One of my kids had got sick on a cold and stormy night, and I had to take him to the nearest hospital. When the poor boy experiencing his bad uncomfortable disease, I had to wait  as I had nothing to do to help him. The doctor told us that he should stay in the hospital for several hours until they were sure nothing was wrong with him.

If you had to wait for something that took long hours, you would feel bored. So I seated myself by the boy, and took out my handset, and tried to spend my time, as long as I couldn’t comfort him. But just at that moment, I was attracted by a couple’s talk.

They were taking care of an old lady, who seemed to had a serious illness and lay on the bed quietly. Maybe it was even more difficult for them to spend the long night. Their patient need longer time to recover. So they complained to each other with low voice.

One of them, the woman, said,” Why hasn’t your brother come here? Just because he is earning more money?”

The other replied,” He was always too busy.”

“Busy? Aren’t we busy?”

“Yeah, we are busy ,too. But we can spare some time to stay with our mother.”

“Our mother? She’s yours! And your brother’s!”

“If you don’t feel happy to stay here , you can go.”

“You ask me to go? “

“If you like, you can go.”

“Then you will look after your mother with your brother, won’t you.”

The man said with a little anger,” I would never beg anyone to look after my mother with me.”

When the woman wanted to talk more, the man’s brother, walked into  the room. After a few minutes’ hesitation, he walked towards them. The old lady still lay in the bed quietly, but this time, her eye opened. She just lay in the bed quietly, as what happened beside her had nothing to do with her. Maybe what’s more, as I guessed, the sickness made her so painful that she could not even say  a word.

“Mum, how are you feeling now?”

“Listen, how sweet your words are! Since you love your mother so much, why shouldn’t you spare some time to take care of your mother?”

The man ignored her, he said to his mother,” would you like something to eat?”

His brother said,” Stay with our mother. She needs us.”

“Sorry, you see, our business requires me to go with whole power.”

“But mum is more important than money!”

“Sorry, what I could say now, is … to hope you understand me. “ He took out some bills and passed them to his brother,” if not enough, I would bring more. But I beg you to understand me.”

“But who would understand your tired brother, and your sick and lonely mother?”

That rich man had nothing to say for a few minutes, then he turned to his mother,” Mum, I have to go now. One of my key customers is waiting in my office. “

“Go! Never come back!” The poor man burst into shouter. The people in the room looked at them unhappily.

The rich brother went out, not happily.

The wife also went out, saying nothing with his husband.

The old lady lay in her bed, quietly, looking up at the ceiling.

The poor man stood up, picked up the money which his brother left on the table near the bed.

At last, the old lady said to her son,” if you are busy, go to deal with your business first. Just leave me here.”

“You’re my mother. If I go, who would care for you. I can understand him, he is really busy.”

“ I’m so sorry to give you so much trouble.”

“But less than the trouble we gave you during our growing. Don’t worry, I will always stay with you. It might be a good idea that your bigger son stay with you and take care of you, and your little son gives you a lot of money.”

The old lady smiled with tears in her eyes ,”Silly!”