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Bougainvillea downstairs
Author / Jian Yun
Originally published in the city supplement of Xiamen Daily
On a weekend afternoon, the sun was just right. Opening the small window of the side door that had not been opened for a long time, a cluster of purple-red bougainvillea shook its head by the window, as if looking for the people in the window, and the bright colors added a little warmth to the cold early winter.
"Where is the bougainvillea, so brilliant?" I climbed up the window sill to find out, and it turned out that the downstairs neighbor had planted it on the platform. In a large flower pot, a bougainvillea grows hard along the wall and zigzags onto the windowsill of my house. The branches are slender, the leaves are emerald green, and the flowers are next to each other. The walls were planted outside, and I greedily admired this "uninvited guest" and wondered if I should express my gratitude to the owner of the flowers, but I was afraid that people would say that I was sentimental.
In the evening, I went to the security office of the community to get the courier, and I met the owner of the bougainvillea at the door, a kind grandmother. Living in the same neighborhood, looking up and not looking down, each other's faces are familiar, and the habitual smile and nod seems to be the best way to say hello. After smiling, I couldn't wait to say something, but before I could open my mouth, I retreated. Unexpectedly, Grandma spoke first: "I'm sorry, the bougainvillea at home has bloomed too vigorously this year, and it has climbed to your window." In early spring, I wanted to trim it, because I forgot about it. The other day, my hand was twisted, and I couldn't lift it up so sorely. My son will be back in a few days, and I asked him to prune the flowers again. Grandma said as she swung her hand.
Looking at her anxious and a little apologetic look, I quickly replied: "It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter, no need to trim, it's very good, your flowers decorate my window sill, I thank you for not being too late."
Somehow, when the word "thank you" was uttered, I felt comfortable. "Really? Well, the other day I wanted to find an opportunity to say 'I'm sorry' to you, but I never met it. Later, Grandma warmly invited me to sit at her house when I was free. At this point, we are no longer familiar strangers in the community.
It is said that there is no coincidence or no book, and the coincidence in life lies in the time, in the place, and even more in having empathy. It is a typical coincidence that he met and knew the past. But when encountering old acquaintances in a foreign land, if you do not take the initiative to greet them, or ignore the greetings of others, the strange road will always be a strange road, what is the difference between this and the people of other townspeople, and where is the joy? Grandma's careful cultivation has led to the flourishing of bougainvillea; Grandma's empathy has given me infinite warmth and pleasure.
Readers
Zhao Ci, FM89.2 Jimei Radio Host, Director of Jimei District Recitation Art Association.
Produced by The New Media Center of Xiamen Daily
Audio Production: Xu Mengjie Huang Xiaoqing Image from Xiamen Daily Photo Center
Editor: Sea Eagle Luo Xiaozhou Class Teacher: Cai Pingping
Xiamen Daily original works, without authorization, shall not be reproduced, violators will be investigated!
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