When I was a little girl, every time my dad was repairing something, he would ask me to hold the hammer. And so we would have a time for a conversation.

I grew up and left home for college and since then, my dad had been calling me every Sunday morning. And when several years later I bought a house, my dad went to paint it by himself for three days in the summer heat.【小题1】But I was too busy in those days. I did not find any time for a conversation with him.

Four years ago, my dad was visiting me. He spent hours putting together a swing set (秋千) for my daughter. He asked to bring him a cup of tea and have a talk with him. 【小题2】I didn’t have time for any long conversations that day.

One Sunday morning we had a telephone talk as usual. I was in a hurry, so our conversation was short. 【小题3】My dad was sent into hospital. Immediately I bought a ticket for a flight and on my way I was thinking about all missed occasions (时刻) to have a talk with him. By the time I arrived, my dad had passed away. 【小题4】I realized how little I knew about my dad, his deepest thoughts and his dreams.

After his death I learned much more about him, and even more about myself. All he ever asked me was my time. 【小题5】