Nick and his friends were talking about things that can bring them luck. “I have a lucky red pen,” said Andy. “I have a lucky coin,” said Peter. “Every time I take a test, I carry my lucky coin.” Nick thought for a moment, and said, “My blue socks.” “Blue socks?” the boys were surprised and asked together. Nick said that every time he wore his blue socks to school before a test, he got a good mark.

    The next day Nick had a Chinese test. He was sad because he couldn't find his blue socks. “Mom!” shouted Nick. “Where are my blue socks? I have a Chinese test today, and I need to wear them.”

  “Don't be silly,” Nick's mom said.“They need to be washed.” “When I wear them, I get a good grade.” Nick said.

  “Did you prepare for your test?” asked Mom.

  “Yes.”

  “Then don't worry about it. Just do your best.” Mom encouraged.

    A few days later, Nick's teacher told him that he got 95 in his test. Nick was so excited that he couldn't wait to tell Mom he did well in his test. Mom said, “It wasn't the blue sock s that made you success. In fact, it was made by yourself.”

    It started as a game. Wendy and Peter were in River Park. They watched the boats in the river and visited the zoo. They played on the slides and swings. They watched the merry-go-round, but they did not have money for a ride. They ate their sandwiches at a picnic table. Suddenly Wendy jumped up.

    "I know what to do." she said. "Look at all that junk under the tables. Let's pick it up."

    So they picked up paper and empty boxes and cans. They put them in the green cans marked "Litter". Peter's dog Stoopy picked up some paper and ran away with it. Peter called him back and took it from him. Then they taught Stoopy to carry trash for them. They put it in the cans. They worked until there was no trash left on the picnic grounds.

    The next day their friends Mario and Andy came to the park with them. They helped to tidy the picnic grounds again. Then they ran all over the park looking for litter. They tried to see who could find the most. After that, it was a game they played every time they came to the park.

    One day, a man came with a camera. He watched what they were doing. He asked to take a picture for them. Then he took them all for a free ride on the merry-go-round, even Stoopy. The next day their picture was in the newspaper. It said, "Five Litter Lifters at River Park". After that all their friends wanted to be litter lifters. It was the beginning of a club that was a model for others to follow.

It's a loss that has brought Louis, 15, and Ken, 93, together. The 1 friends me t while filming a TV' show.

Louis said the pair first clicked (一见如故) when Ken told him that his mother had 2 in childbirth, leaving him alone. At that time the ninth—grade r was very 3 about the loss of his father." I think we clicked after I realized we had a similar 4 experience," the teen said " In addition, we also 5 a trust—building activity. Arid the friendship between us grew from there."

Ken began a long career working experience on ships at the age of 

17. He said the pair each filled a little void (空虚). in life for the other and that his 6 was more of a "grandfather giving a pep talk (加油打气的话) "。

The old man said," When I first met Louis, he was very 7 and stood back from the crowd a little. But after seven weeks of filming, the change in him was amazing. He has become more and more outgoing Besides . Louis' mother tells me that his schoolwork has 8 and he has a better outlook on life. "Ken added that the 9 lesson he could teach young people—or a person of any age —was to embrace (拥抱) life." I've been a very lucky man throughout my life . There have been hard times, but this is what I try to 10 the teenagers to understand life is a challenge and you have to meet that challenge ."

Your resolution leads the way to success. This is 1 Loma tells us.

"I wish I can perform as usual, win a gold medal, "said Loma, "and 2 myself-value." After years of hard work, she finally got the 3 to compete in the world game. Loma is a lawnbowl player (草地掷球运动员). Unlike other players, she went blind because of illness. Besides, she learned this 4 at the age of 41 instead of 11. Losing her sight and a 5 start mean she needs to make more efforts than others do.

When she first started practicing lawn bowling, she couldn't find the right path. Sometimes she even walked into other players. Feeling 6 , she once packed up (打包行李) and decided to go home. But this was 7 by her teammates, who cared about her and encouraged her. Her coaches also gave her more 8 in training. Deeply moved, Loma 9 .

She could do nothing but keep practicing. She often practiced alone until midnight. "I took an apple or an orange as a bowl, threw it in hallways and found it 10 . "Loma said, "When I went back to the dorm (宿舍)，my roommates had already been 11 ." Years by years, she made great progress in her skills. 12 , Loma fell in love with this sport. She practiced it not only for achievement but also for 13 .

Standing on the race field, she 14 she could do it! After rounds of exciting competitions, Loman won the game! Nearly all the audience (观众) cheered for her! "I feel lucky that I never 15 . The process may be hard, but it is worth trying." Loma cried happily.

Times change! The day I heard that the Bright Bookstore was closing, I was sad. The bookstore had been in the neighborhood for 50 years, and it was a great place where people could know each other through their love of books.

When I met Old Tim, the store's owner, he said it was difficult to run a traditional bookstore. Most young people read e-books and more people bought books online.

Childhood memories came back to me so clearly. A group of us kids often went to the stores, spending hours reading there or just talking with Tim. Tim encouraged us to share our ideas by writing them on a large board.

A few months later, I was back and was surprised to see that the Bright Bookstore was still open for business. It was still old, but inside it was like a different world. In an area, a book reading was going on. Nearby, some readers were sharing their ideas on a screen instead of (而不是) the large board. Some were reading on computers. It even had a coffee shop selling nice food. Clearly, the Bright Bookstore was in good, creative hands. Tim told me that there were more community (社区) events in the coffee shop such as book readings and even music and movie nights.

"Well, as you can see, technology (科技) and creativity have brought my old bookstore into the 21st century! I'm so glad to see that everything I wanted it to offer to the community is still here," said Tim.

No matter how times change, there are always people who love reading. Traditional (传统的) bookstores should also change in a creative way.