第20章爱上陌生人（1）
ToLer
桑德·史密斯Sah
Aparentsieey-six-year-oldmotherusedtolongforthedaywhenshecouldjustsitanddonothing。akihe。Naboutwhethertherewaseopaythebills。Nomoreresponsibilities。
&herwish。Everydaysinanursiappingherfingersonherasyhmthatremindsmeofbebop，talkingtoherselfaboutherfather，aseight。
“Mildred。。。Mildred。”Isay。
Shelooksupatme，hereyesbrighten，andhersmilerevealsshoseofafive-year-old。“ehere，babydoll，”shesays。
Irushovertoher，pullcloseadsitdown。
“Hey，Mildred，howareyou？”Idon’tcallherMommyanymore。ShedoesoMommy。
MymhAlzheimer’sin1984，rightafterIgraduatedfromcollege。Whileinschool，Isawsignsthatsomethingwaswrong。Often，whenIwoulde，shewouldbeupsetbecauseshe’dlosthermoney。“Mommyneverloseshermohink。
Ifoughtthedisease。Throughdoctors，diet，andmedidthroughtheadditionofeseherbs，mymother’shealthimproved。Shelostseventy-fivepoundsandregaiytoversewithotherpeople。Yet，despiteprofoundphysient，theAlzheimer’suedtounravelhermihesixyears。
Ilivedwithmymotherfrom1984to1990，astheillnessslowlytookitstoll。Itallingtowatchhergerightinfrontofme。Shedidn’tjustfs。Shebecameadifferentperson—onewhomIdidnnize。Whenmyboyfriendwouldwatchtelevision，she’dwalkincirdhischair，mutteringuhandsg。Shekeptahammerhiddeninherroomaheslightestprovo。Ifshegotoutofthehouse，she’drefusetoebastead，shewouldru，gforthepolicetohelpher。She’detobelievethatsheoliceoffivitouchedoffbyaletteriakethecivilservicetest。Onlyanotherpoliceofficervioeintothehouse。
Thisisnotmymother，Iwouldtellmyself。Mymotherhadihispersonovertoherwindow。Mymotherhiswomaearsattheslightestthing。Mymotheraloliteandgood-hiswomanwasquick-temperedandslightlyparanoid。Shemovedmagazines，silverware，dishes，andgaroundthehouse。Wheheobjects，she’dbeeangryamefshehaddohingwrooldmethatotherpeople，notshe，hadmovedthesethings。
“ehere，”she’dsayforcefully，grabbingmyhandandpullioherroom。“Listen。Doyouhearthem？Theytookit。”
Tolearhedisease，mysisterandIattendedgroupsforfamiliesofAlzheimer’spatietoblamemymsshesaidordid。TheAlzheimer’swastalking，nother。
Asthediseaseprogressed，mymhtened。She’dsay，“eningtome？Why’tIremember？”
BeforeAlzheimer’s，mymotheredfearorsadome。Now，shebegelyfreewithheremwhenfrightened，expressingangerwhenfurious，andlaughied。AsIreleasedmyperymotherosedtobe，webothbecamecalmer。
&hingIcouldtostayectedtoherasshelosttheabilitytoehehallmarksofliherhadalwaysloveddanIwork，I’dturnonTinaTurnerorJaJadwewoulddance。I’dplayherfavsonthepiano，andshe’dpladontopofthehtaeandeverywordperfectly。