Chapter 14 4-3

We're going to have a baby, right? As many as you want.Candesi, I promise. An ugly and strange toad jumped out of Royall's mouth! But Royall did want to marry Candesi.He loves her and never has the heart to hurt her.Hearing her cry of heartbreak, as if his own heart was broken, he thought it must be a plastic heart, cheap and fragile, but their material was indestructible. The most surprising thing about Royall's engagement was Aaliyah's reaction.You might have guessed that Mother would throw Royall out of the house in a fit of rage; but in fact, when Royall stammered awkwardly, "He wants to get married, it's time," Ali Ya took a deep breath and said, okay.Yes, it's time.He is 19 years old.Ladies and gentlemen throwing arms at Royall like this, it would be better for Royall to find a sweet and simple girl like Candesi and get married quickly.She doesn't push Royall to do what he can't do, and when something unfortunate happens (it just means that Royall got the wrong girl pregnant! Then he's like an uncontrollable, A wild dog that roams around and can be a slave to any bitch in heat.) Just as Aria was relieved that Royall didn't go to college instead of being disappointed, Alia was now optimistic about the prospect of her son's marriage.In fact, newlyweds can first live in Baltic 1703 for a while.Aaliyah would move out of the upstairs bedroom and redecorate the room for them.

To live in this small and crowded house with Alia!Royall shuddered at the thought.Poor Candesi would be eaten alive and turned into Alia's second daughter. No.The newlyweds will live in a rented house on Fifth Avenue, just a few minutes' drive from Niagara Falls.Royall works there from May to mid-October; it's not far from King's Dairy, the hottest ice cream shop in the Niagara Falls area, where Candesi works the front desk, and she's assistant manager.The newlyweds are to live to themselves! Alia was disappointed.You could tell she was extremely disappointed.Her green-glass eyes were about to breathe fire, and the white, freckled skin at her temples was taut, and the nerves beneath her were throbbing.

Royall, you can save on rent.I won't charge a penny. Thanks mom.But I don't want to use it. Let me talk to candesi, she's more practical in her head. Mom, no need. If you save on rent, you can save it and pay in installments to buy a house of your own.Oh Royal!Let me talk to candesi. Mom, I think you better stop talking.You know Candesi hangs around you all the time.She admires you and fears you.She has no mind of her own. Whose ideas does she want to listen to?Is this yours? Hi! Mom, let's stop arguing, shall we?Candesi is to be my wife, not yours. Maybe that's the problem.That poor girl needs more family than a husband can provide.

Mom, the house was too small, even if Chandler didn't live here.Juliet wouldn't be comfortable living upstairs with me and Candesi. This is ridiculous.You know how sad Juliet is that you are leaving.She adores you and likes Candesi as a sister. God, Mom, stop talking. Are you afraid to let me talk to Candesi?You are afraid! Mom, stay away from Candesi. My music room has been winterized.You and Chandler changed it up a bit and did a great job.I will move downstairs.I'll buy you and Candesi a nice big double bed.Candesi can choose the design of the wallpaper.This is entirely up to her.The wardrobe is also for you, it is an antique.And curtains!White curtains with ruffles.Royall looked at me, how can you be so selfish about something so important?Candesi deserves all the love she can get.Family is everything in this world, look, there is no God in this world.

When Alia finished speaking in one breath, she trembled all over.The same goes for Royall.Royall shivered when he thought about it afterwards, and he almost gave in. After all, it was easier to submit to Alia than to resist her. But Royall is stubborn and refuses Alia's help.No, never!If the mother turns his wife into her second daughter, then Royall shares the bed with her own sister.God! Finally Alia backed down.But the next morning, she offered to help pay for an engagement ring for Candesi.Once again Royall gritted his teeth and turned his mother down. (Fortunately Alia didn't know or guess that Kandesi thought she was pregnant at the time. Alia would never know)

Thinking of these, his brain nerves were stimulated.Royall sat in an unused Chevrolet on the edge of the high school parking lot, staring at the flat-roofed factory-like building with pale yellow brick walls.It is ordinary and even a little ugly, but when the lights come on in the evening, the building seems to be floating on the asphalt road, and every window is dark, which looks very mysterious.Damn, Royall now regrets not trying harder.He had been a popular athlete: softball, football, basketball.If he hadn't had to go to get off work after work, he would have joined these teams long ago.In fact, when the team encountered a strong opponent, Royall was sometimes called on the bench, and Royall could ask for leave during work.He's always been loved, never knowing that there might be another side to life.Like a sleepwalker who doesn't know he's asleep until he's woken up.Of course, the teachers also encouraged him.If he had gone to college, he wouldn't have gotten married at 19.Many of Royall's classmates are married.Especially girls. (Secretly) Pregnant out of wedlock, gratefully married to boys who worked at Dow Chemical, Parrish Plastics, Nabisco, and Niagara Spa.Most of the dudes in Royall work in these or similar factories.Wages there are the highest in the Niagara Falls area because they are unionized.Factory work never appealed to Royall.This "real" work, eight hours a day, five days a week, union dues, contracts.The thought of clocking in to and from get off work on time makes him cringe.Royall Burnaby, the sportsman who was always cheered and applauded, who sang and played the guitar for everyone, went to work on time!His pride would not allow him to, and neither would his good judgment.

It would be nice if he went to college.However, Alia does not want her son to go to college and is ambitious.What does that bring to the person?Only let him die.Alia said angrily, without her usual biting humor. He never told anyone that what really hurt him was having to model Chandler at school.Chandler excelled in all subjects, especially mathematics and science.Chandler was serious about any class, had few friends, and few extracurricular activities that attracted him.Of course the teachers liked Royall, but they couldn't help but compare him to Chandler, which was bad for Royall.Why try?Chandler was better at everything academically.Sometimes even better.Damn.Royall gradually developed a habit of forgetting homework and skipping exams.He told himself that it was better to be the most handsome senior boy than to be isolated from his classmates like Chandler.If you don't believe me, ask the girls.

"Royal! That's not like you." This is the slightest accusation, not a scolding.Candesi ran over and put his arms around Royall's neck and kissed his face, which was burning uncomfortably. What a long day!He was an hour late and still smelled of alcohol.But Candesi didn't intend to scold him as soon as they met. All she could think about was the marriage plan.Candesi's sister Anne was there, and two of Candesi's friends, when the phone rang.Candesi was excited, Royall thought, like an astronaut about to go into space. Candesi kisses Royall again, mouth moist.Her pro-French prowess is stunning and triumphant.Royall blushed as the others watched.If it were just the two of them, he would hug her tightly and bury his face in her curly hair.He didn't say a word, he didn't know what to say.The woman in black stole all his words, and he was not a talkative person at all.

