By Su Xin

Opening the Door with Bare Feet

By Su Xin

T hat was a night when my daughter was one year old.I worked overtime until one o’clock in the morning.After work,I walked alone in the empty street,with increasing fits of resentment.What a dull and cheerless man I married!No sweet words in mundane days and not even a caring and warming call at this time of midnight.How disappointing it was to live together with such a guy.

The moment I saw the door of my home,I heaved a sigh of relief.I fumbled for the key in my bag for quite a while,but failed.So I had to pat the door,as lightly as possible,in case the noise would wake up my little daughter.After a moment,just when I was about to try a second time,the door opened and my husband showed up at the door.He followed me while I was pushing the bike into the yard and whispered,“Be quiet!Baby’s got a fever.I’ve given her some fever-reducer and she is in nice sleep now.”Lowering my head,I noticed his feet were in socks only.I reckoned that he, same as me fearing that too much noise would wake up our daughter, was hurrying out to open the door at my knocking sound,having no time for shoes.

We moved to a new house after our daughter went to kindergarten.

Another night I worked overtime again,and it was already past twelve o’clock when I arrived at my residential building.I went upstairs,fumbling for the key in my bag.Just then the door opened and my husband relieved at thesight of me,“You barreled back again?I’ve prepared bathwater for you. Take a bath and go to sleep.”

Seeing his bare feet noticeably on the floor,I asked,“Why bare your feet?”

Nonchalantly he replied,“I don’t want to keep you waiting long.”

That reminded me of the similar scene on the night a couple of years ago,when he rushed out to open the door for me,shoeless.I inquired him and he tried hard to recall.“That night after I put our daughter to sleep,I was thinking of picking you up,but I was afraid that our daughter would wake up while I was away.I then thought of giving you a call,but again was afraid that I might bring you trouble.So I had to stay home,waiting for you all alert.I know you are born timid,so at the sound of your knocking,I ran out for it,having no time for shoes.”

Lying on the bed,I felt the spread of a warm feeling in my heart.For so many years after we got married,my husband had been taking good care of me quietly.He was a man of few words.

Then my husband approached me, asking,“Whatareyouthinking about?”I replied with a sweet smile, cuddled myself in his arms and soon fell asleep soundly.

(FromMarriage and Family,Temperament ReaderVol.5,2015.Illustration: Tong Ling)