Each of them was taking lessons: Joe with a famous art teacher, and Delia with a great pianist from Germany. Their teachers were the very best, so lessons were expensive, more than they could really afford, but…when you love your art, nothing is too much.

But soon the money began to run out, and they couldn't afford the lessons any more.

Then one day Delia came back home and told Joe that she had met a man whose daughter, Sally, wanted to learn the piano, and he was going to pay her $ 50 an hour.

“Delia,"Joe said, "I'll be much happier if you keep up your lessons," Delia said it didn't matter. “When I've had some money, I'll continue.” But Joe also decided to stop his lessons to draw pictures and sell them.

A few days later, Joe came home and proudly took $ 200 from his pocket. "I met a man from Vermont,”he said, "who bought one of my pictures. And he wants to buy more!”

_________________.They didn't have to worry any more about money.

Then, one day, Joe came home and saw that Delia's hand was wrapped in a bandage(绷带). He asked her what had happened. "Oh", said Delia. "My student, Sally, asked me to make some coffee for her. I dropped the coffee and burned my hand. Sally went straight to the drugstore and got this bandage for me. ”

“Delia, what have you been doing the last two weeks?Joe asked. She tried not to tell him, but the tears came. "Oh Joe, I couldn't get any students, so I worked as a waitress in a restaurant. Today, I burned my hand with hot water. So I can't work any more. But we'll still have money from the man in Vermont, won't we?”

Joe looked at her. "There's no man in Vermont, " he said. “I've been working in a drugstore, and today someone came in to buy bandages for a woman who's burned her hand. So when I saw you, well, I guessed.”

They both laughed.

When Kyle walked into Paul's Pet World, he looked very anxious. He walked quickly to the store owner, Paul. Paul jumped out of his seat to greet Kyle. He was the store's first customer of the day.
“Good morning, sir!” Paul said. “What can I help you with?”
“Well, I…,” Kyle started to say.
“Wait, don't tell me,” Paul stopped him. “You are looking for a…a new dog… for your daughter's birthday. Right?”
“Not really, I just…”
Paul didn't let him finish. “Ah, I've got it. You just opened a new business, and you want some fish for your office. I have some very nice goldfish over here.”
“Actually, I…” Kyle was starting to look very anxious. His face had a strange look on it.
“No fish? Ah, a cat! You look like a cat person. At Paul's Pet World, we have the best cats. Take a look at this cat— long, white hair. She is looking at you. She is thinking, “Take me home. Take me home.” Would you like some cat food and toys as well?”
l“No, thank you,” Kyle said. By this time, he had a pained look on his face. “Really, I'm no interested in cats or fish or dogs.”
“What do you want, then?” Paul asked.
Kyle looked like he was going to cry. “I just want to know if I can use your restroom!” he finally said.

    I live in a city where jobs are difficult to get and finding well—paid jobs is even1 . Many people have to walk a long way to work 2 they can't even afford an old, used car.

    Yesterday I 3one of these people when I was driving home. A man was walking down the road and trying to ask for a 4 from the passing cars. Two cars in front of me passed him by. 5wanted to do the same but the sight of that poor man remained in my mind for quite a moment. 6 I drove back and gave him a ride.

    As I drove along, we had a conversation and I 7 that the man was trying all his best to support his 8 while working a temporary(临时的)job. Every coin he had was going to 9 the house and food.

    But as we came close to the house he was living in, I saw his tired eyes grow 10. His little girl was playing in the front yard and 11 into her daddy's arms as soon as he was out of the 12 . I was almost lost in that happy moment. I smiled, said 13 to them and wished them future happiness. Then I 14.

    That day, the journey home which used to seem so 15 became very short.

    These days, few 11-year-olds are allowed to walk to school by themselves. However, 11-year-old Rosalie Atkins is traveling the world alone.

    Rosalie Atkins lives in England. Her parents decided to let her travel alone. This summer Rosalie's mother put her on a plane to Paris with a host family.

Rosalie spent a week visiting Paris. She visited the Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame, as well as several museums, markets, and parks. "If I had visited with my parents, we would have seen only the touristy parts of Paris," said Rosalie. "But because I was staying with a French family I saw more." Traveling to different countries, Rosalie also expressed the confidence. "I am quite confident when I have to talk to new people, which is a useful social skill, " Rosalie said.

Rosalie is glad that her parents allow her to go on adventure() that other kids could only dream of. Rosalie said, "Your parents aren't going to travel with you forever. You have to learn to be independent some day, and in my opinion the sooner the better."

    Jack Green is 75 years old. He is not in good condition. "I think I'm ill," he tells his wife, "I feel awful. I've got a headache and I don't feel like eating."

    "You've put on a lot of weight recently. You should see the doctor," his wife says, "ask him how to lose weight. It's not good for your health."

    "OK," says Jack. He goes to see a doctor.

    The doctor checks his heart and weighs him. Then he says, "You are too heavy. You need to do some excercise to lose about 30 kilograms. Run two miles a day for the next 100 days. Then call and tell me your weight."

    A week later, the doctor receives a call from Jack. "Doctor, I ran two miles every day and I feel much better. But I have a new problem."

    "What's that?" asks the doctor.

    "I'm 14 miles away from home, and I can't find my way back."