustkeepwriting.itwillkeepyoufree,andisaidyes,butatthattimeididntknowwhatshemeant.

    thedayweplayedthegame,wedidntknowshewasgoingtodie.wepretendedwithourheadsthrownback,ourarmslimpanduseless,danglinglikethedead.welaughedthewayshedid.wetalkedthewayshetalked,thewayblindpeopletalkwithoutmovingtheirhead.weimitatedthewayyouhadtoliftherheadalittlesoshecoulddrinkwater,shesuckeditupslowoutofagreentincup.thewaterwaswarmandtastedlikemetal.lucylaughed.racheltoo.wetookturnsbeingher.wescreamedintheweakvoiceofaparrotfortotchytocomeandwashthosedishes.itwaseasy.

    wedidntknow.shehadbeendyingsuchalongtime,weforgot.maybeshewasashamed.maybeshewasembarrassedittooksomanyyears.thekidswhowantedtobekidsinsteadofwashingdishesandironingtheirpapasshirts,andthehusbandwhowantedawifeagain.

    andthenshedied,myauntwholistenedtomypoems.

    andthenwebegantodreamthedreams.

    1、上世纪七十年代非常流行的一部由漫画改编的电影《神奇女侠》中的主人公，是美国漫画史上第一位漫画女主角。

    2、《水孩子》（thewaterbabies），查理·金斯莱（1819～1875）的一部童话经典，讲述小烟囱工汤姆在仙女的帮助下，逃离危险的苦役，去到一处安宁清洁的水下世界，做了个水孩子。后来，经过一连串的奇遇，他习得了各种美德，完成了自己的成长之路，回到陆地，成为一个仁爱正直的人。国内早有周煦良的译本。作者金斯莱是牛津、剑桥的历史学教授，还曾做过维多利亚女王的牧师。学识渊博的他，写出的童话却清新优美，寄寓着对所有稚嫩心灵的爱惜与期望。

 阁楼上的流浪者

    我想要一所山上的房子，像爸爸工作的地方那样的花园房。星期日，爸爸的休息日，我们会去那里。我过去常去。现在不去了。你长大了，就不喜欢和我们一起出去吗？爸爸说。你傲起来了。蕾妮说。我没告诉他们我很羞愧——我们一帮人全都盯着那里的窗户，像饥饿的人。我厌倦了盯着我不能拥有的东西。如果我们赢了彩票……妈妈才开口，我就不要听了。