1983年。

在洛杉磯東部有一家來自台灣的移民，是老夫妻和兩個成年也成了家的兒子。兩個
兒子用從台灣帶來的積蓄開了一家進出口貿易公司，一家人生活還算不錯。對面住
著一個比這對華人老夫妻還要老的白人老太太，很少見她有什麼親戚朋友來訪，只
是每周末上教堂去。平時雙方見面打個招呼，僅此而已。

這一天，華人家裡來了一個滿頭白髮的老太太，看樣子比那對老夫妻還要長一輩。
她每天早晨起來，先是打太極拳，然後就侍弄門前的花。

這天，這位白人老太太起床，出門看到對面一位和自己年紀相仿的人在侍弄花草，
就打招呼：“Hi！”華人老太太抬起頭，對她微微一笑，說：“早啊！”然後又指
著身邊的兩把椅子說：“過來聊一聊吧？”白人老太太笑道：“You have nice flowers.
I have noticed you work on them every day.”邊說邊向這邊走過來。雙方似乎
都沒有意識到，她們都不會講也聽不懂對方的語言。

“你貴姓啊？”

“Are you from Taiwan? You must be Sharon's mom. I can see she take after
you. My name is Margaret.”說著，她伸出手來。

華人老太太也伸手和她握了一握，“我姓劉，上個禮拜剛剛從中國瀋陽來。有一個
兒子離這裡半個小時，我暫時住在女兒這裡。你有什麼人和你住一起？”

“You are really lucky. You live with your daughter, but I haven't seen
my sons and daughter for 4 years.”

華人老太太看著遠處的棕櫚樹，輕輕嘆一口氣說：“你說我都八十歲了，哪裡想到
還能上美國來，哪裡想到還能找到失散三十多年的兒子和女兒。”

“I had three sons and one daughter, but the oldest of them died in Korea.
The other two sons both live on east coast, one in New York, and the other
in Boston. My daughter married an Austrian. The last time my family got
together was 4 years ago.”

“當年國民黨跑到台灣，我女兒也跟女婿一同去了。大兒子1951年上了朝鮮戰場，
後來呀，就失蹤了。政府告訴我他是烈士，我哪裡相信？走在街上，經常看到有人
像我兒子，就追上去，人家回過頭來，我才發現不是。就這樣，三年之後，我才死
了心。可是，老伴兒想兒子啊，一病不起，在1956年就去了。”

“Charlie, my oldest son, you know, I often dreamed of him in the first
year after my husband and I was told that he had died in Korea. What a good
boy he was, you can't imagine! He would go to UCLA if he hadn't gone to
Korea.”說著白人老太太從身上摸出一個夾子，打開，遞給華人老太太。

裡面有一張發黃的黑白照片。

“這是誰？你兒子？現在在哪裡？你說啊，我兒子失蹤後，直到1981年，一封信從
美國寄到遼西老家，輾轉到我家時，信封已經快辨認不出來了。我讓小兒子給我讀
信，才知道，居然是大兒子從美國來的信，當時覺得像作夢一樣，居然不敢相信是
真的。心裡這個高興啊！”

“My husband passed away in 1960, and I didn't want to get married again.
I really expect my sons and daughter often come to see me with my grandchildren,
but they are all busy.”

“原來，兒子當年在朝鮮被俘，後來去台灣找姐姐，居然找到了。可是不敢跟家裡
聯繫啊，就這樣斷了消息。他後來選擇留在美國，讀書，再後來，姐姐也移民到美
國來。到了後來，中國和美國關係越來越好。他這才敢寫信到家裡。你想，失散的
一兒一女都找到了，我多高興，死了也可以閉眼了。”

“You know, every time I see my sons and daughters, I think of Charlie.
The last time I dreamed of Charlie was 4 years ago, the night after I had
seen my children and grandchildren. I pray to God every time I go to church:
'My lord, let me see my John and Charlie in dream.' John is my husband's
name. Unfortunately, I don't know why, God haven't given me many opportunities.
I guess, you know, God tells me that they both are fine in the heaven.”

“你說，要是不打仗，哪裡有這麼多傷心事。好了，我總算一家團聚了，我的小兒
子下個月也該來了。呵呵。”

“I still don't understand why Charlie was sent to Korea, a country that
is so far away from us. Really wish he were still alive.”白人老太太說完，
從華人老太太手裡接過照片，深情的看著，撫摸著。

“凡事總是要想開，如果我也像他們爸爸那樣，怎麼會有今天一家團聚？”

“I don't expect to see any more war in my lifetime, so that I won't lose
my children and grandchildren. I pray to God every day like that.”說完，
她好像想到什麼：“Oh, I have to go now to prepare my breakfast, talk to
you later.”

說罷她站起來，華人老太太微微笑著說：“要走了？有時間常來坐，和我嘮一嘮。
走好。”

白人老太太把裝着兒子的照片的夾子貼在胸前，向自己的家走去。