He sat and watched the baseball game like every Father’s Day， His kids were grown and all moved out and lived so far away. He knew one at a time would call and they would always say， “Hi Dad... I just called to wish you Happy Father’s Day.”
His wife had passed some years ago， now he lived all alone， So now the highlight of this day was waiting by the phone. The game would start at 1pm when he would hear “Play ball.” And he knew by the last inning① that all of them would call.
When they would call， it would be short and few words would be spoken， He wondered if on Father’s Day their calls were just a token②. He loved his children and he knew that they all loved him too， But it seemed that they had drifted as kids often do.
They get so caught up in their lives， so busy all the time， And don’t give him a second thought because they know he’s fine. He sees them maybe twice a year around the holidays， It’s hard to get together as they’ve all gone separate ways.
At least they do remember him if just a little call， And remember that he’s here just watching his baseball. So as he sits and waits for them， the game is growing long. It is the seventh inning and no calls； there’s something wrong.
Deep in thought of what had happened with no way to tell， He was jolted③ from his thoughts by sounds of his doorbell. He quickly got up from his chair， it caught him by surprise， And when he opened up the door could not believe his eyes.
A man was standing at the door and smiled and called his name， And he replied “Why， yes， that’s me. I am one and the same.” Then， “Happy Father’s Day to you， now I am on my way.” And then he handed him a huge and beautiful bouquet④。
He just stood and stared at them while standing at the door， No one had ever sent him flowers in his life before. He thought someone had made an error on delivery， He took the flowers in and opened up the card to see.
He opened up the little card to see what it would say， And as he read the first line it said “Happy Father’s Day！” “It’s from the kids，” he softly said， “now this is a surprise.” And as he read the little card the tears filled up his eyes.
Dad you know we always call you on this special day， But it’s so hard for all of us to find the words to say， To tell you Dad how much we love you， So this year we all got the idea to try something new.
Flowers are the ultimate expression to show love， Flowers are the special gift when you are thinking of someone who is precious and means all the world to you， nothing else says “I love you” the way that flowers do.
So place them somewhere you can see and smell the sweet bouquet， Because the flowers represent what we all want to say. We love you Dad with all our hearts and this is just our way To tell you this and hope you have the greatest Father’s Day.
He put the little card aside and smiled and wiped his eyes， The tears were running down his cheeks because of his surprise. His heart was overflowing with the love behind their plan， Flowers say “I love you” even when sent to a man.
① inningn. 【棒】局
② tokenn. 标记，标志；象征
③ joltv. 使摇动；使颠簸
④ bouquetn. 花束，一束花
送鲜花给父亲
他坐在那里观看棒球比赛，与每年的父亲节没什么两样，他的儿女已经长大，全都离开了家，住在很远的地方。他知道一个一个地他们会打来电话，总是会说：“嗨，爸爸……给您打电话祝您父亲节快乐。”
几年前他的妻子故去，现在他独自一人生活，这一天的重要事情便是在电话机旁等着。一声“开球”，比赛将在下午一点开播。他知道在最后一局前他们的电话会一个接着一个。
他们打电话来总是话短言又简，他怀疑父亲节这天他们打电话只是敷衍。他爱他的孩子们，也知道他们爱他亦是真，但他感觉就像所有的孩子，他们越漂越远。
他们忙于自己的生活，总是紧紧张张，他们无暇顾及他，因为放心他还健康。每年只是节假日能看见他们一两次，他们都各奔前程，相聚太不容易。
虽然只是打个短短的电话，但他们至少还惦记着他，记着他在看棒球比赛，不会离开家。这样他就坐着等着，比赛似乎越来越长。已是第七局了，铃声还没响；这可有些不正常。
到底出了什么事情，他琢磨不出个究竟，门铃声打断了思绪，让他大吃一惊。他赶紧从椅子上站起，有人来访实在让他惊奇，打开门时，他无法相信自己的眼睛。
一位男士站在门前微笑着叫着他的名字，他回答“啊，是的，就是我。我就是。”“祝您父亲节快乐，我给您送来了。”说着他捧给他一大束美丽的鲜花。
他站在门口盯着手中的鲜花，像是犯了傻，迄今为止还从未有人送过他鲜花。他想是不是误投到他家，但还是把花捧进屋里，打开贺卡。
他打开贺卡看里面写的是什么，第一行便是“父亲节快乐！”“这是孩子们寄来的，”他轻声感叹，“真是个意外。”读着小卡片，他泪水盈眶，不能自已。
爸爸，您知道在这个特殊的日子我们总会打电话给您，但是要找到合适的话来说，我们的确感到费劲，我们就是想告诉您，爸爸，我们是多么爱您。于是今年我们都想找个新的方式来祝贺您。
鲜花是爱的完美表述，当你思念你最珍爱、最重视的人时，鲜花是表达思念的特殊礼物，说“我爱你”它堪称天下独步。
把花束摆在你随时能看到的地方，闻闻它的芳香，因为鲜花能代表我们对您倾诉衷肠。我们全心全意地爱您，爸爸，我们用这种方式告诉您，并祝您这个父亲节过得最棒。
他把卡片放在一边，微笑着擦拭泪眼，他惊奇得泪流满面。他们这样做是出于爱，这使他的内心也满怀爱意。当鲜花送给一个男人时，也是在说“我爱你”。
