趴趴虎 趴趴虎
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VOA 2002 0101 SE FEATUREJane got up from under her warm bedcovers and faced the cold of her room.It was another New Year's Day.In the bathroom, she looked at herself in the mirror.Nothing had changed, except that the lines around her eyes and mouth looked deeper.Jane was 49 years old.She would be 50 this year.She did not feel old, only tired sometimes.What was age?Jane was simply and always herself, she felt.She did what she did every morning.She cleaned her teeth and washed herself.She then chose what to wear among the same five skirts and ten tops.She drank black coffee and went out the door as usual.Today, she was visiting her mother in an old people's home outside her city.She took the same bus to her mother's that she had taken to work every day for the last 15 years.Jane worked [Barnard &] Sons Company.It was not the best job; it was not the worst, either.She was now responsible for employing new workers.She made telephone calls, answered letters, and questioned new people about their skills.She had done this for long enough that she did it without really thinking.The new faces became one young empty face that knew so little.Jane, however, felt it was too late for her to change.There was Mr.Solomon walking down the street, his back was as straight as a ruler.He came out of his house at exactly the same time Jane did every day.He wore a black coat and carried a black umbrella.Every day, as if he lived in London, not Rockville, Maryland.He moved his head in silent greeting.She did the same as always.They passed each other by, like clock hands moving, like machines.Jane thought of herself.Where was he going on a holiday, to work?What would happen if she broke the unspoken rule and said "good morning" to him? Would he answer? Would he smile? Could he smile at all? She did not think so.But she did not say anything.Down the road, came a red hair woman walking her dog.Jane did not know her name even though she saw her every day, too.The woman always said, "Down, doggy down!"The dog did not listen to its owner.It jumped here and there.Every morning, Jane silently questioned how someone could name her dog "doggy".And every morning, Jane noted she thought that exact thought every time.Why not say "happy new year" to each other like normal people?But, the woman never looked away from her restless dog so Jane passed by as usual.It was winter, cold and dry.There was no sign of snow.The tree at the end of the road had no leaves.Its branches looked cold and lonely.Jane let out a heavy breath and pulled her coat closer around her.She did not want to look at the house nearest the bus stop, old Mr.[] was always there looking out of his window.He never changed from the clothes he wore to bed.He looked like he had failed to sleep and was sad and angry.Jane had learned to avoid his hard eyes.They seemed to accuse her of having somewhere to go when he did not.
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