Cost of Love
2006-05-11刘小斌
刘小斌
One night when my wife was preparing dinner,our little son took a piece of paper to her which read:
For washing the car……$5.00For making my own room this week……$1.00
Going to the provision shop……$0.50Playing with little sister……$0.25
Taking out the rubbish……$1.00Getting a good report card……$5.00
And for sweeping the common corridor……$2.00
Total……$14.75
His mother looked at him standing there expecting payment.I could see a thousand memories flashed through her mind.So she picked up the pen and turning the paper over,this is what she wrote:
For 9 months I carried you,growing inside me……No Charge
For the nights I sat up with you,doctored and prayed for you……No Charge
For the toys,food and clothes and wiping your nose……No Charge
When you add it all up,the full cost of my love……No Charge
Well,when he finished reading,he had great big tears in his eyes.He looked at his mother and said,“Mummy,I love you.”Then he took the pen and in great big letters wrote on the“bill”“All paid”.
母爱无价
一天晚上,妻子在厨房准备晚餐的时候,我们的小儿子拿着一张纸走向他母亲。上面写道:洗车……5美元;本周整理我的房间……1美元;去商店……0.5美元;照管小妹妹……0.25美元;倒垃圾……1美元;成绩报告单获得良好……5美元;打扫通道……2美元;总计应得……14.75美元。
他母亲看着儿子满怀希望地站在那儿等着拿钱。我能看到她脑子里翻腾着记忆的浪花。她拿起钢笔把儿子写过的纸翻过来,在上面写道:你呆在我的腹中,我为你怀胎9月……无价;多少个夜里我带着你求医、为你祈祷……无价;为你准备玩具、食物、衣服甚至为你擦鼻涕……无价;儿子,你把以上所有的累加起来,那是我为你付出的全部的爱……无价。
儿子读完母亲写的话,双眼含着豆大的泪花。他看着他的妈妈说:“妈妈,我爱你。”他拿出钢笔在他的“账单”上大大地写上:“全部还清。”
Questions:
1.What did the son write the list for?
2.Why did the son have tears in his eyes at last?
3.What can we learn from the passage?