Big Family

After an overnight flight to meet my father at his latest military assignment，my mother wearily arrived at Rhein-Main Air Base in Germany with my eight siblings¹ and me—all under age 11．Collecting our many suitcases，the ten of us entered the cramped² customs area．A young customs official watched our entourage in disbelief，“Ma’am，”he said，“do all these children and this luggage belong to you？”“Yes，sir，”my mother said with a sigh，“they’re all mine．”

The customs agent began his interrogation，“Ma’am，do you have any weapons，contraband or illegal drugs in your possession？”

“Sir，”she calmly answered，“if I’d had any of those items，I would have used them by now．”

大家庭

最近，在我父亲执行一次军事任务时，我们坐了一整夜飞机去与他相见，妈妈带着我们兄弟姐妹共九人，疲惫不堪地到达了位于德国境内的莱茵一美因空军基地——我们的年龄都在11岁以下。我们拿着自己的行李，走到了狭窄的海关检查口。一个年轻的海关官员疑惑地看着我们。“女士，”他说，“这些孩子和行李都是你的？”“是的，先生，”妈妈叹息道，“他们都是我的。”

海关官员询问道：“女士，你带有武器、走私品或违禁药品吗？”

“先生，”她平静地答道，“如果我带了这些东西，自己早就用了。”