August 30, 2020 - voice of a Grand daughter
Covid-19 short story
Written in both English and Chinese
Voice of a Grand daughter
The phone was ringing. It must be one of those marketing calls. This time, I would not answer the phone. Recently, there have been at least two such calls in the morning, two in the afternoon, and even two more before 9 pm. It was annoying.
A minute later, the phone rang again. This time I picked up the phone, raised my voice and said loudly, "Hello". The other party immediately dropped the call.
After another minute, the phone rang again. This time I picked up the phone and did not speak. A girl's voice said, "Where are Grandma and Grandpa?"
"Oh, my baby ...this is grandma...I love you..." I replied.
"Grandma , I miss you." My 3-year-old granddaughter Lydia said.
"I miss you too." Lydia replied. " When are you coming? "
"As long as it is safe to travel, I will see you guys as soon as possible." My eyes were wet.
"Grandma , I'm very safe at home. My brother is busy with his iPad. He doesn't fight with me or beat me anymore." Lydia answered happily.
My face immediately turned into a smiling face, and I said, "That's great."
"Grandma , you must come. I miss your toys, new clothes and... well..." There was a silence .
"What else, Lydia?" I want to know her
answer. Silence continued.
I asked again, "What else?"
There was a pause for a few seconds. Then she said: "Your hug and kisses...”
"Really?" I am glad to hear this answer. "Good girl, I will send you some hugs and kisses and toys."
"I want new clothes too, Grandma. But brother has an iPad. So he doesn’t need anything."
I replied happily, "Ok... Ok..."
"Really? I'm going to tell Mommy now. Mommy... Mommy..." She hung up the phone.
孫女兒的心聲
電話響了。 它一定是那些營銷電話之一。 我今次不再接電話。 最近,這類的來電,早上至少有兩個,下午兩個,甚至晚上9點之前也有兩個。 真煩死人。
一分鐘後,電話又響了。 這次我拿起電話,抬起聲音大聲說,”你好”。 對方立即打斷了電話。
再過一分鐘,電話又響了。 這次我拿起電話不說話。 一個女孩子的聲音說:“嫲嫲和爺爺在那兒?”
“哦,親愛的……這是嫲嫲……我愛你……”我回答。
“嫲嫲,我掛住你。” 我的3歲孫女兒莉迪亞說。
“我也想念你。” 莉迪亞回答。 “ 你什麼時候來? “
“只要旅行是安全的,我就會盡快見到你。” 我的眼睛濕了。
“嫲嫲我在家很安全。 哥哥忙於他的iPad。 他不再和我打架或者打我。” 莉迪亞自豪地回答。
我的臉立刻變成笑臉,我說,”那真好。”
“嫲嫲你必須來。 我很想念你每次帶來的玩具,新衣服和……嗯……”寂靜無聲。
“還有什麼,莉迪亞?” 我想知道她的
答案。
我再追問,” 還有什麼? “
停頓了幾秒鐘。 然後她說:“你的擁抱和親吻……”
“真的嗎?” 我很高興聽到這個答案。 “乖孫,嫲嫲會寄給你,一些擁抱和親吻,還有玩具。”
“ 我還要新衣服,哥哥有iPad, 什麼都不要。”
我好開心地回答,”好... 好...”
“真的嗎? 我現在去告訴媽咪。 媽咪……媽咪...” 她掛了電話。