Theendofmysophomore(大学二年级)yearwasapproaching.MomcalledmeatthedormoneeveningduringthelastweekofMay.Mysummerbreakwouldbespentwithgrandmaandgrandpa,helpingoutaroundtheirfarm.Thearrangementmadegoodsensetoallthefamily.Iwasn'tfullyconvincedofthatmyselfbutguesseditwasjustonesummer.Nextyearwouldbemylittlebrother'sturn.
Iarrivedlatethatafternoon.Grandmahadfixedmorefoodthanthethreeofuscouldpossiblyeat.Shelovedmeentirelytoomuch.Thenextmorning,Grandpafixedbreakfastforthetwoofus.HetoldmeGrandmahadtiredherselfoutyesterdayandwasgoingtorestinbedalittlelonger.ImadeamentalnotetomyselftonotaskhertodothingsformewhileIwasthere.Iwastheretohelp,notbeaburden.
Weekspassed.IgraduallysettledintoaroutineofdailyworkwithGrandpa.IntheeveningsIusuallyreadortalkedwithGrandma.ShenevergrewtiredofhearingaboutcollegeoranythingIwasinvolvedin.Shetoldmestoriesaboutherchildhood,familyandtheearlyyearsaftersheandGrandpahadmarried.
ThelastSaturdayinJune,Grandpasuggestedgoingfishing.Wehadn'texpectedwhatwesawwhenwegottothepondthatmorning:Oneoftheswans(天鹅)wasdead.GrandpahadgiventhepairofswanstoGrandmaontheir50thanniversary."Whydon'tweseeaboutbuyinganotherone,"Isuggested,hopingthesituationcouldsomehowberighted.Grandpathoughtforafewmomentsbeforeanswering.
Hefinallysaid,"no…it'snotthateasy,Bruce.Yousee,swansmateforlife."Heraisedhisfingertopoint,holdingthefishingpoleinhisotherhand."There'snothingwecandofortheonethat'sleft.Hehastoworkitoutforhimself."
Afewdayslater,wedrovebythepondwhiledoingourmorningcheckonthecows.Wefoundtheotherswanlyingnearthesamespotwehadfoundthefirstone.It,too,wasdead.
ThemonthofJulystartedwithmeandGrandpaputtingupanewstretchoffence.ThenJuly12came.ThatwasthedayGrandmapassedaway.Grandmahaddiedsuddenlythatmorningofastroke.(中风)Bytheafternoon,myparentswerethere.TheoldhousewassooncrowdedwithrelativesandGrandpa'sfriends.
Thefuneral(葬礼)washeldthenextday.Grandpahadinsistedonhavingitassoonaspossible.Onthesec