My name is Daniel. I was the new boy in the class. My father had been offered a better job in London, and our whole family had to move here. I was twelve and, having lost all my old friends, I felt shy and lonely at my new school. There were 33 students in my new class, and most people weren’t very interested in a shy new boy. Roy was one of the few people who were kind to me. He often invited me to join his particular group, and as a result, I started getting to know people. Roy and I became good friends. We trusted each other and we could talk about personal matters, things that were important to us.

Five years later, Roy and I are still in the same class. But just under a year ago, Roy’s father was knocked over by a car. He died a few days later. The family had to move to a much smaller house in order to manage financially. Roy, who had always been very close to his father, changed completely, becoming silent and moody. He had always been a clever, hard-working student but now he seemed to lose all interest in his work. I couldn’t stand seeing him like this, but I never got a chance to ask him. He just disappeared after school, returning in the morning looking tired. From time to time, he even fell asleep at his desk. Ms. Jones, our head teacher was worried about him as well. I decided to find out what was going on.

So, one day, having finished classes, I quickly put my books in my locker and grabbed my coat from the cloakroom (衣帽间). Roy was already on his way. I followed him. He moved fast along the towns streets. Having arrived at a small restaurant, he stopped. He turned around, looking sad and ashamed. Then he quickly swung the door open and ducked inside. I waited for a few moments, thinking what Roy was doing here.

Then I went in and saw him in a waiter’s uniform.

I didn’t want to break my promise but I needed help from an adult.

Shanti wanted the wooden doll in Ramu’s toy shop. “The one with the red dress, ” she told her best friend, Jodi.

“How will you afford it?” Jodi asked.

Shanti smiled, “I asked my mom if I could make jasmine garlands (茉莉花环) and sell them at my aunt’s market stall (摊位). Want to do that, too?”

“Good idea!” said Jodi.

Early the next morning, the girls met at the jasmine bushes outside of Shanti’s house. Beautiful white flowers surrounded them with fresh scent. They picked the flowers and dropped them into a basket. Then the girls sat under a tree and knotted(捆扎)the flowers into garlands. Shanti could already see herself hugging that beautiful doll.

“If we sell enough garlands, we can each get a doll, ” said Shanti.

Jodi shook her head. “My family is low on money this week. I’ll use my money to pay for Kiran’s medicine. ” Kiran was Jodi’s little brother. “Is he sick?”

Shanti asked. “He is. But when he gets his medicine, he’ll be fine. ” Jodi picked up her garlands.

“My mother is expecting me. I’ll meet you at the market. ”

Shanti spent the afternoon selling garlands at her aunt’s market stall. But where was Jodi?By early evening Shanti had sold all her flowers.

Shanti was on her way home when she saw Jodi heading to the market with her garlands. “Why are you so late?” Shanti asked.

“I had to watch Kiran while my mother did her work, ” Jodi said.

“Why didn’t you take him with you?” Shanti said.

Jodi shook her head. “He’s too sick to go out. He coughs and coughs. ”

Shanti knew Jodi wouldn’t make enough money for the medicine now. The market would be closing soon, Shanti looked at the money in her hand. It was supposed to be for. the beautiful doll she’d been dreaming of for so long. Then she looked at her friend’s tired face. “Here, keep this for the medicine. ”

Shanti put her money into Jodi’s hands.

That night, Shanti cried, thinking about the doll. What if someone bought it before she’d saved up enough again?

The next week, while Shanti and Jodi gathered blossoms, Kiran came, too. The medicine had cured his cough, and he helped them sell out all the garlands. When parting, Jodi said, “Shanti, we have prepared something for you. ” But Shanti was so anxious that she didn’t seem to have time to hear them out. She quickly ran to Ramu’s shop, only to find the doll had been sold. Broken﹣hearted, she ran back home and told Mom everything, tears flowing down in flood.

Unfortunately, Ramu told Shanti someone had bought the doll.