英语美文欣赏：没什么，妈妈

As I sat perched in the second-floor window of our brick schoolhouse that afternoon, my heart began to sink further with each passing car. This was a day Id looked forward to for weeks: Miss Paces fourth-grade, end-of-the-year party. Miss Pace had kept a running countdown on the blackboard all that week, and our class of nine-year-olds had bordered on insurrection by the time the much-anticipated party Friday had arrived.

I had happily volunteered my mother when Miss Pace requested cookie volunteers. Moms chocolate chips reigned supreme on our block, and I knew theyd be a hit with my classmates. But two oclock passed, and there was no sign of her. Most of the other mothers had already come and gone, dropping off their offerings of punch, crackers, cupcakes and brownies. My mother was missing in action.

Dont worry, Robbie, shell be along soon, Miss Pace said as I gazed forlornly down at the street. I looked at the wall clock just in time to see its black minute hand shift to half-past.

Around me, the noisy party raged on, but I wouldnt leave my window watch post. Miss Pace did her best to coax me away, but I just stayed there, holding out hope that the familiar family car would round the corner, carrying my rightfully embarrassed mother with a tin of her famous cookies tucked under her arm.

The three oclock bell soon jolted me from my thoughts and I dejectedly grabbed my book bag from my desk and shuffled out the door for home.

On the walk to home, I plotted my revenge. I would slam the front door upon entering, refuse to return her hug when she rushed over to me, and vow never to speak to her again.

The house was empty when I arrived and I looked for a note on the refrigerator that might explain my mothers absence, but found none. My chin quivered with a mixture of heartbreak and rage. For the first time in my life, my mother had let me down.

I was lying face-down on my bed upstairs when I heard her come through the front door.

Robbie, she called out a bit urgently. Where are you?

I could then hear her darting frantically from room to room, wondering where I could be. I remained silent. In a moment, she mounted the steps. When she entered my room and sat beside me on my bed, I didnt move but instead stared blankly into my pillow refusing to acknowledge her presence.

Im so sorry, honey, she said. I just forgot. I got busy and forgotplain and simple.

I still didnt move. Dont forgive her, I told myself. She humiliated you. She forgot you. Make her pay.