第37章昔为人子，今为人父（1）
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&ereveningasIsatreading，myyoungson，Luke，approachedmyshysileoodjustoutsidethehalf-moonoflightmadebyanoldbrassstudentlampIcherish。Itoorfather’sofficedesk。
Inthosedays，Lukelikedtoapproachmewithhismostseriousproblemswheheyearbefore，hedidthiswheneverIwaswinthegarden。Perhaps，hefeltmostateasewithdifficultieswhenIwasdoiiodo。Wheerestedingrowingthioplantseedsaheminthegroundinsteadofdiggiheverymtoseeiftheyhadgroasbeginohimself—althoughhewouldn’tadmittomethathecoulddothat。
Ilookedupfrommypaper，andhegavemehiswide-opengrin。Thenhisexpressiolyserious，anot-timitationofme。“Ibrokemysaw，”hesaid，withdrawioyfrombehindhisback。“Here。”
&askifIcouldfixit。HistrustthatIcouldlimentfromasmallboytothemiraclefixeroftricycles，wagonsahesaw’sblueplastidlehadsher，whotreasuredthetoolsofallprofessions，wouldnothaveapprovedofaplastidledsaw。
Isaid，“Therearepieg。Doyouhavethem？”
Heopenedhischedfisttorevealtheremainis。Ididhesawcouldbeproperlymended。
&tently，hisexpressiabsolutecethatIcoulddoanything。Thatlookstirredmemories。IexamihgreatihebrokenpiemyhandsasIturhepastinmymind。
WhenIwasseven，I’dgoomyfather’sofficeaftersberday。MyfatherwasclearlythebestdoctorwithinathousahesmallOhioRivertoelived。Healwaysastonishedme—andhispatients—bythethingshecoulddo。Heotoeverwasthematterwithahecouldalsobreakahorse，carveatopandslidedownLongHilloandingup！Ilikedtohangaroundhiswaitingroomandhearpeoplecallme“littleDodIlikedtheatientsalwayslookedbetterwhehisoffice。
Butonthisday，whenIwasseven，mypurposewastoseemybestfriend，JimmyHardesty。Hehadn’tbeeninschoolforthreedays，andhismotherhadsentwordtomyfather’sshejustmightbringJimmyiortoday。
&helastoftheafternooshadgone，Jimmyhadstillheraofftomakehousecalls。Helikedtohavemewithhim，becausehelikedtotellstorieswhewasnearlysevenwhenwefinished。Aswestartedhome，myfathersaidsudde’sgoupandy。”Ifeltsquirmywithgratitude，thatmyfatherwasdoingthisjusttopleaseme。Butwheoftheoldgraystoherewasalightiairsbadowahebackportbeasoftrouble。
Myfatherpulledthecarrightintothedooryard。Alice，Jimmy’soldersister，ingoutofthehouseandthrewherarmsaroundmyfather，dshakingandtryingtotalk。“Oh，Doc。Jimmy’sdying！Dad’sgalloverthetylookingforyou。Thankgoodnessyou’rehere。”
Myfatherneverraosaytherewasohurry。Ifyouhadtohurry，itwastoolate。ButhetoldAlicetoletgooffhim，ahen。Ifollowedthemthroughtheyeasty-smellingkitdupthenarrow，darkhallstairs。Jimmywasbreathiandmadeahigh，airysound。Hehadmoundsofquiltspiledoverhim，sothatIcouldbarelyseehisfathefliglightofthekerosenelamps。Helookedallwornoutandhisskinglistened。
Hismothersaid，“Oh，Doc。Helpus。Itwasjustalittlethisafteredthisterribles>
IhadneverseenJimmy’smotherronooodbehihherhandsonmyshoulders，asmyfatherlisteoJimmy’schest。Hefixedahypodermidheldthehelight。Iwasthatitwasthemiracleweallmusthave。MyfathergaveJimmytheshot。HethengotagauzepadfromhisbladputitoverJimmy’smouth。Hebentoverhimaobreathewithhim。Nooroomandtherewasnoothersoueadypushingofmyfather’sbreathandJimmy’shigh，wheezingresponse。
Thensuddenlyaslightheawfulsoundofmyfather’sbreathihismother’shandstightenonmyshouldersandknew，assheksomethinghadsmyfatherkeptintoJimmy’slungs。Afteralongtime，Mrs。Hardestywehebed，putherhandonmyfather’sarmandsaid，veryquietly，“He’sgone，Doeaway。Myboy’snotwithusamyfatherwouldnotmove。
Mrs。Hardestytookmebythehandthedow。ShesatinarodAligasforlornasI’veeverseenanybodylook，threwherselfoher’slap。Iwentoutontothepordsatdowepintheess。Iwantedoseeorhearme。