Grandma sees me tossing and turning. "If you'll just watch for the breeze," she says, "you'll cool off and fall asleep." She raises the Venetian blinds. I stare at the filmy white curtain, willing it to flutter.

Lying still, waiting, I suddenly notice the life outside the window. The bug¹ chorus shouts. Neighbors, sitting on their verandas² until late, speak in flowing drawl that soothes³ me.

"Keep watching for the breeze," Grandma says softly, and I "uh-huh" in reply. Bugs⁴ ping the screen. Three blocks away a train rumbles⁵ by.

I catch the scent⁶ of fresh grass clippings. Then I hear something I can't decode⁷ --- perhaps a tree branch scratching the shop roof next door.

Sleepy-eyed now, I look at the curtain. It moves...

"Mom, did you hear that?" my seven-year-old blurts⁸, tearing me from memories of old. "I think it was an owl⁹ family."

"Probably," I tell him. "Just keep listening... "

Without the droning air conditioner, the house sounds are different, more peaceful, and with the windows open outside noises seem close enough to touch. I hope I'm awake tonight when the first breeze sneaks¹⁰ in. ( finished)

（续）外婆看我翻来覆去地睡不着，就说：“等着起风吧，一会儿就凉快下来，睡着了。”她把百叶窗卷了起来，我便盯着那薄薄的白窗帘，盼着它飘起来。

静静地躺着，等待着，突然，窗外的生机引起了我的注意。昆虫在轻唱，邻居们在阳台上，坐到深夜，他们模糊不清的说话声，开始催我入眠。

“等着风起来吧。”外婆轻声说，我嗯哼作答。虫子砰砰地撞在纱窗上。三个街区外，火车正隆隆驶过。

我闻到了新割青草的清香。还有一种说不清的声音——可能是树枝扫过邻家店铺的屋顶吧。

眼皮发沉了，我还是盯着窗帘。它飘起来了……

“妈妈，你听到了吗？”7岁的孩子突然嚷了起来，往昔的回忆倏然而去，“那是猫头鹰一家吧？”

“可能是，接着听……”

没有了空调的嗡嗡作响，房间里静得出奇，未经过滤的夜声似乎近得伸手可及。我希望，当第一缕清风悄然而至时，我仍醒着。（完）