正文
He was a single father, raising a six-year-old boy alone. Whenever his boy came back hurt after playing with his friend, he would feel deeply sorry for his deceased wife, the low wail（悲伤） surging up within him.
他是一个单身父亲，独自养活一个六岁的儿子。每当孩子和朋友玩耍回来受了伤，他总是觉得对不起过世的太太，忍不住地在心里默默哭泣。
This occurred on the day he was on business, leaving the child alone. In order to catch the train, he hurried out without accompanying his child to breakfast. He was worried about the child all the way and upset, not knowing if he had his meal and cried.
有一天，他要出趟差，只能把孩子独自留在家里。 因为要赶火车，他就着急出了门，没来得及陪孩子吃早餐。一路上他一直担心儿子，心情不好，也不知道他吃饭了没有，有没有哭。
He kept phoning his child even when he arrived at the destination, but his child always sensibly（聪明的） told him not worry to about him. However, because he was worried and upset, he set foot on the way home after he hastily（匆忙地） handled the affairs.
到站后，他不住地给儿子打电话，孩子却懂事地告诉他别担心。可是，他还是放心不下，就匆忙处理了公事，踏上回家的旅程。
When he got home and saw the child had slept soundly（睡得很香）, he sighed with relief. The journey made him tired out. When he was about to sleep, he was startled to find there was an overturned bowl of soaked noodles under the quilt.
到家后，他看到孩子已经睡着了，睡得很香。他欣慰地叹了口气，这样的行程可把他累坏了。正要去睡觉的时候，他惊讶地发现被子里翻扣着一碗泡好的面条。
“This child!” Flying into rage, he fiercely spanked （掴）his son sleeping soundly. “Why aren"t you obedient to anger daddy? You are so naughty, making the quilt dirty! Who will wash it for you?” It was the first time he punished his boy after his wife"s death.
“这孩子！”他的火气一下子就上来了，当下打醒了睡得正香的儿子。“你怎么这么不听话，总惹爸爸生气？你太淘气了！被子弄脏了，谁给你洗啊？”自从妻子过世以后，他这还是第一次教训孩子。
“I haven"t...” the child argued as he whimpered. “I"m not naughty. This...this is the supper for daddy.”
“我没有不听话……”孩子呜咽地反驳道，“我没有淘气。这……这是我给爸爸做的晚餐。”
It turned out that in order to coordinate the hour of daddy"s return, the child soaked two bowls of noodles, one for himself, the other for daddy. Because he was afraid his daddy"s noodle turned cold, he placed it under the quilt to keep it hot.
原来，孩子为了配合爸爸回家的时间，泡了两碗面，一碗自己吃，一碗给爸爸吃。他怕爸爸的面条凉了，才把面放在被子里保温的。
Hearing that, Daddy hugged his boy tightly without a word.
听到这话，爸爸无言以对，一下把儿子紧紧抱住。
生词
wail [weɪl] n.痛哭；哭声
whimper [ˈwɪmpə(r)] n.呜咽
对大人来讲，被子是家务劳动中再平常不过的保洁对象，对孩子来说，那可是爱心的绝佳保温箱。
