儿子的生日礼物 — 俩张薄纸让我掉泪，让我终生难忘！

明天又要过生日了，要发生什么事情现在还是个未知数，不过去年的生日让我过得终生难忘，因为我得到了儿子给我的一份儿特殊礼物 — 俩张纸，就是这俩片儿薄纸让我掉泪。

我先给大家讲个我和儿子的故事然后再回来说这俩张纸。

2008年6月27号我要带我当时10岁的大儿子Aaron乘飞机去Columbus，Ohio 参加 Pokemon 全国比赛，Pokemon 是一种日本发明的像扑克牌的游戏，很流行，不但孩子玩儿成人也玩儿，我儿子对此游戏玩儿得走火入魔，这次要参加全国比赛，他早就磨拳擦掌，盼望这一刻的到来，我提前打洋下班，约6：00pm 带着儿子开车去了JFK机场，我们办好了一切手续就等登机，这时还有一点儿时间，儿子拿出他那些宝贝卡片摆了满地，当地开始练兵，我有点儿累，正在打盹儿，忽然儿子推醒我说，爸爸我们的航班被取消了，我说，不可能吧，刚才天气还好好的，我上前问了柜台小姐，确认是被取消了而且明天第一航班是9：00am，可比赛也是9：00am开始，这该怎么办？我儿子的脸马上变得唰白，眼泪夺眶而出，我看到他这个样子真心疼，看了一下表这时是8：35pm，于是我马上做了一个决定：开车去！我对儿子说：“Don’t worry。I’ll make you happy。” 他说：“How?” 我说，现在离比赛开始还有10个小时多一点儿，咱们开车去！儿子听到这一消息后跳起来抱着我大亲一口，我们赶快回家换车，我太太坚决不同意我们这样做觉得我会太累怕出事，我的主意拿定是雷打不动的，没听她的劝告我们换了大车就上了路，这时已9：00多了，我和儿子都长长出了一口气，儿子再三谢我並劝我不要太累了，我对他讲，咱俩现在分工，我的任务是开车，你的任务是睡觉，他说好，可他兴奋的哪里能睡的着？我说那好吧，咱们聊天，我们俩就这样聊呀聊呀，在我的记忆中这晚是我俩单独聊天时间最长的一次，我们谈了好多好多，儿子实在撑不住了，悄悄地睡着了，途中我回头看了他几次，看到他睡的那么甜，那么香，脸上还挂着笑容，我真的感到好欣慰啊。从纽约到 Columbus 大约有600miles，如果按正常速度开是绝对赶不到的，反正是晚上，为了儿子我就冒一次险吧，我一路都是在100MPH以上，一开始我还在数我超了多少车明天好给儿子摆摆功，可超得太多了，哪里能记得住？途中我停车打了俩个盹儿並加了油，加起来也不过2小时，一路还算顺利，天刚朦朦亮，可就在我正得意时，忽然听到有警车鸣笛声，坏了！来逮我来了，我赶快叫醒儿子，确定安全带是系好的並告诉他可能要吃超速发单了，我停下车后警察要了我的驾照，保险单后问我为什么大清早起开这么快？我说没感觉到快呀，我问他多快？他说都快到110了还说不快，我告诉他都是为了儿子去参加比赛，飞机没飞上才开这么快，他好像对 Pokemon 也挺感兴趣，我说能不能快点开单？笑眯眯地对我说稍等，还好，他按照我的“指示”很快就开完了递给我罚单並说没按全价开，让我千万小心前面还有警察埋伏，我可没听他的，一路还是那么快甚至更快。很幸运9：00am刚过，我们到达了目地的，我将车停在大楼前提起行李，锁车就和儿子往里冲，我俩以百米速度连喊代叫地跑到登记处询问，得知比赛还没开始，这下我俩可高兴得不得了，Yes！We made it。（High 5！}进去比赛大厅让我吃惊，哇！这么大的厅我从未见过，这么多的人我从未见过，这么壮观的比赛场面我也从未见过，儿子一进去就不认我了，我也不知道从哪来的那么多的孩子们和成人们都向他打招呼，我问他认识这些人吗？他说都是在平时小比赛和网上认识的，我说你真行！这时我忽然想起了我的车，我让儿子在这玩儿，我去取车登记 Hotel 睡觉去。下午我去看他，他以进入前几名可以参加明天的决赛，第二天他取得了全国前16名的好成绩有资格参加 Florida 的世界比赛。比赛结束了，我俩还是那么兴奋，他兴奋是他可以参加世界比赛了，我兴奋是我为儿子做了一件大事。回家途中我们是那样的轻松，那样的愉快。儿子忽然对我说：“爸爸我要将这次遇险记写一篇文章因为它太有意义了。”我鼓励他好好写给我看看。回家太太见到我的第一句话是：“老公，Super Man！创举！”我笑着对她说：“为了儿子，值得！”事后几周了也没见儿子拿出他的历险记来，我催他，他说在写，又等了好久还是没影儿，我失望了，就把这事给搁到一边了。

我生日的那天晚上，准备开饭之前，我儿子忽然递给我俩张纸说是给我的生日礼物，一看，让我大吃了一惊，我盼望已久的历险记终于问世了！我对儿子说这样吧，我的眼睛不好使，你读给我们听好吗？他很正规地站在我面前开始读他的大作，太太给我们摄像，二儿子在旁边认真地听着，我听着听着眼睛模糊了，我听着听着眼泪夺眶而出，这时老二笑咪咪地说，终于看到爸爸哭了，我以为爸爸不会哭呢。真的，每次一想到这儿，我都忍不住要掉泪。他写得那么真诚，那么感人，我是含着泪水写完这篇日志的。在此我要说谢谢你 — 儿子，你给我的礼物是世界上最好的，爸爸爱你！爸爸爱你们！我也要为你们哥儿俩祝福，祝你们健康，快乐，向上，成才！这时我忽然想起了印度裔笑话大王Russell Peters 的一句话 “ Be a man，do the right thing！”（下面是我儿子的大作，当时他只有10岁，后来才知他的这篇文章写作老师给打了个A+）。

 Aaron Zheng

The Road to Columbus: A New World

         Devouring my ham and cheese sandwich with a Sprite by my side, I was happily thinking of the next two days ahead of me; just my dad and me. While waiting impatiently at the airport, I started to wish the time would pass faster. It just seemed to drag on and on.

