No Charge

  Our little boy came up to his mother in the kitchen one evening while she was fixing supper，and handed her a piece of paper that he had been writing on. After his mom dried her hands on an apron，she read it，and this is what it said：

 For cutting the grass $5.00

 For cleaning up my room this week $1. 00

　For going to the store for you $0. 50

　Baby－sitting my kid brother while you went shopping $0. 25

 Taking out the garbage $1. 00

　For getting a good report card $5. 00

　For cleaning up and raking the yard $2. 00

　Total owed： $14.75

分文不收

   一天晚上我们的小儿子来到厨房，他妈妈正在那儿做晚饭。他递给妈妈一张已经写好字的纸。妈妈在围裙上擦干手后，看到上面写着：

    割草 ５美元

　　本周打扫自己的房间 １美元

　　替你跑商店 ５0美分

　　当你购物时看护小弟弟 ２５美分

　　倒垃圾 １美元

　　拿到优异的成绩单 ５美元

　　清理庭园并耙草、叶 ２美元

　　总计：１４. ７５美元

Well，I’ll tell you，his mother looked at him standing there expectantly，and boy，could I see the memories flashing through her mind. So she picked up the pen，turned over the paper he’d written on，and this is what she wrote：

 For the nine months I carried you while you were growing inside me，No Charge.

For all the nights that I’ve sat up with you，doctored and prayed for you，No Charge.

　  好的，我告诉你，他妈妈看到他期待地站在边上，孩子，我怎么能想到她灵光一闪。拿起笔，把那张纸翻过来，她写道：

　　在我肚子里怀你９个月，让你慢慢长大，一分都不收。

　　为你熬的每个夜晚，照料呵护你，一分都不收。

For all the trying times，and all the tears that you’ve caused through the years，there’s No Charge.

For all the nights that were filled with dread，and for the worries I knew were ahead，No Charge.

For the toys，food，clothes，and even wiping your nose，there’s No Charge，Son.

When you add it all up，the cost of my love is No Charge.

　Well，friends，when our son finished reading what his mother had written，there were great big old tears in his eyes，and he looked straight up at his mother and said：“Mom，I sure do love you. ”And then he took the pen and in great big letters he wrote：“PAID IN FULL”.

   多年来由你引起的难熬时光以及为你流的泪，一分都不收。

   为充满恐惧和担心的日日夜夜，一分都不收。

   玩具、食物、衣服，还有给你擦鼻子，一分都没收，孩子。

　　当你把所有这些全部加起时，我全部的真爱，一分都不收。

   朋友，当我们的儿子读完他妈妈写的这些，在他的眼睛中闪烁着晶莹的泪花，他抬头看着他妈妈说：“妈妈，我真的爱你。”然后，他拿起笔写了几个大大的字：“全部偿付”。姚俊兵 摘译