The city circle was quiet when my van pulled up to Two’s Company café. It was 8:00 A.M., and the mom-and-pop businesses wouldn’t be open for another three hours. As the film crew of student movie-makers hopped out of the van and started unloading a ton of equipment, I sat in the driver’s seat reading a book.

I learned a long time ago that I was not wanted or needed on the set. Sometimes, that made me feel a bit sad. These kids used to need a parent’s advice, help and caring. Now, as older teens, they were making their own decisions, helping each other and supporting their friends through whatever assignments they were given.

Emptied of its movie-related contents, the van now became the place to leave personal items. My job, as the driver, was to stay within calling distance with the keys so that if anything was needed I could open the van. Knowing that I could crawl (爬行) into a corner somewhere and finish reading the book that a friend asked me to critique, I looked for a place to sit down. Against a wall, in the shade, just twenty or so paces away, I spied a beautifully carved park bench. I noticed that a man was sitting on one end, but there was plenty of room for at least two more bodies. Walking over, I set my drink on the ground near the leg of the bench and sat on the end seat so that I could rest my elbow (肘) on the arm. The man on the other end looked at me oddly but remained seated.

I quickly discovered that he’d probably spent the night on the bench. His clothes were untidy, his hair was messy, and I was soon confronted (使……面对) with a strong and very unpleasant smell of body sweat. I looked at him and smiled, and he smiled back with a mouth of misshapen and blacked-out teeth. That was it. He wasn’t bothering me, and I guessed I wasn’t bothering him. We both sat there for over an hour. I was reading. He was intently watching the filming.

When I was young, the kitchen had an invisible“stop" sign put there by my mom. “No, you cannot enter here!” she always said to me. Well, I really don’t blame her as it is no place for kids.

I was just left outside in admiration, looking at what wonders the kitchen held. A few years passed by and I became very interested in food, both eating and preparing it. However, the kitchen was still out of bounds so I couldn’t experiment with cooking. But they couldn’t stop me forever now, could they?

It was early morning. Mom had gone for grocery shopping and no one else was at home. Time to strike! I walked through the dining room and there was the kitchen in front of me!

I stepped inside and took in the sight in front of me—cabinets (储藏柜 ) lining a wall, the oven (炉子) occupying the central place of another wall, the dishes sparkling like diamonds. I had seen it from outside but this time it was up close. As I hadn’t had breakfast, I decided to begin my first experience as a cook by making an omelette (煎蛋) . Sure I had seen Mom do it, so how could it be hard?

I searched the cabinets and finally found some eggs and onions. I knew the basics, so I began the work. I washed an onion first and then chopped it. Then came the egg. It took me two or three attempts to crack one open and into the bowl. I put the onion and some salt in the bowl too and mixed them. After that, I lighted the stove and put the frying pan on it and poured some oil in it... and poured some on the floor too, accidentally, of course! Till the pouring of the mixture into the pan, everything was going perfect—then I wondered what was used for turning the egg upside down in the pan.

Soon, I was running all over the kitchen, searching for the cooking spoon.

While I was busy taking the burnt egg out in a plate, someone came up behind me.

I’m retired and not responsible for much these days. I don’t have school-age children who require help with their homework. I sleep in when I choose, do a little writing and repair a few things around the house. My wife’s work, on the other hand, is never-ending. Diana takes care of her parents in their mid-nineties, tends to home and garden, volunteers for various community organizations, and is a gold-star grandmother. She is also a dedicated cat lover, and cats have always been her pet of choice.

All that changed when two small black-and-brown dogs scampered into our yard and melted Diana’s heart. It happened not long ago. The dogs appeared unannounced and had been seen by hikers on numerous occasions, roaming the woods like tiny lost souls. They were homeless dogs, as wild as the wind. No one could get within 100 yards of them. In their struggle for survival, the two had figured out a way to avoid people and find food and shelter in the wilderness.

They were undeniably cute and appealing. Many of our neighbors tried to lure them in with treats, but the tiny dogs remained unapproachable. My wife began leaving tasty food out, slowly moving the food bowl closer with each feeding. As days passed, they ventured closer and closer. Diana made a conscious effort not to frighten them. She called them to dinner with a comforting voice, letting them know they were safe. It was important that they trusted her. Why? She was looking for something to mother. For Diana, love is the medicine to everything, and nothing tugged at her heartstrings more than a hungry and homeless animal.

Diana named them “Emma” and “Daisy” and she called the dogs her “little wolves.” Initially, they would not let her touch them. As days turned into weeks, their bond slowly grew. Soon, Diana was petting them. Next, they were eating from her hand. Before long, she had them sitting in her lap and following her around the yard. And poof! My wife was instantly transformed from cat lady to dog lady.

It wasn’t long before the dogs were sleeping in the house and assuming their role as “watchdogs”.

Time in the yard feels like a second childhood with Daisy and Emma playing about our feet.

Once in a village lived a young sculptor (雕刻师), who used to make very beautiful statues and by this he earned a good income.

He had a son who started making statues from his childhood, and his son could make good statues. Father would be happy with his son's work but every time he would point out one or other mistakes in his son's work,

Still his son never complained and continued to improve his work, following the advice of his father. Because of Son's continuous improvement, his work started becoming better than his father's. Then came a time when people started to pay more money for his statues than his father's.

Son got young and was earning better but his father continued to point out mistakes in his son's work. Now Son didn't like it. He couldn't accept his shortcoming and didn't work wholeheartedly.

Then one day, Son lost his patience and said, “You are pointing out my mistakes as if you were a big sculptor. But if that's the case then your statues would have sold at higher price than mine. I don't think I need your advice anymore. My statues are perfect.”

After that day, Father stopped giving any advice or pointing out any mistakes in his statues.

For some months Son was happy but then he realized that people didn't praise his work as they used to. The price of his statues also started to fall.

Son couldn't understand the reason and he had to turn to his father._

Son listened to his father,kept silent for a while and then asked, “What should I do now?”