      “Dad! Look! Only one more hour before we finally leave! I just can’t wait!” I exclaimed, starting to jump up and down with bursts of joy. I started to count every second, every minute on my watch.

     It was Friday, June 27th. My dad and I were patiently waiting at the JFK airport for our flight to Columbus, Ohio. We were scheduled to leave at 7:14 p.m. and get there around 9 p.m. We were going to Ohio for something I had been awaiting for months: The Pokémon Trading Card Game National Championships.

      Pokémon was a game I loved. I breathed it; I lived it. With little cute creatures interacting with each other, the TCG (Trading Card Game) is played by kids who put packs of cards, contanting nine or ten cards each. There are tournaments throughout the year where people play for prizes and fun.

      However, some think Pokémon is a waste of time; and that the idea of a pre-teen playing it is ridiculous. Even my own friends question why I lay, but I don’t care about what they have to say. I was enticed by the game when I saw it played for the first time. Now here I was, ready to play in what was going to be the largest Pokémon tournament in history. The Pokémon TCG National Championships is an annual held at a gaming convention called Origins Game Fair in Columbus, Ohio.

  Sitting there in my seat at the airport, I could not stand it anymore! Only thirty minutes remained before we boarded. I was anxious; to me, time seemed frozen. I was so captivated that I didn’t at first notice a slight change in our flight departure.

  “Dad, Dad, oh no! Our flight just got delayed fifteen minutes!” I exclaimed with a hint of panic.

   “Don’t you worry, Aaron. At least our flight is not canceled,” my dad replied, relieving me of some stress. However, I once again started to panic, as one by one, more flight delays and cancellations were announced.

  Soon, my dad fell asleep. Irritation was slowly building. Expected departure was no 8:39. We had been delayed for over an hour now. Tears of anger started to form in my eyes. What I expected to be the perfect weekend was definitely not starting in the way I wanted it to. To pass the time, I stared at the large window before me, observing the gloomy world beyond. Drizzling raindrops seemed to mock my desperation. I started counting the raindrops hitting the window panel one by one, before finally tis shattering announcement was made:

  “The 7:14 trip from New York to Columbus, Ohio, has been canceled. Please go up to the front desk in order to rebook your tickets.”

   I quickly woke up my dad, who was still sleeping, to tell him the horrendous and shocking news. I could tell from my dad’s facial expressions he was not pleased. His bright grin suddenly changed into an ugly frown. However, my dad made a decision right there and then that completely changed how I looked upon him and my feelings toward him.

   ‘Come on, Aaron, let’s hurry home and take the car. We can still make it just in time!”

   My jaw dropped open. My dad, who had just worked an eight0hour day, was willing to drive another nine hours to Ohio, just for me. Thought I was amazed and touched by my father’s offer, I also felt guilt. My dad was obviously exhausted from a long day’s work. But he didn’t just disappoint me and leave my hopes crashing. No, my dad offered me to drive the long trek to Ohio in one night. My dad and I did not have the closest relationship prior to his, and I never got to see him much. He spent most of his time working, and when I’d leave for school, he’d be sleeping.

  After we returned from the airport, my parents argued about the trip. Just to see them even argue hurt me. However, my dad kept on insisting, and reluctantly, my mom finally conceded.

  At around 8:30 p.m., we left our house and started on our long journey. I couldn’t express how happy I was, and how much what my father was doing for me meant to me at that moment. As we passed through the lively Manhattan traffic, I was stunned at how beautiful my own city looked at night.

  “Aaron! Look at how beautiful the lights are! Aren’t they just amazing?” my father remarked.

  “Yep! I never knew they were so astounding,” I responded as we passed through the glowing Times Square, Broadway shows such as the very popular Young Frankenstein, and famous retail stores. (Sometimes, we take it for granted we live in such a wonderful, cosmopolitan city. The lively lights, the stunning signs: I had come to realize what a great city I lived in.)

   During the first half hour, fear loomed above me. I feared we were going to crash. My dad, noticing me, advised me to get some sleep. Reluctantly, I accepted.

   We only took two one-hour breaks during the long journey to Ohio. The ride was quiet, and it seemed like the only people in the whole world were my dad and I. Soon, we sparked a conversation about our lives. We spoke from our hearts, and all of it made me appreciate my father even more.

  The ride seemed endless, and I was nervous now, and we still had seventy miles to go. To add to the anxiety, we got a speeding ticket on the way there which took a huge dent out of our time. Our car also stank now, since we hopelessly ran over a skunk.

  “Dad, dad, are we going to make it?!” I blurted out.

  “Take it easy Aaron, we’re almost there,” my dad replied.

  Finally, we arrived in Columbus at 9:00 a.m., with ten minutes to spare before registration closed. I was the last one to make it in the tournament. I was flabbergasted we made it in time, amazed too that my dad survived the long and gruesome journey. We did it. Soon, the story of our long, last-minute road trip had spread, and everyone knew about it. But only my Dad and I knew the complete story. It was our journey, and only our journey.  It is a memory I will never forget.

Aaron Zheng