During all this time I never stopped thinking about escape. When I traveled across to the other side of the island, I could see the other islands, and I said to myself, "Perhaps I can get there with a boat. Perhaps I can get back to England one day."

    So I decided to make myself a boat. I cut down a big tree, and then began to make a long hole in it. It was hard work, but about six months later, I had a very fine canoe (独木舟). Next, I had to get it down to the sea. How silly I was! Why didn't I think before I began work? Of course, the canoe was too heavy. I couldn't move it! I pulled and pushed and tried everything, but it didn't move. I was very unhappy for a long time after that.

    That happened in my fourth year on the island. In my sixth year I did make myself a smaller canoe, but I did not try to escape in it. The boat was too small for a long journey, and I did not want to die at sea. The island was my home now, not my prison, and I was just happy to be alive. A year or two later, I made myself a second canoe on the other side of the island. I also built myself a second house there, and so I had two homes.

    My life was still busy from morning to night. There were always things to do or to make. I learnt to make new clothes for myself from the skins of dead animals. They looked very strange, it is true, but they kept me dry in the rain.

    I kept food and tools at both my houses, and also wild goats. There were many goats on the island, and I made fields with high fences to keep them in. They learnt to take food from me, and soon I had goats' milk to drink every day. I also worked hard in my corn (玉米) fields. And so many years went by.

    One day an American was in Africa. He wanted to go to a small village in the hill. He got on a bus and the driver said: "The yellow ticket is one dollar. I have two other tickets. The red one is fifty cents, and the green, ten cents." "A green one, please "said the man. The bus started to get up the hill. Suddenly it stopped. "Red ticket passengers, get out and walk. Green ticket passengers, get out, close the door, and push the bus." shouted the driver.

This is a tale of two friends—one is blind, the other has no arms. On their own, the two are "disabled". But together, they are a powerful team that has changed part of their village in North China's Hebei Province into a rich, green forest. Meet 53-year-old Jia Haixia and Jia Wenqi! 

Their story began in 2000, when Haixia, who was already blind in his right eye, lost his left one after an illness. Wenqi lost his arms in an accident when he was just three. Neither could. find a job, so the two decided to team up. They rented some poor land and began to plant trees. In return, the local officials paid them a small fee. 

Haixia and Wenqi never imagined that they would end up creating an environmental paradise. Their forest now has over 10,000 trees, hundreds of birds and many other wild animals. In addition, it saves the village from river flooding during the rainy season. 

When the friends work together, they focus on their strengths not their disabilities. Their day begins at 7 a. m. when the sightless Haixia carries Wenqi across the river to get to their worksite. Since they cannot afford to buy young trees to plant, the two use branches from existing trees. Haixia climbs to the tree-top and with Wenqi's direction, selects the perfect branch. He then digs a hole and carefully plants it. Finally, Wenqi waters the area. 

Though hard-working, the men don't make much money. But as Wenqi puts it, "We stand on our own feet. so the fruits of our work taste sweeter. "

Neither Haixia nor Wenqi cares about money. Together, they already have everything they need—a perfect pair of eyes, two strong hands, and the best friendship in the world! 

I am Frank. I am 13 years old. I have a good friend. His name is John and he is 14 years old. We were born( 出 生 ) in Jinhua. Now I live in Hangzhou. John still lives in our hometown(家乡). We live far away from each other, but we're still very good friends.

 We call each other very often and talk about our school life and studies. John is good at maths and science. But I am bad at maths. He always helps me with it. Also, he likes music and art. When he is free, he likes singing and drawing.

 We never forger(忘记) each other's birthdays. This year I give him a schoolbag as a gift, and he gives me a toy car.

 This weekend, I will go back to Jinhua. I will see cows, sheep, and ducks at my grandpa's farm. And of course, I will see my friend. We can play together, study together and read books together. Both he and I look forward to(期待) the weekend.

A man left the airport(机场). There were many taxis. He asked every driver's name and he took the third one. It cost him $5 to go from the airport to the hotel. Then the man asked the driver to show him around the city for a whole day. For this task, the driver wanted $100. It was too much, but the man said nothing and agreed(同意). 

 The driver took the man to many places happily. 

 In the evening, they went back to the hotel. The man gave $100 to the driver and asked for another day of driving. It was another $100. The driver was very happy to be getting more money than before. 

 The next day, they went to the same places again. In the evening, the driver got his money, but he felt guilty(内疚的). He liked the man and 100 dollars a day was expensive. Finally the man's trip was coming to an end. 

"So you are going home. Where are you from?"

"I come from Kenova, Wayne County, in West Virginia. "

"Kenova?" said the driver. "I have a sister there. Her name is Susan Miller. Do you know her?"

"Yes, she asked me to give you 200 dollars!"