I sat in my seat as my new grade six classmates found theirs. At the front of the class our new math teacher stood1 us. The bell rang.

     “Welcome to a new school year. I'm Mr. Stevens and I'm sure I'll learn all your names in no time.” He walked around the class 2 math books. When he was done, he 3 to the front of the class and looked at us. “What are you waiting for? Get started?” he said. We looked at him,4 Wasn't he going to teach us? “Is there something wrong with your 5? You're not all deaf, are you?” A6 boy at the back of the class asked what we all wanted to know. “Mr. Stevens, aren't you going to teach us?” Mr. Stevens 7 “You're smart kids. Open your books and get down to it. If you have any8or any questions, raise your hand, and I'll help you.” We opened our books. Mr. Stevens helped anyone 9had questions. He would stop to teach all the students10when we all had the same question. It was a 11 method of teaching, but it was very useful.

    It was a 12 point in my life. Mr. Stevens made me13 I was good at math and also able to reach the14of any class I attended. I studied with his help until I graduated from middle school.

    Monty Python's Flying Circus was a popular television show back then. The actors 15 the best British humor (幽默) into our Canadian lives. Mr. Stevens would often act out one of their funny scenes (场景) in front of the class. Some thought he was strange, and I guess he was,16he knew how to make a math lesson interesting.

    I've carried his 17with me all my life. Whenever I am faced with a new 18 I think of my first day in grade six math.19 sitting and staring at the challenge, I just get 20 Before I know it, the challenge has been settled.

    The Fitting-in of Suzy Khan

    The first time I saw Suzy Khan, I knew I had to help her. She was really small for her age of 12. The boy in my class often1about her and laughed their heads off. She would open a book, pretending to read, with tears dropping on the open page.

    All I knew was that she was an orphan(孤儿) from Africa. She had just been adopted by a family in town who2that the best way for her to learn American ways of life was to be with American kids. I looked down at this 3girl and promised myself that somehow I would help her.

    But how could I help her4in with us? There had to be a5

    One day, when I went into the classroom, I saw that Suzy had6her geography book to a picture of a train, and in her notebook, she had made a(n)7copy.

    I was surprised and thought that she could do something in the coming 8show. So, I took her to see the art teacher, Miss Parker, and showed her what Suzy had 9"Why, it's wonderful," said Miss Parker, who then showed us a poster she had painted10the talent show. "I need more of these, but I just don't have enough11Could you help me, Suzy?"

    On the day of the talent show, Suzy's12were everywhere—all over the hall and all over the school, each one different.

    "And finally," said Mr. Brown, the schoolmaster, at the end of the show, "we have a(n)13award. I'm sure you've all noticed the wonderful posters." Everyone nodded. "One of our own students14them."

    I could hear everyone whispering. "Who in our school could draw15well?"

    Mr. Brown waited a while before saying, "16this student worked so hard on the posters, she deserves a17 too. Our mystery(神秘) artist is our new student—Suzy Khan!"

    Mr. Brown thanked her for all the wonderful posters and gave her a professional artist's set. "Thank you," she cried.

    I18 at that time when I was looking at her excited face, she'd probably never19anything in her whole life.

    Everyone started to20their hands. Suzy Khan gave them a shy smile and the applause was deafening. I knew then Suzy was going to be all right.

    As a kid I loved everything about school. I loved books1tests and homework. Most of all I longed to someday march down the aisle (通道) to receive my2.That seemed more appealing even than getting married. But at 15, I had to3because my parents4afford tuition. My hope of getting a diploma was dead.

Pretty soon, I married. I had three Children, and I thought: "There5my diploma."

    Even so, I wanted my children to be educated. But Linda, our youngest child, had juvenile arthritis (幼年型关节炎) in her6and knees, which made it7for her to function (活动) in a normal classroom.

    One day, I saw an ad in the newspaper for evening courses.

"That's the answer," I said to myself. Linda always feels8in the evening, so I'll just sign her up for night school.

Linda was busy9out enrollment (入学) forms when the secretary said: "Mrs Schantz, why don't you come back to10?"

I11: "There's no way! I'm 55!"

12he insisted, and before I knew what I had done, I was enrolled for classes in English and crafts. "This is only an experiment," I13him, but he just smiled. To my surprise, both Linda and I thrived (茁壮成长) in evening school. I went back again the next semester, and my grades14improved.

It was15going to school again, but it was no game. Sitting in a class full of kids was awkward,16most of them were respectful and encouraging. During the day, I still had loads of housework to do. But when I was down, Linda encouraged me. "Morn, you can't17now!" And when she was down, I18her. Together we saw it through. At last, I got my diploma19 my classmates voted unanimously (一致地) for me to be class speaker, and I got a ＄3, 000 college scholarship.

    Yes, Mom, I was late for school, but I got there20.

    When I settled in Chicago, my new city seemed so big and unfriendly. Then I had a 1 problem and had to go to hospital for a 2 examination.

    It seemed a small 3 compared to the one I was about to face, but things started to go 4 right from the beginning. Not having a car or 5 the city, I was depending on the buses to get me from A to B. 6 I'd left myself plenty of time, soon it was 7 I was going to be late, because I had mistakenly boarded a bus that was taking me in the 8 direction.

    I 9 the bus and stood on the road not knowing what to do. I looked into the eyes of a 10, who was trying to get past me. 11, instead of moving on, she stopped to ask if I was 12. After I explained my 13 to her, she pointed to a bus stop across the street, where a bus would take me back into the city to my 14. Sitting there waiting, I felt 15 that someone had been willing to help. 16 , hearing a horn（喇叭）nearby, I looked up to see a car with my new friend 17 at me to get in. She had returned to offer me a 18 to the hospital.

    Such unexpected 19 from a passer-by was a lovely gift to receive. As I climbed out of the car at the hospital and turned to thank her, she smiled and told me not to lose 20, for all things are possible.

A Labrador has been doing an important job to help people stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Eight-year-old Roby runs through the streets of the hilly city of Medellin several times a day with a 1 in his jaws, taking vegetables, fruit and packaged foods to customers of the Fresh4U mini-market.

"He helps us to maintain social distancing," said Roby' owner, Sherry Botero. "And people 2 it when we send the dog." Roby enjoys eating carrots 3 to him by customers, a tip for bringing a basket of food.

Roby wasn't always a star. He was accepted into the family 4 by Ms Botero after repeated requests by her son to 5 a dog.

But Ms Botero quickly 6 with the dog. And when she opened a mini-market four years ago, he started to accompany her to make deliveries.

Roby can't read 7. But he remembers the names of customers who have previously rewarded him with treats. And with some practice, he has learned to go to their houses on his own.

"He knows the names of five or six of our customers," Ms Botero said, "So I send the goods with a receipt in the basket, and my customers 8 me through a bank transfer(转账；转移)."

Roby might not know that he's become an 9 worker. But he is happy to help his owner and 10 his daily pay.