How did I find the strength to even breathe, much less walk, talk or live, after the death of my 15-year-old son from an accident two years ago? My mother is the short and long answer.
My beautiful, blue-eyed, blond-haired son, bright, athletic, loving, popular, lost his own life, and my life as I knew it went with him. I was blindsided. The intense grief and extreme pain were unbearable and still are at times. But that is another story. This story is about my mother who, although she died two years before my son, was and is my strongest pillar.
My mother was born in 1924 and, from one perspective, was one of the lucky ones during the Great Depression. Her father was an assistant district lawyer, so she grew up with food on the table, decent clothes and a warm apartment to live in.
She married my father, a heart surgeon, shortly after World War Ⅱ. They moved to Pittsburgh in 1958 and raised six children in Fox Chapel, ending up with 15 grandchildren by the time they celebrated their 60th anniversary a few weeks before she died at age 86.
As a mother and spouse, she was remarkable. Taking my father's long, stressful hours at General Hospital into account, she was in charge of everything—finances, school schedules, housework, discipline. She was also involved in volunteer activities for the hospital and American Heart Association.
Dealing with things in a practical way, she managed to attend her children's many activities with enthusiasm and still make time to sit with my father when he got home long after the dinner hour. She would listen to his day's events devotedly, and she rarely complained about his long hours or her many responsibilities.
Often doubled over in fits of laughter at the dinner table, she had a great sense of humor and was infamous for having quiet laugh attacks during Sunday mass. She loved to read and was addicted to her daily crossword puzzles. I loved all these things about my mother and sought to imitate her as a young woman.
注意：
1.续写词数应为150左右；
2 .请按以下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
My mother never complained.
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But after ex experiencing the loss of my son, I found myself…
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I truly learned what a best friend is in my first year at high school. Kate and I were good friends and we were inseparable (分不开的).We spent every day together and always had a good time.
Then basketball season started and we were on the same team. After a few games, however, Kate got moved up to the Rose Cup fulltime. I wouldn’t admit it then, but in fact I envied (嫉妒) her much. Having different practice times, we began to see less of each other and talked less. Soon I was told by others that she was talking behind my back.
One night, I called Kate to tell her about my new haircut. To my great surprise, the next day at school she told everyone that I copied her style because she had told me she wanted to get her cut like this. As a result, I was angry and quite disappointed with her. At noon she handed me a letter and walked away instead of talking with me. I couldn’t accept the cruel words on the paper. In great anger，I wrote right back to her. Over the next week, we exchanged more hurtful letters. I cried myself to sleep every night, believing our friendship was over.
注意：1.续写词数应为150左右；
2．请按如下格式作答。
One night my mom took me to Kate's home.
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It has been five months since we broke up with each other.
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Lily loved school. However, there was one class Lily worried about more than any other—art. She didn’t know why she just wasn’t any good at drawing, painting, or cutting.
Ms. Clay, the art teacher, stood at the front of the room. “Class, next Friday our school is going to have an art competition,” she announced. Ms. Clay was a great teacher, and Lily liked her a lot. But this announcement made Lily nervous. “Everyone in the school will create a piece of artwork to show in the library. You can use the different types of artwork we have been studying.” Ms. Clay was quite excited when she spoke while Lily found herself sinking lower in her chair.
Lily had the whole weekend to work on her project, but she could not think of anything to do. On Monday, Lily felt frightened, so after school Lily asked Ms. Clay if she could write an art paper instead of doing an art project.
“I understand this project scared you, Lily,” Ms. Clay said. “Just remember, you can create any kind of art you want.” Ms. Clay smiled at her. “Art is a person’s way of expressing his or her feelings—it isn’t always painting, drawing, or cutting. I know you will think of something very creative, and I can’t wait to see it.”
When Lily arrived home, she took out a piece of paper and a pencil. She remembered Ms. Clay’s words. “Art is a person’s way of expressing his or her feelings.” Lily wrote the word “terrified” on her paper. She crumpled (揉皱) the paper and threw it to the side of her desk.
Then Lily stared at the crumpled ball. Suddenly an idea struck her.
Paragraph 1：
Why not create something out of crumpled paper?
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Paragraph 2：
On Friday, Lily carefully carried her project into the library.
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I was born and grew up in the north of Scotland, which was not far from the sea. When I was little, I enjoyed the seaside scenery very much. I often sat on the rock by the sea and watched the view of the sea. I was fond of playing with the sand on the beach and chased the waves with my old sister, Alastair.
Across the beach there was a tidal(潮汐)island, which means that when the tide goes out, you can walk to it, but when the tide comes in again, you can’t get to it. Mum and Dad never let us go there. They told us that it was dangerous. However, the tidal island was full of mystery to me. I said to myself, “There must be some fascinating scenery worth exploring. How I wish I had a chance to land on it!”
On a little cold day in October, while my parents were away for a friend’s wedding, my sister was determined to take me to the beach near our house, where we would have a good time. I wanted to build sand castles.
When we arrived at the beach, the tide was out. We ran on the beach back and forth and enjoyed ourselves very much. With the help of my sister, I made several sand castles of different shapes. Feeling a little tired, I sat on the beach for a break. I saw the tidal island opposite, which looked very nice in the autumn sunshine.
“Let’s go to explore the tidal island, Alastair,” I said to my sister.
“That’s a good idea. But Mum and Dad said we couldn’t. Maybe we won’t return safely!” Alastair said.
“Don’t worry! We’ll try to return before the tide comes in again.” I begged Alastair.
Finally she agreed. We returned home and brought some peanut butter sandwiches and a bottle of milk with us.
注意:
1. 续写词数应为150左右;
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Then we set off for the tidal island.