When Captain Stu said good-bye to him, he wished Royall good luck and shook his hand vigorously, but Royall grinned in pain and said nothing. "You can't stay here long, honey. We're reviewing the food." Royall didn't want to know what that meant.What did food have to do with his being married to Candesi, or, in fact, what did being married have to do with his falling in love with Candesi.He had been confused since that spring night when Candesi wept in his arms and whispered that if Royall didn't love her she would die. Sometimes, hearing his fiancée and his mother talk excitedly about the wedding is as much about the wedding itself as you talk about the holidays or fall.Royall felt like an intruder.Getting married in a church?Is this what they intend? (But Royall is not religious at all, he just attends some events at the Church of All Saints of Christ, a tan church with pebbles on 11th Street, just to please Kandersi. The idea of ​​elope with Kandesi? No?).As Royall learned, they were indeed planning a church wedding, a small private one.He'll have a best man and maybe two bridesmaids?There will be guests and a wedding reception at 1703 Baltic Street?Strangely, Alia never invited anyone to the house except her students, and now the door suddenly opened to welcome guests. Alia always satirized the customs of the bourgeoisie, and repeatedly expressed her dislike to the old marriage traditions to the children, but It was the first time in years that she bought new clothes at her son's wedding. "Royal, didn't your mother give you the latest news?" Candesi asked in a trembling voice. "My mum is on her way here, oh my god she insists on bringing her 'boyfriend' and no one has seen it yet."

He shrugged uncomfortably.He deserved to empathize with Kandersi's anger or unease, but he wasn't about to. "I know you're tired. Your job!" Kandesi sighed, turning to her sister and friends, who undoubtedly disapproved of Royall's job at Devil's Hole just as much as Kandesi did. "Those stupid tourists surround you noisyly, and half of the female tourists pull you to take pictures! I know that the boat is not safe, it will fall into the waterfall, it can't be safe. And, the salary is not high enough, not enough Make up for the dangers taken," Candesi chirped like a whiny bird.Candesi waved his arms excitedly, and the diamond ring on his left hand shone like a little doll.Candesi is a very beautiful girl, 20 years old, but she behaves and behaves like a 15-year-old girl.She has a soprano voice, she moves with grace and beauty, and she expects others to respond to this beauty, like a dancer dancing to the sound of familiar music.

"I want you to meet this sweet girl." —Ariah describing Candesi. "This girl I met at church was so pretty, so--sweet." Even though Alia was racking her brains, she couldn't seem to find the right words to praise her. Candesi's sweetness can also be sharp, which Royall has discovered, but Alia doesn't know, and one day, Alia will be surprised. Candesi's most distinctive feature is her strawberry-red blonde hair, which falls to her shoulders in waves, with small butterfly-shaped barrettes and clips in her hair, and her face is a small heart.When he laughs, his voice is a little shrill, and when he is happy, he clases his fingers like a child.The nail color and lip color always complement each other, both painted coral-like pink.She has a sweet, ethereal voice and loves to sing carols and pop songs loudly.The King's Dairy was the premier dairy and ice cream franchise in the Great Falls area, and Candesi was the most popular waiter and the highest paid.In a daffodil-colored uniform, with a white collar and cuffs, and a stiff white hat on her head, she was so pretty that he would remind older male customers of — who?Betty Grabow or Drios Day.Another era, before the 1960s, women began to deny men and ugliness became a self-defining pattern.Nothing like that with Candesi. When they went out together, they were a dazzling pair, attracting everyone's attention.This makes Royall uneasy, but makes Candesi happy, "I always feel that one day, the two of us will be found."Candesi nudged Royall lightly as he spoke.Royall said, "Get caught for what? By whom?" Candesi patted him on the waist again, as if he had said something vulgar. The phone rang, and Anne went to answer it. Candesi took the receiver from Annie, smiled nervously, "Oh, keep it quiet, it's Mrs. Burnaby." Candesi's voice became serious, and she called It was Alia. Royall saw Candesi and Alia exchange glances.My future mother-in-law, oh my! Royall slipped into the kitchenette to fix a leaky faucet about which Candesi had complained