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    When I was a little kid, a father was like the light in the fridge. Every house had one, but no one really knew what either of them did when the door was shut.

    My dad left the house every morning and always seemed glad to see every one again at night. He opened the jar of pickles when no one else at home could. He was the only one in the house who wasn't afraid to go into the basement by himself. 

    Whenever it rained, he got into the car and brought it around to the door. When anyone was sick, he went out to get the prescription(处方) filled. He set mousetraps. He cut back the roses so the thorns(刺) wouldn't hurt you when you came to the front door. He oiled my roller skates, and they went faster. When I got my bike, he ran alongside me for at least a thousand miles until I got the hang of it. He signed all my report and cards. He took a lot of pictures, but was never in them. He tightened up Mother's sagging(松垂的) clothesline every week or so.

I was afraid of everyone else's father, but not my own. 

    Whenever I played house(玩过家家), the mother doll had a lot to do. I never knew what to do with the daddy doll, so I had him say, "I'm going off to work now," and threw him under the bed.

    When I was nine years old, my father didn't get up one morning and go to work, he went to the hospital and died the next day. 

    There were a lot of people in the house who brought all kinds of good food and cakes. We had never had so much company before. 

    He never did anything; I didn't know his leaving would hurt so much.

    "Mom, I'm bored," said Jason. "There is nothing to do." "You can clean your room," said Mom. "That's not fun." It was only the second week of summer vacation. It was still too chilly to go to the pool, and Jason was tired of watching TV. His friends went on a trip, and even his dog, Riley, was being lazy.

    Mom was getting ready to go downtown to the food kitchen to help out. She volunteered three times a week serving lunch to people that weren't as lucky as Jason. "Why don't you come with me to the food kitchen and help out?" Mom asked. "I don't know anything about working at a food kitchen," said Jason. "You just watch me, and then you will see how to serve the food," said Mom.

    It was time to go, and Jason was excited to try working in the food kitchen. He watched his mom put some chicken on a plate and some mashed potatoes. She then passed the plate to the next lady, and she put some green beans and bread on the plate. "I can do that," thought Jason. One of the volunteers left early, so Jason took his place in the serving line. He was in charge of putting salad on the plates. He served twenty-five people that day. After the kitchen closed, Jason and his mom stayed to clean up. "That was great!" said Jason.

    Jason was so excited and really enjoyed his day at the food kitchen. He couldn't wait to get home and tell his dad about how much fun he had. "Not only did it give me something to do, but I felt so good doing it," Jason told his dad. "Jason, that was nice thing you did today," said Dad. "You helped many people who aren't as lucky as you to have a hot meal," Mom said. "I am so proud of you, Jason! You worked very hard.

    Jason went to bed that night thinking about the food kitchen. "I am going to help out again," he thought. Jason made some new friends, and he didn't even know they lived so close to him in town! The best part was how good Jason felt inside.

    Rupert Isaacson was born in Africa, and grew up in London and in the English countryside, where he discovered his love of horses. Because he grew up hearing so many fascinating memories about Africa from his parents, he went there and lived with the people called The Bushmen of the Kalahari Desert.

    By the year 2000, Rupert was already working as a reporter, writing articles and guidebooks about Africa and India. He met his wife Kristin in India. Today, they live with their son, Rowan, in the US. But Rupert faced the greatest challenge of his life when, at the age of two, Rowan was

diagnosed (诊断) with an illness that influenced his ability to communicate with others.

    Rupert discovered that spending time with horses and riding them was helping Rowan. But unluckily, the Bushmen of the Kalahari do not have horses. So the family set out for Mongolia, where horses have been important for long. Rupert has written about this journey to help his son in his book Horse Boy, and he has produced a documentary of the same name. In the film, people have the chances to see the family travelling in Mongolia, riding horses and meeting healers (治疗师) in order to help Rowan.

    Because working with horses has helped Rowan, Rupert set up The Horse Boy Foundation on his farm in Texas. It is a school that teaches people how to use horses for healing. Besides writing another book, The Long Ride Home, about travelling with Rowan to Africa, Australia and Arizona in the US, Rupert has also produced the documentary Endangerous, with Rowan as host, about dangerous animals that are endangered. Rupert Isaacson has managed to discover the secret of turning one challenge into many achievements.

    An eight-year-old girl named Tina heard her parents talking about her little brother. All she knew was that he was very sick and they had no money. When she heard her dad say to her mom, "Only a miracle(奇迹)can save him now", Tina went to her bedroom and took all her money out of a small box and counted it carefully. Then she made her way six blocks to the local drugstore(药店).

    "And what do you want?" asked the owner of the store.

    "It's for my little brother." Tina answered. "He's really, really sick and I want to buy a miracle. His name is Mike and he is two years younger than me. Now he has something bad growing inside his head and my dad says only a miracle can save him.

    "We don't sell miracles here, child. I'm sorry, "the owner said, smiling sadly at Tina.

    In the store there was a well-dressed customer. He asked Tina. "What kind of miracle does your brother need?

    "I don't know," she replied. "He's really sick and my mom says he needs an operation (手术),But my dad can't pay for it ,so I have brought all my him."

    "How much do you have?" asked the man.

    "One dollar and seven cents, but I can try and get some more," she answered quietly.

    "Well, what a coincidence (巧合)," smiled the man. "One dollar and seven cents-the exact price of a miracle for a little brother. Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents."

    That well—dressed man was Carlton Armstrong, a famous doctor. The operation was completed without money. Two weeks later, Mike became well and was home again.

    Tina was happy. She knew exactly how much the miracle cost- one dollar and seven cents-and the faith(信念) of a little child.