Bobby was named after his best friend， his grandfather， Bob.

One of the best things Bob and Bobby did was to play with the old wooden blocks that were kept on a shelf， in the small sewing1 room under the front stairs. The blocks had letters on two sides， numbers on two sides and pictures of animals and other things on the last two sides. Bob and Bobby would slowly， very slowly put the blocks one on top of the other， building at all tower. There were thirty blocks. Sometimes the tower would fall down when only half the blocks were piled up2. Sometimes the tower would be almost finished.

“Just one more block，” Bob would say. “And thats the elephant block，” Bobby would say. And they would carefully put the elephant block on the very top. But Bob would sneeze3 and the tower would fall down. Bobby would laugh and laugh.

“Elephants always make you sneeze， Bob，” Bobby would say， “Well just have to try the next time，” his grandfather would say. Then Bob would sit Bobby on his knee and tell him stories. “Bob， tell me the story about how you taught me to walk，” Bobby would say. And his grandfather would tell Bobby how he held Bobbys hands and said， “Now one foot， now the other.”

Not long after Bobbys fifth birthday， his grandfather got very sick. Bobby came home and his grandfather wasnt there. “Bob is in the hospital，” Dad told Bobby. “Hes had what is called a stroke.” “I want to go see him，” Bobby said. “You cant， honey，” Mom told him， “Right now Bobs too sick to see anyone. He cant move his arms and legs， and he cant talk. The doctors not sure if he knows who anyone is. Well just have to wait and hope Bob gets better.”

Bobby didnt know what to do. He didnt want to eat； he had a hard time going to sleep at night. Bob just had to get better. Months and months went by. Bob was still in the hospital. Bobby missed his grandfather.

One day when Bobby came home from school， his father told him that Bob was coming home. “Bob is still very sick. He cant move or talk. When he sees your mother and me， he still doesnt know who we are， and the doctor doesnt think hell get any better. So， dont be scared if he doesnt remember you.” Dad said. But Bobby was scared. His grandfather didnt remember him. He just lay in bed. And when Dad carried him， Bob sat in a chair. But he didnt talk or even move.

One day， Bob tried to say something to Bobby， but the sound that came out was awful. Bobby ran out of the room. “Bob sounds like a monster4！” Bobby cried. “He cant help it， Bobby，” Mom said. So Bobby went back to the room where Bob was sitting. It looked like a tear was coming down Bobs face. “I didnt mean to run away， Bob. I was scared. Im sorry，” Bobby said， “Do you know who I am？” Bobby thought he saw Bob blink5 his eyes. “Mom， Mom，” Bobby called， “Bob knows who I am.” “Oh， Bobby，” Mom said， “Youre just going to upset yourself. Your grandfather doesnt recognize6 any of us.” But Bobby knew better. He ran to the small sewing room， under the front stairs. He took the blocks off the shelf and ran back to where Bob was sitting. Bobs mouth made a small smile. Bobby began to build the tower. Halfway... Almost to the top... Only one block left.

“OK， Bob，” said Bobby， “Now the elephant block.” And Bob made a strange noise that sounded like a sneeze. The blocks fell down and Bob smiled and moved his fingers up and down. Bobby laughed and laughed. Now he knew that Bob would get better. And Bob did.

When the weather got nice and warm， Dad carried Bob out to a chair set up on the grassland. Bobby sat with him.

Then Bob stood up very slowly. “You. Me. Walk，” said Bob. Bobby knew exactly what Bob wanted to do.

Bobby stood in front of Bob and let Bob lean on his shoulders. “OK， Bob， now one foot.” Bob moved one foot. “Now the other foot.” Bob moved the other.

