Chapter 2 02

02 Only then did he realize that it was late at night in Wisconsin.Already in Oak City, his sister was looking sideways at him. "You've been sleeping all this time?" she asked. "No," he said. "That's the hospital," she said, pointing. "You don't know how I pray for Daddy." As Claire turned the car into the parking lot next to the hospital, he stretched.She found a space in a very crowded parking lot and parked her car.Randall got out of the car, stretched his stiff muscles, and waited in the back of the car. What surprised him was a shiny Lincoln sedan.

Randall pointed to the Lincoln sedan as Claire approached. "Nice car, girl, how did you get it on your salary as a secretary?" Claire frowned dissatisfied. "If you must know, I'll tell you, it was shipped by my boss." "Your boss is very kind. I don't think his wife would be so generous to her husband's friends." Claire glared at him. "Look at what you said, just smile." She ignored him, turned around stiffly, and walked straight to the hospital along a tree-lined path.At this moment, Randall lifted a rock and smashed his own foot, very bored, and slowly followed behind her.

He came to a private ward where his father had been moved from intensive care for nearly an hour.He sits in a high-backed chair with an unused television set and a portrait of Jesus in a delicate frame on a shelf above his head, across from his father's hospital bed.At this moment, Randall's emotions are almost exhausted.He had sat with his legs crossed for a long time, and felt that his right leg was numb, so he stopped sitting with his legs crossed.He began to feel restless and longed for a cigarette. Randall struggled to keep his focus around his father's hospital bed.However, he seemed to be in a hypnotic state, just staring numbly at the oxygen mask and his father under the blanket.

The first sight he saw of his father made him feel extremely sad.When he walked into the ward, he imagined that his father was still the same as the last time he saw him.His father, Reverend Nathan Randall, is an old man in his 70s, and he is still so dignified.In his eyes, his father is like the noble bishop in "Deuteronomy", like the venerable Moses, his eyes are clear and bright, and his natural power has not diminished in the slightest.His forehead is protruding, his white hair is gradually thinning, his kind face is calm and blue, his appearance is handsome, and his nose is strong.The deep wrinkles on his forehead make him look more serious, which is admirable.This pastor Randall has always had an indescribable demeanor, a very sacred demeanor, which is very harmonious with his work. He is like the spokesman of the Lord Jesus, making his church members and those around him feel trust and respect. admire.

However, the father he saw now mercilessly shattered the beautiful image of his father that he had in mind.Randall looked at his father under the transparent oxygen mask, as thin as a stick, like an Egyptian mummy.The hair is withered, yellow and messy, and no longer has the luster of the past.His eyes were closed, his face was haggard, pale, he had difficulty breathing, and his whole body seemed to be unconscious. For Randall, observing the same flesh-and-blood human being so closely, so inexplicably and yet presently present, so benevolently deserved, yet rendered so numb and hopeless, has always been It amazed him.

After a while, Randall quickly moved his eyes from his father to the chair next to him, his eyes were already wet, and he was worried that he would not be able to help crying.He boredly watched a little nurse in front of him busy.She was expressionless and mechanically busy all the time.Her attention was all focused on the hanging infusion bottle, the hose and the wall clock on the wall.After being dazed for a while, maybe half an hour or longer, Maurice Oppenheimer opened the door and walked in to help the nurses do some examinations.He was past middle age, his body was beginning to put on weight, but he was strong.He is capable and confident.After seeing Randall, he shook his hand and patted his shoulder lightly, which was a wordless comfort, and promised to tell him the patient's condition at any time.

Randall watched silently as he examined his father.After a while, a burst of tiredness came over him, and he closed his eyes, trying to cheer himself up and find the right words to pray for his father.But he could only think of the words "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name", and he couldn't think of anything else.In his mind, inexplicably, what happened in the past few days appeared.First Miss Wanda's inexplicable phone call, then the memory of his making out with Darina the night before, and her voluptuous breasts, he felt ashamed of himself and refocused When it came to my father, my mind also returned to the last time I went home to visit my parents. It was more than two years ago, and the last time was more than 3 years ago.

