饮星河

倚天照海花无数

首页 >> 饮星河 >> 饮星河最新章节(目录)
大家在看寒门栋梁第一剑皇桃运天王风都幻想九龙神帝叶辰女富婆的第一神医免费阅读小说铸无上运朝,我为人族挽天倾我居然认得上古神文雷霆圣帝
饮星河 倚天照海花无数 - 饮星河全文阅读 - 饮星河txt下载 - 饮星河最新章节 - 好看的玄幻魔法小说

第438章 人生半日间

上一章目录下一章阅读记录

half a day

人生半日间

Naguib mahfouz

I proceeded alongside my father, clutching his right hand, running to keep up with the long strides he was taking. All my clothes were new: the black shoes, the green school uniform, and the red tarboosh. my delight in my new clothes, however, was not altogether unmarred, for this was no feast day but the day on which I was to be cast into school for the first time.

my mother stood at the window watching our progress, and I would turn toward her from time to time, as though appealing for help. we walked along a street lined with gardens; on both sides were extensive fields planted with crops, prickly pears, henna trees, and a few date palms.

“why school?“ I challenged my father openly.“I shall never do anything to annoy you.“

“I'm not punishing you,“ he said, laughing.“School's not a punishment. It's the factory that makes useful men out of boys. don't you want to be like your father and brothers?“

I was not convinced. I did not believe there was really any good to be had in tearing me away from the intimacy of my home and throwing me into this building that stood at the end of the road like some huge, high-walled fortress, exceedingly stem and grim.

when we arrived at the gate we could see the courtyard, vast and crammed full of boys and girls.“Go in by yourself,“ said my father,“and join them. put a smile on your face and be a good example to others.“

I hesitated and clung to his hand, but he gently pushed me from him.“be a man,“ he said.“today you truly begin life. You will find me waiting for you when it's time to leave.“

I took a few steps, then stopped and looked but saw nothing. then the faces of boys and girls came into view. I did not know a single one of them, and none of them knew me. I felt I was a stranger who had lost his way. but glances of curiosity were directed toward me, and one boy approached and asked,“who brought you?“

“my father,“ I whispered.

“my father's dead,“ he said quite simply.

I did not know what to say. the gate was closed, letting out a pitiable screech. Some of the children burst into tears. the bell rang. A lady came along, followed by a group of men. the men began sorting us into ranks. we were formed into an intricate pattern in the great courtyard surrounded on three sides by high buildings of several floors; from each floor we were overlooked by a long balcony roofed in wood.

“this is your new home,“ said the woman.“here too there are mothers and fathers. here there is everything that is enjoyable and beneficial to knowledge and religion. dry your tears and face life joyfully.“

we submitted to the facts, and this submission brought a sort of contentment Living beings were drawn to other living beings, and from the first moments my heart made friends with such boys as were to be my friends and fell in love with such girls, as I was to be in love with, so that it seemed my

misgivings had had no basis. I had never imagined school would have this rich variety. we played all sorts of different games: swings, the vaulting horse, ball games. In the music room we chanted our first songs. we also had our first introduction to language. we saw a globe of the Earth, which revolved and showed the various continents and countries. we started learning the numbers. the story of the creator of the universe was read to us, we were told of his present world and of his hereafter, and we heard examples of what he said. we ate delicious food, took a little nap, and woke up to go on with friendship and love, play and learning.

As our path revealed itself to us, however, we did not find it as totally sweet and unclouded as we had presumed. dust-laden winds and unexpected accidents came about suddenly, so we had to be watchful, at the ready, and very patient. It was not all a matter of playing and fooling around. Rivalries could bring about pain and hatred or give rise to fighting. And while the lady would sometimes smile, she would often scowl and scold. Even more frequently she would resort to physical punishment.

