去年回國探親,閑來無事的時候把以前讀書時收到的賀卡翻出來看。一張綠色的生日卡從裏麵滑落出來,那段圓體字再加上 "Hammer season" ,我情不自禁笑出聲來。
賀卡是 Ronald 在我大一精工實習的時候送的,我生日那天正在車間裏揮汗如雨地磨小錘子。
Ronald,我還是喜歡稱他 Ron。
大一暑假我選修了英語口語,他任課。因為這門課,我給自己選了個英文名字 Ruby,一晃已經用了15年。
開始選這門課的人很多,因為有外教嘛,大夥都是衝這個來的。教室裏坐得滿滿當當。
Ron 一進來,大家哄地就笑翻了。他其實長得還是蠻帥的,四五十歲的樣子,但留著聖誕老人一般的大胡子。上海的夏天多熱呀,他穿著筆挺的短袖襯衫,係著領帶,汗珠一個勁地往下滾,不停地喘著氣擦汗。很胖很高大。
看得出來,他不是搗漿糊的人,因為他帶了好多教案。
上半節課他教我們寫圓體字。這讓我很興奮。高三的時候我自己練過一陣子,但英語老師阻止了我,說這樣對我高考沒好處,容易失分,我就打住了。這次能重新學,真是好棒。他教得很認真,每個學生都有樣本可以臨摹。
下半節課挺有意思,教我們誦讀。我第一次接觸這樣抑揚頓挫的誦讀,很喜歡。但學生的反響就不大好了,覺得這是浪費時間,應該教點語法之類的。
下課了,Ron 布置作業,讓我們把這段課文按照他的方法讀順溜了後錄在磁帶裏給他聽。很多學生都不樂意,說他搞怪。就這樣,第二次課堂裏就隻剩下三個學生了。
他並不很在乎學生人數的驟減,仍舊很賣力地教,汗流浹背。當時的教室裏是沒有空調的,真不知道他怎麽能受得了。
Ron說他挺感激我們一直這麽支持他,邀請我們去他住的樂乎樓玩。我們是第一次跨進專家樓,門衛看到我們跟進去還詢問了一番。那個年代,和老外混在一起的基本上不是好人,反正他們都這麽認為的。
因為不是在課堂上,大家顯得很輕鬆。經過一陣子的磨練,我們蹩腳的英文似乎也變得流暢起來,大家能有些話可以講了,不再像剛開始那樣吭吭哧哧。
於是我們知道他父母離異的故事。他每天的正餐在早上4點,吃的是碾碎的白煮蛋拌mayonnaise。他很愛喝酒,家裏的啤酒是成箱的(國內的啤酒都是大瓶的,他喝起來咕嘟咕嘟),伏特加也像喝白開水。抽煙,每天至少一包飛馬。
我們後來常去他那裏玩,主要的活動就是玩一種拚字遊戲,倒是琢磨出了很多單詞。
他還帶我們去吃麥當勞,以至於我迷上了巨無霸裏的奶酪和酸黃瓜。
我和他沒什麽私交,畢竟男女有別,況且他是個老外。
紅宣告訴了他我生日,他特地出去買了賀卡,寫得滿滿當當地送給我。我當時蠻激動的。
暑假結束後,他去了複旦任教。我去拜訪過他幾次。那年國慶放煙火,我們還一起去虹口公園看。後來不知怎麽的,就漸漸疏遠了。
此後,我再也沒有了他的消息。
昨天,突然想起了他,他的全名猛然躍入腦海,我鬼使神差地上網輸入他的名字想看看他的近況。愕然看到下麵的這段文字:
Ronald J. Guichard, 62 of 23 West Third St died at 7:00 AM Tuesday (May 10, 2005) in WCA Hospital.
He was born May 20, 1942 in Jamestown a son of Lucille Willson Guichard Wheeler and the late Melvin Guichard.
He was a 1960 graduate of Southwestern Central School; received his BA from Florida International in Miami; Masters degree from Fredonia State University and his superintendents certificate from the University of Buffalo.
His teaching career began at Ripley Central School where he served as principal from 1979 until 1981. Prior to traveling the world, he owned a private High School in Miami, FL. He taught in Quito, Ecuador; Saint Martin's; Japan; Saudi, Arabia; and China for 10 years, returning to Jamestown due to ill health.
Ron was a natural born teacher. Throughout his illustrious career he inspired many to achieve their goals. He especially enjoyed theater productions working with his students on many plays. He enjoyed a great sense of humor. He will be sadly missed by his nephews Ryan LeBlanc; Gregg Guichard; and nieces, Brooke and Danielle Guichard.
Surviving besides his mother of Jamestown are a sister Judy Champlin of Warren, PA and a brother, Gregg Guichard of Lakewood.
He was preceded in death by his father who died February 15, 1983.
The funeral will be at 1 PM Friday in the Lind Funeral Home. The Rev Norman R. Gauch, pastor of Bethel Lutheran Church will officiate. Inurnment will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Sinclairville.
Friends will be received from 7-9 PM Thursday and for one hour prior to the service Friday in the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Bethel Lutheran Church 904 West Third St Jamestown, NY 14701 or to a charity of choice.
怎會料到他早已離開這個世界?
Ron,你在天國還好嗎?