MYTEACHER

　　Myformerteacher,whohadtaughtmeEnglishforsixyears,isawomaninhersixties.Idescribeherasa"woman"atheragebecauseinmymind'seye,sheneverlosesherattractioninfashions,lightcosmetics,andparticularly,herskillsscarveswhetheritisinsummerorwinter.IstillrememberthefirstdaywhenImetherinjuniorhighschool,sheshowedmearoundthenewcampusandmynervousnessmeltedgraduallyinherunassumingmanner,somethingresemblingmygrandma's,andsomethingmorebeyondtheaverageolderperson's.

　　ShewasborninHongKongandafterherWesternizededucation,shebecameajournalist.Owingtothisspecialprofession,shecouldcometoChinafreely,thereinBeijing,shemetayoungengineerwholateronwonherheartandmarriedher.Thenshestayed,servingasafacultymemberinBeijingForeignlanguageInstitution.Maybeshewasdestinedtoenjoymotranquility,foreverythingchangedalmostinaday'stime.Becauseoftheunprecedentedculturerevolution,sheandherhusband,theytwointellectualsweresenttoasmalltown-thoughitbecomesmyhometown-anditwastheywho,dedicatedthemselvestotheso-calledcityconstruction.Shesweptthestreets,plantstrees,anddidallkindsoflaborbutreturntoschool.Astothatperiodoftime,shejustsighedasimplereply"thepasthaspassed,Ihavenot,andwillstillnotregretmydecisiontostay."Butmoreandless,herwrinkledseriousfacerevealedheruntoldstoriesandendurance.Teacherthatsheis,she'swell-knownfordrawingcartoonpictures.Dulltextswerechangedintoimpressivecluesandknowledgethatmostinterestedus.Oftenitwasuptoustostandontherostrum,expressingwhateverwehadtosayinEnglish.Shewouldratherbeanaudiencesittingamongus,andofcourse,asterncriticaswell.

　　Shesetupherownimagetoteachusknowledge,andalso,asenseofresponsibility.Duringonewintervacation,shevolunteeredtoassistusinpreparingtheprovincialEnglishcontest.IclearlyrememberadayjustbeforetheNewYear'sEve,whensheappearedalittlebitlatelikeasnowmanintheclassroom,thewholenoisyclassfellintosilence.Itwassnowinghardoutside,yettheinsidewarmthencouragedustoworkevenharder.

　　Everyeargroupsofstudentssaidgood-byetoherontheirwaytocollege.LuckilyIwasoneofherlaststudentsasnowshehasgotretired.Itseemedtobearrangedthatwewenttoseeherduringeveryvacation.HowIwishtolistentoheragain,sharingherfreshideasaboutthenationalaffairs,aboutthecampus,abouteachofherChristmasDaysinHongKong.She'sstillyoungandtalkative,asINthedaysinherteachingcareer.

　　BadnewscamethatherhusbanddiedofcancerthissummerbeforeIwentback.Howcouldsheenduresuchmisfortune?Howcouldshekillherloneliness?IwonderedontheupstairstovisitherwhenIheardthatpieceoffamiliarpianomusic.Thetonesoundedsoelegantthatitremindedmeoftheplayeratonce-itmustbemydearteacher!

　　Nowshe'slivingaloneashertwodaughtersliveabroad."Youseethewallsoforiginalnovels?IboughtthematyouragebutnotuntilnowcouldIhaveenoughtimetored.Andmyfavoritepiano,thebirthdaypresentsentbymyhusband,willkeepmecompany."Withthesewordsaboutherleisure,shesatdownbythepianoagain.

　　Iwasdeeplyengrossedinherplaying,throughwhichIknewherfurther,adevotedteacherWHOseeksneitherfamenorgain,andasplendidcharacterwhohasunder