On our first anniversary, Jack bought a bottle of Casaque, an expensive cologne（古龙香水）for me. "We agreed to save the money for your postgraduate education", I said somewhat half-heartedly as I took it out from a beautifully-wrapped packet. "I am unable not to give something 1 to the world's most beautiful bride, honey!" I held it to my2, and smelled the most pleasant flavor I could ever3. Looking down at my4blue jeans and ugly, ragged tennis shoes, I wondered if I could ever be worthy of it. But I would 5. I used only a little of it every time 6Jack graduated and our life was financially easier. It's a 7the foolish love of a young husband.

       Then one day three-year-old Jim was sitting on the floor8the empty cologne bottle. His lips wet, he was making a(n) 9face. He drank my10cologne! "Jack, come quick," I cried, "can cologne11my baby? Jim drank the rest of it!" "It's mostly just alcohol, honey," Jack12me. Little Jim was fine, and my concern for my child was13. I now felt 14to see the empty cologne bottle.

      A few weeks later, Jack bought another bottle of my beloved cologne. I 15it as much as I had done to the earlier one. 16, it became three-quarters empty. I thought it best to buy another 17. But the shop assistant told me that there wasn't even a maker of that brand any more.

    Now I only use my special cologne on very important occasions, because there will be18to replace it when these last few precious19are gone. But from the bottom of my heart it's not three-quarters empty but still one-quarter full. Perhaps if I'm very careful, I can 20using it for the rest of my life.

    Many years ago, Dad worked as a farmhand（农场工人）.At that time, he had a horse. Every Saturday he 1to the town after dinner and spent a few hours on social 2 with other farmhands, such as drinking, chatting, and playing cards in the cafe. On Saturday evenings, the cafe was 3 because many farmhands were there. Before midnight Dad returned home on his horse, quite satisfied with his 4.In his words, he 5 thought of changing his job.

    At the age of 31,Dad married my mother who was a schoolteacher. In the following spring I came 6 into the world. Life became hard, so my mother felt 7.She told Dad that they must make a 8.

    My mother had 9 of how some famous persons, especially Thomas Edison who was born in a poor family, fought against fate and achieved greatness and 10.And she 11 that I would some day become a great leader 12 men or cities and Dad should be a successful businessman. So she 13 Dad to give up his job as a farmhand, sell his horse and 14 a small business of his own. And I went to high school and college. She even sent me abroad for 15 education when I graduated from college. Under the drive of my mother's hope, Dad and I 16 what we have today. Dad runs a big international 17 and I am a successful lawyer 18 great fame in my country,19 not a leader as my mother expected.

Dad said, without my mother, we wouldn't be what we are today; at least, he would remain a farmhand.20 he got a lesson of life — sometimes we really need drive from outside.

    A young painter just completed his course from his teacher. The painter decided to check his own 1, so he put his best painting at a busy crossroad. And just down below a board read. “Gentlemen, I've painted this piece. Since I'm2 to painting, please put a cross (叉) wherever you see a 3 in my painting.”

    4 he came back in the evening to collect it, he was shocked. The whole painting was filled with 5. The young painter ran to his teacher's place and burst into tears. He 6 told his teacher about what had 7 and showed him the painting. This young painter cried. “I'm 8 and I could not become a painter at all. I fed like 9.”

    His teacher smiled and suggested, “I'll prove that you are a great 10.” The young painter couldn't believe it and said, “I've lost11 and I don't think I'm good enough. Don't 12 me.”

     “Do as I say without asking 13. Just paint the same painting once again and give it to me. It will work,” his teacher persuaded (劝服) him. The young painter finally 14 and two days later, he painted the same painting once again and 15 it to his teacher.

    “Come with me,” his teacher said. They reached the same street-crossing and put the same painting there. His teacher took out another 16 which read. “Gentlemen. I've painted this piece. Since I'm new to painting, there might be some disadvantages in my painting. I've put a box with 17 and brushes (画笔) just below. Please do me a favor. If you see a disadvantage, kindly pick up the brush and 18 it.” They both visited the place in the evening. The young painter was 19  to see there was not a single corection done!

    It is easy to criticize (批评), but difficult to help others 20 .

    I started serving the homeless when I was eight years old. I didn't know these people would make such a big difference in my 1.

    Twice a month I go to the church and help get things ready for 2. When the gate is opened, people come 3in to get drinks. They take their seats while breakfast is4, and then we begin to5. We each take two plates and carry them 6the line as the plates are 7. Each person receives kinds of foods. I walk to the tables and8the plates before them. After I've served them, I ask if they need9else and bring them whatever they ask for.

    When I first started serving, I was a little 10. At first I stayed close to my mom most of the time, but after I got to know these strangers, I11that they were friendly people. And the12of them was often nicer than the outside. I realized that there was no13 to the scared. After serving for a few months, I started to14seeing the same people each week.

    All of these people make my day much15. The past two years have made a big16in my life. I do this 17it is the right thing to do. When I serve people, I want them to know that someone 18them and that they matter. Serving makes me happy, but even more 19, it teaches me to love and 20others and helps make the world a better place.

    Everyone should go to his or her 50th high school reunion. There was a time I thought I'd never go even if the opportunity 1. But now I feel 2for people who don't go.

    I went to the 3of my high school on a Saturday evening, and I am glad I did. It was a gift to recognize some4classmates right away — and to be recognized. 5, we had name tags and our 6photos on our clothing to help identify us. I recognized one woman immediately!

    The most memorable and moving experience of the night was 7by a schoolmate and neighbor to whom I was once close. Unfortunately, we had a falling out in the high school. I never saw her after 8, but this time, I saw her name on a place setting. At first, I feared that I would 9her. But my better self won over, and I 10 her out. I kept looking until I got a(n) 11on my shoulder. There she was 12. We hugged as if nothing had ever 13and exchanged affectionate words. When the party 14, my old-new friend walked towards me, 15me again and wished me well. I returned her good wishes. All the bad 16melted into thin air.

    I am grateful I had this 17to reunite with old classmates. After all, we are almost 18the final lap of our lifelong journeys. Some classmates had already left this 19, and their names were deleted from the list. Sometimes we have to walk back into the past because time does heal old wounds. We're not the 20people. We are better people.

    All of us in Monte Vista Christian School know we'll one day have graduation photos for the yearbook taken. As the time 1, the girls start to have a 2 about what they'll wear and where to take the photos, while the boys 3 hardly talk about it. As for me, I 4 for my photos to be taken by the sea.

    When I arrived there, I met my photographer, Annie. She asked me to make some poses and I 5 her advice. After that, I asked if she could make me look 6 by taking photos in a different way, 7 I'm less than 1.6 meters tall. To my 8 she responded, "I will make no 9 to make you look like someone you're not. You look good in your own way." She 10 that she wouldn't try to edit the photos either.

    I was shocked by what she said. Girls always 11 to look perfect by using different visual angles. When you go to a photo studio, photographers always try to hide your 12 by telling you to stand in a certain way. And picture editors can easily 13 your look by making you appear any you want to. 14, that's not the case here. Seeing I was 15, Annie explained: "Everyone has his uniqueness. You need to 16 your own beauty. You cannot live in a world of 17 photos."

    It was the first time that I had met a photographer who doesn't 18 photos at all. After the shoot, I saw the photos — they are 19 special and natural. But what's even more special are Annie's 20, which will always stay in my heart.