He met her at a party. She was outstanding; many guys were after her, but 1 paid any attention to him. After the party, he invited her for coffee. She was surprised. So as not to appear rude, she went 2.

      As they sat in a nice coffee shop, he was too nervous3say anything and she felt uncomfortable. 4, he asked the waiter, "Could you please give me some salt? I'd like to put it in my coffee."

     They stared at him. He turned red, but when the 5 came, he put it in his coffee and drank. Curious, she asked, "6 put salt in the coffee?" He explained, "When I was a little 7, I lived near the sea. I liked playing on the seaside ... I could feel its taste salty, like salty coffee. Now every time I drink it, I 8my childhood and my hometown. I miss it and my parents, 9are still there."

      She was deeply 10. That was the start to their love story.So they married and lived happily together.11 forty years, he passed away and left her a letter which said:My dearest, please forgive(原谅) my life-long 12. Remember the first time we dated? I was so nervous I asked for salt 13sugar. It was hard for me to ask for a change, so I just went ahead. Sweetheart, I don't exactly like salty 14. But as it mattered so much to you, I've learnt to enjoy it. If I could live a 15 time, I hope we can be together again, even if it means that I have to drink salty coffee for the rest of my life.

    When I was little, my mother began selling flowers in Camden Market. She couldn't1me at home on my own, 2I had to go to the market with her.

    3, I didn't have to do anything. I just sat there, and my mother told me jokes and stories so I didn't get 4.When I got older, I gave my mother a hand and I really enjoyed it.

    Then one year, my grandma gave me a book for Christmas. It was all about making candles and I loved it. I was 14, and I didn't have to go to the market5because my mother could leave me at home on my own. I6my free time making candles of all shapes and sizes. I made7them.

    One day, my mother was ill, so I had to go to the market on my own. I decided to8some candles with me and see9I could sell them. They10in 20 minutes! The next week, my mother gave me some money to buy some wax (蜡) to make more candles. They were sold out really quickly, too.

    Ten months later, we decided11flowers. My mother and I couldn't make enough candles during the week, so some of my friends started to help us. I paid them one pound12every candle, and we 13sell them for three or four times. It was fun and my friends worked with me in the market.

    At the age of 22, my uncle14me some money and I opened my first shop in Portobello Road. Since then, I've15looked back, even in difficulties. In the first store, we only sold candles, but now we sell everything from the designer, furniture to paintings. Oh, and candles, of course.

    People in the West didn't know coffee or tea two hundred years ago. They were 1 to drink them because they thought coffee or tea could kill a person. Once the king of England decided to find out 2 it was true.

    There were two brothers in prison(监狱) at that time.They would be killed 3 a few days because they did wrong. The king said, "I shall let them live but they must drink coffee or tea to the end of their lives. One brother must drink coffee and 4 must drink tea every day." And they followed the king's words.

    They both lived many years. At last, the elder brother died when he was eighty-three years old.The younger one died a few years later. After that, people 5 that coffee and tea were not bad to man.

    The summer vacation is over. It's true that time always flies1. During the vacation, the weather was 2and I could not do much homework, but I lived happily.

    As the afternoon was hot, I did my homework in the3. I often got up at 6:30 and4in the garden for half an hour. After breakfast, I5reading English and Chinese and did some exercises in math. Those6me three hours or more. I worked quite7and made good progress(进步).

    I spent the afternoon outside. I went to8and it was funny. I would not go home until it was about five or six o'clock. Sometimes my friend came to see me and would spend some hours9music.

    In this way I spent my vacation10. And I not only studied well but also became a good swimmer. Now I am in good health and high spirits(精神).