Chapter 23

It was Friday already and we were in the middle of a nasty, sordid¹ mess that wasn’t going to be over soon. In the afternoon I had to make a tough phone call home to Washington. Nana Mama answered after a couple of rings, and I immediately wished that one of the kids had picked up instead.
‘It’s Alex. How are you?’
She said,’You’re not coming home for Damon’s concert tomorrow, are you, Alex? Or did you forget all about the concert already. Oh, Alex, Alex. Why have you forsaken² us? This isn’t right.’
I love Nana tremendously, but sometimes she goes too far to make
her point. ‘Why don’t you put Damon on the phone?’ I said. ‘I’ll talk to him about it.’‘He’s not going to be a boy for very much longer. Pretty soon he’ll be just like you, won’t listen to a word anybody says. Then you’ll see what it’s like. I guarantee you won’t like it,’ she said.  ‘I feel bad enough already, guilty enough.You don’t have to make it worse, old woman.’
‘Of course I do. That’s my job, and I take it as seriously as you obviously take yours,’ she said.
‘Nana, people are dying out here. Someone died a horrible death in Washington to get me involved in this mess. It keeps happening.  There’s a connection I have to find, or at least try to.’
‘Yes, people are dying, Alex. I understand that. And other people
are growing up without their father around as much as they need
him to be - especially since they don’t have a mother. Are you aware of that? I can’t be mother and father to these children.’ I shut my eyes. ‘I hear what you’re saying. I don’t even disagree with you, believe it or not. Now, would you please put Damon on?’ I asked again.’As soon as I get off the phone, I’ll go out and see if I can find a mother for my children. Actually, I’m working with a very nice female detective. You’d like her.’
‘Damon’s not here. He said if you called, and weren’t coming home, to tell you thanks a lot.’
I shook my head, and finally smiled in spite of myself. ‘You got his inflection down perfectly³. Where is he?’
‘He’s playing basketball with his friends. He’s very good at that, too. I think he’ll be an outstanding two guard. Have you even noticed?’
‘He has soft hands and a quick first step. Of course I’ve noticed.
You know which friends he’s out with?’
‘Of course I do. Do yoM?’Nana shot back. She was relentless⁴ when she was on the attack. ‘He’s with Louis and Jamal. He picks good friends.’
‘I have to go now, Nana. Please give Damon and Jannie my love.
Give little Alex a big hug.’
‘Alex, you give them love and hugs yourself,’ she said. Then she hung up the phone on me. She had never done that before. Well, she hadn’t done it very often.
I sat there, pinned to my chair, thinking over what had just been said, wondering whether or not I was guilty as charged. I knew that I spent more time with the kids than a lot of fathers, but as Nana had so skillfully argued, they were growing up fast, and without a mother. I had to do an even better job and there were no goddamn excuses.
I called home a few more times. There was no answer, and I figured I was being punished. I finally caught up with Damon around six that night. He had just gotten home from a rehearsal⁵ for his concert with the Boys Choir⁶. I heard his voice come on the line, and I sang a little Tupac rap ditty he likes.
He thought that was funny so I knew everything was okay. He had forgiven me. He’s a good boy, the best I could have hoped for. I suddenly remembered my wife, Maria, and was sad that she wasn’t here to see how well Damon was turning out. You would really like Damon, Maria. I’m sorry you’re missing it.
‘I got your message. I’m sorry, Damon. I wish I were going to hear you tomorrow. You know I do. Can’t be helped, buddy⁷.’ Damon sighed dramatically. ‘If wishes had wings,’ he said. It was one of his grandmother’s pet sayings. I had been hearing it for years, ever since I was around his age.
‘Beat me, whip me, beat me,’ I told him.
‘Naw. It’s all right. Daddy,’ Damon said, and sighed again. ‘I know you have to work, and that it’s probably important stuff. It’s just hard for us sometimes. You know how it is.’
‘I love you, and I should be there, and I won’t miss the next concert,’ I said to him.
‘I’ll hold you to that,’ Damon said.
‘I’ll hold myself to it,’ I told him.

1 sordid   

adj.肮脏的，不干净的，卑鄙的，暗淡的

参考例句：

• He depicts the sordid and vulgar sides of life exclusively.他只描写人生肮脏和庸俗的一面。
• They lived in a sordid apartment.他们住在肮脏的公寓房子里。

2 Forsaken   

adj. 被遗忘的, 被抛弃的 动词forsake的过去分词

参考例句：

• He was forsaken by his friends. 他被朋友们背弃了。
• He has forsaken his wife and children. 他遗弃了他的妻子和孩子。

3 perfectly   

adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
• Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

4 relentless   

adj.残酷的，不留情的，无怜悯心的

参考例句：

• The traffic noise is relentless.交通车辆的噪音一刻也不停止。
• Their training has to be relentless.他们的训练必须是无情的。

5 rehearsal   

n.排练，排演；练习

参考例句：

• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。
• You can sharpen your skills with rehearsal.排练可以让技巧更加纯熟。

6 choir   

n.唱诗班，唱诗班的席位，合唱团，舞蹈团；v.合唱

参考例句：

• The choir sang the words out with great vigor.合唱团以极大的热情唱出了歌词。
• The church choir is singing tonight.今晚教堂歌唱队要唱诗。

7 buddy   

n.（美口）密友，伙伴

参考例句：

• Calm down,buddy.What's the trouble?压压气，老兄。有什么麻烦吗？
• Get out of my way,buddy!别挡道了，你这家伙！