A to Z从A到Z

“We’ll find something special to putbetween these，”Ken said， weighing thepair of heavy black A-and Z-shaped bookendsin his hands.“What a nice gift.”

The two of us toured the house，looking for a suitable place to display1 thisChristmas present from our youngest son.

“Maybe on top of the entertainment2center？”I asked.

I always followed my husband’sadvice on house decoration3. I’d oftenthought that he was really good at it.

“Sure. We can put them there nowand find out what books they’ll holdlater.”

A few months later， I received a noticethat one of my stories had been selected4to appear in an upcoming book. Later， Ireceived my copy—the first book I’d everheld that contained one of my stories. I’dsigned my name on the books I collectedmany times， but this was different. Thiswas a book contained my story！ I handedit to my husband.

“Look inside where I stuck thebookmark. It’s my story. I know it’s onlyone book， but can we put it between the Aand Z bookends？”

“I’ve never heard of bookendsholding only one book，”Ken said with achuckle5.

“Oh， don’t worry，” I replied.“I’llsoon have more.”

I walked over to the bookends， putmy book between them， and stepped back.It looked a little lonely there， like anorphan6 in need of a family.

“How many books do you think wouldfit up there on top of the entertainmentcenter？”

Ken cast7 a professional eye inits direction.

“If they’re all paperbacks， there’seasily room for fifty. But even two or threewould look better than one.”

“Well， that one’s pretty special，since it’s my first. But I’ll conjure8 upsome of its companions9 soon. Fiftysounds about right.”

Ken raised an eyebrow and chuckled.

“Didn’t you say they want truestories， things that have actually happened？Do you think you really have fiftystories to tell that people would want toread about？”

“I don’t know. I’ve got lots ofmemories I’d love to share. You’re right，though. Fifty’s a lot.”

“Baby， make it easy on yourself. Tryfor a dozen.”

“No... you said there’s room forfifty.”

Ken shrugged10 and walked away as Ihunkered11 down at my computer.

So I wrote and sold a second story，and then a third. From time to time， Kenwould ask，“How many books have you gotup there now？”Sometimes I’d overhearhim on the phone， bragging12 to friendsthat I’d placed yet another story.

I’d always read them to him before Isent them out.

He’d ask in wonder， “How do youremember every word your mother said toyou when you were six？”

“I don’t，”I confessed13. “It’s literary14license.”

“Aren’t they supposed to be true？”

“They are，”I insisted15. “But I writewhat I think sounds like what Mama or mybrother or you would have said.”

Ken smiled. Unable to recall muchabout his own early days， he liked hearingabout mine. So I continued to track downmemories I could translate into tales.

By June 2009， eleven books were putbetween the bookends.

As I write this， I’ve lined up morethan fifty books， with several morescheduled16 to be published17 over theremainder of the year. Now I’ve set mysights on seventy-five.

When I’m feeling tired， it lifts myspirits to see the books between the A andZ bookends， and the bookmarks inserted18between the pages where my stories begin.I have used to begin my morning with acup of tea and a chat with Ken whilereading my books.

If I write an autobiography19， I doubtif I’d find an interested publisher. I’m notfamous. My name’s not a household word.However， I’m lucky to have found a way topublish my life’s story， chapter by chapter，through these books.

A few months ago， I had aworkshop20 at my local library，“A Pennyfor Your Thoughts，”on writing. Sixteenpeople showed up， want to learn how toput their lives on paper.

“Nobody gets rich writing for lifestories，”I said. “But look at the otherthings you get. Writing puts zing21 intoyour days， zest22 into your life.”

“Yeah，”one man agreed， “and you’vegot a published work！ ”

Later， I received a note from thelibrarian. She wrote， “It was such a treat tohear you read your stories... Your tips andexperience in the field were so valuable！ ”

I’d read two of my stories—one aboutmy grandmother， and one about becoming agrandmother myself. When I finished， thepeople there applauded23. Even Ken，appreciative as he may have been， neverdid that.

What a wonderful gift those bookendsremain： A for applause24... and Z for zingand zest！

“我们会找到一些特别的东西放在这两者之间。”肯说。他用手掂了掂那对沉重的黑色A 形和Z 形书挡。“多么好的礼物啊。”

我们两人巡视了房子，寻找一个合适的地方来展示来自我们小儿子的圣诞礼物。

“也许放在电视柜的顶上？”我问道。

我总是听从我丈夫关于房屋装饰的意见。我常常认为他真的很擅长这个方面。

“当然可以。我们现在可以把它们放在那里，然后再看看它们以后会装些什么书。”

几个月后，我收到通知，我的一篇故事被选入即将出版的书中。之后，我收到了我的那本———这是我拿到的第一本包含我故事的书。我在我收集的书上签过很多次名，但这是不一样的。这次一本包含我故事的书！我把它交给了我丈夫。

“看看里面我贴书签的地方。这是我的故事。我知道这只是一本书，但我们能把它放在A 和Z 书挡之间吗？”

“我从来没听说过书挡之间只放一本书的。”肯轻声笑着说。