博炮作文网>那一场呼啸而过的青春杨毅余梦露 > 朋友永远在一起 a friend n the le（第1页）
朋友永远在一起 a friend n the le（第1页）
金尼斯迈克尔·比奇
JenningsMichaelBirch
Lifewithoutafriendisdeathwithoutawitness。
—Sanishroverb
EvenbeforeIfinisheddialing，IsomehowknewIdmadeamistake。Thehonerangonce，twice—thensomeoneickeditu。
“Yougotthewrongnumber!”ahuskymalevoicesnaedbeforethelinewentdead。Mystified，Idialedagain。
“Isaidyougotthewrongnumber!”camethevoice。Oncemorethehoneclickedinmyear。
HowcouldheossiblyknowIhadawrongnumber?Atthattime，IworkedfortheNewYorkCityPoliceDeartment。Acoistrainedtobecurious—andconcerned。SoIdialedathirdtime。
“Hey，demon，”themansaid。“Isthisyouagain?”
“Yeah，itsme，”Ianswered。“IwaswonderinghowyouknewIhadthewrongnumberbeforeIevensaidanything?”
“Youfigureitout!”Thehonedslammeddown。
Isatthereawhile，thereceiverhanginglooselyinmyfingers。Icalledthemanback。
“Didyoufigureitoutyet?”heasked。
“TheonlythingIcanthinkofis。。。nobodyevercallsyou。”
“Yougotit!”Thehonewentdeadforthefourthtime。Chuckling，Idialedthemanback。
“Whatdoyouwantnow?”heasked。
“IthoughtIdcall。。。justtosayhello。”
“Hello?Why?”
“Well，ifnobodyevercallsyou，IthoughtmaybeIshould。”
“Okay。Hello。Whoisthis?”
Atlast，Ihadgotthrough。Nowhewascurious。ItoldhimwhoIwasandaskedwhohewas。
“MynameisAdolfMeth。Im88yearsold，andIhaventhadthismanywrongnumbersinonedayin20years!”Webothlaughed。
Wetalkedfor10minutes。Adolfhadnofamily，nofriends。Everyonehehadbeenclosetohaddied。Thenwediscoveredwehadsomethingincommon:hedworkedfortheNewYorkCityPoliceDeartmentfornearly40years。Tellingmeabouthisdaysthereasanelevatoroerator，heseemedinteresting，evenfriendly。IaskedifIcouldcallhimagain。
“Whywouldyouwannadothat?”heasked，surrised。
“Well，maybewecouldbehonefriends。Youknow，likeenals。”
Hehesitated。“Iwouldntmind。。。havingafriendagain。”Hisvoicesoundedalittletentative。
IcalledAdolfthefollowingafternoonandseveraldayslater。Easytotalkwith，herelatedhismemoriesofWorldWarIandII，theHindenburgdisasterandotherhistoricalevents。Hewasfascinating。Igavehimmyhomeandofficenumberssohecouldcallus。Hedid—almosteveryday。
Iwasnotjustbeingkindtoalonelyman。TalkingtoAdolfwasimortanttome，becauseI，too，hadabiggainmylife。Raisedinorhanagesandfosterhomes，Ineverhadafather。Gradually，Adolftookonakindoffatherlyimortancetome。Italkedaboutmyjobandcollegecourses，whichIattendedatnight。
Adolfwarmedtotheroleofcounselor。WhilediscussingadisagreementIdhadwithasuervisor，Itoldmynewfriend，“IthinkIvehaditwithhim。”
“Whatstherush?”Adolfcautioned。“Letthingscooldown。WhenyougetasoldasIam，youfindoutthattimetakescareofalot。Ifthingsgetworse，thenyoucantalktohim。”
Therewasalongsilence。“Youknow，”hesaidsoftly，“IamtalkingtoyoujustthewayIdtalktoaboyofmyown。Ialwayswantedafamily—andchildren。Youretooyoungtoknowhowthatfeels。”
No，Iwasnt。Idalwayswantedafamily—andafather。ButIdidntsayanything，afraidIwouldntbeabletoholdbackthehurtIdfeltforsolong。
Oneevening，Adolfmentionedhis89thbirthdaywascomingu。Afterbuyingaieceoffiberboard，Idesignedabiggreetingcardwithacakeand89candlesonit。IaskedallthecosandmyOfficeCommissionertosignit。Igatherednearlyahundredsignatures。Adolfwouldgetakickoutofthis，Iknew。
Wedbeentalkingonthehoneforfourmonthsnow，andIthoughtthiswouldbeagoodtimetomeetfacetoface。SoIdecidedtodeliverthecardbyhand。
IdidnttellAdolfIwascoming。Ijustdrovetohisaddressonemorningandarkedthecaruthestreetfromhisaartmenthouse。AostmanwassortingmailinthehallwaywhenIenteredthebuilding。HenoddedasIcheckedthemailboxesforAdolfsname。Thereitwas。Aartment1H，some20feetfromwhereIstood。
Myheartoundedwithexcitement。Wouldwehavethesamechemistryinersonthatwehadonthehone?Ifeltthefirststabofdoubt。Maybehewouldrejectmethewaymyfatherrejectedmewhenhewentoutofmylife。ItaedonAdolfsdoor。Whentherewasnoanswer，Iknockedharder。
Theostmanlookedufromhissorting。“Noonesthere，”hesaid。
“Yeah，”Isaid，feelingalittlefoolish。“Ifheansweredhisdoorthewayheanswershishone，thismaytakeallday。”
