Jack and Dane were great friends. Every evening they played together. They studied in the same class in the same school. They were good students.

One evening, Jack and Dane were playing with a ball. After a while, Jack said, “I am so bored. Shall we go for fishing in the river?” “That is a great idea.” replied Dane.

Jack called out to his mother, “Mama, we are going fishing in the river, okay?”

“Okay,” Jack’s mother said, “but be careful not to get into the water. Your father said there are crocodiles in the river.”

Both the children said that they would not get into the river. They gathered their fishing lines with the hooks (钩), and a can full of fish food. They headed to the river, and soon began fishing.

However, even after a long time, they did not get any fish. They began to feel bored again. “This river looks not so deep. Why does mother say not to swim here?” asked Jack.

“Remember, your mother said there are crocodiles here.” said Dane.

“Well, I don’t find any.” said Jack.

Dane was quiet for a while. Finally he asked, “Do you think we can swim?”

Jack jumped up and shouted excitedly, “Yes, let us swim. Come on, dive.”

The two friends dove in, and splashed (泼水) around happily. They found some logs of wood floating on the river, and tried floating with them. It was then that something unexpected happened.

Dane was playing with a log of wood, and suddenly, the log was caught in a strong current (水流), and he was hit in the head. He became unconscious immediately.

Jack saw what happened, and he swam fast to his friend’s rescue.

Suddenly, a loud splash was heard.

I stood there listening to the stern words of my father.

“Which of you did this ?” he asked with a sharp voice. We all stared down at the floor containing the art of a child’s handwriting in chalk.

I stood there, trembling and hoped that no one else could see it. “Will he know it was me?” I secretly wondered. Scared, I said,“Not me, Dad.”

The others denied it as well. Of course, we knew that one of us must have done it. But I, being the youngest and smallest of us three, just couldn’t find the courage to tell the truth. I wasn’t a bad kid and lying was not normal for me. But the look on my dad’s face that evening frightened me and somehow I couldn’t bring myself to tell him.

Without saying a word, he disappeared for several minutes and came back with a piece of paper and a pencil, determined to find out who did it.

He asked each of us to write exactly what we saw on the floor. I wasn’t a stupid kid though. When my turn came, I deliberately wrote the words differently. So when my dad compared the handwriting, he still couldn’t tell which one of us did it. Frustrated, he took a step towards us and looked at his three small kids.

“I’m going to give you one more chance to admit.”

Not surprisingly, neither my brother nor my sister spoke up. Why should they?

I was the one who did it. “Should I say something? Is it too late? He will be mad.” Again, frightened, I held my tongue.

He took us all in the house as tears suddenly filled my eyes. “Since none of you seemed to have done it, then you will all get a spanking(打屁股).” What? Still I stood there and said nothing. The last thing I wanted was a spanking.

“I did it,” someone said and I was pretty sure it wasn’t me.

It was a secret we kept for many years.

Home sweet home - this phrase arouses all sorts of images and feelings. The place you call home might be a house, an apartment, a tent or any of a countless variety of places. But did you know that the condition of your living space can have an impact on your emotions and even on your mental health? By controlling some of these variables, you can help to achieve a more peaceful life.

It goes without saying that the lighting in your room or in your house can affect your mood. If the lighting is too weak, it can have a negative effect on your emotions, and your mood may end up matching the dark atmosphere. Artificial light may not do the trick, however. It is better to open your curtains because natural sunlight makes your whole day brighter.

You have to do more than just remove poisonous substances from your home. To ensure good mental health, surround yourself with nature. Numerous studies have demonstrated that the presence of green plants in your home can improve your mood.

Let’s all admit it: We have trouble keeping our space clean. Somehow stuff just tends to pile up. But this problem involves more than just aesthetics (美感). It doesn’t just look terrible: it makes you feel terrible. A cluttered room both reveals stress and causes stress. Disorder can indicate that you’re too busy to keep things tidy, but then looking at a mess can lead to more stress. Straightening up doesn’t have to take all day - just take 10 or 15 minutes and put a few things away. You’ll be surprised how much better you’ll feel.

The color palette (用色风格) of your environment does more than passively reflect your color preferences. It also has an active influence on your mood and even your mental health. Choosing colors that create a calm atmosphere can be a type of therapy.

The sky is the limit to ways you can make your environment beneficial to good mental health. You could put up photos of your family and friends or post encouraging notes from people that show how much they love you. Just remember: Your surroundings can make your “home sweet home” even sweeter.