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The tide came in and covered the beach and the water was too deep and cold for me.
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A Bowl of Noodles
Jenny was the only child in her home. She had a quarrel with her mother that afternoon and she ran out of the house angrily. She couldn’t help crying sadly when she thought of he scolding from her mother. Having wandered aimlessly in the street for hours, she felt a little hungry and wished for something to eat, but it was not even possible for her, since she had nothing with her. She stood beside a stand for a while, watching the middle-aged seller busy doing his business. However, with no money in hand, she sighed and had to leave.
The seller behind the stand noticed the young girl and asked, “Hey, girl, you want to have the noodles?”
“Oh, yes... but I don’t have money on me...” she replied.
“That’s nothing. I’ll treat you today,” said the man,
“Come in.”
The seller brought her a bowl of noodles, whose smell was so attractive. Jenny thanked the man and started to gobblle (狼吞虎咽) up the delicious food...then cried silently.
“What is it?” asked the man kindly.
“Nothing, actually I was moved by your kindness!” said Jenny as she wiped her tears, “Even a stranger on the street will give me a bowl of noodles, while my mother drove me out of the house. She showed no care for me. She is so mean and cruel!”
Hearing the words, the seller smiled “Girl, do you really think so? I only gave you a bowl of noodles and you thanked me a lot. But it is your mother who has raised you since you were a baby. Can you number the times that she has cooked for you? Have you expressed your thanks to her?”
Jenny sat there, speechless and numb with shock; she remembered her mother’s familiar face and weathered hands. “Why did I not think of that? A bowl of noodles from a stranger made me feel grateful, but I have never thanked my mum for what she has done for me.”
On the way home, Jenny made up her mind to make an apology to her mother for her rudeness as soon as she arrived home.
注意：
1.续写词数应为150左右；
2.请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Paragraph 1:
Approaching the doorway, Jenny took a deep breath.
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Paragraph 2:
Her mother came back home, which called her mind back.
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When school was over, the day was fading and it started to drizzle(毛毛雨). I stood at the school gate, with a loaded backpack on my shoulders. It was Friday again: a weekend of joy with unlimited sleeping hours and dinner courses specially made to my taste, a weekend at home. I waved goodbye to my friends as they jumped into their fathers’ warm and comfortable cars. Curiously, this gave rise to a disturbing feeling in me. It was not exactly what they called jealousy, but something like dismay(沮丧). I knew all I could expect was an old bike Mom would ride along on, with the badly-oiled chain creaking(嘎吱作响) against the wheel to announce her arrival.
Every Friday when Mom came to pick me up for the weekend, it was a moment full of great expectation and great unease. I always felt my face burning as we rode our way in and out of the numerous cars and saw my friends’ faces sticking out of the car windows. It was like stepping into a ballroom with beautifully dressed ladies and finding yourself in a smelly T-shirt.
To tell you the truth, Mom is quite a headache once in a while. She just looks a homely middle-aged housewife. Being a practitioner of DIY, she knits most of my sweaters, chiefly in old styles. Whenever caught by some curious classmates asking what brand my sweaters are, I’d force a smile and reply in a half joking manner: homemade.
I couldn’t remember when I started to find her such an embarrassment. As a little boy, I relied on her so much. She had been working at home, cooking in the kitchen, knitting by the lamp or riding across town to buy me a book I badly needed. It had always been much fun riding with mom. But just now there seemed to be something standing between us, something that made her so strange to me and me to her.
注意：
1. 续写词数应为150左右；
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
Today she showed up in a raincoat.
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Mom tried to cover me with the back of the raincoat again as a storm set in.
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The new year was coming and my family began to make this year’s plan for it. “The weather report says this unseasonably warm weather will continue through the week. We could shake things up and celebrate the new year with a picnic party in the backyard!” said my mum.
“Our San Francisco weather can be pretty unpredictable,” said my dad. “Maybe we should come up with a sensible indoor plan.” Then he continued, “Hey! Why not start this year with something different? ”
“Yeah!” my little brother, Tex, agreed.
“It’ll be a great!” said Mom. Then she turned to my cousin, Mareya, who was staying with me, “Mareya, we’d love to have you and your family join us. And how about we invite Ollie and Grandma? ”
We all cheered. And after the fastest kitchen cleanup in history, Mareya and I raced over to Ollie’s. Grandma was also excited and suggested we get out the instruments and make a little music.
Grandma’s music suggestion got us thinking. Ollie, Mareya, and I made up a simple song, and somehow, it turned into an idea for a play! Later that afternoon, we went back to my house to find out the costume box. Naturally, my little brother and sister joined right in.
We made up a play, in which the forest animals threw a party to celebrate the arrival of the New Year Queen. Fast-forward to New Year’s Day when we worked all morning to set up our backyard stage. We prepared some flowers and a basket of pine nuts (松子) to greet the Queen when she stepped on the stage.
Unfortunately, the weather that morning was so windy and cold that we all felt freezing. Mum suggested us giving the performance indoors. But we insisted on showing the play outside, as we had all set up for it in the yard. Mum then said that we could start with the play outside, and then had the food inside. Everyone agreed.
Once our audience were seated, Ollie opened the show. When we were half way through the performance, right in the middle of our song-and-dance scene, a strong wind blew! Suddenly, there was a mess as everybody hurried to pick things up. But afterward, the air was calm again.
注意：1. 续写词数应为150个左右;
2. 请按如下格式在答题卡的相应位置作答。
“The show must go on!” Grandma called from the audience.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Attracted by the smell of pine nuts dropped on the ground, two real squirrels (松鼠) ran onto the stage.
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