鲍比的名字源自他最好的朋友——鲍比的爷爷——鲍勃。

鲍勃和鲍比最爱做的事情是玩旧积木，这些积木都放在前门楼梯下的小缝纫室内的一个架子上。积木有两侧是字母，另两侧是数字，剩下两侧是动物和其他图案。鲍勃和鲍比会非常缓慢地把积木一个个堆积起来，搭建成一座高塔。一共有30块积木。有时只堆了一半，积木塔就坍塌了。有时差不多全搭好了。

“再加一块积木。”鲍勃会说。“这是大象图案的积木。”鲍比会说。然后，祖孙两人会小心翼翼地把大象图案的积木放在最顶端，但鲍勃一打喷嚏，积木塔就坍塌了。这时，鲍比就会哈哈大笑。

“鲍勃，大象图案的积木总是让您打喷嚏。”鲍比会说。“我们只好下次再试一试。”爷爷会说。然后，鲍勃就会让鲍比坐在自己的腿上，给他讲故事。“鲍勃，给我讲讲您是如何教我走路的。”鲍比会说。爷爷会告诉鲍比，自己是如何牵着鲍比的双手，然后说：“先挪左脚，再挪右脚。”

鲍比五岁生日过后不久，他的爷爷病得很厉害。某天，鲍比回到家，发现爷爷不在家。“鲍勃住院了。”爸爸告诉鲍比，“他患的病叫中风。”“我想去看望他。”鲍比说。“亲爱的，你不能去。”妈妈告诉他，“现在鲍勃太虚弱了，不能见任何人。他手脚都不能动，也不能说话。医生也不确定他是否认识人。我们只能等待，希望鲍勃的病情能好转。”

鲍比不知道应该做什么。他茶饭不思，夜不能寐。鲍勃必须好起来。几个月飞逝而过，鲍勃仍然住在医院。鲍比想念爷爷了。

一天，鲍比从学校回到家，爸爸告诉他爷爷回家了。“鲍勃仍然非常虚弱。他口不能言，脚不能动。当他看到我和你妈妈时，还不认识我们是谁，医生认为他再也无法康复了。所以，如果他不记得你，别害怕。”爸爸说。但是，鲍比很害怕。爷爷不记得他了。爷爷就躺在床上。爸爸移动他，他就坐在椅子里。他不说话，甚至也不动。

一天，鲍勃试图对鲍比说点什么，但是从爷爷的喉咙里发出的声音听起来很恐怖。鲍比逃出了房间。“爷爷的声音听起来像怪物！”鲍比哭喊道。“他控制不了，鲍比。”妈妈说。因此，鲍比回到鲍勃坐着的房间。似乎有一滴眼泪从鲍勃的脸上滑落下来。“我不是故意要跑出去的，鲍勃。我害怕，对不起。”鲍比说，“您知道我是谁吗？”鲍比认为自己看到爷爷眨眼睛了。“妈妈，妈妈，”鲍比喊道，“鲍勃知道我是谁。”“噢，鲍比，”妈妈说，“你只会让自己心烦意乱。你爷爷认不出我们中的任何人。”但是鲍比更了解实情。他跑进前门楼梯下的小缝纫室，从架子上取下积木，又跑回爷爷坐的地方。鲍勃的嘴角露出一丝微笑。鲍比开始搭积木。搭建了一半……几乎快到塔顶……只差最后一块积木了。

“好了，鲍勃。”鲍比说，“现在放大象图案的积木了。”鲍勃发出一种奇怪的声音，它听起来像是打喷嚏。积木坍塌了，鲍勃笑起来，并上下移动手指。鲍比哈哈大笑。现在他知道鲍勃会康复了，而鲍勃的病情的确在好转。

当天气变得晴朗而温暖时，爸爸把鲍勃抱到室外草坪的椅子上。鲍比和他坐在一起。

然后鲍勃非常缓慢地站起来。“你，我，走。”鲍勃说。鲍比完全明白鲍勃想要做什么。

鲍比站在鲍勃的前面，让鲍勃扶在自己的肩膀上。“好，鲍勃。现在，先挪动左脚。”鲍勃挪动左脚。“再挪动右脚。”鲍勃就挪动了右脚。