For years I dreamed of having the sort of massive oak slab that would dominate a room—no more child's desk in a trailer laundry-closet, no more cramped kneehole in a rented house.

多年以来，我一直梦想那种巨大的厚做的书桌，占据书最显要的位置——再窝在拖车屋的洗衣台上，再在租来的子里憋屈着膝盖。