那是一段被稱為「黃金歲月」的日子。我有幸生於那個時代，亦因長於那個時代而變得不幸。該怎麼說……其實我也不知該從何說起——直至現在我仍然無法理清來龍去脈。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FVwpFRN7h
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbd5gCsBGTO
也許像雪糕。自它離開雪櫃一刻開始溶化，但人們總是不察覺，誤以為它是離開雪櫃一段時間後，溫度過高才化為流體。當人們確切意識到它正在溶化，一切經已無可挽回。滴在手背上的黏膩，雖甜，卻不適合吃進肚裡去，必須抹掉。
水深港闊的天然優勢將這小城市造就成航運業重要樞紐，各國商人紛紛到來設廠開店。百業興旺，養活不少人口。我爸在某大船塢當搬運工，媽留家做縫紉活。作為長子的我負責照顧弟妹，清潔、煮食統統難不到我。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSG2ZMt4BmP
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYPbZ82dzv
我十四歲時，弟妹不再需要我照顧，爸爸立即推薦我到大船塢工作。我被分派到食堂工作。年月漸過，我由雜工慢慢擢升為大廚再到十年前被裁走，見證大船塢由全盛時期的過千員工萎縮至現今不過十名文職員工的小公司。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhr4AT7fST9
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8MT153nN9
我偶爾會探望老東主，與他閒聊度日。他喜歡待在半露天工場乘涼。那位置曾是可以容納過百人的食堂，如今三面牆被拆卸，天花改建為可伸縮簷篷，僅靠幾支有轆活動柱子支撐。簷下近碼頭位置有一張藤製搖搖椅。亮漆褪盡，露出最原始紋理與最真實的顏色，像七旬老者的皮膚，像發霉陳皮上的霉菌。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DoowhLiFl
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ481HbY6dTn
「怎麼不送去修理？」336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRE625C58ge
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8TGVV7cUc
「修理藤椅的師父三個月前去世了。他的徒兒技術及不上他。」336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88w1tovRTL
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSo8LVt7s3
他仍舊一副大老闆模樣，只起用手藝高超的大師父，只穿質料上乘的襯衫西褲，只吃我親手做的豆腐雪糕。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhHFoFJWNs
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9aD4ClOz1N
我分他一杯豆腐雪糕。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡws6ObuRHUF
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDHlTD0vni
他問我飯館生意可好。我說兒子打算結束營業，賣掉舖位。他驚訝我何解同意結束飯館，眾所周知飯館是我的心頭肉！我假笑慨歎自身無能：「我身體狀況大不如前，無法應付工作。」336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡup2xaAul6X
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOTebipyWS
他愣住半秒，放軟身體半躺於搖搖椅，淡然：「理解。」336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNDavkmXrp
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJVgEuwyJY
忽爾靜默，再也找不到話題——講再多亦於事無補——只得低頭吃雪糕。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdULxk3R5PD
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8zeZ5VXtv
下雨，微涼。涼自體外往內滲，涼自體內往外發。內外夾擊，我打了一個噴嚏：「老人家果然受不住寒涼。」336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNB4QPD3leC
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7X0X2bE7rV
他沒有回應，閉目不動，似酣睡也似長眠。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qNBlYxsKs
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUU23vOKbu2
我沒有求證。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegTXyHljek
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTW5aspIT89
反正差不多。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DOMsyWnxu
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6OMLhSE3f
雪糕在杯內慢慢溶化。我在社會默默被淘汰。黃金歲月在時代洪流中悄悄被取代。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3F899HkPaH
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IqFbu0NaZ
我沒有掙扎。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2tZ3XjaKw
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHiPhSyki8
反正無可挽回。336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFl5LBHcfjj
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5yTn3KR1N2
倒不如默默回味那口香甜、那份光榮、那段金黃色的日子。
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