One night when my wife was preparing dinner, our little son took a piece of paper to her which read:
For washing the car—$5.00
For making my own bed1 this week—$1.00
Going to the provision shop for you—$0.50
Playing with little sister —$0.25
Taking out the rubbish2—$1.00
Getting a good report card—$5.00
And for sweeping the common corridor3—$2.00
Total—$14.75
His mother looked at him standing there expecting payment. I could see a thousand memories flashed4 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, doctored5 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 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.”
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
本周整理自己的床铺——1美元
代你去食品商店——0.5美元
陪小妹妹玩——0.25美元
外出倒垃圾——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
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——免费
我熬夜陪着你、照顾你、为你祈祷的那些晚上——免费
为你购买的那些玩具、食物、衣服甚至为你擦鼻涕——免费
你把以上累加起来，我为你付出的全部的爱——免费
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“帐单”上写了几个大大的字：“全部还清。”
1. make bed 整理床铺
2． rubbish n． 垃圾
3． corridor n． 走廊
4． flash v． 闪现
5． doctor v． 护理