芒果街上的小屋作者：「美」桑德拉·希斯内罗丝(32)

…Mama begins, and then I stop listening.
People who live on hills sleep so close to the stars they forget those of us who live too much on earth. They don"t look down at all except to be content to live on hills. They have nothing to do with last week"s garbage or fear of rats. Night comes. Nothing wakes them but the wind.
One day I"ll own my own house, but I won"t forget who I am or where I came from. Passing bums will ask, Can I come in? I"ll offer them the attic, ask them to stay, because I know how it is to be without a house.
Some days after dinner, guests and I will sit in front of a fire. Floorboards will squeak upstairs. The attic grumble.
Rats? they"ll ask.
Bums, I"ll say, and I"ll be happy.
芒果有时说再见
我喜欢讲故事。我在心里讲述。在邮递员说过这是你的邮件之后。这是你的邮件。他说。然后我开始讲述。
我编了一个故事，为我的生活，为我棕色鞋子走过的每一步。我说，“她步履沉重地登上木楼梯，她悲哀的棕色鞋子带着她走进了她从来不喜欢的房子。”
我喜欢讲故事。我将向你们讲述一个不想归属的女孩的故事。
我们先前不住芒果街。先前我们住鲁米斯的三楼，再先前我们住吉勒。吉勒前面是波琳娜。可我记得最清楚的是芒果街，悲哀的红色小屋。我住在那里却不属于那里的房子。
我把它写在纸上，然后心里的幽灵就不那么疼了。我把它写下来，芒果有时说再见。她不再用双臂抱住我。她放开了我。