He can still feel his father's disappointment in him during those two visits, and it hurts deeply.The old gentleman made it clear that he was dissatisfied with his failed marriage, did not appreciate his way of life, disliked his cynicism and lack of faith in life. Recalling his father's dissatisfaction and disappointment with him, Randall still disagreed deeply in his mind: What standard did his father use to measure him?Proving through society that he succeeded while his father failed.However, he turned to think that his own success is only the accumulation of wealth, isn't it?His father measured him by another standard, the standard by which the old gentleman measured himself and all others, by which he found what his son lacked.Randall still didn't get it—his father had something he lacked: faith.His father had strong beliefs, which made life full of kindness and meaning.And he had no such blind faith.

Quite right, Dad, he thought.He really has no faith, no conviction, no trust in anything. How can people believe in gods?Society is unfair, hypocritical, and utterly rotten.Men, many men, are ferocious beasts.People can fabricate all kinds of gods and deceptions at will, but they can't change the cruelty of reality. In the end, they are all compared to smoke and dust, and they become illusory. There is a wonderful Jewish proverb: If God lives on the earth, people will smash his windows. Damn it, Dad, don't you understand? No more arguing with my father, it's all old, Randall said to himself.Stop arguing about the past.

Randall opened his eyes.He felt parched, bored, and had pain in his back.He hated the smell of the ward - the strong smell of medicine mixed with the smell of disinfectant. —he felt exhausted and, at the same time, full of anger, regret, and boredom.He was frustrated with his role as a bystander.He thinks it is better to work hard now and worry about it than to be a bystander here. He stood up from his chair, wanting to tell the doctors and nurses that he was going to leave here and go to the waiting room to rest for a while.But Dr. Oppenheimer and an assistant were attentively observing and studying his father's electrocardiogram with a state-of-the-art examination machine.

