Last Sunday, I sat with Tony, my college classmate, in a well-known coffee shop in Buenos Aires, Argentina. As we1our coffee, two men entered and sat on an empty table beside us.

    They2the waiter and ordered three cups of 3, two on the table and one on the wall. We heard this order with great4and observed that they were served with two cups of coffee 5they paid for three. As soon as they6, the waiter pasted (粘贴) a piece of paper on the wall saying A Cup of Coffee.

    It 7that the matter was normal at this place. However, it was something8for Tony and me. Since we had nothing to do with the matter, we 9our coffee, paid the bill and left.

    After a few days, we again had a10to go to this coffee shop. While we were enjoying our coffee, a man entered. The way this man was dressed did not  11the standard nor the atmosphere of this coffee shop. Poverty was12from the looks on his face. As he13himself, he looked at the14and said, “One cup of coffee from the wall.” The waiter served coffee to this man with15, politeness and warmth.

    After a few minutes, the man finished his coffee and left16paying. We were amazed to watch all this when the waiter 17a piece of paper from the wall and18it in the dustbin.

    Now it was no 19for us because the matter was very clear. Although the man didn't know about the one who was giving this cup of coffee to him, he would have a better understanding of the wall which had a great role between the 20and receiver.

    I have spent years of my life traveling all over the world. When I arrive in a new country or city, usually I am very 1 and go to bed early. For this 2 my first day or night in any 3 place is always quiet and very little happens. 4 my first night in Algeciras was very different. That night was very 5 and unusual.

    At that time 6 in Southern Spain was a dirty and badly looked 7 city. I arrived late in the 8 by boat. As soon as I got off the 9, I went to look for a 10. I found a small one not far from the quay(码头).

    This hotel looked 11 and untidy from the outside. I was very tired and did not know my 12 around the city of Algeciras, so I decided to stay in this 13 hotel on the quay. I also decided to stay in this hotel for 14 reason. The moon was full and it was a clear, 15night. From the hotel I could 16 at the sea. I could see the huge rock of Gibraltar in the bright 17.

    The hotel had a narrow 18 and no name. When I 19 this doorway, I had to climb up narrow and dark stairs to the first floor. I 20 a small cup-board with desk in front of it. This was the hotel office.

    Greenberg was a lucky guy to enter Columbia University on full scholarship. But just before junior year（大学三年级）, Greenberg's1 changed. One day his vision “2 up” and later he was diagnosed (诊断）with glaucoma (青光眼）. Then doctors operated on Greenberg's eyes.3 , the surgery didn't work. Greenberg was going blind. He was so 4that he refused to see anyone.

    As Greenberg's best friend, Arthur persuaded Greenberg to go back to Columbia and5to be his reader. Arthur read6to him every day, taking time out from his own study, and Greenberg7 scoring straight A's. Still, he was8about getting around alone and relied on his friend.

    Then, one afternoon, Greenberg and Arthur went to Midtown Manhattan. When it was time to go back to campus, Arthur said he couldn't9him because of an appointment. Greenberg10. They argued, and Arthur walked off, 11 Greenberg alone in Grand Central Terminal.

    Greenberg, who was completely12, stumbled (蹒跚）through the rush-hour crowd. He took a shuttle train west to Times Square, and then transferred to an uptown train. Four miles later, he13 at the Columbia University stop.

    At the university's gate, someone14him. “Oops, excuse me, sir. ” Greenberg15 the voice. It was Arthur's. Greenberg's first reaction was16, but in the next second, he realized what he had just17 and realized, too, who had made it possible.18, Arthur had been with him the whole way, using one of the most19strategies（策略）.

    Blindness doesn't make Greenberg fail to appreciate the20 of life. He always says he is the luckiest man in the world.

    In one of my college classes, we were required to do an act of kindness. My project included 1lunch for an elderly person. When I2the elderly person with the food I cooked, it never3to me that it would result in a new friendship and the discovery of a4.

    The person I visited was Bill, who was unable to5much. A nurse came regularly to help him move to and from the wheelchair because he has no6. Bill said he was delighted to see me and it was a7for him to eat a meal with me because he usually eats8. He said the food was great, but he enjoyed having9even more than the food.

