I'm Ann. I'm English. I'm twelve. I was born on May 17^th, 1991. I learn Chinese at Beijing No.3 Middle School. I have a good friend. Her name is Lucy. She is twelve, too. We are in the same grade. But we are not in the same(同样的) class. I'm in Class Two, and she is in Class Three. We have the same Chinese teacher. Her name is Zhang Ying. We all like her. Lucy's parents are English teachers in China. She has a sister. Her name is Lily. She is only five years old.

    “My dear lady，”says Holmes．“You're shivering．Are you cold? Do you want a cup of hot tea?”

    “I'm not cold，”the woman replies，“I fear for my life!”

    “We are here to help you．Don't worry about anything．I don't know you．But I know many things about you．For example，I know how you traveled．You came to London by train．You also rode to the train station on a horse—drawn wagon．''

    “Why，yes．You‘re right.But how do you know these things?”

    “I see a return ticket in your glove．I see fresh mud on the left arm of your dress. Now tell us your problem．''

    “My name is Helen Stoner，”she states，“My mother and father are dead．I am living with my stepfather．Dr．Grimsby Roylott．He comes from a rich family．But they are no longer rich．They have nothing except a small piece of land and a huge old house．We are living in the house. Dr．Roylott is using my mother's mone37 for expenses．Part of it was for my sister and me. It was for our marriages．”

    Holmes is sitting in his chair．His eyes are closed．He is listening carefully to Helen's story．He hears every detail.

    Helen continues. “My stepfather has no friends．He fights with everyone．He is strong and gets angry quickly. Everyone is afraid of him．”

    “He has no friends at all?”asks Holmes．

    “No．He talks to no one except the gypsies(吉普赛人)．They are poor people who travel from place to place．A band of gypsies is staying on our land right now．''

    “Are you and your sister afraid of the gypsies?”

    “My dear Mr．Holmes．You are making me so sad．My sister is dead．That is why I am standing here in this room．”    ，  .

    Yesterday was Father's Day. Something that happened between my father and I is still on my mind. It was a Sunday morning, and I was in a terrible mood(情绪). 1friends of mine had gone to the movies the night before and neither had invited me. I was in my room 2how to make them sorry when my father came in. "Want to go for a ride today, Beck? It's a beautiful day. "

    "No! Leave me alone!" Those were the 3 words I said to him that morning.

    A few hours later, my friends called me to go to the mall with them. I forgot to be4 with them and went with them. When I came home, I found a(n) 5 from my mother that said," Dad has had an accident. Please meet us at the Park Hospital. "

    When I reached the hospital, my mother told me a car hit my father and he was seriously wounded. "Your father told the driver to leave6 alone and just call 911, thank God! If he had moved Daddy."

    My mother may have said more, but I didn't hear anything 7 those terrible words: Leave me alone. How much had I hurt him when I shouted at him earlier that day?

    It was several days later that he was 8 able to talk. I held his hand gently, afraid of hurting him.

    "Daddy...I am so sorry..."

    "It's okay, sweetheart. I'll be okay. "

    "No," I said. "I mean 9 I said to you that day. You know, that morning. "

    He looked at me and said with a weak smile," Sweetheart, I remember nothing about that day. "

    My English teacher once told me that words have great power. They can hurt or they can heal (治愈). And we all have the power to10 what to say. I am going to do that very carefully from now on.

    I know a Catherine who is smart, educated and interesting. But I avoid her because she never 1 complaining(抱怨)! For years, I fought against my feelings, because I really like and admire(赞赏) her, but I've found I just can't be her friend. Her world is 2“but.”. The trip would have been nice, but the drive was too long.  The food was good, but the light of the restaurant was too  3.  The hotel was too hot, the bed hurt her back and the room service was too slow. Her complaints were 4 changing me.  Months ago, my best friend Daisy was listening to me complaining about Catherine 5 she just became really angry. “Either break up with her, or leave me alone.” She shouted at me, “I'm tired of listening to your complaining. ” Her honesty surprised me, and I began to keep myself away from Catherine. Later, I did 6 her.

    Now I try to remain happy and positive (积极的) about life, and find friends of the same. There's been scientific research lately. It shows that people who find 7 to be thankful for their lives are actually happier, and I believe that is true. Endless complaining seems to control your life if you let it come into your brain. And too much complaining will actually make your life 8.

    Some people take “gratitude ( 感激之情) walks” every day, where they 9their lives in a positive way. By developing a grateful attitude, you can be turned away from what's troubling you, and 10 what makes you happy. Then you will have a beautiful life. 

    She had been shopping with her Mom in Wal Mart. She must have been 6 years old. It was 1outside. We all just stood 2the door of the Wal Mart. "Mom, let's run through the rain," she said with a 3 voice." What? "Mom asked." Let's run through the rain! "She repeated." No, honey. We'll wait until it 4 down a bit." Mom replied.

    This young child waited about 5 minute and repeated, "Mom, let's run through the rain."

    "We'll get wet if we do," Mom said. "No, we won't, Mom. That's not what you said this morning," the young girl said." This morning? 6 did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?" "Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, 'If God can get us 7this, he can get us through anything! "

    The entire crowd became dead silent. I dare say you couldn't hear anything but the 8. We all stood silently. Mom stopped to for a moment about what she would say. "Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If we get wet, maybe we just need  9," Mom said. Then off they ran.

    We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they  10 past the cars. They held their shopping bags over their 11 just in case. They got wet. But they were12by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the 13 to their cars. And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing. Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions (财产), they can take away your money, and they can take away your  14. But no one can ever take away your precious 15. So, don't forget to take time and take the opportunities to make memories.

    Wishing to encourage her young son's progress on the piano, a mother took her boy to a pianist's concert on a summer holiday evening. After they found their 1, the mother saw two friends in the hall and walked to 2 them.

    It was the boy's first time to come to the hall. He thought it was a good 3 for him to explore the wonders of the concert hall. He 4 and walked around. He walked 5 a door marked "NO ADMITTANCE" (禁止入内).

    When the hall lights turned dark, the 6 would begin. The mother returned to her seat and discovered that her son was 7. The mother was 8 worried at that moment that tears were in her eyes.

    The concert began, and the lights focused on the wonderful piano on stage. The mother was 9 to see her little boy sitting at the keyboard, playing the song Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star 10 he did at home.

    At that moment, the great pianist came, quickly moved to the piano and 11 in the boy's ear, "Don't stop. Keep playing." He leaned over(俯身) and began filling in a bass part(低音) with his left 12, then added a running obbligato(伴奏) with his right hand. They played the piano together 13. The old pianist and the young novice(初学者) changed a frightening situation into a wonderful creative experience. The audience stood up and 14 them.

    An artist's achievements and charm depend on not only his perfect skills 15 his good qualities.