Because his numb right leg hadn't moved, he limped out of the ward and came to the corridor. He avoided a young man in a white coat who was cleaning the floor, and walked slowly towards the reception room.At the door he stopped, lit his favorite English briar pipe, and puffed, to collect himself for a moment before entering the mournful surroundings.Pulling himself together, he went into the hall, but he hesitated just as he was about to cross the threshold of the reception room. The whole room is very lively under the illumination of fluorescent lamps.The floor-to-ceiling curtains are bright and simple in tone, with exquisitely woven patterns, which are in harmony with the sofa and rattan chair.Also, there are ashtrays and magazines on the TV, table, and the whole room is elegant and clean.Only his family and his father's friends seemed out of place in the room. Claire was sitting on a wicker chair, leaning forward slightly, flipping through a star magazine.Beside her was Randall's old classmate, the Reverend Tom Carey, his father's successor, who was whispering to his wife.At a table not far from them, Ed Period Johnson and Uncle Herman were absent-mindedly playing poker. Ed Period Johnson, a close friend of the Reverend Nathan Randall, is the founder, editor and publisher of the weekly Oak City Herald. "The way to run a small local paper like this," he once told Randall, "is to try to get everyone in the area to be in the paper at least once or twice a year, so that you don't have to worry about getting caught up with flashy, sycophants. The Chicago Bulletin competition." Johnson's real name was not Ed Period, as Randall had only recently learned.At the beginning, a reporter called him the abbreviation of Editor (Ed.), and then people with good things added Period after the abbreviation.Johnson is a typical Swede, tall, strong, with a pimple face, a straight nose, deeply myopic eyes, and a pair of wide glasses that are always on the bridge of his nose. Sitting across from Johnson playing cards was Uncle Herman, Randall's mother's younger brother.Randall does not have a good impression of Uncle Herman and always treats him with indifference.In Randall's memory, he rarely worked outside. He only worked in a bar in a small town for a short time, and was soon fired by his boss.So, he took refuge in his sister.Uncle Herman had been a regular visitor to Randall's house since he was in middle school. Uncle Herman mows the lawn, waters it, runs errands, watches the football game, the typical household consumer.Randall's father had little objection to this.It is in line with his consistent belief: to wear the same clothes, and to eat the same food.Therefore, he set an excellent example for the laity by his own example. At this moment, Randall began to watch his mother.He had just given her a hasty hug and gone to his father.At this time, she was dozing off alone on the sofa, without her father by her side, she seemed even more lonely.She looked genial, with hardly a wrinkle on her plump face, despite her age.She was wearing a clean and old dress, and a pair of leather shoes that had been worn for many years. Randall has always loved her deeply, and she is his spiritual support when he is desperate.Sarah Randall, the minister's admirable wife, Randall surmised, was high in society.Of course, she is a typical loving mother to her children.After he grew up, he analyzed his mother in detail, and felt a little sorry for her in his heart.All her life, she seems to be for her husband and children, obeying her husband, and never expressing herself.She didn't know his regrets for her, but she was very satisfied with all her son's achievements outside.Her love for her son is eternal and incomparable. He decided to sit down next to her and wait for her to wake up. Just as he walked in, Claire suddenly dropped the magazine in her hand, "Steve, where have you been all this time?" "I'm with Dad." Ed Period Johnson turned his head in his chair. "What did the doctor say?" "He's been busy all the time. We'll ask him as soon as he comes out." Sarah Randall was woken up suddenly, she sat up straight immediately and straightened her clothes at the same time.Randall kissed her on the cheek and hugged her at the same time. "Don't worry, Mom, everything will be fine." "It's only according to God's arrangement." Sarah Randall said, and glanced at Tom Carey who had just hung up the phone. "Is that so, Tom?" "That's right, Mrs. Randall. God will hear our prayers." Steve Randall saw Carey's eyes move to the door, followed his gaze, and immediately stood up. Dr. Maurice Oppenheimer, now in his overcoat, appeared preoccupied at the door.He lit a cigarette and took a sharp puff, looked up, feeling that something was wrong: everyone was looking at him, silent.Only then did he realize that this unusually tense atmosphere was brought about by him. "I'd love to have something new to tell you," he said, not to a specific person in the room, "but I haven't, not yet." He gestured for Randall to sit down, and sat down opposite the sofa himself, continuing to smoke his unfinished cigarette.Claire, Johnson, Uncle Herman, and Reverend Tom Carey all sat around him. "Right now, the diagnosis, we're all concerned," Dr. Oppenheimer said emphatically to Randall and his mother. "Blood clot in an artery of Nathan's brain this morning. The result of a brain injury is a large loss of consciousness and usually at least a hemiplegia." He stopped and took a drag on his cigarette.Steve Randall chimed in: "What's a hemiplegia?" "The half of the body that is paralyzed - usually the face, arms, legs - is the half