In addition, the time for changing one's mind was over and gone and there was no question of ever returning to the paradise of home. Nothing lay ahead of us but exertion, struggle, and perseverance. those who were able took advantage of the opportunities for success and happiness that presented themselves amid the worries.

the bell rang announcing the passing of the day and the end of work. the throngs of children rushed toward the gate, which was opened again. I bade farewell to friends and sweethearts and passed through the gate. I peered around but found no trace of my father, who had promised to be there. I stepped aside to wait. when I had waited for a long time without avail, I decided to return home on my own. After I had taken a few steps, a middle-aged man passed by, and I realized at once that I knew him. he came toward me, smiling, and shook me by the hand, saying,“It's a long time since we last met— how are you?“

with a nod of my head, I agreed with him and in turn asked,“And you, how are you?““As you can see, not all that good, the Almighty be praised!“

Again he shook me by the hand and went off. I proceeded a few steps, then came to a startled halt. Good Lord! where was the street lined with gardens? where had it disappeared to? when did all these vehicles invade it? And when did all these hordes of humanity e to rest upon its surface? how did these hills of refuse e to cover its sides? And where were the fields that bordered it? high buildings had taken over, the street surged with children, and disturbing noises shook the air. At various points stood conjurers showing off their tricks and making snakes appear from baskets. then there was a band announcing the opening of a circus, with clowns and weight lifters walking in front. A line of trucks carrying central security troops crawled majestically by. the siren of a fire engine shrieked, and it was not clear how the vehicle would cleave its way to reach the blazing fire. A battle raged between a 'taxi driver and his passenger, while the passenger's wife called out for help and no one answered. Good God! I was in a daze. my head spun. I almost went crazy. how could all this have happened in half a day, between early morning and sunset? I would find the answer at home with my father. but where was my home? I could see only tall buildings and hordes of people. I hastened on to the crossroads between the burdens and Abu Khoda. I had to cross Abu Khoda to reach my house, but the stream of cars would not let up. the fire engine's siren was shrieking at full pitch as it moved at a snail’s pace, and I said to myself,“Let the fire take its pleasure in what it consumes.” Extremely irritated, I wondered when I would be able to cross. I stood there a long time, until the young lad employed at the ironing shop on the corner came up to me. he stretched out his arm and said gallantly,“Grandpa, let me take you across.“

喜欢饮星河请大家收藏:(m.315zwwxs.com)饮星河315中文网更新速度全网最快。

上一章目录下一章存书签
站内强推叶君临李子染全文免费阅读王妃又怀双胎,八代单传皇家炸窝全能医仙木叶:准备叛逃,系统来了神奇宝贝:创世之梦大佬从养猪开始地狱归来之最强战神千秋不死人法海穿越唐三藏九星神龙诀田园药香之农家医女模拟:诸天万界,江大善人的崛起1994小渔村,从当爷爷开始铁甲轰鸣内重生之极品红包系统杀出丛林不明不清半神之殇穿书后!搬空家当下乡当知青离谱!都无敌了,女帝让我吃软饭
经典收藏绝地奇缘记攻略五位大佬,黑莲花宿主又飒又撩我在异界当神棍重生国民天后:宫少,放肆宠!龙族特种兵我,天降神子,遭八方女帝哄抢惊悚校园他的小乖乖又在抄三从四德三教图之藏腾小路de日志集青荒魔王扶摇仙道高中日常进行时开局让系统滚,系统黑化为破解版白珂的奥德赛穿越后,美女师傅让我女装当圣女圣元道法玄幻:开局入瑶池仙宫一世不够再来三生可好关于我重生成为大熊猫这一件事
最近更新剑问天涯长生!开局嫂嫂逼我修仙!游戏世界的规则青龙奇谭修仙:我能无限升级功法叶尘仙途之涅盘重生成为野兽后,我能得到无数词条父皇望子成龙?我直接养蛇化龙!问道红尘何日晴天始界神行龙类世界3:龙之卡我靠红包系统来修仙一入全息成病娇转生地龙:地龙怎么是蚯蚓啊青神话止一天地男儿应向重危行修仙大陆穿越书玄幻:敢退婚?我反手娶你家老祖!
饮星河 倚天照海花无数 - 饮星河txt下载 - 饮星河最新章节 - 饮星河全文阅读 - 好看的玄幻魔法小说