Sometimes I really doubt whether there is love between my parents. Every day they are very busy trying to earn money in order to pay the high tuition for my brother and me.They don't act in the romantic ways that I read in books or I see on TV.In their opinion，“I love you”is too luxurious for them to say.Sending flowers to each other on Valentine’s Day is even more out of the question.
One day, my mother was sewing a quilt. I silently sat down beside her and looked at her.
“Mom, is there love between you and Dad?”I asked her in a very low voice.
My mother stopped her work and raised her head with surprise in her eyes. She didn't answer immediately.Then she bowed her head and continued to sew the quilt.
I was in a great embarrassment because I thought I had hurt her. But at last I heard my mother say the following words：
“Susan, look at this thread. Sometimes it appears, but most of it disappears in the quilt.The thread really makes the quilt strong and durable.If life is a quilt, then love should be a thread.It can hardly be seen anywhere or anytime, but it’s really there.Love is inside.”
Once I thought love meant flowers, gifts and sweet kisses.But from my mother, I understand that love is just a thread in the quilt of our life.Love is inside, making life strong and warm.
-surprise [səˈpraɪz]n.惊奇；惊喜 vt.使惊奇；使惊喜；突然袭击
典型例句
It won’t surprise me if they get married very soon.
即使他们很快就结婚，我也不会感到意外。
最常用法
to one’s surprise 使……惊奇的是
in surprise 惊异地
with surprise 惊异地
be surprised at 对……感到吃惊
be surprised to do sth.会惊讶地做某事
联想记忆
surprising adj.令人惊讶的，出人意料的
surprised adj.惊讶的，吃惊的，惊奇的
surprisedly adv.惊奇地；诧异地
amaze vt.使吃惊；使惊异
shock n.震惊 v.使震惊；使震动
amazement n.惊愕；惊异
-bow [baʊ]n.弓；鞠躬礼 v.鞠躬；致敬；压弯
典型例句
He moved aside for her with a polite bow.
他礼貌地鞠躬，退避一旁让她过去。
最常用法
bow one’s head 低头
bow one's thanks 鞠躬致谢
bow the neck to 向……低头屈服
bow to 向……鞠躬，屈从于
联想记忆
bend vt.弯曲
-appear [əˈpɪr]vi.出现；出版；显得；好像
典型例句
She appeared very confident.
她显得很自信。
最常用法
appear healthy 看起来健康
appear（to be）a true story 好像是一个真实的故事
It appears that……
There appear（s）……
联想记忆
disappear vi.消失；不见；失踪
appearance n.出现；露面；外貌；外表；出场
disappearance n.消失；失踪；绝迹
有时候，我真的怀疑父母之间是否有真爱。他们天天忙于赚钱，为我和弟弟支付学费。他们从未像我在书中读到，或在电视中看到的那样互诉衷肠。他们认为“我爱你”太奢侈，很难说出口。更不用说在情人节送花这样的事了。
一天，母亲正在缝被子，我静静地坐在她旁边看着她。
过了一会，我低声地问道：“妈妈，你和爸爸之间有没有爱情啊？”
母亲突然停下了手中的活，满眼诧异地抬起头。她没有立即作答。然后低下头，继续缝被子。
我非常尴尬，觉得伤害了她。不过，后来我听见母亲说：
“苏珊，看看这些线。有时候，你能看得见，但是大多数都隐藏在被子里。这些线使被子坚固耐用。如果生活就像一床被