so many times, and he had the tools to fix it.This kind of tinkering around the house is comforting to him, especially when he's feeling restless.His father had been a lawyer, which meant he was an eloquent man. After fixing the faucet, Royall went to work on the refrigerator, which Candesi complained was making horrible noises and smelling bad.It was an old Westinghouse refrigerator with peeling paint that had originally been in the rental house, along with a kitchen set.Royall found nothing majorly wrong with the refrigerator, it was just old and the engine was vibrating like it was panting.There was beer in the fridge for him, but he took a pint of King's Dairy milk and filled his glass.Pure milk, which he always drank from a glass.When he was growing up, Alya made him drink three glasses of milk a day.She also asked each child to drink a few spoonfuls of cod liver oil and orange juice for breakfast.The children complained that the taste of cod liver oil was hard to swallow, and she said sternly, "The teeth are strong, the bones are strong, and the rest will follow." Royall tried not to listen to the voices in the other room, hoping so badly that Kandersi wouldn't have to make him talk to Alia.His voice trembles, he'll betray him, I can't marry her, I don't love her, God help me! Of course Royall will marry Candesi, he loves her, that's all. He has bought her an engagement ring and the wedding will be at 11 tomorrow morning.They made honeymoon plans.Aaliyah agrees too, Kandesi loves him again, and that's it. Candesi had moved into the one-bedroom suite in a brownstone building on Fifth Avenue in early October, where they planned to live after they got married.They paid their first three months' rent with a sizable deposit.Candesi and her friends found the house, and Royall thought it was a good one.The room is big, but a bit shabby, and of course the price is relatively cheap.Located in the bustling urban area, the transportation is convenient. It takes five minutes to walk to the store where Kandesi works, and five minutes to drive to the waterfall.During this time when he was not at work, Royall might be working at the Empire Debt Collection Agency, where he paid a commission. A friend of Captain Stu's, who knew and liked Royall, had introduced him.But the time to start a new job is approaching, and Royall is uneasy.Does he have the temperament to call strangers over on the phone, or boldly go directly to people's homes to harass them and make them pay debts that they can't afford at all?Is Royall one of those swaggering, prey-riding robbers who take cars, boats, televisions, or leather clothing from poor owners who delay their loans?Royall began to think.Last year, he worked at Amory's bowling alley and sometimes worked as a bartender.After a stimulating job at Devil's Hole, Royall grew impatient with indoor work.He has been thinking about being an assistant at Niagara General Hospital. Although the salary is not high, the emergency room is very attractive to him. He can also drive an ambulance and help desperate people.There is also the police station, he also wants to be a policeman, but the thought of having a gun, or possibly using a gun, makes people calm down.Royall could also have gone to a Buffalo record producer who had heard Royall play guitar at a summer party in Scenic Park and had given Royall a business card.Royall didn't think the audition would be of much use, maybe he'd lost the guy's business card already.He could also find a job in a high-end hotel or restaurant in an affluent area, and Candesi thought he could be a handsome foreman.Usually Candesi urges him to quit his temporary job at Devil's Hole and get a real job, like most of their married male friends are in East Niagara Falls, North Tonawanda, Buffalo Such factory work. "Especially when we start a family and have kids, Royall, I'm not working in a dairy." Royall took a long gulp of milk, which made his jaw ache from the cold. As soon as he closed his eyes, he saw the bright white light in the cemetery again, like a dazzling blade, piercing his eyes and piercing his groin.The woman in black lay on the tangled grass and stretched out her arms to hug him.We know each other, don't we, we know each other. If Royall married Candesi now, there would be no going back. (But Royall wasn't supposed to have made love to the woman in black in the cemetery that morning, hadn't he? Wasn't he going to marry Candesi?) Royall was thinking that if Candesi didn't want to, he would already be living here now, in this room.He should have moved out with her in early October, so by now they'd be settled.But they're not married