You Did More Than Carry My Books

    Mark was walking home from school one day when he noticed a boy ahead of him had dropped all of the books he was carrying, along with a baseball bat and several other things. Mark 1 down and helped the boy pick up these articles. 2 they were going the same way, he helped to carry some of them for him. As they walked, Mark 3 the boy's name was Bill, that he 4 computer games, baseball and history, that he was having a lot of 5 with his other subjects and that he had just broken 6 with his best friend.

    They arrived at Bill's home first and Mark was 7 in for a Coke and to watch some television. The afternoon passed 8 with a few laughs and some shared small talk, and then Mark went home. They 9 to see each other around school, had lunch together once or twice, and then both ended up from the same high school. Just three weeks before 10, Bill asked Mark if they 11 talk. Bill 12 him of the day years ago when they had first met. “Do you 13 wonder why I was carrying so many things home that day?” asked Bill. “You see, I 14 out my locker(橱柜) because I didn't want to leave a mess 15 anyone else. I had planned to run away and I was going home to 16 my things. But after we spent some time together 17 and laughing, I realized that 18 I had done that, I would have 19 a new friend and missed all the fun we would have together. So you see, Mark, when you picked up my books that day, you did a lot more. You 20 my life.”

    “So, how's your brother doing?” Such a common question nowadays. I 1 give long answers on what he was doing each day of the week, but now I just respond, “He's fine.” I've gotten 2of the question. While everyone wants to know how my brother is doing, no one 3 asks me how I'm doing.

    I lived with him for over seventeen years of my life, and for some reason, no one thinks it would be4 for me to let him go. But it is. He was the 5of my world. My entire life went around him. I wore what he wore. If it was fifty degree outside, and he wore shorts, I6wear shorts, too.

    I lived in my brother's 7_for over seventeen years. He was popular with everyone. Before, I thought that people liked me. But no. People liked my brother. They were8_to him, and I just happened to be there.9 now, away from him, I'm facing a world so much bigger than before. He used to 10_me from the brunt(冲击) of the adult stuff, and I walked11_him, only seeing the nice stuff.

    But now I can see 12_the world is really like. And I'm ready to13 it on my own. I may never be popular, but I can be friendly and make new friends. I'm ready to step out from his shadow and let my own shadow fall on the ground. Maybe they won't like me.14_, it's better than just being a copy of him. It's time to 15_ from behind his shadow. It's time to let the sun warm me up, instead of standing in my brother's cold shadow.

    When I first met my new parrot, Chico, his wings had been cut short and he was stuck on the earth just like us humans. When the weather turned nice, I would take Chico outside. I 1 him on a branch of a tree, hoping to make him happier. At first he seemed confused. He walked back and forth on the branch looking 2 . He didn't even flap his wings in an/a 3  to fly. Somehow he knew he was incapable.

    One day Chico got especially excited. He paced back and forth and made an 4 amount of noise. Then all of a sudden he stopped and let out an even louder scream. He started 5 flapping his wings for the first time ever—then he lifted off the 6 like a space shuttle! I was amazed and 7. Little did I know his feathers had been growing back, and Chico had been waiting until the moment was ripe for 8!

    Two days later Chico returned. First I tried to 9 him back with food, but he would not come near me. Then I took his 10 and put it away—still he would not come. Finally, I made him a firm promise that I would let him out every day if the weather was nice as long as he did come back. 11, he flew onto my shoulder.

    From that day on, whenever the weather was good I would let him 12 early and he would fly around and be back before dark. The routine lasted for two months 13 suddenly Chico became 14. The vet said that he had been infected with a disease from the pigeons in the 15. Within a few days he died.

    I was very sad. The 16 crossed my mind that if I had not set him free to fly, he would be still alive. But what 17 is there in being a bird if you can't fly?

    Chico made his first 18 for freedom on a late Monday afternoon in April. When will you make yours? You too can take a 19 when the conditions are right, knowing you too, in your own way, were built to fly. If you don't set yourself free, what will be the 20 of your life?

