此文档仅供收集于网络，如有侵权请联系网站删除EverydayUseforyourgrandmamaAliceWalkerIwillwaitforherintheyardthatMaggieandImadesocleanandwavyyesterdayafternoon.Ayardlikethisismorecomfortablethanmostpeopleknow.Itisnotjustayard.Itislikeanextendedlivingroom.Whenthehardclayissweptcleanasafloorandthefinesandaroundtheedgeslinedwithtiny,irregulargrooves,anyonecancomeandsitandlookupintotheelmtreeandwaitforthebreezesthatnevercomeinsidethehouse.Maggiewillbenervousuntilafterhersistergoes:shewillstandhopelesslyincorners,homelyandashamedoftheburnscarsdownherarmsandlegs,eyinghersisterwithamixtureofenvyandawe.Shethinkshersisterhasheldlifealwaysinthepalmofonehand,thatnoisawordtheworldneverlearnedtosaytoher.YouvenodoubtseenthoseTVshowswherethechildwhohasmadeitisconfronted,asasurprise,byherownmotherandfather,totteringinweaklyfrombackstage.(APleasantsurprise,ofcourse:Whatwouldtheydoifparentandchildcameontheshowonlytocurseoutandinsulteachother?)OnTVmotherandchildembraceandsmileintoeachothersface.Sometimesthemotherandfatherweep,thechildwrapstheminherarmsandleansacrossthetabletotellhowshewouldnothavemadeitwithouttheirhelp.Ihaveseentheseprograms.SometimesIdreamadreaminwhichDeeandIaresuddenlybroughttogetheronaTVprogramofthissort.Outofacarkandsoft-seatedlimousineIamusheredintoabrightroomfilledwithmanypeople.ThereImeetasmiling,gray,sportymanlikeJohnnyCarsonwhoshakesmyhandandtellsmewhatafinegirlIhave.ThenweareonthestageandDeeisembracingmewithtearsinhereyes.Shepinsonmydressalargeorchid,eventhoughshehastoldmeoncethatshethinksorchidesaretackyflowers.InreallifeIamalarge,big-bonedwomanwithrough,man-workinghands.InthewinterIwearflannelnightgownstobedandoverallsduringtheday.Icankillandcleanahogasmercilesslyasaman.Myfatkeepsmehotinzeroweather.Icanworkoutsideallday,breakingicetogetwaterforwashing;Icaneatporklivercookedovertheopentireminutesafteritcomessteamingfromthehog.OnewinterIknockedabullcalfstraightinthebrainbetweentheeyeswithasledgehammerandhadthemeathunguptochillbe-forenightfall.Butofcourseallthisdoesnotshowontelevision.Iamthewaymydaughterwouldwantmetobe:ahundredpoundslighter,myskinlikeanuncookedbarleypan-cake.Myhairglistensinthehotbrightlights.JohnnyCarsonhasmuchtodotokeepupwithmyquickandwittytongue.Butthatisamistake.IknowevenbeforeIwakeup.WhoeverknewaJohnsonwithaquicktongue?Whocanevenimaginemelookingastrangewhitemanintheeye?ItseemstomeIhavetalkedtothemalwayswithonetootraisedinflight,withmyheadturnedinwhicheverwayisfarthestfromthem.Dee,though.Shewouldalwayslookanyoneintheeye.Hesitationwasnopartofhernature.HowdoIlook,Mama?Maggiesays,showingjustenoughofherthinbodyenvelopedinpinkskirtandredblouseformetoknowshesthere,almosthiddenbythedoor.Comeoutintotheyard,Isay.Haveyoueverseenalameanimal,perhapsadogrunoverbysomecarelesspersonrichenoughtoownacar,sidleuptosomeonewhoisignorantenoughtobekindofhim?ThatisthewaymyMaggiewalks.Shehasbeenlikethis,chinonchest,eyesonground,feetinshuffle,eversincethefirethatburnedtheotherhousetotheground.DeeislighterthanMaggie,withnicerhairandafullerfigure.Shesawomannow,thoughsometimesIforget.Howlongagowasitthattheotherhouseburned?Ten,twelveyears?SometimesIcanstillheartheflamesandfeelMaggiesarmsstickingtome,herhairsmokingandherdressfallingoffherinlittleblackpaperyflakes.Hereyesseemedstretchedopen,blazedopenbytheflamesreflect-edinthem.AndDee.Iseeherstandingoffunderthesweetgumtreesheusedtodiggumoutof;alookatconcentrationonherfaceasshewatchedthelastdingygrayboardofthehousetallintowardthered-hotbrickchimney.Whydontyoudoadancearoundtheashes?Idwantedtoaskher.Shehadhatedthehousethatmuch.IusedtothinkshehatedMaggie,too.Butthatwasbeforeweraisedthemoney,thechurchandme,tosendhertoAugustatoschool.Sheusedtoreadtouswithoutpity,forcingwords,lies,otherfolkshabits,wholelivesuponustwo,sittingtrappedandignorantunderneathhervoice.Shewashedusinariverofmake-believe,burneduswithalotofknowledgewedidntnecessarilyneedtoknow.Pressedustoherwiththeseriouswaysheread,toshoveusawayatjustthemoment,likedimwits,weseemedabouttounderstand.Deewantednicethings.Ayelloworgandydresstoweartohergraduationfromhighschool;blackpumpstomatchagreensuitshedmadefromanoldsuitsomebodygaveme.Shewasdeterminedtostaredownanydisasterinherefforts.Hereyelidswouldnotflickerforminutesatatime.OftenIfoughtoffthetemptationtoshakeher.Atsixteenshehadastyleofherownandknewwhatstylewas.Ineverhadaneducationmyself.Aftersecondgradetheschoolwascloseddown.Dontaskmewhy.in1927coloredaskedfewerquestionsthantheydonow.SometimesMaggiereadstome.Shestumblesalonggood-naturedlybutcantseewell.Sheknowssheisnotbright.Likegoodlooksandmoney,quicknesspassedherby.ShewillmarryJohnThomas(whohasmossyteethinanearnestface)andthenIllbefreetosithereandIguessjustsingchurchsongstomyself.AlthoughIneverwasagoodsinger.Nevercouldcarryatune.Iwasalwaysbetteratamansjob.1usedtolovetomilktillIwashookedinthesidein49.Cowsaresoothingandslowanddontbotheryou,unlessyoutrytomilkthemthewrongway.Ihavedeliberatelyturnedmybackonthehouse.Itisthreerooms,justliketheonethatburned,excepttheroofistin:theydon