of the brain that is damaged. As things stand, it's mainly the left side that is paralyzed. Before Nathan fell into a coma, his left side was It has shown signs of paralysis, but the main organs of the body are still working as usual. The condition has not deteriorated so far." He looked around at the anxious faces. "Anyway, that's all." "Dr. Oppenheimer," Randall asked hastily. "You haven't told us the worst outcome of my father. Is there any possibility of him being cured?" The doctor shrugged resignedly. "I can't predict that, Steve, and all I can say is that it remains to be seen. He's in a very serious condition, and we're doing the best we can. One thing is for sure, though, as long as the stroke doesn't cause a heart attack." If there is something wrong, there is great hope that it can be cured.” He turned to Sarah Randall again. "Sarah, your husband is in good health, has a strong will, and has a loyal faith. The combination of these factors will often produce miracles. However, I cannot hide it, and I cannot report good news or bad news. His condition is very dangerous. We We must be aware of this. However, there are also many favorable factors. At present, we can only wait and see passively. There are many people, many famous people who are often cured after serious illness, and have made a lot of contributions for the rest of their lives. For example, Lu Yu Best Professor, at the age of 46, he was paralyzed by a stroke, just like your husband. Later, he was cured and devoted himself to the development of his career, researched and invented the method of vaccinia, and the effective method of treating rabies, and lived At the age of 73." Dr. Oppenheimer extinguished his cigarette and held it up. "So, Sarah, we should have faith in that." "I pray for him," Sarah Randall said firmly, standing up with Claire and Randall helping her. "You're not just praying for him," Dr. Oppenheimer said. "Now, you're going home. You're going to rest. The most important thing is to take care of yourself... Claire, you need to spend some time with your mother, Give her some Valium before she rests... I'm sorry, Steve, that our reunion is on such an occasion. But, like I said, we should be confident about it. I'll keep watching, today If there is any new situation in the evening, I will inform you immediately, so you can rest assured. Otherwise, just like that, we will meet here tomorrow morning." The doctor supported Sarah Randall, comforted her softly and walked out of the lounge. Others followed suit.Uncle Herman walked beside Randall. "What are you going to do, Steve? We can make a bed in your old room." "Thank you, but I don't need it," Randall said quickly. "My secretary has reserved a room at the Oakridge Hotel. I still have a lot of work to do, so I won't disturb your rest." Actually, he wanted to call Darina in New York, and he also Wanted to speak to his attorney, Thad Crawford, about the transfer of the company to Tory and Cosmos Enterprises.But he's been in a sad state all day and is feeling tired now. "Also, I'm going to call Barbara and Judy in San Francisco. They've always had a strong relationship with Dad. I think I should..." "Oh, God, I forgot to tell you," Claire interrupted, coming up to him suddenly. "They've come. Barbara and Judy are in Oak City now." "what?" "I forgot, Steve, forgive me. I was so busy I forgot everything. After I called you, I called them in San Francisco. They were very sad and took the East The airline's morning flight arrived. Uncle Herman told me that they arrived at dinner time, directly from the airport to the hospital. They visited Dad and waited for you for a while, and Judy was a little bit later Scared, when I picked you up to leave the airport, Barbara took her to rest." "Where do they live now?" "Where else can I stay at the Oakridge Hotel? Is there another decent hotel here?" said Uncle Herman. "Let me see, Barbara, let me tell you, if it's not too late, she asked you to meet her after you left the hospital." Randall glanced at his watch. It wasn't midnight, it wasn't too late, and Barbara must still be waiting for him.He knew that they would face each other eventually, and although he didn't want to see his wife at all at the moment, it was unavoidable.Also, his daughter Judy will be there, and he wants to see them tonight. "Okay," he said, "anyone take me to the hotel?" In the hotel, the door to Barbara's room opened and she stood waiting for him. "Hi, Steve," she said. "Hello, Barbara," he said. "What happened to Nathan broke my heart," said his wife, "I love him like my own father, and things like this happen to good people, don't they? Oh, don't keep standing here. Come on in , Steve. I'm glad you're here." She didn't act like he wanted to kiss her, and he wasn't in the mood to kiss her at this moment.He followed her into the living room.The room was clean but lifeless, with a few simple chairs in disarray, two coffee tables, a settee, and an open wine cabinet with two glasses on it and an unopened bottle of scotch next to it .It was obvious that his wife was waiting for him. Barbara stood in the middle of the house, very composed and calm.She looks the same as when she broke up, and even looks prettier and better maintained than before.She has brown hair and a pair of small brown eyes on a fair face. She is still in good shape in her 30s, but her chest is flatter.She was wearing a high-end suit.It seems that she is too San Francisco. "We went to see Nathan as soon as we got to the hospital," she said. "I can understand what you're feeling, Steve. We're all very sad. Judy just left to go to bed. We love