Susan and Nicholas met me at the airport. I was happy to see Susan and also pleased with the knowledge that I was about to become highly esteemed in Nicholas' eyes. I waited to reveal the contents of my suitcase until we arrived at their apartment.
"I have something for you, Nicholas," I said. "Would you like to help me get it out?"
He rummaged through my stuff. Upon seeing a plastic bottle, he grabbed it and ran out of the room.
"Mom, look what I got!" he shouted. "It's the jelly I like! Mom, can you make me a peanut butter and jelly sandwich? Maura brought me jelly!"
He came back to where I was with bright, happy eyes, but no jelly.
"Mom's going to make me a sandwich," he informed me. "Do you want one?"
I declined the offer, but felt a wave of love for this boy who could be so excited by something so simple in his complicated world. I also felt grateful to Susan for providing me with the insider's tip on how to bond with her son. But the memory I'll cherish most came at the end of my visit, as Susan and Nicholas bid me farewell at the airport. I knelt down to give Nicholas a big hug and kiss goodbye.
"Thank you for bringing me jelly, Maura," he said. "I'm going to invite you to my next birthday party."
I'm not sure what city-or country-that birthday party will be in, but I'm going to try my best to be there.
果冻奇缘
“天气很暖和，你不用带冬天的衣服，”苏珊在电子邮件里写道。“还有一件事，你能不能给我们带一瓶威尔治牌的葡萄果冻？这里的商店没有这种牌子的果冻，尼古拉斯很想吃花生酱果冻三文治。”
尼古拉斯今年四岁。他的妈妈苏珊得到一个千载难逢的机会，到香港工作半年。这对许多人而言可能是一个令人跃跃欲试的挑战，但是对于尼古拉斯来说，搬去香港就像一次考试，看他能否让妈妈为新居重新添上家的感觉。幸好，香港的电视也有卡通频道，麦当劳餐厅更是无所不在。可是，即使是尼古拉斯也不能光靠吃开心乐园餐过日子。他需要一些尽管微不足道，却能一解思乡之愁的食物：像花生酱果冻三文治。
早在离开这个白面包三文治统领的国度之前，苏珊已经邀请我去香港看望她。我觉得这是个不可错过的好机会。苏珊天生就是个四海为家的人。每次她告诉我新住址的时候，总是说用铅笔记下就行了。尼古拉斯到过的地方早就比我多。他已经在国内四个州住过，并且深得妈妈的真传，领会到旅行的艺术。他和妈妈两人成为一个小而全的行动组。苏珊对于轻装上路的追求可谓彻底，连丈夫都早在两次迁居之前丢掉了：因为行李太重了。
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