第35章追梦少年ABoywithaMission（2）
Thatdayhefoundtwosacks，whichhetooktwoodenfadsoldtothemaninchargeofpaails。
Theboy’shandtightlyclutchedthefive-tpiecesasherawokilometershome。
Nearhishousestoodtheahathousedthefamily’sgoatsands。Reubenfoundarustysodatinanddroppedhisside。Thenhetotheloftofthebarnaihapileofsweetsmellinghay。
Itwasdiimewhehome。Hisfathersatatthebigkittable，wonafishi。Dorawasatthekitstove，readytoservediookhisplaceatthetable。
Helookedathismotherandsmiled。Sunlightfromthewindowgildedhershthblondehair。Slimaiful，shewasthee，thegluethatheldittogether。
Herchoreswerenever-ehesforherfamilyontheoldsireadlemaealsandbakiingandteablegarden，milkisandsgsoiledawashboard。Butshey。Herfamilyandtheirwell-beipriority。
Everydayafterdschool，Reubeowhehessiannailbags。Ohetwo-roomschoolmer，wasmhtedthanReuben。Nowhewouldhavemoretimeforhismission。
Allsummerloechoresathomeweedingahegarden，gwoodagwater—Reubeohissecrettask。
&oosoonthegardenwasharvested，thevegetablesdstored，andtheschoolreopeheleavesfellandthewindsblewdgustyfromthebay。Reubereets，diligentlyseargforhishessiantreasures。
Oftenhewascold，tiredandhungry，butthethoughtoftheobjetheshopwindowsustainedhim。Sometimeshismotherwouldask：“Reuben，ewerewaitingforyoutohavedinner。”
“Playing，Mum。Sorry。”
Dorawouldlookathisfadshakeherhead。Boys。
FinallyspringburstintreenandReuben’sspiritserupted。Thetimehade！Heranintothebarhehayloftaihesoutaot。
Theedagaismore。Couldtherebeanysacksleftaowofindfourahembeforethedayended。
Reubenrandow。
TheshadtheningwhenReubehefactory。Thesackbuyerwasabouttolockup。
“Mister！Pleasedo。”
&urnedayaained。
&omorrow，boy。”
&er。Ihavetosellthesaow—please。”ThemaremorinReuben’svoidcouldtellhewasclosetotears。
“Whydoyouhismoneysobadly？”
“It’sasecret。”
&ookthesacks，reatohispodputfourReuben’shand。Reubehankyouandranhome。
>hetin，heheadedfortheshop。
“Ihavethemoney，”hesolemnlytoldtheowner。
&tothewindowarievedReuben’streasure。Hewipedthedustoffalyeditinbroer。TheheparReuben’shands。
Rae，Reubenburstthroughthefrontdoor。Hismotherwassgthekitstove。“Here，Mum！Here！”Reubenexclaimedasherantoherside。Heplacedasmallboxinherwhenedhand。
Sheucarefully，tosavethepaper。Ablue-velvetjeeared。Doraliftedthelid，tearsbeginningtoblurhervision。
Ieringonasmall，almond-shapedbroochwasthewordMother。
ItwasMother’sDay，1946。
Dorahadneverreceivedsuchagift;shehadherweddingring。Speechless，shesmiledradiantlyandgatheredhersonintoherarms。