It was Mother's Day. John was so busy with his work that he couldn't go back home. When he passed by a flower shop in the evening, an idea came to his mind. "I'll send Mum some roses (玫瑰)."
While John was picking his flowers, a young man went inside. "How many roses can I get for only five dollars, Madam?" he asked. The salesgirl told him roses were as expensive as forty dollars a dozen (一打). Maybe he would be happy with carnations (康乃馨). She told him they were much cheaper than roses.
"No, I have to have red roses," he said, "My mum was badly ill last year and I didn't spend much time with her. Now I want to get something special. It has to be roses. Roses are her favorite."
After hearing this, John said he would pay the rest of the money for the young man. Moved by both of them, the salesgirl said, "Well, lovely young men, thirty dollars a dozen, only for you two." Taking the roses, the young man jumped with joy. He thanked John, and ran out of the shop. It was well worth twenty-five dollars John paid to see the exciting moment. Then John paid for his dozen of roses and told the salesgirl to send them to his mother.
As he walked out, he felt nice. Suddenly he saw the young man crossing the street and going into a park. But soon he realized it was not a park but a cemetery (墓地). Crying, the young man carefully laid the roses, "Mum, oh, Mum, why didn't I tell you how much I loved you? God, please help me find my mum and tell her I love her."
Seeing this, John turned and quickly walked back to the shop. He would take the flowers home himself.
