Hiding 1 the loose dusty curtain, a/an2 packed up his overcoat into the suitcase. He planned to leave home at dusk 3 there was thunder and lightning outdoors. He had got to do this because he was tired of his 4 nagging about his 5 study and did not want to 6 it any longer. He couldn't get along 7 with English and disliked joining  in English classes because he thought his teacher ignored him 8 purpose.9 ,  his score in each exam never10 over 60.

    His partner was 11 about him very much. She understood exactly12 he was suffering from, but 13 disagreed with his idea.14  calm him down and settle his problem, she talked with him face to face and 15 a series of learning tips with him. The items she set16 helped him find the17 to study English well. The teenager was grateful and got great 18 from his friend's words.

    Now, he has recovered from being 19 and has fallen in love with English. What an important part friends 20 in our life!

    Although I love my life, it hasn't been a lot of fun as I've been ill for 28 years.

    Music has always been a great love of mine and, in my 20s,when my1was more manageable, I2 years as a professional singer in restaurants, playing and singing folk songs. 3that was years ago and times have changed. 4I live with my mother on a country farm.

    Two years ago, I decided that I would need to have some kind of extra work to5my disability pension（残疾抚恤金）.6I needed to sleep in the afternoons, I was limited in my7. I decided that I would consider8to singing in restaurants.

    My family are all musicians, so I was9when I went into our local music store. I explained that I wanted to sing again but using recorded karaoke music. I knew that discs were very expensive and I really didn't have a lot of 10to get started. And11you find only three to four songs out often on a disc that you can12use.

    When I told the owner of the shop about my13, he gave me a long thoughtful14." This means a lot to you, doesn't it?" he said." Come with me."

    He led me15the crowded shop and to a bench with a large professional karaoke box on it. He placed his large hand16on his treasure and said," I have 800 karaoke songs in here. You can take your17and I'll record them for you. That should get you started."

    I18. Thanking him, I made a time with him to listen to all the songs and choose19that I could sing. I have come full circle with his help.

    His20still warms my heart and makes me do just that bit extra, when I have the chance.

    Growing roots

    When I was growing up, I had an old neighbor named Dr. Gibbs. He didn't look like any doctor I'd 1 known. When Dr. Gibbs wasn't 2 lives, he was planting trees.

The good doctor had some3 theories on planting trees. He believed in "No pains, no gains". He never 4 his new trees, which was5 many people. Once I asked why. He 6 that watering plants spoiled them, and that if you water them, each following tree generation will 7 weaker and weaker. So you have to make things8 for them. He talked about how watering trees

    9 shallow roots, and how trees that weren't watered had to grow deep roots in

    10 of water. I came to understand that he meant deep roots were to be 11 I planted a couple of trees a few years back and I took good care of them. Two years of12 has resulted in trees that expect to be waited on hand and foot. Whenever a cold wind blows, they 13and tremble their branches. Funny things about those trees of Dr. Gibbs'. The lack of water seemed to 14them in ways comfort and ease never could.

    I used to15for my sons that their lives will be easy. But16 I've been thinking that it's time to17 my prayer. I know my children are going to meet

    18 and I'm praying they will be strong. The prayer for comfort is seldom met. What we need to do is to pray for deep roots,19when the winds blow, we won't be20away.

    I was never very neat, while my roommate Kate was rather organized. Each of her objects had its 1, but mine always hid somewhere. She even labeled (贴标签 ) everything. I always looked for everything. 2time, Kate got neater and I got 3. She would push my dirty clothing over, and I would lay my books on her tidy desk. We both got 4 of each other.

    One evening war 5. Kate came into the room. Soon, I heard her shouting, "Take your 6 away! Why under my bed!" Deafened, I saw my shoes flying at me. I7 to my feet and started shouting. She shouted back louder.

    The room was filled with 8. We could not have stayed together for a single9 but for a phone call. Kate answered it. From her end of the conversation, I could 10right away her grandma was seriously ill. When she 11, she quickly hid under her covers, sobbing(呜咽). 12, that was something she should not go through alone. All of a sudden ,a 13 feeling of sympathy(同情) rose up in my heart,

    Slowly, I collected the pencils, took back the books, 14 my bed, cleaned the socks and swept the floor, 15 on her side. I was so buried in my work 16 I even didn't notice Kate had sat up.

    She was watching, her tears dried and her 17one of disbelief. Then, to my surprise, she 18 out her hands to catch mine. I looked up into her eyes. She smiled at me. "Thanks."

    Kate and I stayed 19for the rest of the year. We didn't always agree, but we learned the key to 20together: giving in, cleaning up and holding on.

    Paul looked out of the window of the classroom and sighed. The driveway was still 1 and it was getting dark. His dad had said that he would 2 him up by 5:30, but it was almost seven and Paul hadn't heard a word from him. Paul 3 to do some of his reading homework. 4, he couldn't help thinking of his dad. He knew that his dad had a 5 and a life, but he couldn't 6 why he was always breaking his 7.

    The next day at school, Paul didn't 8 his math homework. Paul's teacher noticed his unusually 9 performance and asked him why. Paul didn't want to 10 him. He knew that if he started talking a flood of 11 would pour out. He just wanted to be alone with his 12, so he sat there 13, not even looking at the teacher. "Well Paul, you can't have this thing 14 you up. The sooner you get it off your 15, the sooner you can heal."

    As Paul walked home from school, he 16 the things the teacher had told him. Paul knew that he hadn't 17 himself recently. Maybe he stopped doing his work because he was looking for 18 from his father. He realized that he wasn't just letting his dad 19 his plans, but he was letting him spoil his 20. He decided to take the teacher's advice.

    One day when I was 15 years old, I had some friends over to hang out. While we were making food in the 1, my brother came in. He 2 his beef next to my thick one and said, "Courtney, your beef is bigger than mine. You don't need to eat; you're already fat enough." Then he walked out, laughing.

    3 comments on my physical appearance were nothing new. Something inside me 4 to his idea that my legs were unacceptable, and that became the last day that I ever willingly wore 5 until I was 30 years old. For the next 15 years, I spent summer after summer roasting in long pants.

    But then I 6 Ragen Chastain, and she changed everything. I couldn't believe that this woman who, like myself, almost 7 300 pounds was so 8 and happy in her own skin. I listened 9 she shared her own journey to recovery and self-love. She talked about how amazing our bodies are, just by 10 of the things they do every day-like 11, pumping blood to every ceil, blinking and walking..

    Walking! I was suddenly aware of how foolish I'd been for so long. There're people who are born 12 legs, or who lack properly working legs, or who 13 their legs, and I'd been 14 my perfectly strong, healthy, beautiful legs in 15 because I had allowed someone to 16 me that they weren't good enough. The next day, I bought three pairs of shorts and a sundress and spent the entire summer letting my legs see the sun and feel the 17.

    The next time anyone comments on your body in a 18 way, look them straight in the eye, smile and say, "If what you see 19 you so much, feel free to practice the ancient art of looking somewhere else." That's Ragen's original, but I don't think she'll mind 20 you use it.