Hello, Everyone!

Thank you!

I always prided myself on my sharp tongue and witty (妙趣横生的) retorts (反驳), whether in class debates or casual arguments. So when it came time to represent my school in the national debate series, I was naturally very confident. But this challenge would turn out to be one of my life's most important lessons.

The run-up to the finals was a breeze for my team. We were all good speakers who had the benefit of an experienced teacher who trained us well. But in the team, I was undoubtedly the most outstanding speaker. In each of the rounds that I debated in, I had always been selected as the best speaker. This meant that my confidence was at an all-time high by the time we found ourselves with one week left to train before the finals. I had no reason to even think that I would not be voted the overall best speaker for the debate series.

But then I began to grow arrogant. I looked down on my teammates’ pathetic retorts and poor debating style. I thought myself a natural debater being pulled down by their bad performance. In response, I became sloppy (不认真的). I even began missing practices, much to the panic of my teammates and the frustration (沮丧) of my teacher. They could only hope I'd pull through in the end as I proved irreplaceable.

The day of the finals came. I was nearly skipping to the venue, ready to finally show off my debating prowess (杰出的技能). But the reality was not something I could have ever imagined. Due to my repeated absences, our teamwork was so bad that even our school supporters were shamed into silence. There was a rift (分歧) in the team. When it was my turn to conclude as speaker, an expectant hush (寂静) fell over the hall. I was the one meant to win the prized title of Overall Best Speaker.

As I launched into my speech, everything suddenly went very wrong.

Suddenly, a teammate grabbed my hand.

My sister Tina and I are very different. I'm a just simple-minded girl, at least in her eyes, while she is literally the symbol of perfection. When I was young I wanted to be like her. If she wore her hair in a new style one day, I would do the same with mine the following day. I always tried to follow her and her friends around and begged to be included, but her life didn't really have much space for a bothersome two-year-younger sister. Over time, my admiration for her had turned into indifference. Living in the same apartment as strangers, we barely spoke to each other.

I even felt relieved in secret when she informed me this year that she would be spending eight months studying abroad. I assumed I'd use her video player and wear the dresses she left behind. That was the only way l thought her leaving would affect me.

I sat in my room that first evening after she departed and tried to concentrate on my homework. However, I couldn't get rid of the feeling that something was wrong, or something was missing. I looked around the apartment and everything was the same. But it was so silent that I could hear my own breathing. I went to Tina's room. Both her video player and her talk on the phone with her friends were absent. When I sat down on her bed, I became sharply aware of how different my life was without her. Even though we didn't always talk, just having her there made me feel secure.

Sitting there, I looked back at the wasted years and regretted trying to live my own life and overlooking hers. I felt particularly bad because I had not even given her a hug before she boarded her plane, and that made my heart ache.

As the night went on, I decided to do something to make it up.

For a long time there was nothing but silence on the other end of the line.

“Mom! I’m home!” John closed the door and dropped his books on a nearby chair. “Hi, John, home already?” His mom turned around.

“It’s spring. I was thinking more of our annual spring cleaning,” John’s mom suggested. “Tomorrow is Saturday. Let’s do some cleaning, okay?” “Okay,” John agreed unwillingly.

The next day, they cleaned upstairs, downstairs, inside, outside, until everything was spotless. Tired, they sank into the couch. Pointing to Grandpa’s chair, John’s mom exclaimed, “Oh my! That old chair has got to go. We’ll buy Grandpa a new one.” John’s grandpa lived with them since Grandma had died. “John, Let’s take the chair to the curb (马路边). Tomorrow the garbage truck is picking up on our block.”

As they attempted to move the chair, Grandpa walked by dragging his feet through the door and quickly blocked their way. “Oh, no!” he protested. “You can’t take my chair.”

“It’s old and worn. We’ll buy you a new one,” John’s mom argued.

“No,” John’s grandpa persisted, trying to push his chair back into place. “I don’t want a new one,” his voice trembled.

John’s mom had to give up and said she would discuss it with John’s dad, who was still at work. John’s mom left the living room to prepare the dinner. With a sigh of relief, the old man sank into his chair and closed his eyes.

“Grandpa, why won’t you let us get rid of the chair? It’s so old,” John asked his grandpa when his mom left the room.

“You don’t understand, John,” Grandpa shook his head from side to side. After a long pause he said, “I sat in this chair, with your grandma right here, when I asked her to marry me. When I sit in this chair and close my eyes I feel she is near.” Grandpa softly stroked (轻抚) the arm of the chair. “And the night your father was born, I sat in this chair. I was nervous and scared when they placed the tiny baby into my arms, yet I was never happier.” A smile flashed across his old face.

“I think I’m beginning to understand,” John said thoughtfully. “The chair gave you comfort and warmth. This is not just a chair. It is more like a friend.” However, that night when John and his grandpa were asleep, John’s mom and dad carried the chair to the curb.

The next morning, when John came downstairs, his grandpa stood by the window and looked outside sadly.

Seeing John rescue the chair from the garbage men, his mom turned and looked at John’s grandpa.