佚名/Anonymous
It', thesnowswirlingaroundthecedartreesoutside, forcinglittleiciclestoformatthetipsofthedeepgreenfoliageclingingtothebranches.
Myolderson, Stephen, wasatschool, andReed, myhusband, , , creatinghisowninsigniawithstarsandstripes, whileSamworkedonaself-portrait, hischubbyhandsdrawingfirstahead, , Tomoccasionallytutoringhisyoungerbrotheronexactlyhowtomakeaplanethatwouldflytheentirelengthoftheroom.
ButLaura, ouronlydaughter, satquietly, , , shewouldaddflowerswithsmallgreenstems, , , sheletoutalongsighofsatisfaction.
“Whatareyoumaking, Honey?”Iasked.
Sheglancedatherbrothersbeforelookingbackatme:
“It'sasurprise.”shesaid, coveringupherworkwithherhands.
Next, shetapedthetoptwoedgesofeachsheetofpapertogether, , shedisappearedupthestairswithhertreasure.
Itwasn'tuntillaterthateveningthatInoticeda“mailbox”tapedontothedoorstoeachofourbedrooms, 'tforgottenSamorbabyPaul.
Forthenextfewweeks, 'sletters, pageafterpageofcoloredscenesincludingflowerswithhappyfaces.
“Hecan'treadyet,”shewhispered.“Buthecanlookatthepictures.”
EachtimeIreceivedoneofmylittlegirl'sgifts, itbrightenedmyheart.
, , therewasamessagethankingmeformyefforts, completewithasmilefacetuckednearthebottomcornerofthepage.
Thissamelittlegirlisgrownnow, , Ifoundalovenotenexttomybedside.
“Thanksforalwaysbeingthereforme, Mom,”itread.“I'mgladthatwe'rethebestoffriends.”
Icouldn', Ilivewithone.
11年前，那是一个寒冬的下午，窗外，大片的雪花绕着雪松盘旋飞舞，枝头深绿色的叶尖上挂着小小的冰柱。
