面对这样的感情，Kate不知该如何面对，但妈妈似乎没有意识到严重性，以为仅仅是细节问题。而Kate也不知道该如何跟妈妈解释这件事情，只能无可奈何。

　　Alex也终于有机会和父亲谈话。当父亲问起这些年他都在做什么时，他终于说出，他一直在努力忘记父亲，因为在他眼里，父亲是个很成功的男人，却是个失败的父亲，他似乎对父亲一直有一种怨恨，但是对父亲的爱也确实大过恨，于是，就在这爱与恨之间，他很矛盾。父亲正在写回忆录，对儿子的这种心理也是很内疚……

Kate：So, what do you think?

Kate's Mom：He sounds like a nice boy.

Kate：Sounds like a nice boy. Anything else?

Kate's Mom：He has wonderful penmanship.

Kate：Mother, look at the date on the letter. The date.

Kate's Mom：You mean the time thing?

Kate：Yes.

Kate's Mom：That's just a detail.

Kate：Just a detail?

Alex's Dad：About the...the other day...it was not a good moment. I was in a hell of a hurry.

Alex：Of course. You've got some nice pieces here.

Alex's Dad：Oh, yeah. Music's fine, music helps. It's like Nietzsche says "life would be senseless"

Alex：Without music.

Alex's Dad：I guess I told you that, huh? Pour yourself a drink. Can you appreciate a good wine by now?

Alex：You bet.

Alex's Dad：You know, you'll have to forgive your father for being curious but... where have you been all these years? I thought your Kerouac days were behind you.

Alex：I'm sorry, what?

Alex's Dad：What? Oh, you can come up, if you like.

Alex：What are you working on?

Alex's Dad：Oh, I'm just - I'm just remembering things. It's not such an easy job, let me tell you. Nor is it particuIarly innocent, in my case. Your father is writing his memoir¹s.

Alex：Are we in it?

Alex's Dad：What do you think? Do you wanna be?

Alex：Do you?

Alex's Dad：Of course. You were all a part of your father's life.

Alex：Why are you talking to me in the third person?

Alex's Dad：Well, I - I don't - Because I'm writing about myself, I suppose. Why, doesn't it suit you?

Alex：I thought you might like these.

Alex's Dad：What are these? Something you've been working on?

Alex：No, they're- They're yours. From a house I just bought on the lake.

Alex's Dad：Oh, yes, I heard. They said some sleazy little condo developer had snapped it up. Oh, come on. Indulge your father. Can't you take a little joke, for God's sake? Come on. Tell me. Where have you been? I really want to know.

Alex：I was trying to forget you. Or forgive you.

Alex's Dad：Did you succeed?

Alex：No. let me know if you need any help remembering.

Alex's Dad：Oh, yeah, I will.

注释：

1. penmanship：n. 书法

2. in hell of：表示程度。非常

2. Nietzsche：尼采，德国哲学家。这里引用尼采的一句名言：Life would be senseless without music. 如果没有音乐，生活就毫无意义。

4. You bet. ：非常口语化的短语，“当然了”。

5. I thought your Kerouac days were behind you. ：这句话的意思是Alex的父亲觉得Alex在外漂泊了这么久，应该安定下来了，Kerouac指的是美国著名流行作家Jack Kerouac写的经典小说《在路上》（On The Road）中的一群年轻人。这部小说以作家本人为原型描写了一群年轻人的旅行经历，他们的行径很像“嬉皮士”，包括偷车、裸游等，举止相当另类。

6. memoir：回忆录

7. the third person：第三人称

8. for God's sake：看在上帝的面子上，务必