yet, and Candesi worries about what other people think.In Kandersi's view, everyone knows each other and is eager to spread "news."People involved on both sides will be angry and affected by rumors.Ariah had always flouted tradition, and even so, she disapproved of it.The notorious Mrs McCann was said to be living openly with a man who was not her husband.Candesi was always careful to get Royall out of the apartment at a "respectable" time.Candesi wants to ask, what's the point of getting married if you live together, sleep together, and eat breakfast together? Royall smiled.yes?So why bother? Candesi walks into the kitchen, annoyed by the butterfly card on her head.She was disturbed and her brows were furrowed.Royall could see that her doll-like face was elongated, serious, with a pursed mouth.She went on and on about what Alia had changed her mind about, and how many friends and relatives would be there.Royall was tempted to sympathize, but Candesi seemed to be speaking a foreign language, and Royall understood nothing but a strong hiss of emotion.Her hands fluttered up and down like frightened birds, the ring on her left ring finger gleamed, and Royall wished it was just him and Candesi, and everyone else gone, including the phone. (The phone rings again in the other room) Oh, what a long day! But Candesi is not in the mood to be intimate right now, and the call with Alia put her in a bad mood. With a sweet and sexy smile, Royall said in the voice of Kandesi idol Johnny Cash: "Honey, why don't we run away tonight? Get rid of this wedding trap and elope?" Candesi's eyes widened, as if Royall had screwed her hard, "'Marriage Trap'! Royall? What did you just say?" Royall shrugged. It seemed like a really bad idea. Or, if they couldn't escape, they could just stay in the house by themselves.This would be their home, a double bed with a nostalgic American pine headboard, a gift from Aaliyah.Everyone get out!Unplug the handset!Royall wanted to grab Candice in his arms and lie next to her, but not make love, just hug and cuddle and comfort each other.It doesn't matter what they say, it's like a song, you only memorize the tune but not the words. It's just that Royall worries about the smell of rich cemetery soil in his hair and clothes.He worried that Candesi would get a taste of other women from his own mouth. Candesi raised his voice and screamed, "What's the matter with you, Royal? As soon as I entered the room and saw your face, I knew something was wrong with you." Royall said quickly, "Know? Know what?" "I don't know exactly what. Something unique to your Burnaby family. A strange feeling that I can't explain, and you don't look people in the eye." "Something specific to the Burnabys?" Royall hadn't heard that before.Didn't he keep looking Candesi in the eye? Candesi pouted and said, "You, sometimes I think you don't want to get married at all, and sometimes I think, you don't even love me." Royall's head started to ache and the iced milk was now on his forehead.His head ached, and he had to cover his face with his hands. "Oh, and you? I'm sure you don't either." Tears welled up in Candesi's eyes.She pouted her cute mouth.From the other room came voices, loud laughter, and the telephone rang again. Candesi turned to go, and Royall grabbed her by the arm, "Honey," he said hoarsely. "What are you doing, what are you doing!" Royall swallowed hard, his throat stiff and clumsy, and the words seemed to be called from afar, like pulling a barge along a canal. "My dear, I don't think so, certainly not." "It's not like that, didn't you think about it?" Royall shook his head painfully. Candesi's eyes became cold, like ice skates.Her pretty little nose started to point too, and she knew it at that moment. Candesi took the milk and dumped the rest of her brain on Royall's head, yelling at him, hitting and kicking her until he grabbed her. "You can't. You can't, I hate you. Royal Burnaby, you can't!" This long and difficult day has passed. 