One dollar a week

The doorway of the house where Chandler has a room. He is dressed in his best clothes, ready for

his evening out. He is going out as his friend, Jeff 'White, comes in.21教育名师原创作品

WHITE                        What are you doing this evening, Towers?

CHANDLER                (Smiling) Tonight I'm going to live like a man with a million dollars!

WHITE                        What are you talking about? You haven't got a million dollars!21*cnjy*com

CHANDLER                How much money are you and I paid each week, Jeff?

WHITE                        Eighteen dollars. Why?

CHANDLER                And how much of that eighteen dollars do you spend each week?21·世纪*教育网

WHITE                        All of it, of course.

CHANDLER                Well, I don't. Each week I save one dollar out of my eighteen. Then,

every ten weeks, I can buy myself an evening to remember.

WHITE                        What do you do?

CHANDLER                I put on my finest clothes, go to one of the best restaurants in New York,

eat the most expensive food on the menu, drink the best wine, and then

take a taxi home!

WHITE             (  29  ) Why?

CHANDLER        Why? Because it makes me feel wonderful to sit with some of 'the richest

people in America, and to make them think that I'm rich, too.

WHITE             You're crazy!

CHANDLER        (Laughing) Perhaps I am!

Mrs Black comes in.

MRS BLACK               Ah, Mr Chandler. I wanted to see you.

CHANDLER                Good evening, Mrs Black. What a lovely evening!

MRS BLACK               Lovely evening perhaps, but you haven't paid me for your room this

month. When am I going to get the money?

CHANDLER         Soon, Mrs Black. Very soon.

Mrs Black looks at Chandler s clothes.

MRS BLACK               You can spend money on expensive clothes, but you can't pay for your

room. Is that right?

CHANDLER         (Hurrying away) Good night, Mrs Black!21世纪教育网

    Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, "Do you think they'll let me play?" Shay's father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but the father also understood that if his son, who was disabled, were allowed to play, it would give him some confidence.

    Shay's father came to one of the boys on the field and asked if Shay could play, not expecting much. The boy looked around and said, "We're losing by six runs(分) and the game is in the eighth inning(局). I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat(击球) in the final inning.

    Shay came to the team's bench and put on a team shirt with a smile and his father had a small tear in his eye and warmth in his heart. The boys saw the father's joy at his son being accepted.

    In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the final inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the field. He was clearly glad just to be in the game and on the field. In the bottom of the final inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, next was Shay at bat. Would they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?

    Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was almost impossible. The first pitch(投) came and Shay missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to throw the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.

    The pitcher could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman and Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game. Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the head of the first baseman, beyond the reach of all teammates, The audience and the players from both teams started screaming, "Shay, run to first! " Never in his life had Shay ever run that far but made it to first base.

Everyone shouted. "Run to second!" Catching his breath, Shay ran towards second. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the smallest guy on their team, who had a chance to be the hero for his team for the first time, could have thrown the ball to the second baseman, but he understood the pitcher and he too threw the ball high and far over the third baseman's head.

    All were screaming, "Shay, Shay, Shay, all the way Shay." Shay reached third base when one opposing player ran to help him and shouted, "Shay, run to third." As Shay rounded third, all were on their feet, crying, "Shay, run home!" Shay ran to home, stepped on the home base and was cheered as the hero who won the game for his team.

    That day, the boys from both teams helped bring a piece true love into this world. Shay didn't make it to another summer and died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making his parents so happy!

    Joseph has written a letter to his cousins, James and Susan. Here is the letter.

    Dear James and Susan,

    I am writing to you again because I am at home in bed. I have a cold recently and I am unable to go to school. I've got a fever and a bad headache as well. In addition, I'm always thirsty, probably as a result of the fever. But, with a lot of effort, I'm writing a letter to you.

    The weather here in Toronto is horrible. I am sure the weather is much better in Hong Kong. Do you agree? The snow came a bit early this year and it was freezing cold. It's surprising to see kids playing in the snow happily and building "castles" and snowmen this morning. A few of them made snowballs by pressing snow together and threw them at each other.

    I am going to have my examination soon, I'm worried about it because I'm too sick to get out of bed to hold my text-books. What's more, I haven't attended school for nearly one week. I have to work hard to catch up with my classmates.

    I have got a new mate recently. That is Bobby, our cat. Uncle Tom gave him to me as my birthday present. He is rather disobedient and he runs here and there from time to time. However, I'm glad to have him as my friend at the moment.

    Please write to me if you have time.

Yours,

Joseph