I grew up in New York City. Over the years, my family have explored many notable landmarks, including the Statue of Liberty and Times Square. However, the one we never attended was the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City. My father worked as a baker, so purchasing tickets for six of us was considered a too high expense. How I wish I could see the show! I was always attracted by the long line of Rockettes that would dance across our television screen, so I decided I’d see the iconic show in person one day.

Then I found myself at the age of twenty-eight heading to Radio City to buy tickets to the show on Christmas day. My husband Jay was driving the car. His sister and I were sitting in the back seat. I prayed to God, just as I always did, that everything would go well.

Our plan was to park the car and head directly to the box office. After parking our car, we enjoyed the walk to Radio City. By the time we got there, there were long lines and people everywhere.

I went to wait in one of those long lines. I saw people walking away disappointed in front of me, but I told myself that it was probably too expensive or the show was at the wrong time to fit in with their plans. Finally, I reached the cashier. “Good morning,” I greeted her cheerfully. “I’d like to buy three tickets for the next show.”

“I don’t even need to look. The last seven people asked me the same thing. They’re sold out,” she responded.

“OK, so how about tonight’s show?” I said.

“Um…girl, they’re sold out for this day, this week and this month. I might be able to get you in the middle of January,” she replied.

I was shocked. It was worse than I could have imagined. I stood alone in the building, not knowing what to do. I even wanted to try from the scalpers (票贩子).

A month ago, I received an admission letter from Berkeley University, America, which made my whole family excited. Very soon, it was time for my leaving. On an unforgettable morning, my sister came to see me off. We arrived at the airport just in time for my flight. “Well, here we are,”my sister said with a sigh. As I watched her unload my luggage, I could see the sadness in her eyes. We had both been fearing this moment for the past week. After one last hug and a final goodbye, I would be on my way to a new life abroad.

I didn’t put my bag in the overhead locker;instead, I just placed it on my legs. The departure meant I could not see my dear sister for quite a long time. I was lost in thought, recalling the happy moments my sister and I had spent together. Growing up, my sister and I would do everything together. One sunny summer day I was playing outside when she came up to me and said, “Want to come to the attic(阁楼)?” We both knew that the answer to that question was always “Yes”. We were frightened of the attic but also fascinated by its smells and sounds. Whenever one of us needed something, the other one would come along.

Before I knew it, the plane took off. But while it was going up, the plane shook heavily and the bag on my legs fell onto the floor. My aspirin, hairbrush and a book I planned to read were spread out on the floor. I was about to bend down to gather them up when I saw an unfamiliar little book in the middle of my belongings. It was not until I picked it up that I realized that it was a diary.

Immediately I recognized my sister’s handwriting.

I returned home two years later.

My parents moved to Vermont when I was still a baby. A soft-spoken man, my father settled quietly into his medical practice. Soon the local people accepted him as one of their own. Around town the neighbors greeted my father as “Doc Eppley”. And I would always be known as “Doctor Eppley’s son”. “If you’re anything like your father, you’ll be a smart boy,” my first-grade teacher said. I couldn’t stop beaming.

Initially, I was never tired of letting others know that my father was one of the town’s most respected people. Somewhere in my teenage years, however, something changed. I was sixteen years old and I grew impatient whenever I heard my neighbors still calling me “Doctor Eppley’s son”. My father’s name now seemed like an ugly shadow that followed me wherever I went. And so when strangers asked me if I was Doctor Eppley’s son, I would reply loudly, “My name is Harold.” As an act of rebellion (叛逆), I began to call my father by his first name, Sam. “Why are you acting so rude lately?” my father questioned me one day. “Well, Sam,” I replied, “I suppose that bothers you. You know it hurts me when you call me Sam,” my father shouted.” Well, it hurts me when everybody expects me to be just like you. I want to be myself. Let me take it out for a drive, “I said, pointing to my father’s new car. My father agreed, but not without his usual warning,” Be careful. Keys are in the kitchen. “I glared at him,” Sam, I’m sick of being treated like a child. I’m in college now. “I jumped into the car and headed down the road, enjoying the beauty of the countryside. My mind was wandering when I hit the car right in front of mine before I knew it. The woman in the car jumped out screaming: “You idiot! What were you looking at?” I surveyed the damage. Both cars had suffered serious dents (凹痕).

I sat there like a guilty child as the woman continued swearing.

An hour later, I drove my father’s broken new car back home.

Leo had gone nowhere during his two-week vacation. He had the money, but he hated to travel alone. He used to take vacations with Max, his younger brother, but they had a big argument at the end of their last vacation. Each of them had spent the last two months waiting for the other to apologize.

Leo did not feel good about being distant with his favorite brother. But he was not going to ask for forgiveness when, in his mind, he just broke Max’s cup by accident, but it was not a big deal at all. So Leo's summer vacation was spent in his own "back yard". As usual, he cleaned up his apartment , put away his books, trying to make his life busy and full.

However, he did do one thing new and different alone. He went to a new coffee shop at the corner. It served delicious coffee at reasonable prices, and the staff were quite friendly.

The vacation seemed endless. He always sat at a coffee table outside by himself and read the free daily paper. Each day he was there, reading most of the newspaper articles and drinking his coffee black with the question crossing his mind again and again: What was Max doing?

Leo was unhappy. Between articles, he took breaks by watching the nearby traffic and pedestrians(行人). The coffee shop was next to a huge park, the favorite place for both Max and him where they even spent a whole summer vacation battling for the same soccer team. They   were champion of the town! The coffee shop, with its excellent location and coffee, had helped make his vacation a pleasant one. If his brother should be there to join him just one day, his vacation would be perfect, he imagined.

One morning, accidentally knowing from mom the cup he broke was a gift from their late grandma, Leo was deeply sorry. He tried to break the ice and smiled to Max at the breakfast table but got no response. Leo was still unhappy.

Then Leo decided that he should do something more. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Leo got to the coffee shop early. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________