奇迹的

Tesswasaprecociouseight-year-oldwhensheheardhermomanddadtalkingaboutherlittlebrother,Andrew.Allsheknewwasthathewasverysickandtheywerepletelyoutofmoney.Theyweremovingtoanapartmentnextmonthbecausedaddydidn’thethemoneyforthedoctor’sbillsandthehouse.Onlyerycostlysurgerycouldsehimnowanditwaslookingliketherewasnoonetoloanthemthemoney.Shehearddaddysaytohertearfulmotherwithwhispereddesperation,“Onlyamiraclecansehimnow.”

Tesswenttoherbedroomandpulledaglassjellyjarfromitshidingplaceinthecloset.Shepouredallthechangeoutonthefloorandcounteditcarefully.Threetimes,even.Thetotalhadtobeabsolutelyexact.Carefullyplacingthecoinsbackinthejarandtwistingonthecap,sheslippedoutthebackdoorandmadeherwaysixblockstothepharmacy.

Shewaitedpatientlyforthepharmacisttogivehersomeattentionbuthewastoobusyatthioment.Tesstwistedherfeettomakeascuffingnoise.Nothing.Sheclearedherthroatwiththemostdisgustingsoundshecouldmuster.Nogood.

Finallyshetookaquarterfromherjarandbangeditontheglasscounter.Thatdidit!“Andwhatdoyouwant?”thepharmacistaskedinanannoyedtoneofvoice.“I’mtalkingtomybrotherfromChicagowhomIhen’tseeninages,”hesaidwithoutwaitingforareplytohisquestion.

“Well,Iwanttotalktoyouaboutmybrother,”Tessansweredbackinthesameannoyedtone.“He’sreally,reallysick...andIwanttobuyamiracle.”

“Ibegyourpardon?”saidthepharmacist.

“HisnameisAndrewandhehassomethingbadgrowinginsidehisheadandmydaddysaysonlyamiraclecansehimnow.Sohowmuchdoesamiraclecost?”

“Wedon’tsellmiracleshere,littlegirl.I’msorrybutIcan’thelpyou,”thepharmacistsaid,softeningalittle.

“Listen,Ihethemoneytopayforit.Ifitisn’tenough,Iwillgettherest.Justtellmehowmuchitcosts.”

Thepharmacist’sbrotherwasawell-dressedman.Hestoopeddownandaskedthelittlegirl,“Whatkindofamiracledoesyourbrotherneed?”

“Idon’tknow,”Tessrepliedwithhereyeswellingup.“Ijustknowhe’sreallysickandmommysaysheneedsanoperation.Butmydaddycan’tpayforit,soIwanttousemymoney.”

“Howmuchdoyouhe?”askedthemanfromChicago.

“Onedollarandelevencents,”Tessansweredbarelyaudibly.“Andit’sallthemoneyIhe,butIcangetsomemoreifIneedto.”“Well,whatacoincidence!”iledtheman.“Adollarandelevencents—theexactpriceofamiracleforlittlebrothers.”

Hetookhermoneyinonehandandwiththeotherhandhegraspedherhandandsaid,“Takemetowhereyoulive.Iwanttoseeyourbrotherandmeetyourparents.Let’sseeifIhethekindofmiracleyouneed.”

Thatwell-dressedmanwasDr.CarltonArmstrong,asurgeon,specializinginneurosurgery.Theoperationwaspletedwithoutchargeanditwasn’tlonguntilAndrewwashomeagainanddoingwell.

Momanddadwerehappilytalkingaboutthechainofeventsthathadledthemtothisplace.“Thatsurgery,”hermomwhispered,“wasarealmiracle.Iwonderhowmuchitwouldhecost?”

Tessiled.Sheknewexactlyhowmuchamiraclecost—onedollarandelevencents—plusthefaithofalittlechild.

苔丝8岁那年就已经很懂事了.有一天,她听见爸爸妈妈在谈她弟弟安德鲁的事.她只听到说弟弟病得很重,而家里一点钱也没有了.他们下个月就得搬到公寓楼去住,因为爸爸已经付不起医药费和房子的月供了.现在弟弟需要接受一个费用昂贵的手术才有可能保住性命,可是看起来没有人会借钱给他们.她听见爸爸用绝望的口气,轻轻地对泪水涟涟的妈妈叹道：“现在只有奇迹才能救得了他.”

苔丝走到自己的卧室,从壁橱里一个隐蔽的地方翻出一只玻璃果酱罐子.她把里面所有的零钱都倒出来摊在地板上,仔细地数起来.数了三遍结果都一样.她小心翼翼地把硬币放回罐子里,旋上盖子,然后溜出后门,向六个街区外的药店走去.

她耐心地等着药剂师过来招呼,可是那时他太忙了.苔丝扭动双脚在地面上摩擦着,弄出很大的声响来,没人理她.她使劲用最招人厌烦的声音清了清嗓子,还是没用.

最后她从罐子里取出一枚25美分的硬币,猛地往玻璃柜台上一拍.这次奏效了.“噢,你想要什么?”药剂师用不耐烦的口气问道,“我正跟我从芝加哥来的弟弟说话呢,我们已经有好几年没见了.”他只是随口一问,并没有等苔丝回答他.

“嗯,我想跟你讲讲我弟弟的事.”苔丝也用同样不耐烦的口气回敬他,“他病得非常、非常重等所以我想写一个奇迹.”

“你说什么?”药剂师问.

“他的名字叫安德鲁,他的脑子里长了一个坏东西.爸爸说现在只有奇迹才能救得了他.那奇迹查重一个呢?”

“小姑娘,我们这里没有奇迹卖.非常抱歉,我帮不了你.”药剂师说,声音稍微柔和起来.

“你听我说,我付得起钱.要是不够的话,我再去拿.你只要告诉我一个奇迹要查重.”

那个药剂师的弟弟穿着非常体面,他弯下腰,问这个小姑娘：“你弟弟需要一个什么样的奇迹呢?”

“我不知道.”苔丝的眼泪涌了出来,“我只知道他病得很重,妈妈说他需要动手术,可是爸爸拿不出钱,所以我想用自己的钱.”

“你带了查重?”那个从芝加哥来的人问道.

“1美元11美分.”苔丝回答的声音低得几乎听不见,“我现在只有这么多,不过需要的话我还可以再去拿.”

“哇,真是太巧了!”那人笑了起来,“1美元11美分,给弟弟用的奇迹正好是这个.”

他一手接过钱,另一只手抓住她的手,说：“带我去你家,我要看看你弟弟的情况,见见你的父母,看看我这儿是不是有你需要的奇迹.”

那个穿着体面的人叫卡尔顿·阿姆斯特朗,是一位神经外科医生.他免费给安德鲁做了手术,没过多久安德鲁就痊愈回家了.

事后,苔丝的父母开心地谈到过去,那一连串事情的发生才让他们有了今天.她的母亲小声说：“那天的手术的确是个奇迹,我真想知道那得花查重.”

苔丝露出一丝微笑,她知道奇迹的准确——1美元11美分,再加上一个孩子执著的信念.