The old shoes had brought him much trouble that Jonny decided to throw them away. He went out and threw the old shoes to the rubbish. "Now, they cannot bring me any trouble," he said. He returned home, lay down on his bed and slept.

    Jonny had a dog, and the dog often looked for food in the rubbish. The dog saw the shoes and knew that they were Jonny's. So it got the shoes back. When Jonny wake up, he saw the shoes by his bed and was afraid. "The shoes can walk by themselves. They must be done away with," he thought.

    Then he made a large fire(火) in front of his house and put the shoes in it. Just then, a strong wind came up, and before long the fire made the house burning. His neighbor came at once but could do nothing. The house was burnt down, but the old shoes were saved by the dog again.

    It was in August 1999 that I decided to come to China to work as a language teacher.

    I taught in Zhongshan City. Guangdong, for six months before moving to Ningbo. I came to Wanli University in 2000, and I taught there for five years. My time in Ningbo is great. I've met many wonderful Chinese teachers.

    I came to China with the idea of helping Chinese friends learn English better, and I have achieved this many times. I've traveled to many places in China, and I find that Ningbo is my favorite place.

    When I first came to Ningbo in 2000, it wasn't as clean as it is now. However, I found that this is a great city to live in. When I arrived, there was one McDonalds, and three KFC's. But we didn't get a Starbucks until 2002.

    I've really enjoyed spending my time here, especially now that I have found my beautiful wife, and we will be having our first child in Ningbo. Maybe she or he will learn Ningbo dialect（方言）, to talk with the grandparents.

    While staying in Ningbo, I have found that many people can understand English, but are very shy to speak out. I'm telling you now, it is only a language, and don't be afraid to talk, just remember, "Nobody is perfect. "

    Once there was a boy and his little sister living in a small village. The boy was good—looking but his sister was not. One day they found a mirror(镜子)and they saw what they looked like for the first time. The boy was very pleased and he said to his sister, "How handsome I am! I look nicer than you!" The girl didn't like what her brother said and gave him a hard push. "Go away!" she said angrily.

    Their father saw what was happening, He went up to them and said to the boy, "You must always be good as well as look good." Then the father said to the girl, "My dear, if you help everyone and do your best to please(使愉快)them, everyone will love you. It doesn't matter that you are not as good— looking as your brother. "

    Calabash brothers(葫芦娃兄弟) live in the Calabash Mountain with their grandfather. They are all very brave. They wear different clothes. The red calabash is the other six brothers 'elder brother. He is powerful. His body can be bigger or smaller. But he doesn't have his own ideas. The orange calabash has enhanced hearing and sight. He can see and hear far places clearly. The yellow calabash's body is very strong. Nothing can injure(伤害)him, but he is arrogant(傲慢的). The green calabash is the god of fire. He can eat fire and make fire. The cyan(青色的) calabash can drink water and make flood. The blue calabash is the cleverest of all. Nobody can find him when he makes himself invisible. And the purple calabash has a magic gourd(葫芦). The gourd can absorb(吸收) everything.

    One day a pangolin(穿山甲) broke the cave and two monsters came out.

    They were Monster Scorpion(蝎子精) and Monster Snake. The calabash brothers must fight with them and save the world. Unluckily, their grandfather who helped them beat the monster, was killed by the monsters finally.