One year, a newspaper of the United States published an announcement that the horticultural institute offered a reward at a high price for the pure white marigold (金盏花). The high reward attracted so many people, but in nature besides golden, the marigold is brown, and it is not easy to grow the white one. So after they were excited for a time, many people had forgotten the announcement.

Years flew away. One normal day after 20 years, the horticultural institute that had published the announcement accidentally received a letter and 100 seeds of pure white marigold. On that day the news spread like wildfire.

It turned out to be an old woman of over 70 years old. The institute had always been hesitating over the fact that the letter said with certainty that the seeds could bloom pure white marigold, and the need for verification (验证) became the focus of the debate. Whether they would make an experimental verification or not became the controversial focus at one time.

Some said you would never live up to the old man’s wish. Those seeds finally took root in the earth. The miracle appeared after one year: large patches of pure white marigold waved in the breeze.

Accordingly, the old woman who was always unknown to the public became a new focus.

Originally, the old woman was a flower lover. When she occasionally read the announcement in the newspaper 20 years ago, she was eager to try. But her eight children strongly opposed her decision. After all, a woman who never knew the seed genetics (遗传学) couldn’t complete what the experts could never achieve, so her thought seemed very foolish.

Still, the old woman didn’t change her mind and went on working without hesitation.

Finally, after 20 years on the day we all know, in the garden she saw a pure white marigold.

“Hey! Ms. Woodall!”

It was Saturday. My daughter and I were touring a model home in a new development where she and her husband had just purchased a small plot of land. She was showing me something in the backyard-the kind of landscaping she was imaging, I think—when I heard that familiar twang (鼻音) call out my name.

I turned around. Standing in the yard was a little boy, stocky, brown-haired and dusted with a fine layer of dirt. “William!” I cried in surprise. “What are you doing here?

“I’m helping my daddy lay sod (草皮),” he answered proudly, sticking his chest out. William’s father owned a lawn sodding company.

“This is William,” I told my daughter. “One of my students. He a joy to have in class.” The seven-year-old beamed, the blazing Florida sun bouncing off his round cheeks.

It was true. Little William was a delight. He adored plants and animals and playing outside during break time. And even though he struggled with his reading, he never once complained. There was a brightness he brought with him wherever he went.

I’d never forget the day in class when another student was having trouble understanding the lesson. “Don’t worry,” William told her, eyes wide and sincere. “Sometimes, second grade is really hard.” He was a gentle soul, wise beyond his years.

Still, I couldn’t help but worry. Despite his steadfast determination, William’s grades were poor. Some days, I wondered if he’d be able to pass.

“See you Monday, Ms. Woodall!” he said, running to his father’s side. My daughter and I waved, but William stayed on my mind for the rest of the weekend.

Back at school, William’s grades showed no sign of improvement. Until the last few weeks of the year, when we studied the lifecycle of plants, William excelled. As a class project, each child planted a sunflower seed in a container. Planting the seeds was exciting for many of the students, but most kids had little patience for the growing part and forgot to care for their sunflowers-to-be.

But unlike them, William had great enthusiasm all along.

About a month into the summer vacation, I happened to drive by the school.

In 1989, fresh out of high school, I had the difficult task of choosing a career path before college started in three months. In those days in Pakistan, there were limited choices: becoming a doctor or an engineer, or entering the financial world after getting a business degree. I wasn’t interested in engineering, so that I was left with medicine or business. I couldn’t decide.

My uncle suggested that I do a work placement(实习) to experience it for a month in an international company followed by a month in a hospital. After that, I could make a decision. It seemed like a good idea.

I was accepted for a month’s placement at a foreign bank in Karachi. I got a feel of how the world of finance functioned, made new friends, and generally enjoyed the mostly easy­going work surroundings.

The month passed rapidly, and soon I began working at a leading hospital in Karachi. The experience couldn’t have been more different. The hospital had a stressful environment. The days started early (at 7 am, compared to 9 am at the bank), and were filled with endless duties. And the night calls! This was crazy, working all day, through the night, and again the next day.

I began thinking about my two experiences. The bank had offered a more relaxing atmosphere, better working hours and less stress. The hospital was full of excitement, but studying and training were difficult. It seemed that the business choice was going to win out.

Near the end of my month at the hospital, I was driving home after an especially busy night call. In front of me was a public bus, with college students sitting on the top. As the driver weaved through (穿梭) traffic, I could see the boys shaking from side to side.

Suddenly, a boy fell off the back of the bus.

The next day, when I went to the hospital to see the boy, all his family got up, with grateful smiles on their faces.