The books in David's schoolbag felt like bricks as he ran. What he wanted to do was to play basketball with Eric, 1 his mother told him he would have to return his sister's books to the library first.

    He had 2 set foot in a library and he didn't like reading. He would just 3 the books in the outside return box. But there was a 4; it was locked.

    He went into the building, only a few minutes 5 closing time. He put the books into the return box. And after a brief 6 in the WC, he would be on his way to the playground to 7 Eric.

    David stepped out of the WC and stopped in  8 — the library lights were off. The place was 9. The doors had been shut. They 10 be opened from the inside, he was trapped in a library!

    He tried to11 a telephone call, but was unable to12. What's more, the pay phones were on the outside of the building. 13 the sun began to set, he searched for a light and found it.

    14 he could see. David wrote on a piece of paper: “15! I'm TRAPPED inside!” and stuck it to the glass door. 16, someone passing by would see it.

    He was surprised to discover that this place was not so unpleasant, 17. Rows and rows of shelves held books. He saw a book about Michael Jordan and took it. He settled into a chair and started to 18.

    He knew he had to 19, but now, that didn't seem to be such a 20 thing.

    Before he sailed round the world single-handed, Francis Chichester had already surprised his friends several times. He had tried to 1 round the world but failed. That was in 1931.

    The years passed. He 2flying and began sailing. He enjoyed it greatly. Chichester was already 58 years old when he won the first solo 3race across the Atlantic. His 4dream of going round the world came back, but this time he would sail. His friends and doctors thought it was a(an)5 attempt, as he had lung cancer. But Chichester was determined to 6his plan. In August, 1966, at the age of nearly 65, an age at which many men 7, he began his greatest 8of his life.

    Chichester covered 14,100 miles 9stopping in Sydney, Australia. This was more than twice the distance anyone had previously sailed 10. On shore, he could not walk 11help. Everybody said the same thing: he had done 12; he must not go any further.13  he did not listen.

    After 14in Sydney for a few weeks, Chichester set off once more in spite of lots of 15. The second half of his voyage was by far the more 16 part, during which he sailed round the risky Cape Horn. After succeeding in sailing round Cape Horn, Chichester sent the following radio message to London: “I feel as if I had waken up from a nightmare (噩梦). Even a wild horse could not drag me down to Cape Horn and that Ocean 17.”

    Just before 9 o'clock on Sunday evening 28 May, 1967, he arrived 18in England, where tens of thousands of people were waiting to welcome him. Queen Elizabeth Ⅱ honored him with a very valuable sword. The whole voyage from 19and back had covered 28,500 miles. It had taken him nine 20, of which the sailing time was 226 days. He had done what he wanted to accomplish.

    Leon Logothetis is riding his yellow motorcycle, which he calls Kindness One. He is trying to 1 around the world on the kindness of 2. No money. No food. Nowhere to stay. Leon 3 on the generosity of the human spirit to keep him going.

"It's all about 4 other people," Leon said. So far, he's met with 5. In Las Vegas, a family gave him food and a place to sleep. In Nebraska, cowboys let him stay 6 them. "The American people have been 7," Leon said.

Andin Pittsburgh, after a dozen people had 8 him down, Leon met Tony, a 9 man who gave me his food and offered to let Leon sleep with him in a garage. "It was so inspiring for me," Leon said ."The people in Pittsburgh hadn't 10 helped but he offered me a place to stay and shared his food."

So just how far can 11 get you? Leon is determined to 12. "I used to be a manager in London, sitting behind a desk, 13 12 hours a day, and it wasn't for me." he explained. "Then I went and travelled the world and 14 with people. And that's what it's all about. That's where the 15 is: Connection. Heart to heart."

On his blog, Leon said he'll 16 a ship from New York to Europe, adding he'll do so "as a non-paying 17. Kindness Rocks!"

    He also lists a trip that would 18 him travelling to France, Italy, Greece, India. Cambodia and Vietnam and other countries. His 19 will be shown on TV. The trip also serves to 20 money for Make-a-Wish Foundation.

    I was frustrated at not being entered into the national IT competition I'd applied for. I sat in the car, lost in 1, chewing my lip and staring outside.

    I went upstairs,2and desperate. Grandpa's door was open for me as usual. There, he was waiting for my3with great excitement. I stood silently, forcing a4to cover my sadness. He seemed to5me immediately, giving me a 6. I was astonished that such a7body was full of so much energy.

    Only then did my emotions start 8out. I told him that all my9were for nothing, and that I was feeling discouraged. Grandpa smiled at me10and said, "Don't worry. You're far stronger than you think." Then he 11, "Life can be full of ups and downs so what we need do is to still have our hopes and12, neglecting the anxiety that makes it easy to give up."

    He13me on the shoulder, with a determined look, before saying, "Cheer up. I'm firmly14that you have the capability to succeed." Grandpa's encouragement soon made my sadness15.

    The next day, I thought about all my problems and16a plan. Now, I believe that with a positive attitude towards failure, I'll17reach my goals.

    Looking back, I realize that we should share our setbacks and progress in life with our18ones. As my grandpa showed, the19of our family members will benefit us20.

    I was late for the school bus and rushing to get ready. My dog, Tippy, got to the front door and lay down in front of it – his way of asking to be petted. I1his begging for affection (喜爱), hurdled(跨) over him and ran for the waiting bus.

    2, that afternoon, when I came home, Mom said to me3, "Honey, I have some4news that I need to tell you. This morning, while you were at school, Tippy was hit by a car and5 I'm so sorry."

    "No! It's not true!" I was6 I couldn't believe her. "Tippy, come here! Come on, boy!" I called and called for him. I waited. He didn't come. Feeling7, I wandered into the living room. I didn't cry that night. I still couldn't believe that he was8.

    When I got off the bus the next day, there was dead silence at home.9 my sobs (哭泣) bubbled up and erupted (喷发) like lava (熔岩) from a volcano. I couldn't stop10. I hadn't even petted him when I left.11could I have known that was my last chance? I cried until I felt empty inside.

    Time passed, and against my will, I started to12some things. I realized what little control any of us have over what happens 13 a dog. We can do everything right, but14things can still happen. But good things can happen too. That's15. The best way to 16 the hard times is to figure out what you need to do to get through them when they come, and to remember that hard times always17.

    I now deeply understand the "circle of life". Everyone is born, everyone18, and that's the way it is. If dogs never died, there would be no19for others like Belle – my new dog.

    Best of all, I realized that Tippy20all of my good memories of him. And they come to me every time I call!

    I was touched so much. A while back, my three-year-old son and I settled back for his goodnight1. We lay down in his little bed and he said, "Daddy, when I get big can I live with you?" I assured him he could live with me2he wanted to.

    A moment later he said, "When you die you're going to feel3on your face and it will be me touching you." Then he4,"I will kiss you." He moved over, kissed me. I was aware of tears suddenly welling up in my eyes. I didn't want to explain5I was crying; as I opened my eyes to look at him, he was already6.

    I spent some time looking at him,7the minute and wondering about the depth of the8I'd had. It occurred to me that I didn't remember having much of this kind of9time with my father, and that this was a time that would be10short-lived. This time of11that forms a three-year-old's life, would soon be12. What will remain, however, will be the13of this short while reoccurring in my mind non-stop. It made all of the difficult14of being a father worthwhile.

    Sometimes, being a committed (承担义务的) father can feel like you're15the doorkeeper, driver, and16in the house. Then you will have "a17", one like this in which your child expresses18, pure, and unconditional love for you.

    When your kids have19home and you look back at these years, all of these will be strung (绑) together to20the memories of their lives with you.