It was a Sunday evening, and everyone was doing their own thing —whatever my sisters and I like to do during our1time. Mom told us to come to the living room. Like most children, of course, we wanted to2whatever we were doing. I don't remember3I was doing, only that I was the last one to go into the4room. Abbey was in a chair, and Elizabeth was by the wall, closest5the stairs.

    I don't remember where everyone else was sitting,6 it was one of the very few times my Dad was with us while we had7. He is usually at work or always busy with something. Mom told us that they were getting a8When she first told us, I didn't know what to think. But when Elizabeth started laughing, all my sisters and I started9, because we truly thought she was joking, or maybe we just didn't10Elizabeth to get mad at us. Looking back, I think the main11 I laughed with them was because I didn't12what to think.

    Mom insisted that she wasn't13, and that she wouldn't joke about something serious; for we wouldn't 14her if something of the sort would15happen. We all stopped laughing, and Elizabeth was the first to get16. She was angry that they were getting a divorce. She went upstairs in17, and then I also got upset. I don't really remember much18Elizabeth went upstairs, but I know that I19the living room so I could be 20.

    How I wish every person had an entire family！

    I was at the post office early that morning, hoping to be in and out in a short while. Yet, I1myself standing in a queue that went all the way into the hallway. I had never seen so many people there on a weekday. It seemed someone might have made an announcement, welcoming customers to carry as many2as they could and bring them in when I needed to have my own package3.The queue moved very slowly. My patience ran out and I got 4.The longer it took, the angrier I became. When I got to the counter finally, I finished my5 quickly and briefly, and then walked past the queue that was now extending past the front door.

"Excuse me," I said, trying not to be too pushy. Several people had to move6to make room for me to get to the 7.

    I stepped out, complaining about the8conditions. Thinking I was going to be late for my dentist appointment, I headed into the parking lot.

    A woman was coming across the lot in my9She was walking with determination, and each step sounded very heavy. I 10that she looked as if she could breathe fire. It stopped me in my tracks. I11myself and it wasn't pretty. Had I looked like that? Her body language said that she was having a12day. My anger melted away. I wished I could wrap her in a hug but I was a 13.So I did what I could in a minute14she hurried past me—I smiled. In a second everything changed. She was astonished, then somewhat15.Then her face softened and her shoulders16I saw her take a deep breath. Her pace slowed and she smiled back at me as we passed each other.

    I continued to smile all the way to my17Wow, it's amazing what a simple smile can do.

    From then on, I became aware of people's18and my own, the way we show our feelings. Now I use that 19 every day to let it20me that when facing the world, I can try a smile.

    I sat down at my desk and started writing a letter of thankfulness, but when it came to actually putting the letter into the mailbox... I 1 ...I couldn't do it. I suddenly felt a sense of 2and insecurity (不安).

    The letter was to an old teacher with whom I kept in 3 on Facebook. For months, I read about what she 4 on her Facebook page, which helped me to live my life differently. Her volunteer (志愿者) work wasn't huge. 5, she was doing small, local good deeds.6 , she changed my views on the world and for some reason, I felt I should let her know how her example7 influenced me.

    I could have easily sent her an email, but that seemed not enough for such an important thank-you. That's why I ended up8 the letter. But now here I was, standing before the mailbox, unable to put the envelope inside. What was stopping me? It suddenly hit me that I was 9 of being too nice. I guess I felt strange 10 it wasn't like she was my best friend or a relative. Maybe my 11 was too heartfelt. Thinking this over, I put the envelope in the mailbox 12.

    Weeks later I received a message from her. It turned out she was 13 a hard time and my note 14 a lot to her. She said she had no idea she was playing such a big 15in others' life.

    Not only did this letter make her happier, but her response to it brightened my world and 16my level of happiness as well. I was so 17 that it had such a great influence on her that I decided to write a(n) 18 letter to someone each month. Now it's easier for me to19 the goodness in others and be more20 for this beautiful life I'm living.

    I was called into the principal's office but I had no idea what I had done wrong. When I arrived, my brother Brian was there. He had been crying. Brian grabbed my hand and said, Amanda has been in a car1."

