“Just sign here, sir.” the deliveryman said as he handed Oscar Reyna a package.

    The package consisted of a long, narrow box1wrapped in brown paper. 2 the box, Oscar saw an umbrella inside — a very old one with a beautifully carved handle._3 he had not seen it for more than 20 years, he recognized it 4

    Oscar was 16 when he first saw the5umbrella. He had gone to a concert with his grandparents. As they were leaving, he noticed an umbrella on an empty seat. Impressed by its6 Oscar felt a strong desire to find its7.

    Oscar 8the manager to look in the record of advance ticket sales. Just as he thought, a name matched the seat 9Oscar had found the umbrella. The name was Mrs. Katie O'Brien.

    Oscar talked his grandparents into going by Mrs. O'Rrien's 10 on their way home. He rang the bell, the door opened, and an elderly woman appeared. “May I 11 you? ” she asked. “I'd like to return it if it's yours.” Oscar said, 12 the umbrella as if presenting a13 that had long been wished for. “Why, yes! It's mine.” replied Mrs. O'Brien with a14 smile and shining eyes. “It was given to me by my father years ago. Thank you so much for returning it. May I offer you a reward for your 15?” “No, ma'am,” he said, “my grandmother says that a good deed is its own reward.” “Well, that's 16 what my father used to say. What is your name? Young man?”

    Years later, Oscar was staring at the finely carved handle of the umbrella as he remembered Mrs. O'Brien. It was in perfect condition, considering how17 it was. Why had it arrived here today? As if 18 a note fell from the paper. It read: Mrs. O'Brien wanted you to 19 this umbrella as a present for a kind, 20gesture long ago.

    Until a few years ago, I had what most people would call a good life. I had a 1job that paid the bills; I had a good family that I was close to, and I had a place to live and money in the bank for trips and 2, and there was nothing much wrong in my life.3, I was bored.

    I wanted 4. I wanted to live brightly and loudly and make sharp memories instead of the 5 ones of everyday life. But I was 6. I've never had any7in myself. As a child, even buying something in a shop caused me a great deal of 8, and even though I did get better as I got older, I never really9 that childhood shyness.

    And I tried everything, like reading books about confidence. I took tiny steps leading to my goals. But none of them really10.

    So I 11 that the small steps weren't enough. I signed up for an internship（实习期）teaching English in Vietnam, an12 huge step, one that13 me as much as it excited me. And then the day came and I left my home and my loved one. I was alone in a country where the food was14 and the streets were dirty. I had no idea whether I would be able to 15everything this very strange environment would16 at me.

    I spent five months in Vietnam, teaching and exploring and laughing. I'd learned to 17 myself, my skills, my abilities and my decisions. I returned home 18, even to myself, let alone to others. The19 that had controlled my life and the self-doubt completely20.

    That one big chance changed everything for me, and in me.

    Frank was walking down the 6th Street on a hot sunny day when he saw smoke coming out of the street. He could 1 the smoke, and it was getting2. Seeing the smoke coming out of a storm drain(雨水沟), Frank called the fire department 3. “The storm drain is 4 fire!” he said. The fire department asked for his whereabouts and he said he was near the 6th street. They said they would be right there to investigate the situation. Frank needn't to go anywhere, so he waited for the 5 to arrive. He was curious what could be burning beneath the street. As far as he knew, there wasn't anything beneath the street 6 concrete(混凝土). And everyone knows that concrete doesn't 7.

    A fire truck arrived a few 8 later. “Are you the man who 9?” asked the driver. “Yes.” Frank answered. By now Frank could not only smell the 10 but also hear crackling sounds, just like wood burning. The firemen didn't seem to11it an emergency. “What do you think it could be?” Frank asked the driver. “Oh, we know what it is. We have to 12 a problem like this every few months. It's the homeless people in their 13.”

    Homeless people have been living under the streets for years.14 their knowledge of the storm drain system, they 15 their own “houses” beneath the streets. These living areas have tables, mattresses, chairs, and sofas. The settlers often “borrow” electricity by connecting to a live wire above ground to 16 their own lights and even TVs underground. Either this 17 electricity or a cigarette can cause an occasional fire.

