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。716Please respect copyright.PENANAII6zw2Tpz2
716Please respect copyright.PENANAGBhqsFJAwM
「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?」716Please respect copyright.PENANASIcBmtpimY
716Please respect copyright.PENANA1iNc0M0arj
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。716Please respect copyright.PENANALlG4HSTzC6
716Please respect copyright.PENANA0YHlG8e2La
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。716Please respect copyright.PENANAHMzHAB5QGV
716Please respect copyright.PENANA5v5Bhwfl6J
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。716Please respect copyright.PENANAJDCpFQF1Gk
716Please respect copyright.PENANAjh6gAhQtA9
「你回家去忙你的。往後不必來。」爸爸淡然望向窗外。716Please respect copyright.PENANAqy0sjQoyB2
716Please respect copyright.PENANAupn5PqU8lm
「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。716Please respect copyright.PENANAGkzx4KTpzL
716Please respect copyright.PENANAg5KqZ1DjAh
「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。716Please respect copyright.PENANApNqC5dgvHF
716Please respect copyright.PENANAHSmi62dPMZ
「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。716Please respect copyright.PENANAvjO87vEyC6
716Please respect copyright.PENANAUdzMCEaypC
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》。」716Please respect copyright.PENANAuTuITpUt2V
716Please respect copyright.PENANA7gXMv59Z3l
「兩者有何關連?」本已疲累的我此刻更是頭昏腦脹。716Please respect copyright.PENANAsoEwskUNWP
716Please respect copyright.PENANA9RLPIO3E3K
「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。」716Please respect copyright.PENANAh8ha6AZRrk
716Please respect copyright.PENANAwHnj1q4jZR
「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。716Please respect copyright.PENANA6Mtqyk1Yl5
716Please respect copyright.PENANAKRanavEbGv
「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。716Please respect copyright.PENANAuQMItgcGoT
716Please respect copyright.PENANAo8gEovfSVU
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。716Please respect copyright.PENANAFmFb3gQ1d9
716Please respect copyright.PENANAnvz6KGnxGL
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。716Please respect copyright.PENANAdZqS6P14sx
716Please respect copyright.PENANAzavmULWlUA
夜深,孩子們終於入眠,我和丈夫準備就寢去。716Please respect copyright.PENANALJu8U1o4Wm
716Please respect copyright.PENANA07Y3k0kItU
丈夫關心問我:「與岳父吵架?」716Please respect copyright.PENANACKwIxnp8zB
716Please respect copyright.PENANA95wQZS2Yxj
「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?」716Please respect copyright.PENANAKVYXIZRmFQ
716Please respect copyright.PENANA3wGDueAWEc
「記得。我們的答案全軍覆沒。」丈夫傻笑。716Please respect copyright.PENANA3q5CvyhDM0
716Please respect copyright.PENANApJ40DIsPH0
「原來答案是『《燕詩》』。」我嘆一口氣。716Please respect copyright.PENANA6jw3o0awpo
716Please respect copyright.PENANACytsGFZljL
丈夫若有所思,沒有立即回話。716Please respect copyright.PENANAx4vjMlZOsL
716Please respect copyright.PENANAcIgoRdEq1B
「你明白?」看見丈夫似懂非懂的表情,我莫名其妙地火冒三丈。716Please respect copyright.PENANAfiNbmy9ZB2
716Please respect copyright.PENANADuMNsEfDTd
「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。716Please respect copyright.PENANAFJA3Yk3AST
716Please respect copyright.PENANALob8NxtGUJ
「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。716Please respect copyright.PENANAgs8FFJQ62e
716Please respect copyright.PENANAncKMcR5da3
父母的唸書聲驀地在我耳邊響起——「當時父母念,今日爾應知。」716Please respect copyright.PENANAyj9mMtUu1c