3 If they ask him, tell them: That was before I was born. Royall knew a lot.Memories of his father, however, are vague. He didn't remember Luna Park, but Chandler had told him that long ago they lived in a "big stone house" facing the park.Since there were no photographs at that time, there are no photographs of that house.There is no photo of their father either. When Royall tried to recall, his memory dissipated like water vapour, like the splash of a great waterfall, blown into the wind. As a kid living on Baltic Street at the time, he used to ride quietly to Luna Park a few miles away, trying to find the house, trying to see if it could remember anything, but every time he got close to the When he was in the park, it was strange that he became dizzy, his legs were weak, the front wheel turned suddenly, and he almost fell down.So he gave up and turned back.There's no need to do that, Mommy is the one who loves you. Royall only remembers what happened after the age of four.He remembered being hugged by Alia, and entering his new home sleepily and dazedly.Up the creaking stairs and into their new bedroom, where he lived with his older brother for the next ten years.He doesn't ask anything, he is a happy and healthy son of his mother.They lived in a stucco row house at 1703 Baltic Street. The house smelled of old wood grease and mold. The smell was mysterious and not too unpleasant. , Baltimore to Ohio, New York General Office, Shenandoah, and Susquebannab's marked trucks passed by, giving them headaches with a roar. Royall came home from Baltic Street Primary School with a story about the Great Falls.Royall excitedly told Alia that ghosts came out of the waterfall at night.Some are Indian and some are white.A white man was caught by the Indians to swim in the river and washed to the waterfall. A red-haired bride searched for him for seven days and nights. When he found him, he was drowned and torn to pieces by the rapids. "Jumped into the Grand Canyon. Alia was braiding Juliet's hair, which was blond, with crimson ties, and asked, "When did this happen, baby?" Royall, who was in third grade at the time, said, "A few years ago, Mom, I guess." "It's not 'white,' Royall, it's 'hundred.'" "Hundreds, mother. There's a thousand more." Children are like the puppy Sayu.Likable and pushy.If Royall had a little tail like a puppy, he'd clack it a lot. Alia laughed, bowed her head and kissed her son.Children seem to believe such things. "If it's been that long, Royall, and she's dead too, the ghost won't last forever." When Royall was in fourth grade, he brought home another canyon story from school.This time Chandler and Juliet are both present. "Mom! Can I tell you a ghost story?" "What ghosts, baby? We don't believe in ghosts here." Royall's eyes widened and he said, "She lives down the street! Someone saw her, and she's real." Alia looked at her out of breath son and handed him a tall glass of King's Dairy Pure Homogenised Milk, as she always does at this time, and asked calmly, "Who told you that?" ?” Royall frowned wondering who it was.He can't remember many things clearly.Names, faces, and events are as easy to mix up as dice shaken in a cardboard cup.He sat restlessly at his school desk, the words printed on the book jumping around in front of his eyes, which annoyed him.It might have been told by a senior classmate that ghosts lived on Baltic Street; it might have been told by his teacher; it might have been told by the mother of a good friend of his.She often invites him to play at her house after school and brings milk, cookies, and cartoons for her son and him, which Alia, who lives just down the street, forbids. Juliet, the most gullible of the boys, now in the first grade, was listening intently to her brother.She was a melancholy little girl, with a face as long as a cucumber and eyes like black peas, as her mother said.The thing is, if Juliet had heard the story of someone seeing a ghost on Baltic Street, she would have seen a ghost that very night.Chandler, in his adolescence, slinking in and out of rooms like a ghost, sensitive to Aaliyah's mood swings, was about to sneak out of the kitchen when he came to the corner outside the room from which he had just been kicked out It's like a naughty puppy looking for food in the neighbor's trash can again, and Sayu watched him calmly and vigilantly.It's a chilly November afternoon, nothing special for the Burnabys on Baltic Street, except for Royall stammering a ghost story about a real "ghost girl" , she walked by the big waterfall, specially scaring people into jumping into the waterfall.Aaliyah interrupted him to ask who the hell was telling these nonsense stories to the children.Royall protested seriously with the nine-year-old child: "Mom, it's true. She is a female ghost. You can see her by the waterfall." Aaliyah laughed, her laugh short and sharp, like being whipped.Only Chandler was good at reading his mother's mood. At this moment, he read her mother's laughter, and he saw her clenched her fist. But he couldn't slip fast enough, and it was Chandler who pissed off Alia, despite Royall's nonsense story.Alia jumped at him, pulling him by the hair with both hands, and dragged him into the kitchen. "You! Look at the look on your face! How dare you eavesdrop here." Sayu jumped up, barking excitedly.Royall, horrified by Aaliyah and Chandler's scuffle, poured most of the milk in his glass on himself. At any rate, it was an ordinary November afternoon for the Burnabys in Baltic Street. 