I've loved my mother's desk since I was just tall enough to see above the top of it as mother sat writing letters. Standing by her chair, looking at the ink bottle, pens, and white paper, I thought that the act of writing is the coolest thing in the world.

    Years later, during her final illness, my mother kept different things for my sister and my brother.“ But the desk，” She said, “it's for Helen.”

    Although I knew she loved me and she only showed it in action, I wanted heart­to­heart talks between mother and daughter. But they never happened. And a gulf opened between us. I was “too emotional (易动感情的)”，but she lived “on the surface”．

    I had my own family later. I loved my mother and thanked her for our happy family. I wrote to her in careful words and asked her to let me know in any way she chose that she forgave me. I posted the letter and waited for her answer. It didn't come.

    My hope turned to disappointment, then little interest and finally, peace—it seemed that nothing happened. I wasn't even sure if the letter had got to mother. I only knew that I had written it, and I never heard from her!

    Now the present of her desk told, as she'd never been able to, that she was pleased that writing was my chosen work. I cleaned the desk carefully and found some papers inside—a photo of my father and a one­page letter, folded and refolded many times.

    Give me an answer, my letter asks, in any way you choose. Mother, you always chose the act that speaks louder than words.

    Tom is a schoolboy.He is only seven years old, but he is very busy on weekdays.One Saturday he decided to relax himself, so he went to the cinema.

    It was the first time for him to do that.He bought a ticket and then went in.But after two or three minutes he came out, bought a second ticket and went in again.After a few minutes he came out again and bought a third ticket.Two or three minutes later he came out and asked for another ticket.Then the girl in the ticket office asked him, “Why did you buy so many tickets? How many friends did you meet?” Tom answered, “No, I have no friends here.But a big boy always stops me at the door and tears(撕) my ticket.”

C

    One little miracle (奇迹) has been happening to me recently, and it gives me a special joy.

    A few months ago, I was telling my daughter, Sally, some stories about my mother. My daughter was so young when my mother died that she doesn't remember her well. I told her all I could remember, like how wonderful my mother was and how much she meant to me.

    One day, Sally was sad because her grandmother was in heaven (天堂) and she couldn't see her. I explained that though her grandmother was dead, now she was still watching over us and could send us something to let us know she was there. She could be anywhere, even riding invisibly (看不见地) on the back of a butterfly (蝴蝶). Just after I said this, a butterfly flew down right by us, and we laughed happily.

    Now many people would say it was just luck that the butterfly flew down at that time. A funny thing, however, has happened since then. Every time I go out in any type of weather I see butterflies. Very often they fly right by my face to get my attention. I always say hi to Mom, send her my love, and thank God for little miracles.

    Everyone is always looking for some big miracles to come out and save them when they are in trouble, but they don't notice the little miracles that happen every day right in front of their eyes. I know what they really are, however. For me little miracles are the best kind. So many little miracles happen around me all the time that I know they are not just luck.

    Mr. Green made a robot. He could say only one sentence—“There is no doubt (疑问) about it.” The robot always repeated the same words when you spoke to him.

    One day, Mr. Green needed lots of money and he took the robot to the market to sell him. “Who will buy my robot? He is very smart,” he shouted, “Twenty thousand dollars for my robot!”

    A man was surprised that he was asking for so much money. Instead of asking Mr. Green why he wanted so much money, he decided to speak to the robot. “Are you worth (值) twenty thousand dollars?” he asked the robot. “There is no double about it,” answered the robot.

    The man liked the robot's answer so much that he bought him and carried him home. But very soon he found that the robot could say nothing else. He was sorry he bought the robot. He stood in front of the robot and said, “How foolish I was to throw so much money away！”

    “There is no doubt about it,” said the robot.

    Lily is from New York, the USA. She is ten. Now, she is in Shanghai No. 3 Middle School. She is in Class One, Grade Seven. Her phone number is 6678-6091.Dongdong is from Kunming. His English name is Tom. He is eleven. He is in Class Two, Grade Seven. His telephone number is 633-1890. They are not in the same class. They are good friends.