I've loved my mother's desk since I was just tall enough to see above the top of it as mother sat writing letters. Standing by her chair, looking at the ink bottle, pens, and white paper, I thought that the act of writing is the coolest thing in the world.

    Years later, during her final illness, my mother kept different things for my sister and my brother.“ But the desk，” She said, “it's for Helen.”

    Although I knew she loved me and she only showed it in action, I wanted heart­to­heart talks between mother and daughter. But they never happened. And a gulf opened between us. I was “too emotional (易动感情的)”，but she lived “on the surface”．

    I had my own family later. I loved my mother and thanked her for our happy family. I wrote to her in careful words and asked her to let me know in any way she chose that she forgave me. I posted the letter and waited for her answer. It didn't come.

    My hope turned to disappointment, then little interest and finally, peace—it seemed that nothing happened. I wasn't even sure if the letter had got to mother. I only knew that I had written it, and I never heard from her!

    Now the present of her desk told, as she'd never been able to, that she was pleased that writing was my chosen work. I cleaned the desk carefully and found some papers inside—a photo of my father and a one­page letter, folded and refolded many times.

    Give me an answer, my letter asks, in any way you choose. Mother, you always chose the act that speaks louder than words.

    Several days ago, Brenda had a car accident that led to one of her legs being cut off. Since then she didn't talk to anyone."I wish I could bring her friends to visit her," said Brenda's mother. "But it's a long bus trip." The nurse smiled, "Don't worry. We have a plan."Later that day, the nurse had taken Brenda to another room. "Here's your new roommate, Annie Wiggle-Do," the nurse introduced a dark-hair teenager on the other bed.

    As soon as the nurse left, she jumped out of her bed with her only foot and sat at the other end of Brenda's bed, "I lost my leg from bone cancer," she said. "What happened to yours?" Brenda was so shocked that she couldn't say a word. "You're lucky." Annie continued. "You've still got your knee. They had to take mine."

    "I'd like to have a chat with you, but my friends are coming any time now, so I have to get ready." Annie said when she took off her hair! Her head was completely bald(秃头的).

    "Oh, I forgot to tell you, the medicine they gave me to kill the cancer also killed my hair." Annie looked out her wigs(假发), brown and yellow, short and long, straight and curly."That's why I thought up 'Annie Wiggle-Do'." Annie smiled. "Get it? Any wig will do? Annie Wiggle-Do?" "When Annie's friends came, she introduced Brenda to them all. Before long, Brenda started chatting with Annie and her friends. They didn't make her feel like a strange person at all!

    The girls shared their names with each other. When it was time to go to bed, Brenda said, "Good night, Annie-Wiggle-Do. Can't wait till morning."

    One day, when I was a new student in high school, I saw a boy from my class walking home from school. His name was Kyle. He was carrying all his books. I thought to myself: "Why would anyone bring home all his books on Friday? He must really be a bookworm. "As I was walking, I saw some kids running toward him. They knocked all his books out of his arms and pushed him to the ground.

    His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him. He looked up and I saw tears in his eyes. I felt sad and I went directly to him.

    As I handed him his glasses, I said, "Those guys are fools." He looked at me and said, "Thanks!" There was a big smile on his face. It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude. I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived. Then I invited him to play football on Saturday with me and my friends. He agreed. We played together and had fun on that weekend. The more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him. Over the next three years, Kyle and I became best friends.

    When we were seniors, we began to think about college. We would go to different schools, but I knew we would always be friends.

    As a top student, Kyle was invited to give a speech for graduation. He was nervous when he was about to speak on the stage. So I said, "Hey, you'll be great!" He looked at me and smiled.

    Being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them. "he said in his speech. He talked about meeting me and being best friends with me in the last four years. When he finished the story, he looked at me and gave me a little smile.

    I saw his mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same thankful smile. Not until that moment did I realize its depth.

    Never underestimate(低估)the power of your actions. With one small gesture you can change a person s life, for better or for worse.

    In January, 2017, a Chinese "diplomat(外交官)" came back to China from the United States. Many US people were at the airport and said goodbye to her. Who is the diplomat? She is a 3-year-old panda called Bao Bao.

    Bao Bao was born at the National Zoo in Washington D. C., the US in 2013. Her parents are Tian Tian and Mei Xiang. China sent them to the US in 2000."We have watched Bao Bao grow up during the past three years," said Dennis Kelly, the zoo director. "We're going to miss her so much."

    Why does Bao Bao have to come back to China? It's because all the pandas born in foreign countries must come back to China before they turn 4. This is an agreement between China and other countries.

    Bao Bao spent about 16 hours on the plane home. A zookeeper and a doctor stayed with her along the way. The zoo also put bamboo, apples, biscuits, potatoes and water on the plane. Now, Bao Bao is happy at her new home in Chengdu, Sichuan Province.

    Mr. and Mrs. Black opened a small restaurant. In order to attract customers, they put a notice in front of the restaurant that said "Meals on the House for Three Days."

    A foreign student who didn't know much English happened to pass by the restaurant on the second day. It was lunchtime and he felt very hungry. "Well, here is a restaurant. I am going to have something to eat."

    He walked towards the restaurant when he saw the notice. "American people are really strange. They even eat dinners on their houses! But how can I get up to the top of the house?" he said to himself.

    He looked around and found a ladder against a tree nearby. He started climbing up. But as he reached the top, he heard someone shouting at him.

    "Hey, what are you doing up there?" Mr. Black shouted at him. Next to him was a policeman. "Doesn't your notice say 'Meals on the House for Three Days'? Is it just a joke?" the foreign student answered.

    On hearing this, both Mr. Black and the policeman laughed. "Do you know what ON THE HOUSE means? Look it up in the dictionary," the policeman said.