二、0. 刘家的创世纪（简化版）

二、0. 刘家的创世纪（简化版）

the genesis of ariel’s family (an abridged version)

in the beginning mother bought the old apartment from her side of the family to create a place called “home.” now the space was disordered and desolate, dust was over the floor, and she entered the house and set her very first step on the piece of tile closest to the threshold. [. . .]

and she said, “let this place be the haven and harbor for our future child,” and the place was imbued with the typical familial warmth. she saw that the warmth was good, so she shut all the hostilities out of the house. [. . .]

[ . . . ] she said, “you shall do just as i tell you.” and what she wills shall be done.

[ . . . ] she caressed her swollen belly, the holy chamber, within the fetus rested in peace and quietude.

and she breathed the blessing for her future daughter, “may the child be a lovely angel, beautiful and divine, for she was created in my own image.”

[ . . . ]

out of her womb she birthed the child. the newborn infant was beautiful and divine, her visage as good as the angel’s. she saw that her daughter was good, in her own image, so she pressed the infant tenderly against her breast and fed her.

she said, “let us name our daughter ‘ariel.’ may she have the strength and the strong will. may she be as brave and quick-witted as her mother.”

[. . .] when ariel learnt to speak, the first syllables came out of her mouth were “ma-ma.” [. . .]

she said, “call me mommy from now on, for i am the mother who shall nurture you and give you everything that is good for you. like the mother of my own, i shall protect you with all my power and strength” [. . .]

[ . . . ]

mommy said, “be a good daughter,” and ariel kept being a good daughter, meek and mild, like a loyal shepherd. mommy saw that was good. and ariel obeyed her mommy and kept being a child as docile as a lamb.