You are in the softest place in my heart

Author: He Chengwei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: Buying Time
Father came home late from work and found his six-year-old son waiting by the door. "Dad, can I ask you a question?" the tired father said, "What question?" The son asked, "How much do you earn per hour?" The father grew a bit angry and said, "That's none of your concern. Why are you asking?" The son pleaded, "I just want to know, Dad. Please tell me."
"Alright, I'll tell you. I earn $20 per hour. Are you satisfied now?" "Oh," the son lowered his head and hesitated, "Dad, can you lend me $10?"
This time, the father truly lost his temper. He said, "What do you need money for? Are you going to buy toys or snacks? Go back to your room and think about why you're so selfish!" The son, feeling wronged, went back to his room and closed the door.
After a while, the father calmed down and realized he shouldn't have lost his temper. He thought his son rarely asked for money, so maybe he should satisfy his wish this time. So, the father gently entered his son's room and said, "I may have been too harsh on you just now. I let out all the frustration I had at work today. Here's the $10 you wanted. Take it."
The son happily took the money and said, "Thank you, Dad." Then, he took some crumpled bills from under his pillow and put them together with the $10.
The father noticed his son's strange and almost lost his temper again. At this moment, the son held the money in front of his father and said with a proud smile, "I didn't have enough money before, but now I do. Dad, this is $20. Can I buy an hour of your time from you? Please come home earlier tomorrow. I want to have dinner with you."
P18-19