    Every inch of my body went2 as I realized what he had said. My sister was injured. One question sounded over and over in my head3 could this have happened？ Even though she was only 17, Amanda was one of the4 drivers I knew. I felt shocked and terrified.

    My brother and I left immediately5 the hospital my sister was in. When we arrived, my sister's face was6 from the eyebrows up and you could see blood everywhere. She was7 to several machines. My mom and dad stood at her side crying.

    My sister looked8 at me with blood﹣filled eyes. In her eyes, where I expected to see9, I saw strength. She said to me, "I love you, Renee. I suddenly realized how10 I tell my sister I love her. I tried to11 her, but she wasn't listening any more,12 some doctors were taking her away to the x﹣ray room.

    As they wheeled her away I wanted to scream out, but I couldn't. I couldn't move, speak or even cry13she was around the comer. Then the tears came.

    Though everyone kept telling me she would be all right, something made me14. Every moment that passed allowed the15 in my mind to grow bigger. Finally, the doctor walked down the hall and stood quietly in front of us. It was then that the long﹣awaited16 came. Amanda was going to be okay.

    My heart leaped as I realized I still had a sister. She would need a lot of plastic surgery （整容手术）, but she was 17.

    A year later,18 my sister and I quarrel sometimes, every time I see her face and spot the large scar that stretches across it, I remember to tell her that I19 her. I remember when I almost didn't have the20 to tell her again how much I love her.

    When I was 14 years old, I was angry and rebellious, with 1 regard for anything my parents had to say, 2if it had nothing to do with me .Like so many3, I struggled to escape from anything that didn't 4 my picture of the world. A brilliant without need of guidance kid, I refused to accept any obvious 5 of love. In fact I got 6 at the proposal of the word "love"。

    One 7 , after an extremely difficult day, I 8 into my room, shut the door loudly and fell down onto my bed heavily. As I lay down in the privacy of my 9, my hands placed under my pillow. There was an envelope and I pulled what was inside out, which read, To 10 when you're alone."

    11 I was alone, no one would know whether I read it or not. So I opened it. It said, " Mike, I know life is 12 right now, I know you are upset and I know we don't do everything right .I also know that I love you 13 and nothing you do or say will ever change that I am here for you if you ever need to talk. If you don't, that's also 14. Just know that no matter where you go or whatever you do in your life, I will always love you and be 15 that you are my son. I'm here for you and love you that will never16 love you ,Mom."

    Every night as I went to bed, I would put my hands under my  17 and remember the 18 I felt every time I got a letter. During my teen years, the letters were the calm assurance that I still could be loved 19 my anger and rudeness. Just before I fell 20 I became grateful that my mom knew what I, an angry teenager, needed.

    One sunny afternoon, a seven-year-old girl went for a walk. She crossed a large area of grassland into the woods 1 she realized that she was lost.

    Sitting on a rock and 2 what to do, she began crying. After a while, She 3 to walk along a wide path lined with tall trees and thick bushes. 4 it was getting dark, she saw a small, dark wooden house. She opened the door and 5 stepped in. Suddenly, she heard a strange noise, and she ran out of the door and back to the 6 . Cold and tired, she fell asleep near a 7.

    The girl's parents were out and her dog, Laddy, was at home. Laddy 8 that his mistress was in danger. He jumped 9 a window, breaking the glass. He looked in the fields. But he couldn't find his mistress anywhere. However, from the ground came a10 scent (气味) as he lowered his head. He 11 the scent and walked across the grassland. Barking 12 into the air, the dog 13 through the woods until he found the 14. But the girl was not there, so he headed back to the woods. Much to his 15, he saw his mistress' blue shirt in the distance. He 16 over some bushes and saw the little stream, where the girl was 17.

    When she opened her eyes and18her dog standing beside her, the girl said, "you19me, Laddy," and she kissed him several times. Seeing their daughter and dog coming back, the parents burst into tears of 20. That night Laddy had a hero's supper: a huge meal of steak.