The Hands 大手貼小手

What I never understood in elementary school was why my dad would always tell me to go on the bus last. At first I believed he merely wanted me to be respectful to others by letting them go on first. Now I realize he just wanted to spend as much time as possible with me. As others were boarding the bus， my father whispered， “Behave， son. I love you.” I responded， “Dad， I love you too.” I would then give my father a big hug. At that moment， my turn came and I walked up the stairs. I quickly hurried into my usual seat （second seat on the right side） and strapped on my seat belt. I looked at the window and， as sure a day， my fathers hand was already there. I followed our time—practiced ritual， and I put my hand in front of his.

Even though there was a glass window between us， it was almost as if we were actually touching each other， my small hand in his bigger one. For a moment we were connected as one， and it seemed that all outside noises were filtered out and the whole world was resolving around the two of us. My mind was calm and full of love， and it seemed to me that we were out of sync with the surroundings. Everybody was moving around with the busy morning， but we were there as calm as ever. As the bus roared to life， I watched my dad wave goodbye to me. I leaned back in my seat and felt the warmth of my fathers hand soak into me.

讀小學的時候，父親總是讓我最后一個上校車，對此我一直很困惑。起初，我以為他是為了教我學會禮讓，尊重他人。現在我才明白，父親是想盡可能和我多待一會兒。其他同學上車的時候，父親就會湊近我的耳朵低聲說：“好好表現，兒子，我愛你。”我馬上回應道：“爸爸，我也愛你。”然后總是給父親一個大大的擁抱。往往是話一說完就輪到我上車了，我一腳邁上校車臺階，快步坐到我通常的座位上（右邊第二個座位），系好安全帶，然后習慣性地把目光投向窗外。果不其然，父親已經把手貼到了窗戶上，我也按照老規矩，十分默契地把小手舉起來，和父親的手合在一起。

盡管我們之間隔著一扇玻璃窗，卻依然好像能夠觸摸到彼此，我的小手好像被父親握在他的手心里。瞬間，我們感情交融，心靈相通，外界的喧鬧聲好像被過濾了一般全然感受不到，整個世界好像只是為了我們倆而存在。此刻的我內心充滿寧靜，周身洋溢著父愛的溫暖。我們眼里除了彼此，周圍的一切仿佛不存在。在如此忙碌的早晨，身邊的人個個都是行色匆匆，唯有我們倆一如既往淡定如常。校車呼嘯著啟動了，父親向我揮手再見，然后消失在我的視線外。我回身倚靠在座位上，回味著父親的愛撫，倍感溫暖。

Vocabulary

merely adv. 僅僅；只不過

respectful adj. 表示敬意的；尊敬的

board v. 上船（或火車、飛機、公共汽車等）

strap v. 用帶子系（或綁、捆、扎）

surroundings n. 環境