    When I entered Berkeley, I hoped to earn a scholarship. Having been a Straight-A student, I believed I could1tough subjects and really learn something. One such course was World Literature given by Professor Jayne. I was extremely interested in the ideas he2in class.

    When I took the first exam, I was3to find a 77, C-plus, on my test paper,4English was my best subject. I went to Professor Jayne, who listened to my arguments but remained5.

    I decided to try harder, although I didn't know what that6because school had always been easy for me. I read the books more carefully, but got another 77. Again, I7with Professor Jayne. Again, he listened patiently but wouldn't change his8.

    One more test before the final exam. One more9to improve my grade. So I redoubled my efforts and, for the first time,10the meaning of the word “thorough”. But my11did no good and everything12as before.

    The last hurdle(障碍) was the final. No matter what13I got, it wouldn't cancel three C-pluses. I might as well kiss the14goodbye.

    I stopped working hard. I felt I knew the course material as well as I ever would. The night before the final, I even15myself to a movie. The next day I decided for once I'd have16with a test.

    A week later, I was surprised to find I got an A. I hurried into professor Jayne's office. He17to be expecting me. “If I gave you the As you18, you wouldn't continue to work as hard.”

    I stared at him,19that his analysis and strategy(策略) were correct. I had worked my head20, as I had never done before.

    I was speechless when my course grade arrived: A-plus. It was the only A-plus given. The next year I received my scholarship. I've always remembered Professor Jayne's lesson: you alone must set your own standard of excellence.

    A girl complained to her father about her life and how things were so hard for her.

Without a 1, the father took his daughter to the kitchen. He filled three pots with 2 and placed each on a high 3. In one he placed carrots, in the second eggs, and in the last coffee beans. The daughter sucked her teeth and waited 4, wondering what he was doing. In about twenty minutes the father turned off the heat. He 5 the carrots and eggs out and placed them in two plates. Then he poured the coffee into a cup.

    He asked 6, "Darling, what do you see?"

    "Carrots, eggs, and coffee." she replied.

    He asked her to 7 the carrots. She did and said they were 8. Then he asked her to take an egg and 9 it. After pulling off the shell, she 10 the hard-boiled egg. Finally, he asked her to drink the coffee. She 11, as she tasted its rich aroma (芳香).

    "What does it 12, Father?" She asked.

    He explained that each of them had 13 the same adversity (困境), boiling water, but each reacted 14. The carrot went in strong and hard but it turned soft and 15. The egg had been fragile, but after sitting through the boiling water its 16 became hardened. The coffee beans were 17, however, after they were in the boiling water, they had 18 the water.

    "Which are you?" Father asked his daughter. She was then wordless as if 19 in thought.

    When adversity knocks on your door, how do you 20? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

In October, I told the eight-year-olds whom I taught about my plan. "I'd like all of you to do1 jobs to earn some money," I said. Then we'll buy food fora(n)2 dinner for someone who might not have a nice dinner otherwise."

Early in the Thanksgiving week, the boys and girls arrived in class with their 3 money. They had set tables , washed dishes and looked after younger siblings(兄弟姐妹). And now they couldn't wait to go 4 .

I supervised(监督) while they5 up and down the supermarket aisles. At last we headed toward the 6 pushing a cart filled with a7 and other food. Then someone8 a "necessity".

" Flowers!" Kristine cried. The group ran toward the holiday plants.

I advised, "You can't9 flowers. " " But Mrs Sherlock, we want flowers." I was finally 10 .

With all those gifts, we went to visit an old woman who had lived11 for many years. When seeing the flowers, the woman seemed 12 . "Do you like them?" Michael asked. The woman brightened up and 13 .

[ After a happy moment, we had to leave. Sitting in the 14 , we could see the kitchen window. The woman inside waved goodbye , then turned and walked across the room, past the turkey, straight to the flowers. She put her 15 in them. When she raised her head , there was a smile on her lips. ]