父亲的一句承诺“无论发生什么事情，我总会跟你一起”，给了孩子无限的勇气，不仅救了自己，还救了班里的其他孩子。

No matter what happens, I'll always be there for you!

In order to survive the hazards of life it is necessary for us to have people who we can rely on. Whether as a helping¹ hand or a shoulder to cry on, we are all in need of people who serve as our source of comfort. We ourselves may serve as this comfort for others. In giving our hearts to those we care about, we promise to always be there for them.

In 1989 an 8.2 earthquake almost flattened² America, killing³ over 30,000 people in less than four minutes. In the midst of utter devastation⁴ and chaos⁵, a father left his wife safely at home and rushed to the school where his son was supposed to be, only to discover that the building was flat. 

After the unforgettable initial shock, he remembered the promise he had made to his son: "No matter what, I'll always be there for you!" Tears began to fill his eyes. As he looked at the pile of ruins that once was the school, it looked hopeless, but he kept remembering his commitment to his son. 

He began to direct his attention towards where he walked his son to class at school each morning. Remembering that his son's classroom would be in the back right corner of the building, he rushed there and started digging through the ruins. 

As he was digging, other helpless parents arrived, clutching their hearts, saying: "My son! My daughter!" Other well-meaning parents tried to pull him off what was left of the school, saying: "It's too late! They're all dead! You can't help! Go home! Come on, face reality, there's nothing you can do!" 

To each parent he responded with one line: "Are you going to help me now?" And then he continued to dig for his son, stone by stone. The fire chief showed up and tried to pull him off the school's ruins saying, "Fires are breaking out, explosions are happening everywhere. You're in danger. We'll take care of it. Go home." To this, the loving, caring American father asked, "Are you going to help me now?" 

The police came and said, "You're angry, anxious and it's over. You're endangering others. Go home. We'll handle it!" To which he replied, "Are you going to help me now?" No one helped. 

Courageously he went on alone because he needed to know for himself: "Is my boy alive or is he dead?" He dug for eight hours...12 hours...24 hours...36 hours...then, in the 38th hour, he pulled back a large stone and heard his son's voice. He screamed his son's name, "ARMAND!" He heard back, "Dad!?! It's me, Dad! I told the other kids not to worry. I told them that if you were alive, you'd save me and when you saved me, they'd be saved. You promised, No matter what happens, I'll always be there for you! You did it, Dad!" "What's going on in there? How is it?" the father asked. 

"There are 14 of us left out of 33, Dad. We're scared, hungry, thirsty and thankful you're here. When the building collapsed⁶, it made a triangle, and it saved us." 

"Come out, boy!" 

"No, Dad! Let the other kids out first, cause I know you'll get me! No matter what happens, I know you'll always be there for me!"

上一篇：赫克托 下一篇：父亲说：今天我告诉过你我爱你了吗