When I was eight, I wrote my first poem. My mother read and cried, “Buddy, you didn't really write this beautiful poem!” Shyly, but1, I said yes. She poured out her 2.“It was nothing short of talent!”“What time will Father be home?” I asked. I could 3 wait to show my work to him. I spent quite some time 4 for his arrival. I wrote the poem out in my finest flourish(花体字), drew a fancy border around it and 5 I placed it right on my father's plate on the dining table. My father had begun his motion-picture career as a writer. I was sure he would be able to 6 my poem.

    At almost 7 o'clock my father burst in. He seemed 7. He circled the dining-room table, complaining about his employees. 8 he paused and glared at his plate. “What is this?” He's reaching for my poem. “Ben, Buddy has written his first poem!” my mother began. “And it's beautiful, absolutely amaze...” “If you don't mind, I'd like to decide for myself.” Father said. I 9 my head as he read that poem. It was only ten lines. But it seemed to take hours. Then I heard him dropping the poem back on the table. Now came the moment of 10. “I think it's terrible,” he said. I couldn't look up. My eyes were getting 11.

    “Ben, these are the first lines of poetry he's ever written,” my mother was saying. “He needs encouragement.” “I don't know why.” My father held his ground. “Isn't there enough 12 poetry in the world already?” I couldn't 13it another second. I ran from the dining room crying. Up in my room I 14 myself on the bed and cried the worst of the disappointment out of me.

    That may have been the end of the story, but not of its 15 for me. I realized how 16 I had been. I had a mother who said, “I think it's wonderful!” and a father who drove me to hear with “I think it's awful.” Every one of us needs that mother force, from which all creation flows; and yet the mother force alone is 17. It needs the balance of the force that 18, “Watch. Listen. Review. Improve.”

    Those 19 voices of my childhood ring in my ears through the years, like two opposing winds blowing me. 20 the two poles of confirmation and doubt, both in the name of love, I try to follow my true course.

    Whenever we hear about “the homeless”, most of us think of the Developing world. But the1is that homelessness is everywhere. For example, how many of us would expect to see people living on the streets of a2country like Germany?

    Kurt Muller and his wife Rita have spent eleven years making3for the homeless of Berlin, Germany's capital. They first4one long hot summer when most Germans were5on holiday. Kurt and his wife stayed at home, made sandwiches,6.

    The Mullers soon realized that food and clothing weren't7. “What these people also need is warmth and8,” says Rita. The Mullers didn't9to give their phone number to the street people and told them to phone anytime. Rita10there was somebody at home to answer the phone and their home was always11to anyone who couldn't face another night on the street.

    The couple were soon12all their time and money, so Kurt visited food and clothing companies to13donations. Today, over thirty companies14donate food and other goods to the cause and volunteers help to15them to the homeless. The public also give clothes and money and a shoe producer16new shoes.

    Kurt and Rita receive no17for their hard work. “ We feel like parents,” says Rita, “and parents shouldn't18money for helping their children. The love we get on the streets is our salary.” Though Rita admits she often gets19 She says she will continue with her work because she likes the feeling of having made a20.

    When most of us get a text message on our cell phone from an unknown person, we usually say "sorry, 1 number!" and move on. But when Dennis Williams 2 a text that clearly wasn't intended for him, he did something 3.

    On March 19, Dennis got a group text 4 him that a couple he didn't know were at the hospital, waiting for the 5 of a baby.

    "Congratulations! But I think someone was mistaken," Dennis 6. The baby was born and update texts were 7 quickly from the overjoyed grandmother, Teresa. In her 8, she didn't seem to realize that she was 9 the baby's photos with a complete stranger. "Well, I don't 10 you all but I will get there to take pictures with the baby," replied Dennis before asking which room the new 11 were in.

    Much to the family's surprise, Dennis stuck to his 12! He turned up at the hospital 13 gifts for the new mother Lindsey and her baby boy. Lindsey's husband was totally 14 by the unexpected visit. "I don't think we would have randomly invited him over but we 15 it and the gifts."

    Teresa 16 a photo of the chance meeting on a social networking website 17 by the touching words: "What a 18 this young man was to our family! He was so 19 and kind to do this." The post has since gained the 20 of social media users all over the world, receiving more than 184,000 shares and 61,500 likes in just three days.

    “Daily Star, sir,” called Jason, carrying some news-papers under his arm. The little boy had been running up and down the street, but there were still twenty 1left. His voice was almost gone and his heart was 2. The shops would soon close, and all the people would go home. He would have to go home too, carrying the papers 3 money. He had hoped to sell more papers tonight to make more money to buy a 4for his mother and some seeds for his bird. That was why he had bought the papers with all his money. He 5 as he thought of his failure to sell all his papers.

    “You don't know the 6 of selling papers. You must shout, 'Hot news! Bomb bursting!'” another newsboy Chad told Jason. “7 it's not in the paper at all,” replied Jason. “Just run away quickly 8 they have time to see, and you'll 9out and get your money,” Chad said.

    It was a new 10 to Jason. He thought of his bird with no11and the cake he wanted to buy for his mother, but was12 that he would not tell a lie. Though he was 13 a poor newsboy, he had been 14 some good things.

    The next afternoon Jason went to the office for his papers15. Several boys were crowding around Chad, who declared with a 16 smile that he sold six dozen the day before. He added that Jason 17 money because he would not tell a lie. The boys 18 at Jason. “You wouldn't tell a lie yesterday, my boy?” A gentleman at the office came up and patted Jason's shoulder 19, “You're just the boy I am looking for.” A week later Jason started his new 20. He lost the sale of twenty papers because he would not tell a lie, but got a well-paid job because he told the truth.

    Many families usually take their children to travel during school breaks. But Julie and Tim Rivenbark planned a(n)1vacation with their two children―a one-year trip around the world. They plan to230 countries in all.

    Right now, the four travellers are about halfway through their 3. Ms. Rivenbark says they are trying to see as much of the4as they can.

    Mr. Rivenbark says the family has5on ostrich (鸵鸟) birds, elephants, and camels. But, he says, one of the most6experiences of the trip has been meeting new people.

    “People have been7friendly and welcoming and love our kids―and it's lovely to see them interacting (互动) with new people and their8to see our kids enjoying themselves in their country.”

    Eleven-year-old Tyler says he has enjoyed9about the people they have met. “I learned in Africa that people have very10lifestyles to those in America.” His sister Kara11that she liked Thai food.

    Ms. Rivenbark says that the trip is12the children a lot more than short visits would have. “I think that the longer we travel, the more13it has on how they see the world. I can see them14more than they can see themselves,” she said.

    It took the family a year to15for the trip. They had to sell their house and cars. Ms. Rivenbark16her job and her husband is using unpaid leave. They carry small bags17lightweight clothing and whatever else they need. Ms. Rivenbark says she18being able to carry everything she needs on her back.

    Tyler and Kara each have iPads so they can communicate with teachers to stay19with their schoolwork. Tyler is also20a 365-day video blog.