him too." Perhaps Randall's ears had deceived him, but he thought he could hear her emphasizing "we" a few times—"we" went to visit, and "we" loved her very much.Now "we" includes Judy's mother and daughter, not the strange husband and father.Barbara knew him well enough to know where his weak spots were.By emphasizing "we" so deliberately, she was attacking him, and she was using a strategy to remind him that their mother and daughter were together, maybe there was nothing in the first place, it was just his imagination. "Too bad," he said, "the whole thing." He studied her. "It's been a long time. It seems that you have a good life." she laughed. "Okay." "How is Judy now? How is she?" "She's asleep now. She's just gone to rest, exhausted from the long flight and the hospital. She's probably asleep now. She'd love to see you, though. Maybe only tomorrow." "I thought I'd go and see her now." "You can do whatever you want. Want a drink?" "I think we'd better have a drink at the first-floor bar. It's not closed yet." "If you don't mind, Steve, I like it here. It's quieter, freer, and we can talk for a while. Just a casual chat, I promise you." She wants to talk, he thought.He remembered the few times they had talked in the past.Who - a German philosopher - said that marriage is one long conversation?He hoped that it would be a long, calm and tender talk, not a chat of ridicule and sneer at each other. "Whatever you want," he said, "I'll have a whiskey on ice." He gently pushed open the bedroom door and walked in.The light in the room was very dark, and the light from the lampshade was dim yellow. It took a while for Randall's eyes to adjust, and he found his daughter lying on the single bed on his right side. He went to the bed and squatted down. Her head was buried in the pillow, half covered by the blanket, and her hair was like a cloud, scattered around the pillow.She fell asleep, very beautiful, at the age of 15, she was a part of his life, an angel, the only pride he didn't regret.He gazed at her affectionately, couldn't get enough of her white face, exquisite nose, small cherry mouth, and couldn't get tired of hearing her even breathing. He couldn't help being impulsive, bent down and kissed her cheek gently.At this time, she opened her eyes slightly. "Hello," she mumbled. "Hi, baby. I miss you every day. Let's have breakfast tomorrow." "Ok……" "Now you go to bed. See you tomorrow. Good night, Judy." He stood up slowly when he saw her fall asleep again.He stared at her for a while before leaving the bedroom.The lights in the living room were brighter than ever, and he was surprised to find that Barbara had turned on all the wall lamps. Barbara was sitting comfortably on the sofa with her elbows on her knees and a goblet of wine in her hand. "There's your drink," she said, gesturing to the mix on the bar. "What are you drinking?" he asked softly. "Is it frozen soda?" "I drink the same as you," she replied. It's not a good omen, he thought, as he walked across from her, took an empty chair and sat down.Barbara had never had a drink with him before, only at parties when she had to have a few.When the husband and wife were alone, she always didn't like to drink with him, and she often reminded him that she didn't like alcohol, and it was alcohol that took him away and made him leave his wife.Now, however, she was drinking whiskey.Is this a sign of health or something ominous?He thought it might be an ominous omen, and secretly raised his vigilance in his heart. "Is Judy asleep?" she asked. He picked up his glass and sat down. "Yes, she woke up and fell asleep for a while, and we will have breakfast tomorrow." "Ok." He took a sip of whiskey. "The school she attended was the private school in the suburbs of Oakland. How about it? She..." "She dropped out of school," Barbara interrupted without waiting for him to finish. "She dropped out of school, she doesn't go there anymore. She's been out of school for a month." He was taken aback. "What? So what is she doing now?" "She's staying home. That's why I'm talking to you tonight. Judy got kicked out of school a month ago." "Fired? What are you talking about?" There is no precedent for this.She was perfect, his Judy, always an A student with both ability and political integrity. "You mean the school expelled her?" "She was expelled from the school, and she was not given a chance." She paused for a moment and said with emphasis. "Because she took drugs." His face turned red when he jumped. "What the hell are you talking about?" "I'm talking about drugs, narcotics. Steve, like you, Judy had a toxic episode at school, and then the principal informed me that she was completely removed." "You mean they didn't give her a second chance? Damn it, the kid must have gotten lost in a moment of confusion, or was tempted by someone else to satisfy his own curiosity." She stopped him. "Steve, she wasn't curious for a while, but it had become a habit, an addiction. And she wasn't influenced or seduced by others, on the contrary, she led others badly." He shook his head vigorously. "I do not believe." "You'd better believe." "Barbara, how could this happen to a kid like Judy. What have you been doing?" "What did you do, Steve?" She wasn't angry, but asked back naturally. "Forgive me. What did I do? Why didn't I find out? It's because you didn't prepare for it, which is unbelievable. So you didn't pay attention, and you didn't notice. At first I noticed some changes in her, I just I think it may be because I just came to the new school and I was too nervous to make friends. When I went to see her at the beginning of the