One evening,when my wife was preparing dinner in the kitchen,our little son came up to his mom with a piece of paper in his hand,which said:

For washing the car.$5.00

For making my own bed this week.$1.00

Going to the provision¹ shop$0.50

Playing with little sister ..$0.25

Taking out the rubbish..$1.00

Getting a good report card..$5.00

And for sweeping² the common corridor³..$2.00

Total $14.75

His mother looked at him standing⁴ there expecting payment⁵. 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."

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

为你去商店--------------------0.5美元

照管小妹妹-------------------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

他母亲看着他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月是无价的；

我陪伴着你为你求医、为你祈祷的那些晚上是无价的；

为你准备玩具、食物、衣服甚至为你擦鼻涕，那是无价的，儿子，

你把以上所有的累加起来，我为你付出的全部的爱是无价的。

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"上用大写字母写道："全部还清。"