I was feeling a little blue because my mother had lost her job.

    One day, while I was 1 on the street, I heard the piano music and singing rising above the noise of the people. I walked more slowly to 2 where it was coming from. Then I saw a young lady sitting at a piano.

    She was singing songs about love, 3 yourself and keeping on trying. The way she was singing made me a little comfortable. I stood there 4, watching her playing on such a crowded New York square. I thought that she must be 5 enough to perform in front of so many people.  

    She noticed me: I walked over and told her how good her 6 sounded. "Thank you," she said.

    "I have been going through a hard time recently, 7 you've made me hopeful again." I said to her.

    "I'm glad that I could help," she replied. "Why are you so 8?"

    "Well, my mum has lost her job, and I'm not sure what to do.”

    "Did you notice the 9 you were walking? Your head was down." she said. "Don't be upset, because 10 comes in different ways and if your head is down, you might not see it. You should 11 more and lift your head up. "

    I looked 12 her, amazed at how she was encouraging me. " 13 are you playing the piano here?" I asked her with a smile.

    She 14  that she saw a lot of unhappy people in the world and she tried to cheer 15 up by playing music.  

    I smiled a little wilder, realizing that no difficulties could stop me from going on.

    Before Father's Day.I found my father was unhappy because he was out of work.I decided to make him happy by buying him a special Father's Day gift.

    One day after school I 1to the Agins which was known for fashions and styles.I told Agins that I was looking for a Father's Day present.

    “Do you think he'd like a2？”she asked.“I think he may.”I told her.

    She3 a Swiss watch and I told her that I would like it.

    “How much money do you have?”she asked.

    “4dollars.”I replied.

    “You're so lucky!” she told me.“It's only $ 11.You still have $ 1 for the5.”She packed the watch and I thanked for my business.and I rode off home with the gift under my arm.

    When my father opened the gift，he was very6.“Where did you get it?”

    “I bought it at the Agins.It cost me $ 11.”I said.My father was shocked into silence.

    Many years later，the watch cost several hundred dollars，7I appreciated (赞赏) how wonderful Agins had been to me.I always felt regretful (后悔的) that I never had a8 to thank her.

    “What really surprises me to this day...my daughter.” My father said，“Letting you have the watch for 11 dollars was unbelievable (不可相信的).But the fact that she let you leave the9with a dollar for the card was a touch (触动) of kindness.I'll never10it.”

    Tom had a dog named Max. Max was 10 years old, which was quite 1 in dog years. Tom bought the dog to protect him and his family from 2. When Max saw something suspicious (可疑的), he barked loudly. There was one time when a bad man was trying to get into Tom's house. Thankfully, Max barked loudly and Tom's dad was able to 3 the bad man in time. Sometimes though, Max would bark when he saw another dog. Tom would go outside 4 something bad was happening, but it was really just another dog.

    Tom went on a lot of hikes and walks with Max. Tom did not like to exercise, but he did not 5 if it was with Max. Tom would also take Max to the dog beach, where Max could play with other dogs. Max was considered part of the 6. He was even in the family holiday postcard picture. Tom knew, however, that Max was going to 7 soon. He tried not to think about it.

    One day, Tom came back home from school and filled up Max's water bowl as usual. Except this time, Max did not run to the 8 as he usually did. Tom looked around the house for Max and found him lying on the floor. Tom was surprised. He 9 ran to Max and called his name over and over again. He was gone. Tom and his family buried (埋葬)him in their backyard. He 10 for a long time, and remembered all his good memories with Max.

She is a young girl. She has sweet and bright smiles like 1angel's. She has short hair and a beautiful face. She is Stephanie. What makes her different from 2 singers? It's her special voice. No one else can sing3 her.

    She was born in Singapore. When she was young, her father told her 4 people should be good at something in their lives, 5they could have something to do as a hobby. She chose 6 to play the piano. She worked hard to play it7.

    She has made eleven albums and 8 many awards 9 she got into the music world. Then she felt 10 because she worked too 11. She stopped 12 for a year. She thought 13 necessary for her to have a good rest and hoped she could make better music when she 14 back. Now she has returned with better music than ever. Today, she is one of the 15singers in Asia.

    Ashley was outspoken, fashionable, and the "Queen Bee" in my school.

    I looked up to her and idolized her. I listened to the music she listened to, wore the clothes she wore. I even took art class though I had really wanted to take theatre. I finally fitted in 1 group.

    One day, I skipped out of my last class a few minutes early to

2 seats for our group at the dining hall. Concentrating on my homework, I didn't notice they had sat down behind me. Before I could say a word, I realized what they were 3.

    I listened silently. "She's such a loser," one girl said.

    Another girl added, "Ashley, she 4 follows you, trying to copy you."

    "I wish she would leave us alone. We were in the same summer school and now she thinks we're best friends." The once familiar voice sounded so 5 and strange.

    I was mortified. My hands were shaking. I couldn't help crying 6. I felt heart—broken for the very first time. How did this happen? I 7 we were friends.

    I ran home. My mother just held me while I sobbed for hours. The advice she gave was so 8, and I had heard it a million times. "Just be yourself and people will like you for 9you are." This time it became so profound. Then and there I 10 to find myself back. That was exactly—what I did.

    Over the next month, I went through a lot of 11. I bought new clothes that I wanted to wear. I no longer went to art class 12 them, and took theatre. I began making new friends. I developed my own 13 and never again followed the crowd.

    I had an amazing school year. 14 I look back, I think it was the year when I discovered the person I was going to be. Despite the pain I felt that day, it was a 15 they had given me.

    In the past, I didn't get on with my parents. I hardly talked to them, because they liked to1me with my sister. And that made me2 I sometimes argued with them about this.

    However, I wanted to show them that I could do things as3as my sister. Then I began to spend most of my free time painting in my bedroom. Luckily, my art teacher, Miss Green, 4 me a lot of help. She taught me some drawing 5 to help improve my paintings .At that time, she was the only people person I would like to talk to.

    One day, I told Miss Green about my problem. She6 me to take part in a painting competition .In her7, the best way to communicate with my parents was to prove myself to them.

    After a few weeks waiting, the result finally came out. I was very happy and excited, 8 I got first prize! When I took the prize home, my parents were very9! They never thought I could do good Job. I could see that they were very happy. And they began to care more about me .Now, relations between my parents and me are very good. So I think it's very10to have someone to talk to Thanks. Miss Green!