TheTasteofChildhood
一等奖作者：梁文婷学校：广东财经大学指导老师：王龙吟
Asadaintysnack,MuyedacannotbemorefamiliartopeoplewhoarebornandbroughtupinZhanjiang,Guangdong.Itisasmallthinstickyricecakecoveredwithtwofreshpalm-sizedpineappleleaves.Tocatertoalltastes,therearesweetandsaltyones,stuffedwithavarietyoffilling,suchassugar,sesame,peanuts,shreddedcoconutsandsmalldriedshrimps.Traditionally,asthelunarNewYearapproaches,itistimeforpeopleinmyvillagetomakeMuyeda.Everyhouseholdisimbuedwithcheerfulbustleatthistimeofyear.Thishasbecomeoneofmybestchildhoodmemories.
MakingMuyedainvolvesalotofpreparation.Ialwaysvolunteeredtopickfreshpineappleleaves,cleanthem,andcutthemintopalm-sizedpieces,whilemymotherwouldpreparetheglutinousricedoughandthefilling.Wheneverythingwasready,Iwouldstandbymymotherandwatchhowthosemouth-wateringcakeswerecreated.WhatamasterofMuyedaMomwas!Howdocileandobedientthedoughandfillingwereinherhands!HowIwishedIcouldmakeoneofmyown!However,mymotherturneddownmyumpteenthoffertogiveherahand.“No,sweetheart,it’snotthatsimple.MakingMuyedaisanadultmatter.”
“Mom,couldn’tyoujustallowmetohaveatry?Iwon’tcauseyouanytrouble,Ipromise!”Ipleaded,eyesbrimmingwithtears.
“You’resuchanaughtygirl.Stayawayfromit!”mymotherrefusedinafirmvoice.
Inspiteofherdisapproval,Istilltriedthousandsoftimestogetsomericedoughfromunderhernose,yetonlytomeetmyWaterlooeverysingletime.However,themoreshedidnotallowmetodoit,thestrongermycuriositygrew.Anditgrewintoastarvinglioninmybody,growling,galloping,andsearchingforanypossibleprey.Tomyexcitement,mypreyfinallyturnedup.
Oneday,asusual,mymotherwasbusymakingMuyedawhenoneofourneighborscameandaskedhertogoshoppingforthecomingSpringFestival.Sinceshewouldbeawayforatleasthalfanhour,sheaskedmetokeepaneyeontheunfinishedMuyeda.
“MakesurethattheMuyedawillbesafeandsoundwhenI’mback,allright?”mymother’sworriedvoicedriftedintomyears.
“Relax,mom,Iwillbeacaretakerworthmysalt.”Iassuredherconfidently,chucklingtomyself.Whatagreatopportunitytosetfreethestarvinglioninme!
NosoonerhadmymotherleftthanIgotdowntomyfirstattemptatMuyeda.Isnatchedabitofdoughandtriedtoshapeitintoaskin.Dearme!Thefingersonmyrighthandgotstuckinthestickydough!Itriedtosetthemfreewithmylefthand.Tomakemattersworse,allmytenfingersbecameentangledinamess!Irushedtowashmyhands,onlytocontaminatethetap.Iturnedtohandkerchiefs,onlytofindthemincahootswiththegooeydough.WhateverItouched,itbecameanannoyingmess!Intheend,Ihadtogiveup.Thestarvinglioninmewascompletelydefeatedandturnedintoacaptiveofguilt.
Wouldmotherblamemeforsuchacrazymess?Wouldsheneverbuymemyfavoritelollipop?Wouldshenolongerloveme?Withalltheseheartbreakingthoughts,IbecamesodejectedanddespondentthatIstartedtocry.
Atthattime,mymothercameback.“OhmyGod!”sheyelledwhenshesawthechaos.“Whathaveyoudone?IhavetoldyoutoleavetheMuyedaalone!Younaughtygirl!”
Allthedreadfulthoughtsfloodingintomyhead,Istartedtoblubber,“Sorry,mom.Don’tleaveme!Neverleaveme!”
“Leaveyou?WhyshouldIleaveyou?”mymotherwassurprised.
“BecauseIamsuchanaughtygirl!BecauseIalwayscauseyoutrouble!BecauseIletyoudownoverandoveragain!”
“Yousillygirl!”mymotherbentoverandkissedoffmytears.Thenshehelpedtocleansemystickyhandscarefullywithwarmwater.Hersilentforgivenessandaffectioncalmedmedown.
Tenyearslater,everytimeIeatMuyeda,thisexperiencestilloccurstome.Forme,Muyedaismorethanadelicioussnack.Itisthetasteofmymother’sloveforme.Itisthetasteofmychildhood.
第二届岭南杯“舌尖上的岭南”英语写作技能大赛获奖作品选登
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