4 A decade later, Royall still shudders at the thought of the overturned milk bottle, the shattered glass dropped at his feet in shock. King Dairy.The iced milk was poured on Royall again.He thought it might happen every ten years?What a strange coincidence. At one point, Candesi told Royall and Juliet in her breathless, trembling voice, "Oh, how lucky you are to have the best mom in the world." The siblings looked at each other in surprise. Juliet sighed: "Well, I think we know." A decade after the incident in the kitchen, Royall stood hesitantly outside the front door of his home to the sound of a piano.Someone was playing passionately, like Mozart's Rondo, and then there was a pause, and then Alia was heard loudly encouraging the students.Aaliyah's children had made it a habit to go quietly out while their mother was at piano lessons, but Royall was still lingering on the front porch, looking brooding and absent-minded.He wore crumpled khaki jeans, a flannel shirt over a T-shirt, and a Devil's Cave Fleet hat pulled low on his head.The beard hadn't been shaved in three days and shimmered like a steel file.His eyes were bloodshot, as if he had rubbed them hard with his hands.From last Friday morning to Monday afternoon, he didn't change his clothes, except for washing his hands, he washed his forearms and underarms. Shame, shame!Your name is "Royal Burnaby". In fact, Royall is not ashamed, he has no regrets.Liberation filled him like a helium balloon.free!He can drift freely and freely in this way, and he doesn't need to be married at the age of 19. Royall, of course, felt sorry for Candesi, and his face burned at the thought, that he had hurt her, which was the last thing he wanted to do.He also felt sorry for Aaliyah.But why? Candesi is marrying me, not you. Aaliyah didn't want Chandler, 25, to "visit" a pregnant girlfriend who was estranged from her husband.Shocked and disgusted by this "relationship," Alia made Chandler promise never to marry such a woman; Alia even refused to meet her; The "wife's man. It's weird, but knowing Alia it shouldn't be. Now that she is 50 years old, she is not as neurotic and excitable as she was when she was young.It's not easy to lose your temper. (She calmly calls this a "fugue". It seems that this bad temper is a state of mind that no one can blame, just like being struck by lightning, kicking and hitting and hurting innocent spectators. .) But Aaliyah's temper is still elusive.Sometimes Alia would not speak to Juliet for days because of what Royall thought was a trivial matter between mother and daughter that hurt her mother's feelings.As a boy, Royall grew up more freely.Ariah would just laugh when he messed up a chore because he was careless and clumsy, but would blow up when it was Juliet and poor Chandler who made the mistake. (Fortunately, Chandler doesn't live at home, but he visits from time to time, and sometimes sleeps in his old bed, as if he needs Ariah's scolding as much as Ariah needs him in his own way.) "Hi, Royall! How's it going?" A neighbor called him from across the street.Royall used to clean the gutters on the roof for him for a small fee.Royall had no choice but to turn around and say hello.He guessed that everyone around him got word of his rude cancellation, even though the B Street neighbors weren't invited. "You're going on your honeymoon this week, huh?" "Oh, no, not going." The neighbor is a lame middle-aged man, he smiled mysteriously and went back to the house.Royall's face burned. Maybe it's not a good idea?It's home, so fast.Royall had to admit that he was terrified of meeting Aaliyah.Called Alia on Friday night, of course.Tell her immediately that the wedding is called off.It was past nine o'clock when the phone rang, and Alia didn't want to answer it so late, but when the bell rang ten, Alia answered the phone.She was taken aback by Royall's words and had to repeat them to understand, and Royall said hurriedly that he couldn't marry Kandesi, he didn't love Kandesi and didn't believe that Kandesi loved him , Alia listened in silence for so long that Royall suspected she had been attacked.Later he heard her gasping for breath, as if trying not to cry.阿莉亚是嘲笑眼泪的！罗约尔急忙问：“妈妈？坎德西会来看你的，她会解释我为什么这么做。她很沮丧就像我一样，但她理解。妈，原谅我，我很抱歉，我想我是个坏小子。妈——。”但是电话那头变成了朱丽叶的声音，“罗约尔，她跑下楼了。她不告诉我发生了什么。罗约尔你没受伤吧？你没事吧？” 第二天，星期六，罗约尔第一次给阿莉亚发了封电报。 亲爱的妈妈我很抱歉别无选择改天解释爱你的罗约尔。 和坎德西分手后，罗约尔立刻躲了起来。像逃犯似的躲了三天。不和任何人联系，也没给别人打电话。他知道消息一定传开了。每个坎德西的朋友和亲戚都会在一个小时内获知的。