In my living room, there is aplaque that advises me to “bloom {#blank#}1{#/blank#}youare planted”. It reminds me of Dorothy. I got to know Dorothy in the early1980s, when I was teaching Early Childhood Development through a program. Thejob {#blank#}2{#/blank#}(responsible) requiredoccasional visits to the classroom of each teacher in the program. Dorothystands out in my memory as on one {#blank#}3{#/blank#}bloomed in her remote area.

       Dorothy taught in a remote school nearHarlan. To get to her school from the town of Harlan, I followed a road {#blank#}4{#/blank#}(wind) around the mountain. In theeight-mile journey, I crossed the same railroad track five times, giving thepossibility of {#blank#}5{#/blank#}(catch) by thesame train five times. Rather than feeling excited by this drive throughmountains, I found it depressing. The poverty level was shocking and the smallshabby houses gave me the greatest feeling of {#blank#}6{#/blank#}(hope).

        From the moment of my arrival at thelittle school, all my gloom disappeared. Upon arriving at Dorothy's classroom,I was greeted with smiling faces and treated like a queen. The children{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(prepare) to show me their {#blank#}8{#/blank#}(late) projects. Dorothy told me witha smile that they were serving poke greens salad and cornbread they madethemselves for dinner.

        Lonely {#blank#}9{#/blank#}she was far away from the moderncivilization and convenience, she never ran out of reports of excitingactivities of her students. Her enthusiasm never cooleddown. She passed all the tests {#blank#}10{#/blank#}(excellent)and I found that Dorothy was really blooming where life had planted her.

    I am taught by many teachers in my school. Every subject has a {#blank#}1{#/blank#}(differ) teacher, but I like my math teacher {#blank#}2{#/blank#} (well). Her name is Lakshmi but we usually call her Ma'am. She is our class teacher too.

    Ma'am {#blank#}3{#/blank#} (join) us last term. She is very kind and her way of {#blank#}4{#/blank#} (teach) is so interesting and simple that we all can understand what is being taught and how it could be done. Most {#blank#}5{#/blank#} (important), Ma'am teaches math with lots of patience. {#blank#}6{#/blank#}we do not understand a problem, she will spend extra time {#blank#}7{#/blank#} (guide) us until we understand it. And we can go to her at any time during school hours for help.

    She also helps us with activities at school. When there are{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(program), she will be there to help us to get ready for the show. Even when we go on picnics, she takes good care of {#blank#}9{#/blank#}.

    To me, Ma'am is not only {#blank#}10{#/blank#} good teacher, but also our best friend. I love Ma'am and I wish her a happy life.

I used to frequently visit an old age home{#blank#}1{#/blank#}(manage) by the little sisters of the poor in our city Hyderabad. A. P., India. There I met a gentleman by the name of Kurien in his late{#blank#}2{#/blank#}(eighty). He served the Indian army and retired. He has one son who is well educated and also married.

Mr. Kurien felt down with the life in his house{#blank#}3{#/blank#}decided to move into this old age home here in Hyderabad. We both began to share a lot of thoughts whenever we met and slowly it was a{#blank#}4{#/blank#}(day) affair that I used to spend some time with him discussing what he was doing in the army, camp fun etc.,{#blank#}5{#/blank#}he used to share with lots of joy.

I used to carry with me some snacks which we both used to sit under a tree and eat. I saw him really very happy in my{#blank#}6{#/blank#}(present). One day he told me with tears in his eyes "I really found a very good friend in you. I feel like{#blank#}7{#/blank#}(live) some more years to spend happy time with you.

As we departed, I told him, "Do not worry. We will have enough time together in the future." I had an official meeting and could not go to the old age home the next day. The day after when I reached the home, his room{#blank#}8{#/blank#}(lock). I enquired and found that he was no more. He died{#blank#}9{#/blank#}very night we both met last.

I really miss him. I have not given him anything worthwhile except{#blank#}10{#/blank#}I used to listen to his words and share his thoughts.