weekend, she was so smart, cute, generous and healthy. But after a while, I noticed that she became short-tempered Cranky, moody, depressed, extremely blue, they all said it. In the end, she got fired. When I was weird, I was called to school. That's the whole situation." "Then why didn't you tell me earlier? Why didn't you call me?" Barbara stared at him with staring eyes. "I wanted to tell you earlier, Steve, but I don't think it's necessary. There's nothing you can do right now, and you don't need to. I don't think it's necessary to entangle our lives any more. There was no benefit to Judy either, so I decided to take care of this on my own, so I did." Randall gripped the goblet tightly, and drank the contents in one gulp. "Is she still taking drugs? Now her face looks good, it doesn't look like she is anesthetized or sick." "She's off it, Steve. She's ok, and we believe she's off the pain. I've tried my best to help Judy through a lot of friends. It's all right now, and the hardships of the past are nothing. I Guess she might smoke a little joint now and then - at certain parties - but it's such a small amount that it won't bother her much." "I see." Randall looked at the empty glass and stood up. "Sit there and don't move, it's okay, I'll pour myself a glass." "I'm sorry, Steve. You've had a rough day enough that I shouldn't bother you with this, but I don't have another chance to talk to you about it." He mixed himself half a whiskey. "Of course, you should tell me." He sat down again. "How did you get Judy off the drug? In a mental institution?" "Actually, it was ... through ... a man. A psychologist in San Francisco, a well-known drug rehabilitation expert. His name is Dr. Ansel Burke, and he has published ..." "I don't want to care what he publishes. Judy goes to him now?" "Yes. And, I mean, he has his own clinic. Judy likes him. He's just middle-aged, with a moustache, and he's a snap. Dr. Burke is confident he can not only cure her disease, and to make her fully recovered." Randall sat there sipping his wine slowly, getting a little tipsy. "Now I think it should be my responsibility. As a father, I am so busy all day long that I don't have time to care about her. I am really sorry for my daughter." "No, Steve, it's not your fault, it's not mine, maybe it's both of us. Our misfortune has affected our daughter, but there's something beyond our control as parents—the climate of society today. , there is no goal and hope in life, and there is a kind of rebellious psychology, escaping from reality, seeking an ideal state, seeking another value concept, and looking for a perfect life. Therefore, they become whimsical and go wrong If you are lucky, someone will help you to get out of the original life track-when you are not in a deep trap. Fortunately, Dr. Burke helped Judy change her original life and bring her back to this human being. Family, reconsider her values." Randall held the empty wine glass against his nose and kept rubbing it, the glass of the glass was cold.Suddenly, through the empty wine glass, he realized that Barbara was no longer opposite him. He lowered the glass and looked at the empty sofa with a blank expression. "Steve," she said. He turned to see her walking back after filling his second glass. "Hey, you can really drink," he said. "Just tonight," she said, sitting down. "Steve, I have something else to discuss with you." "Isn't it finished tonight? You've told me about Judy..." "In a way, it's still about Judy. Let me tell you quickly, Steve, and then I'll be fine." "Okay, go ahead," he put down his glass. "Go on, what else do you want?" Barbara took a sip of her drink, then looked at him intently. "Steve, I'm getting married." He was stunned for a moment, in fact, he felt puzzled. "You'll be arrested if you get married." He grinned. "I mean, honey, if you are a married person, if you find another husband, that is bigamy, and you will have a place in prison." She was expressionless. "Steve, no kidding, this is a serious thing. We used to call and you asked me, and I told you I was watching guys all the time. But actually, in the end, I only had my eye on one guy, He is Ansel Burke." "Anser, you mean...you mean Judy's psychiatrist?" "Yes, he's a very nice man. You're going to like him too, and I, who happen to like him a lot. And, like I told you, Judy likes him a lot too." She looked down Looking at the wine glass, he continued. "Judy needs a home, a warm home, a stable home. She needs a father." Randall put the wine glass on the table with a "bang" and said very clearly: "I have some news for you, sweetheart——Judy has a father." "Of course she has a father, and you are her father. She knows it, and Burke knows it. But, I mean a full-time father, a father who is with her day and night. She needs good care and attention, and she can enjoy the traditional family relationship. happy family life." "Now I get it," Randall said. "You're trying to convince me. Needs care and concern - bullshit! He must have taught you to say that, he's mastered the art, he wants to buy off a family and a daughter. If he wants a daughter, let him have it .He can't take my daughter, don't, fuck, don't take my Judy." "Be reasonable, Steve." "So you're doing this to save Judy? It's a conspiracy, isn't it? For Judy's sake, you're marrying that little boy because Judy needs a father." "That's not the only reason, Steve. I want to marry Burke because I need a husband like him. I love him so much. And I'm getting a divorce so I can marry him." "Divorce?" He felt a little drunk and stood up from his chair angrily. "Forget about it, you won't get him." "Steve—"