阿莉亚过去常常这样形容闲话：就像下水管道中四处流淌的臭水。你可以想到尼亚加拉大瀑布的下水管道不断流淌，你就可以想到流言蜚语和“邪恶的消息”也会源源不断。罗约尔不想知道人们会怎么说他。震惊，谣言，愤怒。坎德西的妈妈可能准备扼死他。你能相信吗！罗约尔?波纳比竟然这么做，就在结婚的前夜。罗约尔知道坎德西在退还结婚礼物时，会痛苦不已，不仅是耻辱，更是伤害。 他知道，她永远都不会原谅他。他的行为比任何身体上的背叛更严重。如果他告诉她黑衣女人的事，她可能会受伤，沮丧，恶心，也会哭泣地打他，说恨他，不想嫁给他了。但最后，坎德西很快就会原谅他嫁给他的。但他心里明白，他现在这么做，对两人都好，是正确的。但她永远都不会原谅他了。 钢琴课结束了吗？差不多六点了，不过阿莉亚时常拖堂。她是个孜孜不倦、精确细致的老师，教了十多年的钢琴课，依然会为学生犯的错而吃惊。当老师的阿莉亚比学生们更在乎钢琴课。这一直让孩子们感到尴尬尤其是朱丽叶，更明显地感觉到这种冷落。当资质平平位于青春期的孩子旷课不来或家长不让其继续学习时，阿莉亚总会感到受伤、晕眩、吃惊。这不是钱的问题：阿莉亚有时辅导一个学生数月，没收一分钱。阿莉亚热爱音乐，无法理解别人对待音乐怎能如此随便。这就像往老鼠洞里投钱，这是一位学生的父亲说的，话很粗俗（但也许准确？），这位父亲不让孩子继续学了。阿莉亚以一贯的冷酷幽默接受了这句话。往老鼠洞里投钱。这就是我们做的。这就是生活！ 住在波罗的海街的有工薪阶层，也有富裕阶层，有些人住在十分破旧的木房子里，带着一群孩子。住在1703号的那个有着灰暗红头发的女人，大家都知道是个寡妇，独自拉扯大三个没有父亲的孩子，她气质庄重，举止礼貌，还有一点轻蔑的神情，同邻居们关系疏远，与世隔绝，也很“古怪”。据说阿莉亚是个特别的人，一个“受过教育”——有才华——的女人。可以理解，她害怕来访者，哪怕是一次友好的敲门声都会让她不安。她就像个幽灵，一眼能把你看穿。你不能叫她波纳比太太，否则她脸上的表情就像你在她心里捅了一刀。 罗约尔长到能和邻居们的孩子们玩的年龄时，他就经常上街玩儿，是个快乐的单亲孩子。他朋友很多，去朋友家也大受欢迎，有时他们的妈妈会随口询问（“罗约尔，你妈妈不常出门，是吧？——罗约尔，我想你不记得你爸爸了吧？”）一方面阿莉亚?波纳比装出来的傲慢令人厌恶，另一方面她的处境又令人同情。对她是应该讨厌，还是应该同情？这个女人弹了一手好钢琴，却没有丈夫，不是吗？她嫁给了德克?波纳比，现在却又住在波罗的海街，不是吗?她的家人、亲戚在哪儿呢？为什么只有她和孩子们孤孤单单地过着？ 当罗约尔还是个孩子时，有好几个月阿莉亚根本无法出门甚至连上街买食物也不行——“我感到非常虚弱，无法呼吸，如果我上了公交车，就会晕倒的”；这段时间，邻居们就悄悄地帮助她家，他们带钱德勒和罗约尔一起到超市，孩子们带着阿莉亚列出的购物清单。他们还开车送孩子们看病、看牙医，或是买衣服鞋子。阿莉亚没法不对这些表示感谢，但却憎恨这样的帮助。“不要说出家里的秘密。”她警告孩子们。（孩子们想知道到底是什么秘密呢？）“人们就是想打探。——察觉到弱点，他们就攻击。”阿莉亚刚过50岁不久，不得不做清除胆结石的手术，邻居们就邀请孩子们来家一起吃饭。阿莉亚刚出院回家休养时，邻居们又送来砂锅炖菜、火鸡（在感恩节）、蛋糕和馅饼。钱德勒被派去向邻居们表示感谢，尽管阿莉亚气愤不已。“一群豺狼！他们看着我沉沦了，就和他们一样了。”阿莉亚气得脸色煞白，她玻璃般绿色的眼睛闪耀着痛苦与胜利的光。“但是他们错了，等着瞧吧，我会让他们知道的。” 钱德勒那时已经十岁，开始有自己独立的想法，反对道：“妈，他们只是在表示友好，他们同情我们。” “同情我们！”阿莉亚痛斥道，“他们好大胆子！让他们还是同情自己吧。”即便还躺在床上处于康复阶段，阿莉亚依然气得脸色惨白，声音颤抖，她故意伤害自己的大儿子。 通常，罗约尔都得到宽恕。他也想知道原因。 “你，至少还活着。” 罗约尔不安的笑了。阿莉亚说了这样的话。学钢琴的学生终于离开了。阿莉亚把一个女孩子送到前门，看到儿子时并没有什么表情，儿子斜靠在门廊的围栏上，帽沿拉的很低，遮住了他内疚的眼睛。那女孩，大概上高中，看见罗约尔就脸红了，好像认识他。她咕哝了一句“你好，罗约尔！”然后就红着脸走了。 阿莉亚用受伤、愤怒的眼神注视着儿子，她可能正在考虑把儿子关在屋外，不让他进屋。她也许应该把他所有的东西都搬到大街上。就像多年前曾看到对面街上一个泼妇把她的丈夫的东西都扔到马路上，让大家看，还大声叫着，混蛋！asshole! 萨尤跑到门廊，呜咽着，兴奋地叫着，他好几天都没看见罗约尔了，可能家里紧张的气氛让它猜出家里有什么不幸的事情发生了。它现在已经是条老狗了，身体臃肿，浓密而又金黄色的皮毛变得稀疏、暗淡了，眼睛也模糊不清。萨尤还像小狗一样忠于波纳比一家，尤其对罗约尔，它一生中罗约尔是它的玩伴，而当孩子们都上学了后，阿莉亚喂它，它则陪伴她。萨尤热切的嗅了嗅他的手，摇摇晃晃的用后腿站着，想去亲罗约尔的脸，“萨尤，嗨，趴下。”罗约尔感到萨尤的忠诚没有变。 阿莉亚突然转身走开了，但她没有把门“砰的”关上。 “萨尤，该死的，我说趴下。” 有时你就是想伤害他们。伤害那些太爱你的人。 跟着阿莉亚进到了厨房，罗约尔摸了摸长着胡子发痒的两颊，感觉他们正在长出羽毛。他衣服凌乱，腋下发出的味道明显可以闻到。阿莉亚把一壶茶放到炉子上，通常上完一下午的课，她都这么做，她故意走得很慢，好像关节疼了一下。 在头顶灯光的照耀下，阿莉亚的脸色苍白而毫无笑意，她已经不再年轻，但也没有完全衰老。她的作风总是雷厉风行、坚决果断。她最明显的特征是，头发总稀松的盘着，结的发髻用闪亮的别针夹在头上，锈红色的头发中夹杂着银色的头发。她显然焦虑不安，但为了学生还是打扮了一下，穿了一件粗花尼的长群，黑色的开士米羊绒套衫，上身带有绣花，鲜红的丝绸披肩；这些都是不久前在位于老兵路的回头客装店分别花了几美元买的。阿莉亚?波纳比是一位有尊贵气质的女人，她总是昂首挺胸，腰杆笔直。相反，周围的家庭妇女们经常穿着睡衣睡袍，头上戴着大卷发卡站在门廊上。然而罗约尔想象着阿莉亚的牙齿嘎吱吱的咬着。的确，我很生气，你这次真是太过分了。 阿莉亚一直在筹划在自己家里举行婚宴，这是罗约尔所知道的她第一次计划社交活动。罗约尔就这样把这个机会从她那儿夺走了。 他还拿走了她的其他东西。 罗约尔的本能是表示内疚并恳求她原谅。但好像什么东西顽固地阻止他这么做。他并不愧疚，他非常快乐不娶坎德西或其他什么人。 罗约尔看见西部联盟送来的电报，看起来被阿莉亚揉皱了放在厨房台子上。他想说点什么话，既不错，又不假，也不想抱怨。阿莉亚仿佛猜到了他的想法，生硬的说，“一封电报。我先说。祝贺阿莉亚?波纳比，您的儿子表现真是可耻啊。” 罗约尔叹了口气，他在抚摸萨尤的头，感觉比以往更瘦了，这时狗兴奋得直喘气，舔着他的手。 根据他长期的经验，罗约尔知道，如果他不尽快而有力地为自己辩解，阿莉亚就要开始攻击了。他永远不会忘记高二那年的暑假。那时，他在城市公园娱乐中心工作，是市里赞助的垒球队里一位受欢迎的垒球手。头发长过肩膀，额头上还系着编织的头带。阿莉亚严厉的斥责儿子是“疯狂的嬉皮士”；一天晚上，就在这间厨房，她拿着剪刀冲向儿子，抓起他的头发，还没等他反应过来，她已经剪下一大把了，后来她还挖苦他，她的疯狂的嬉皮士儿子，她说道：“我想我不应该吃惊，你们这些孩子，什么鲁莽的事都会干的。” 你们这些孩子，这话真难听。 罗约尔说“你们这些孩子？你怎么这样说？” “伤你妈妈的心，你们总是自行其是。” “钱德勒和朱丽叶关这什么事，妈妈？这是我的事。” “'这是我的事'，我看你还很自豪。自私、虚荣、无知、骗人的雄性动物！” 罗约尔退缩了。都被视为雄性动物了，你还怎么为自己辩护？ 阿莉亚声音颤抖着说：“你真像他，你是他的种，去伤害，去破坏。抛开一切，离开你一直信任的人，噢，我恨你!”她停下了，好像意识到自己说得太多了。她转过身去闭上眼，笨拙地把冒气的水壶从炉子上拿了下来。 “像谁，妈？我爸？” 罗约尔焦虑地等待着，他并不催促阿莉亚。 她正往茶壶里倒水，一些水洒到了茶几上，罗约尔担心她烫到自己，她的手抖得很厉害，她说：“我不能再相信你了，我这么爱你。” “哦，妈妈，天哪……” “我更爱你，而不是朱丽叶，我本来最爱她的，朱丽叶是我的小姑娘，我愿意为我的女儿去死，但我们之间总有什么不对劲，不像和你，噢，从一开始你就是我的罗约尔!现在我恨你！” “天啊，妈，你不是那个意思。” “别在我面前骂人！骂人的话，太'时髦'，也太粗俗。” 罗约尔费力地咽了一口，“我怎么像我的父亲，妈妈？告诉我。” 阿莉亚无力地摇摇头，脸上好像挂着一层帘子，什么也看不出来。 背叛家庭，离我而去，就是这些。 罗约尔大着胆子问：“妈妈，你为什么不告诉我父亲的事？我知道他已经死了，现在他不能再伤害我们了，不是吗？”但是此刻，罗约尔变得困惑了。有时他就是这样，给魔鬼洞船领航时，乘客中有人表现得过于激动了，大声尖叫，好像船在湍急的河水里真的遇到什么危险一样，立刻恐惧就传染给了其他人。罗约尔自己的心也荒唐地怦怦直跳，阿莉亚脸上此刻出现的就是这样一种恐惧。 罗约尔停止讲话，从阿莉亚颤抖的手里接过水壶，把它放在炉子上。至少现在，阿莉亚不会烫到她自己或罗约尔了。在厨房发生过的很多各种既严肃又诙谐的“事故”，有的是阿莉亚造成的，有些是心不在焉的孩子们给闹的。 罗约尔露出了他招牌式的微笑，这招平时一直对这个女人管用，罗约尔不相信这次不灵。他用歉意的口吻说：“我知道这样做很可恶，我——” “'可恶'，你说的这是什么话？你很残忍，丝毫不为别人着想——。”阿莉亚突然不说了。罗约尔看她可能又要说他是雄性动物了。 “我很失望，那天发生的事。我知道那样做不对，那件事令坎德西也很伤心，如果我们有孩子——” 阿莉亚生气地说：“我要有孙子了，这让你无法想象吧！” “什么？你在说什么？妈妈。” “至少坎德西现在没有想要个孩子，这是件好事，如果你这样抛弃她——” 罗约尔抗议道：“妈妈，我并没有抛弃她，我不会那么做的。” “难道不是吗？”阿莉亚倒了一杯茶，用双手抱住陶瓷茶壶。“别得意，罗约尔?波纳比，想着坎德西不会从这件事中站起来了，她周五的晚上伤心绝望，但她不虚伪，她的宗教信仰会安慰她的。她说了，'罗约尔不信基督，这也许是最好的。'我敢说，她会为别人穿这美丽的嫁衣，而且很快，一年到两年以内。”阿莉亚义正辞严地说。“这么漂亮的姑娘，你不要。心底纯洁，还这么——甜美。” 罗约尔厌恶地说：“老天啊，妈妈。我要找个甜美的妻子，娶个巧克力好了。我就和范妮?法尔莫上床算了。” “罗约尔，注意你的嘴。” “是我的嘴，不是你的！我想找个能交流的妻子，能互相交谈共同欢笑的，一个比我聪明的妻子，而不是比我傻的。等我再大一些，准备好了再找。她不会让我到该死的化学公司找一个'真正的工作'，破坏我的脑细胞，本来就没多少。作为妻子，她——”罗约尔深吸一口气，补充道：“要有才华，擅长我不行的。” 阿莉亚盯着儿子，脸上再次显现了恐惧的神色，嘴唇无声的张着，看起来快晕倒了。罗约尔为她担心，心生怜悯的说：“妈，我知道这样做不好，我想坎德西也理解，只是结婚筹备一旦开始很难停下来，好像婚礼本身有生命一样。