Many say their most painful moments are saying goodbye to those they love. After watching Cheryl, my cousin, watch her mother suffer for six months before dying, I think the most painful moments can be in waiting to say goodbye.

    Cheryl made the two-hour trip over and over to be with her mother. They spent long afternoons holding hands and sharing memories.

    Each time she kissed her mother before leaving, her mother would feel sad and say, “I'm sorry you drove so far and sat for so long, and I didn't stay up long to talk with you.”

    Cheryl would tell her not to worry. It didn't matter. But still her mother felt she had let her down and said sorry at each goodbye.

    “Mom, do you remember when I made the high school basketball team?” Cheryl's mother nodded.

    “You'd drive so far and sit for so long, and I never even left the bench to play. You waited for me after every game and each time I felt bad and said sorry to you for wasting your time.” Cheryl gently took her mother's hand.

    “Do you remember what you'd say to me?”

    “I would say I didn't come to see you play. I came to see you.” “And you meant those words, didn't you?”

    “Yes, I really did.”

    “Well, now I say the same words to you. I didn't come to see you talk. I came to see you.” Her mother understood and smiled as she fell asleep.

    Their afternoons together passed quietly into days, weeks, and months. To the last day they cared each other in silence, love given and received just by seeing each other.

    Many people thought that U.S. President Calvin Coolidge always lived in the White House. However, he sometimes lived in the nearby Willard Hotel.

    Once, in the middle of a night, the President woke up to see a thief searching his clothes. Coolidge calmly spoke up from the darkness, “I wish you wouldn't take that watch.”

    “Why?” asked the shocked man.

    Coolidged answered, “Take it near the window and read what is engraved（雕刻） on the back of it.”

    The man read, “Presented to Calvin Coolidged, Speaker of the House, by the Massachusetts General Court.” He was very surprised!

    “Are you President Coolidge?” he asked. He had never thought he would find the president sleeping in a hotel!

    “Yes, I am.” Coolidge said. Then he asked, “Why are you doing this, Son?”

    The young man explained that he and two friends traveled to Washington during their college vacation. They spent all of their money and had no money to pay the hotel bill and the train tickets back to school.

    Coolidge added up the cost. It came to $32. That may not sound like much now, but it was a big number then. “I'll give you the $32 as a loan(借款）,” the President said, “And I expect you to pay me back.”

    The young man thanked him. Coolidge left him with this warning: “Son, you are a nice boy, you are better than you are acting. You are starting down the wrong road. Just remember who you are.”

    It wasn't until after the death of Mr. Coolidge that this story was allowed to come out. It was first published in the newspaper Los Angeles Times. And the most interesting of all is that the President's notes show that the young man was indeed better than he was acting. He repaid the $32 loan in full.

    Mak Som was an old lady in her seventies. She was often seen collecting unwanted boxes from rubbish bins. She would then put them on her old bicycle and sold them to the rubbish station. Many villagers had offered to take her in (收容) but she refused. She wanted to be independent. At night, she would sleep on a bench in the park.

    One day, the village headman called a meeting. They discussed Mak Som's condition and decided to build her a small house as a surprise gift. After buying the necessary materials, the villagers started working. Even the children went to help. They liked carrying tools or just passing things for the workers.

    Mak Som was curious and asked others what was happening. Someone told her that a villager's relative was moving in and people were only helping to build a house for him.

    After the house was completed, the villagers decided to hold a party in it. The headman invited Mak Som to go there together. He then said that the new house was a gift to Mak Som. She didn't want the house at first and said that she didn't have enough money to pay for it. After making her believing that it was a gift of love from the villagers, she finally accepted. With tears of joy, Mak Som thanked every one of the villagers. The villagers were glad that they had done something for this elderly member of their community.

    Last weekend, Dave, Bob, Alice and Ann had a trip on the island not far from their houses.

    Dave rode his bike to the river with his guitar at eight first. Then Alice got there. She took No 5 bus to go there. But why didn't Bob and Ann come? They decided to meet at eight. At ten past eight, Ann came. She said, "I'm sorry I'm late. I have to walk here because my bike doesn't work." Ann could play the violin very well. She took it with her. Another twenty minutes passed, Bob arrived there." Bob, you're late", Dave said. "Hmm. On my way, I helped a boy find his parents," said Bob. "Oh Bob, you re great. You're a good boy." All the other children said.

    The boat ride took them about twenty minutes. At twenty to nine, they came to a boat and took the boat to the island. Wow, the island is green everywhere. It's really great.

    They did something interesting there. First they enjoyed the wonderful sights(景色).Then, they had some fruits and drinks.

    At last, they had a show. Dave played the guitar. Ann played the violin. Alice danced and Bob sang. They had a fun time.