第15章一路爱相送（15）
Thecallhadethenightbefore。Myfatherhadfallenandbrokenhiship;aoreplacethehipjointwasscheduledforthem。Afriendwasstayingwithmymht。"I'lleassoonasItheearlympla;Ipromised。
Mymotherandfather，marriedforfifty-eightyears，hadneverhadaseriehoughmymotherhadbeeinglyfusediseveralmonths。"Andisyourmotherstillalive?"shehadaskedmeonmylastvisit，withasoterestintheyoungwomanshehadneverseenbefore。Now，withthedailyroutiedandthenearlytpanionshipofmyfatherremoved，herdisorientationwasmoresevere。
"ButI'mworriedaboutMartha。"mymaiurdownforlungoingouttolookforher。"
"ButI'mMartha。&quain。"LittleMarthagrewupaome。"
"That'sridiculous。"mymothersaid。Shetuggedopedoor，wentouttothestreet，andstoodtensely。Lookingupanddowlegirlshewassureshehadseenjustthatm。。Thentothebackofthehouseandthroughthebacklottotheotherstreet。"I'mgoingtoaskthosepeopleoverthereifthey'vesee;Mymother，beinginglyfrantic，luraffidcrossthebusystreet。
"Let'sgohomeandcallthechurchoffice。"Ipleaded。"Maybesomeoherehelp。"
Onthewaybacktothehouse，mymothersaid，"It'sogoawaylikethatwithouttellingme。Ifoa;
Anote!Seeingawaytorelievemymother'sagitation，Iscribbledanoteassoohehouse，awhereitcouldbedisi;Mama，"itsaid，"IhavegoaywithMaryAnnforafeleasedon'tworry。I'mokay。Martha。"
"Look，"Isaid，"here'sadoesitsay?"Mymotherreaditaloudslowlyaelybeganto。
"Tha;shesaid。"She'sallright。She'swithMaryAnn。"Withthetedowntofinishlundspeernoonathome。
Thatevenial，mymothertoldmyfatherthatMarthahadgoaywithMaryAnnforafewdaysbutthatshewasstillworriedabouther。Myfathersaid，"Don'tgolookingforaha。Wealreadyhaveohat'senough。"
&day，Martha'sabseillverymuother'smind。"Whatshebedoing?"shewo;She'snevergoneofflikethatwithitwithmeaheadoftime。Besides，IwaothehospitaltoseeDaddy。"
Iassuredmymotherthatherdaughterwouldesoon。"Besides，"Isaid，"Marthaisacleverlittlegirl。Shetakecareofherself。"
"SheneedsadressforSunday，"mymothersaid。
"It'sonlyThursday，"Ireplied。"Plentyoftime。"