写完最后一张捐款支票，老爸看了一下银行户头的balance, 拿起女儿打印出来的大学一年两万八千的费用清单，告诉老妈：我们有足够能付女儿第一年的学费。看来，我们得大量减少往退休金账户存钱了。一向不过问家里账单的老妈担心地问：能支撑下去吗？。。。
吃晚饭的时候，老爸就开始了家庭财经会议：“So, everybody, I looked our financial situation for next 5 years, it is going to be tough, but manageable. Dad and mom will have to stop saving for retirement, and transfer the money to J.J.'s college cost. We are going to cut some of our budget, such as J.J.'s piano lesson and dinning in restaurant. Mom recently changed job and took the option of hourly-pay so she can work extra hours. J.J. will have to share more responsibility at home for mom， so mom can have more time to work. J.J. will also take part-time job in college and full-time job during summer break. It is dad and mom's priority to get J.J. out of college debt-free. Little brother's job is keeping working hard in school. We may have to compromise some of our joy, but not our family value. ”
“So we are still supporting grand parents in China, right?”女儿看着老爸刚刚打点好，准备寄给奶奶的药物包裹，问老爸。
“Of course, it is my obligation.”老爸回答。
“Then, are you and mom expecting me to support you when you retire, and brother when he is in college?”女儿开老爸的玩笑了。
“It is different to my mom and grandma and grandpa in Shanghai. They had no chance to save for their retirement. For your mom and I, if we had to depend on you, it would be a failure for me. So I will take care of my own retirement. I do hope you can help your brother out by the time he goes to college. However, how much is your decision. Don;t worry the long-term future yet. The best you can do for the next few years is working hard. If you can finish the college in 4 years ( 5 years program) or work hard to get some scholarships.”老爸告诉女儿。
儿子说：“But, dad, I still have a Subway award coupon from school. It is free. So I can still go to restaurant for it, right?”
“Sure, sure. If you keep earning this type of coupon, you are honored to go. Mom will take you there for this type of award. If you work hard now, you may earn a free college ride in the future.”老爸让儿子宽心。
“You have to be the No.1 to get college free, right? J.J did not get it. It is pretty hard, I guess.”儿子问。
“They are many No.1s, No.1 from your class, No.1 from your school, or even from your school district. So, you have to keep working hard.”老爸给儿子解释。
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等老爸老妈上床了，老妈说：“让你早点开始节省点，你不听吧。现在要紧张了吧。”
“真是妇人之见！天天那么节省，还有什么活头？这叫有张有弛。呵呵，老爸的啤酒钱要出问题了。好在今年把菜园子建起来了，希望能供应家里一半的蔬菜啊。。。”
哎，这油盐菜米的日子呀，“账房先生”最难当。
（５／１８／２００８）