    Frank watched 18  some firemen lifted a manhole cover (井盖) and went beneath the street with a fire hose (消防软管). Then a few minutes later, the 19 smoke turned white. Shortly afterward, the firemen reappeared with a 20 person who seemed to have just been woken up.

    Several weeks ago, I had a dinner party. During the1 a glass of red wine was dropped on a very fancy, Persian carpet in the living room. Later, when I planned to have the carpet2, experts came out. They 3 that they could not only get out the  4, but also make every carpeted room look and smell nice.

    After spending more than 200 dollars, my 5 looked great. All of the carpets were cleaned, but there was still one slight 6— the stain was still there, and to say I was 7, actually an understatement. Committed to getting rid of the stain, I 8 another expert. This was a real expert with great 9 in this trade. When he arrived and saw the stain, he immediately explained to me how 10 it would be to deal with the stain, and he wanted me to know that before he even unloaded his 11 to start the job. My expectation at that point was low; however, I told him to put in his best 12.

    In the first scenario（背景）I expected the stain to be  13. In the second I expected little or nothing. Those made me realize that in life the fine line between 14 and disappointment can be our expectations. Disappointment will occur 15 the expectation line drawn by ourselves is placed incorrectly. 16 good things will happen if you set your expectations 17. In the carpet cleaning scenario above, the second 18 not only set my expectations appropriately by under promising, but he also over delivered by getting the stain out—a result that 19 my expectations, making me very 20. So remember: set your expectations properly.

    The most delicious memories happen during the holidays. 1 them are my little girls at the church play, the moment they got their first angel wings, or New Year's snowmen with bright scarves. 2 there is one memory that is a little bittersweet. This story 3 to mind a colorful candy dish and a very little boy. The occasion was sometime between Christmas and New Year when a few candies in a dish 4 dull December day.

    Wrapped against the cold, my then 3-year-old grandson, Justin, and I had dashed from the 5 of my parked car into the building where I had a few work-related tasks to 6. A secretary  7 us as we brushed the snow from our clothes. Then, I 8 myself seeing to the business that had brought us there. But while my grandson's hand remained in mine, his 9 moved to the candy dish sitting nearby.

    As we turned to leave, the 10 woman behind the desk asked the question all children wait to hear.

    "Honey," she said, looking at Justin. "Would you like a candy?"

    The boy looked up 11, his eyes meeting mine. After a slight 12 from me he hurried over to the candy dish. Without hesitation, his little hands grabbed one – and only one – and then he began to  13 his way back to me.

    "Justin!" I said from the doorway, a little loudly as I realized 14 had been forgotten. "15 do you say?"

    The little boy returned to the candy dish.

    "Get 16 one, too!"

    I laughed. The secretary laughed. And 17 little Justin innocently (天真地) laughed at the fun we were having.

    But in that moment, I saw something about Justin that remained long after the 18 of the candy had disappeared. My grandchild was already a person with a lot of 19 in his heart.

    In the years since, I've enjoyed a laugh or two thinking back on that moment. Really, what could be 20?

    Tonight, I was walking home from work. It was1. I passed a man2on a bench in the street. We looked at each other. As I passed, I half smiled and he just3me, sad like. It seemed he might be staying there for the4. He was wearing a thin sweater.

    As I walked away, I5the cold air on my skin and thought, "I wish I had a6to offer him." I have a bag from my grandmother. I thought maybe there is an extra blanket among her things.

    I looked in the bag but there was no blanket. There was my7winter hat though. I've had it for years. It would keep his head warm at least, I thought. I went back to the man and stood in8just a little away until he looked up.

    I wasn't sure what to say. I didn't want to assume he needed a hat or9even. Maybe he wasn't going to10there for the night. Maybe he was just sad and wanted11to be alone.

    We both stared at each other for a moment and then I12forward and asked simply, "Would you like a hat? '' He looked at me, then at the hat. I 13him to tell me to go away or something similar.14his face softened and he said. "Yes, thank you." "Okay, goodbye ", I said with a little15as he nodded kindly and half16.

    I am glad I had the hat to17. I think I will start keeping blankets. It's getting colder out there and more people are living in the18. As Mother Teresa said, "Let us touch the dying, the poor, the19and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be20or slow to do the humble (卑贱的) work."