    Bill had had a10life when working on the railroad and had many11stories to tell about his travels to many places. I was12a trip because of his stories. I had once13about traveling by train. However, I would14be going by train after meeting Bill.

    Perhaps the biggest15of this project was that I suddenly realized that I am16of working with the elderly. Spending time with them was fun-they have so much life experience to17. On the one hand, I am a good18. On the other hand, older people want someone to know their inner world, so it is a perfect19. I decided to focus my studies on the20. Hopefully in the future, I will work with them to help even more people like Bill.

    “Come on, Cindy!" Darcy sounded so impatient, “We'll be late for class."

    “Darcy, I can't find my1." I dropped my book bag to dig through my coat pockets. “My money was in it."

    “Someone took it." Darcy said. As usual, she was quick to point away from the2side of things. “Oh. I'm sure I just misplaced it." I hoped. Even though we were best friends, Darcy and I were just so3.

   We rushed into class. Darcy4the news about the theft. By last period in gym class, I was5of having to say over and over again, “I'm sure I just left it at home."

   After gym, we went into the locker room. I was changing6I heard a gasp from Darcy. I looked at her and found her face was white with7. There, at her feet, was my wallet.

    “It fell out of her locker!" Darcy pointed at Juanita, a “new girl" in our class. “She8it."

    Everyone began to9Juanita at once.

    “Darcy caught her red-handed."

    “Report her!"

   I looked over at Juanita. She picked up the wallet and held it out to me. Her hands were10. “I found it in the parking lot. I was going to give it to you."

    Darcy spit the words “I'm so sure!" at her.

    “Really, it's true." Juanita's eyes began to fill with tears.

    I11for my wallet. I didn't know what to think,12when I looked over at Darcy, her attitude made me sick inside. I looked at Juanita. She was scared but looked13. I knew I held her14in my hands.

    “I am so glad you found it," I smiled. “Thanks, Juanita."

    The15around us broke.

    “Good thing she found it," everyone but Darcy16.

    “If there is any money left in your wallet."

    “Not now. Darcy!"

    “You are so naive!"

    It wasn't until others left there that I opened my wallet.

    “It's all here." I couldn't help but feel17. A folded piece of paper fluttered from my wallet. I opened it to see what it was.

    “She just didn't have time to18it yet."

    “Darcy, maybe you spend too much time19people."

    Darcy grabbed the note, read it and threw it back at me. “Whatever!" she said and stomped off. I knew that something had20between us.

    I read the note again.

Cindy,

    I found your wallet in the parking lot. Hope nothing is missing.

Juanita

    P.S. My phone number is 55-3218. Maybe you could call me sometime.

    And I did.

    My eight-year-old son's soccer team in Washington DC was put together several years ago. The team has won 1 one game in the last three seasons. Yet, despite the endless 2, soccer is my son's favorite activity. He plays soccer at every 3, even at break time and at the aftercare (病后护理), and although he doesn't play as well as the best players in his school, this hasn't 4 him in the least.

    This has been repeated often, but I 5 it first-hand: soccer is about friendship as much as it is about learning to control the ball and make successful 6. Watching the children, I see that winning is a distant 7 goal for them. What they enjoy is each other's presence and the fact that they're in this game 8.

    Actually, I went through a phase of giving my son suggestions such as: Why aren't you more 9 once you have the ball? He 10 my sudden torrent (滔滔不绝) of guidance. "Mom, I play midfield or defense, not forward. And 11, soccer isn't about being aggressive. It's about 12." After hearing that, I paused and 13. How strange it is that I, who never played any sport for a single day of my life, wanted my son to be a(n) 14 footballer!

    Isn't it extraordinary that kids don't necessarily 15 their attempts to have impressive results? They love the activity for itself. Becoming an adult means a gradual 16 of that spirit. To stand out or 17, people develop a spirit of competition. How often have I become 18 —professionally and personally—when things haven't gone the way I wanted? I've 19 there's much to learn from soccer-loving eight-year-olds: do your best, be passionate, enjoy yourself, and then, regardless of the 20, move on.