我不想让您失望，很少有什么能让您高兴的……” 这些话在空中盘旋，并不是指责，而是陈述事实。阿莉亚从震惊中回过神来，发出了愤怒的笑声，“现在他能指责我了！我毫无过错的儿子现在指责他的妈妈了。” 罗约尔第一次想到，他的父母以前肯定相爱过。那是很多年前了，当他们结婚的时候。婚后很多年也如此吗？然后，肯定发生了什么。他想知道，到底发生了什么？他必须知道。但看到阿莉亚的脸色，他知道今晚肯定不可能了。 “妈，我并不是指责你，这是我自己的错，我想我恨懦弱，我喜欢让姑娘们感到特别快乐。尽管这并不是真实的，倒像一场化妆舞会。” “家庭之外的生活是化妆舞会，”阿莉亚平静地说道，“你们这些孩子会知道的。” 但是，家庭之内的生活就不是了吗？罗约尔不安地耸耸肩。 对于萨尤来说，不存在什么道德的深奥难懂的问题，唯一担心的就是它年轻的主人可能会抛弃它。萨尤善于解读家里紧张的气氛，有时比家里人还先知，这会儿它嗅着罗约尔的手，想贴近他发烫的脸。“该死，萨尤趴下。”狗退了回去，指甲在厨房的瞻地板上发出叮叮声，难过的好像罗约尔打了它。因此罗约尔赶忙爱抚地拍拍它，告诉它，主人是爱它的。 世界的一半在疯狂地寻求爱，另一半则疯狂地摆脱爱。 “发生在我身上的事，妈——？” “是啊！你发生什么事了？你好像喝了几天酒，一直睡在车里。” 冷漠无情，也不准确。那天他喝了不过两三杯啤酒。从第一天晚上即星期五起，他也并没有一直睡在车里。 “——我意识到，我不能娶坎德西，因为我并不是像爱其他女人那样爱她。”瞧，话说出来了。罗约尔舔舔嘴唇，说了这句大错话。他从来就不是个自我反省的孩子，也没有这个可能，从孩童时代起，他就用一种健忘的、模糊不清的态度来看待未来和过去。“那样对待坎德西也不公平……” 阿莉亚平和地说：“哦，为什么？因为你已经对那个可怜的女孩不忠了？” 罗约尔感到脸发烫，和他妈说这个！“哦，有时这种事会发生的，不是吗？如果你结婚太早，会的。你会碰见你真正爱的人，你无法像爱她一样爱你娶的人，然后——” 阿莉亚起身站了起来，大概有五英尺七英寸高，在她那个年代算中等个，但比罗约尔低很多。她显示权威的是她那知名的绿色眼神，你惧怕那样的眼神！钱德勒、罗约尔和朱丽叶包括萨尤都害怕招来那样的眼神。“你是说，罗约尔?波纳比，你已经遇见其他什么人了？” 罗约尔犹豫不决，不，这是个错误。 他永远不能在母亲面前提黑衣女人的事，对任何人都不能说。 阿莉亚嘲笑着说：“我们不该为自己骄傲吗！你这个雄性动物。如果你的腰不带毒液，你的性事倒是令人愉快的。” 听到这里，罗约尔打个冷战，他的腰有毒液！ 我想要爱。我会去爱。我的身体，不再背叛，永远不再。 罗约尔想换个话题，他都出汗了。他犹豫的说：“我可以重回学校，有可能。回夜校。我可以取得一个高级管理文凭，然后——。” 阿莉亚坐在厨房桌子旁边，抿着茶，危机时刻看来已经过去，她可以更加自如的发挥她的权威，她不无友好地大笑。“你，罗约尔差一点就得到那个本地的毕业证了。” “——我可以去上大学，也许就在布法罗，钱德勒就上了。” “钱德勒，他比你聪明得多，亲爱的，你知道的。” “是吗？”罗约尔冷冷地说：“是有人对我说过。” “你开始在学校就有问题，你总是心神不宁，很容易就厌倦，你是运动型的，不像可怜的钱德勒，尽管钱德勒视力不好。” “钱德勒的视力？哦，妈妈。” “即使朱丽叶也比你更适合做学生，她爱幻想也叛逆，但她很聪明，而你——” 罗约尔大笑，更用力的摸了摸萨尤消瘦的头，“妈妈，你真是很会鼓励人，你很相信我的。” “罗约尔，我曾经相信你会成为一个音乐家，弹奏的不是你那该死的吉他而是钢琴。没有乐器能和钢琴媲美！你八岁时，弹得很有潜力，然后你厌倦了，为什么呢？你还有优美的极具潜力的男中音。但你偷懒，嫌麻烦，总是四处乱跑。你既没有耐心又不守纪律。你不觉得你在高中唱的民歌值得骄傲吗？现在你声音变粗了，就像愚蠢的汤姆?迪兰一样糟糕！” “是鲍布?迪兰。”① 阿莉亚的脸因厌恶而皱起来，“令人讨厌！至少埃尔维斯?普雷斯利的声音还可以。” “妈，你也讨厌猫王的。”② “我讨厌他的音乐——摇滚，那是无知的野蛮行为。美国的灭亡，就是让自己的孩子们从内部开始侵蚀的。”阿莉亚手颤抖地举着茶杯。她盘着的头发开始松了，她愤怒地说：“还有你——突然又想上大学了，你一会儿想一会儿又不想娶那甜美纯洁的姑娘。哎，你啥时喜欢在尼亚加拉峡谷工作的？” 罗约尔看出话题往哪里拐了，可真该死，要是他可以阻挡住阿莉亚就好了。多年前他偷听到阿莉亚如何巧妙地使钱德勒放弃去宾夕法尼亚大学①上学，尽管钱德勒已经获得该校的奖学金，而为了离家近去了布法罗州立大学。你知道压力大才让你心烦意乱。如果你有什么可怕的事发生怎么办？离家这么远？ 的确，压力影响了钱德勒，在大学四年中还会继续影响他的。不过不是在费城，而是在布法罗。他不得不每周五天都乘公交车去上课，和家人住在波罗的海街，打临工，赚学费，还分担家里的开销。大学成为了自私、无用的同义词。阿莉亚说到这个话题，振振有词、厌恶十足。“你从哪儿去弄上大学的钱呢，可不只是学费而是花销。看不见的花销。你要贷款，这样你几年内都要身背债务。如果你永远都毕不了业那怎么办？所有的钱都白花了，扔到鼠洞里去了。” 鼠洞！罗约尔笑了。在波罗的海街1703号一天不提起恐怖的鼠洞就不会过去。 “什么？这很有趣？你是乔装打扮的贵族，还是一笔无人认领的财产的继承人？我说的都是你不知道的，孩子。” 罗约尔恼火地说：“我可以工作，我从13岁就开始工作了，妈！” “你现在不再是13岁了，你的道路不会永远都有金砖铺路，先生，你以为你为这个家贡献的钱在现实世界里能买食品、住房、24小时请女佣服务吗？相信我，只有在这个家庭里，你妹妹为你擦靴子，为什么？你的妹妹会拒绝妈妈要求她做的所有的事，却会花上几个小时擦你的臭摩托车靴子，牛仔靴子，为什么？别问我，明显她崇拜你。你看得出我们多贫穷，你妈妈每年最大的开销就是一年两次为钢琴调音，否则我们就要露宿街头、沿街乞讨了。但你们这些孩子都像你！表现得好像家里有秘密财宝。就是这样！”阿莉亚停住了喘气。这也是阿莉亚的话题之一：秘密财宝。从罗约尔记事起，阿莉亚提及这些财富就像你提到下流便很兴奋的东西：令人兴奋但无耻下流。但是罗约尔知道没有必要接这个话茬儿，因为阿莉亚只说她想说的。阿莉亚就像一只链子牢牢拴在嘴上的狗，转着圈，假装吓唬人，跳跃着。 阿莉亚坚定地说：“尼亚加拉峡谷——魔鬼洞——旅游业对你很适合。游客就像一群找乐子的孩子，你有这个天赋，罗约尔，这个斯图船长显然很喜欢你，并且，你和爱你的妹妹、我住在一起，还有崇拜你的萨尤，只要你不打算结婚，这很明智。”阿莉亚逐渐开始了慈爱的责备，“我们一直很快乐，罗约尔，不是吗？你，钱德勒，朱丽叶，萨尤，还有我？你不应该说没有什么可让我高兴的，一切都让我快乐，罗约尔，只要我的家庭是安全的。”阿莉亚擦了擦眼睛，以示强调。 头顶上的天花板响了一下，还有迟疑不决的脚步声，是朱丽叶？罗约尔的房间正在厨房上面。他猜阿莉亚早早让朱丽叶上了楼，不想让他们的谈话受到干扰。 朱丽叶崇拜他？罗约尔用力咽了一下唾液。 罗约尔要结婚的消息让他妹妹十分烦恼。出于某种原因，她一直迫切想让罗约尔结婚。最初，意料之中的她宣布不出席婚礼，理由是讨厌“虚伪挑剔'的仪式。其实，也没人想让她去。她讨厌“打扮”——“收拾头发”。再说了，她也“长相难看。”但是阿莉亚请求过朱丽叶，最终她改变了主意；最近她一直过度兴奋地期待这个婚礼。原来是“生拉硬扯”才肯参加婚礼，到现在，哥哥的婚礼却成了快乐的源头。她说过她早就想要“一位新姐姐”了。也是在突然之间，朱丽叶变成了“一直都想要”一个姐姐了。“也许我很快就能当姑姑了，我敢说！”朱丽叶取笑罗约尔，让他脸胀得通红。 但是现在，朱丽叶垮掉了。当罗约尔那天晚上告诉她时，她冲他大声尖叫，摔下了听筒。 How can you do this!罗约尔！你的灵魂下地狱吧！ 他们都是多么地坚决，罗约尔想，不会失去彼此。但也决不退让一步。 阿莉亚仔细地端详着儿子。她俯下身和儿子一起抚摸萨尤。萨尤受到它最喜爱的两个人的安慰，变得不那么躁动了。阿莉亚说：“晚饭吃肉块洋葱加胡椒。还有你喜爱的稠番茄汁。当然还有土豆泥”。 这些都是罗约尔都喜欢吃的饭菜，他在想，这是否是巧合。 “好的，妈妈，听着不错”。 “除非你想吃别的。” 罗约尔没说什么。他又一次听见楼上地板吱吱作响，朱丽叶也会原谅他的。最终罗约尔回家来了。他永远也不离开家。 “我给他学校捎话了，钱德勒应该会回来的。他最近很忙，神秘兮兮地。我们好几天没见他了。他还和那个'女人朋友'关系密切吗？那个——” 那个年轻的女人叫梅林达。她结过婚了，但不是和爱她的钱德勒。罗约尔为其大哥感到难过，他总在照顾别人，包括照顾罗约尔。你为什么听妈妈胡扯呢？罗约尔有一次问钱德勒，钱德勒吃惊的盯着他，胡扯？什么呀？罗约尔，你说什么？钱德勒不明白罗约尔在说什么。 “罗约尔，告诉我：钱德勒知道你和坎德西的事吗？” "what do you know?" “你取消订婚的事。” “不，他不知道。” “但你和他说心里话，不是吗？” “有时候，但这次没有。” 阿莉亚脸抖动了一下，“我本以为钱德勒知道呢，是钱德勒建议你……” “钱德勒没有。”罗约尔想问一句。为什么我要问钱德勒关于爱情、婚姻和性的问题呢？罗约尔猜想，钱德勒从未和女人做过爱呢。可怜的杂种，比起自己来，钱德勒才更像是妈妈的儿子啊。 阿莉亚喝完了茶，苍白的双颊暖和起来了。她带着小姑娘般的热情，说到：“好，我们舒舒服服地吃顿晚饭，就我们四个。我有预感，你可能回来，所以今天早上，在我的第一个学生到来之前我就准备好了肉块……但是如果你打算和我们一起吃饭，请赶快洗澡！你看起来好像一直睡在外面，闻起来好像和猪待在一起了。” 罗约尔笑起来。他不介意被这样取笑。对阿莉亚善变的情绪，他已经习惯了。 但阿莉亚闻不出数天前黑衣女人在他身上留下的气味。 事实上，罗约尔逃离了这个城市，跑到莱克瓦纳一个高中朋友那里去了。在家里颜面尽失，但在布法罗南部这个冒着烟雾的工业小镇上，除了他的朋友，没有别人认识他。周六晚上他们去喝酒。周日下午，他们去了伊利古堡赛马场，让罗约尔散心。在那儿，罗约尔意想不到，幸运地赢了第一次赌注62美元，这是他一生中第一次赌博；第二次赌输了78美元；第三次赢了230美元；后来不顾朋友的劝告，他草率地把所有赢来的钱，以8比1的投赌率压到一匹叫黑美人的处于劣势的马身上，结果赢了1312美元。1312美元啊！这初学者的好运气让朋友们惊叹不已，这是罗约尔在赛马场上的第一次经历。 于是罗约尔说，“不是和猪待在一起，是和马。”令阿莉亚惊奇的是，他拿出装满钱的钱包，边数边往厨房桌子上放，他的动作，立即变得大摇大摆、自吹自擂。他感觉到自己就像汽车在结冰的路面上滑行一般。 阿莉亚很震惊，“罗约尔！你从哪儿弄这么多钱？” “告诉你了，妈妈。是马。” “马？赛马场” 此刻，阿莉亚盯着罗约尔，好像她从未见过他。 “你生活中发生了这样的事，罗约尔，你还这么做？去赛马场，在这个时候……” 罗约尔想了想，又拿回一张百元钞票，这样他钱包里就剩下600元给坎德西。租金付了三个月的，坎德西可以继续住在那儿，继续在国王乳品店上班，她是那里最受欢迎的女招待。 阿莉亚急切地说，“罗约尔，你没听见我说的话吗？你这忽然间是怎么啦？你喝多了吗？”