s old； she helped me with all the enthusiasm and joyfulness of her age。
It was one of the last afteruoons I had her around because her place in school had already been reserved。 She wandered around so happily carefree2 with her little bucket and spade； covering the bulbs with earth and calling out“Night night” or “Sleep tight”； her little voice chattering constantly on。 She discovered “baby bulbs”and” kiddie bulbs” and “mummy and daddy bulbs”—the latter snuggling3 cozily4 together。 While we were both working so industriously； I watched my child very deliberately。 She was such a tiny thing； between an infant and a toddler； with such a round little tummy。 。 想看書來
金秋時節（2）
Every autumn； throughout her childhood； we repeated the ritual of planting the bulbs together。 And every autumn I saw her changing； the toddler became a schoolgirl； a straightforward realist； full of drive。 Never once dreamy； her hands in her pockets； no longer happily indulging her fantasies5。 The school girl developedlong legs； her jawine changed； she had her hair cut。 It was autumn again and I thought “Bye roses； bye butterflies；bye schoolgirl。” I listened to her stories while we painstakingly burrowed in the earth； planting the promise of spring。
Suddenly； much quicker than I had expected； a tall teenager was standing by my side： she had grown taller than I。 The ritual became rather silent； we no longer chattered away from one subject to another。 I thought about her room full of posters and knick…knacks； how it had been full of treasures in bottles and boxes； white pebbles； a copper brooch； colored drawings； the treasures of a child who still knew nothing of money； who wanted to be read aloud to and who looked anxiously at a spider6 in herroom and asked； “Would he want to be