English Original
by Janie Emaus
As teenagers we live in a different world from our mothers, a world where mothers hang out on the peripheries. Of course, almost everyone has one; they are unavoidable annoyances.
Today, as I approach that edge, as I am the one with the teenage daughter, I look at my mother through different eyes. And I sometimes wish I could halt the years and stop her from growing older, stop her from repeating herself.
We sit at my kitchen table as the sun designs a mosaic of light on the tile floor. My daughter, Anna, sits next to my mother.
"When is Rick going to be here?" my mother asks, referring to my husband.
"I don't know, Mom," I answer patiently. "He'll be here for dinner."
I sigh and get up from the table. This is at least the tenth time she has asked that question in as many minutes.
While my mother and daughter play Monopoly, I busy myself making a salad.
"Don't put in any onions," Mom says. "You know how Daddy hates onions."
"Yes, Mom," I answer, shoving the scallions back into the fridge.
I scrub off a carrot and chop it into bite-size pieces. I thrust the knife into the carrot with more force than is necessary. A slice falls onto the floor.
中文翻译
作者：珍妮·埃莫斯
青少年时期，我们生活在一个与母亲不同的世界里，在那个世界里，母亲们徘徊在边缘。当然，几乎每个人都有这样一位母亲；她们是不可避免的烦恼。
如今，当我也走到了那个边缘，当我也成为了一位少女的母亲时，我开始用不同的眼光看待我的母亲。有时，我希望能让岁月停驻，阻止她变老，阻止她一遍遍地重复同样的话。
我们坐在厨房餐桌旁，阳光在地砖上投射出马赛克般的光影。我的女儿安娜坐在我母亲身旁。
“瑞克什么时候到？”母亲问道，她指的是我的丈夫。
“我不知道，妈妈，”我耐心地回答，“他会来吃晚饭的。”
我叹了口气，从桌边起身。这短短几分钟里，她至少问了十遍这个问题。
母亲和女儿在玩大富翁，我则忙着做沙拉。
“别放洋葱，”妈妈说，“你知道你爸爸有多讨厌洋葱。”
“好的，妈妈，”我回答道，把青葱塞回冰箱。
我洗净一根胡萝卜，把它切成小块。我用力将刀刺进胡萝卜，力道大得有些多余。一片胡萝卜掉到了地上。