When I was six years old, I visited my grandfather’s farm in Kansas and he sent me into the woods to gather pecans (胡桃) for us to enjoy later. The pecans were about the size of a man’s thumbnail and just about the tastiest snack I’d ever had.

However, pecan picking was really tiring and my little bucket was only half full after working hard for a long time. I thought I wouldn’t let Grandpa down. Just then something caught my eye. A large brown squirrel was a few feet away. I watched as he picked up a pecan, hurried to a tree, jumped up to the trunk and disappeared in a large hole. A moment later the squirrel popped back out and climbed down to the ground to pick up another nut. Once again, he took the pecan back to his hiding place inside the hollow of the tree.

Not so secret anymore, I thought. I dashed over to the tree and looked into the hole. It was filled with pecans! Golden pecans were right there for taking. This was my chance. Handful by handful, I scooped all of those pecans into my bucket. Now it was almost full! I was so proud of myself that I couldn’t wait to show Grandpa all the pecans.

I ran back and shouted, “Look at all the pecans!” He looked into the bucket and asked, “Well, well, how did you find so many?” I told him how I’d followed the squirrel and taken the pecans from his hiding place.

Grandpa congratulated me on how smart I’d been in observing the squirrel and his habits. Then he did something that surprised me. He handed the bucket back to me and put his arm gently around my shoulders.

“That squirrel worked very hard to gather his winter supply of food,” he said.

I picked up that little bucket full of pecans and carried it back to the tree.

One spring day, the wind was gentle and the sun was shining brightly. The sky was clear and blue, and the temperature was comfortable. It was a perfect day for a walk outside.

Our teacher Mr. White asked us all to go out of the classroom to enjoy the natural sights and sounds of the natural world. But before Ruby and I were ready to go out to play, Cathy signed to both of us to stop. We were the best sisters, playing together each time.

“Come over, ladies! Guess what I discovered in Mr. White’s locker, with a mysterious smile on her face, Cathy rocked a chalk box with pieces of colorful chalk inside.

“Fabulous! How exciting it would be to write on the blackboard with it!” Ruby exclaimed with curiosity and expectation.

“But we can’t do it without our Mr. White’s permission, “I said timidly.

“Nobody will find it out. If you’re a chicken, you can stand by and just watch. Anyway, Cathy and I would have a try, “said Ruby. She picked out a piece of pink chalk and started to draw a dress.

Not to make them believe I was a chicken, I unwillingly involved myself in the creation of art. Soon I lost myself in the picture drawing though I knew we were breaking the class rule: never touch the teachers’ supplies. A moment later we drew a rainbow, a rabbit and a dinosaur respectively. Then we went on drawing many other objects with our imagination. It was real fun.

Suddenly, I noticed the clock above the blackboard. It pointed to 10: 28, only two minutes to the end of the interval. We must erase all on the blackboard before Mr. White came back. If we were caught, we would be punished by doing the cleaning for the class in the next three days.

In a hurry, I picked up an eraser and started destroying our art pieces. As the chalk was so sticky that it left a heavy sign on the blackboard. I had to rub it carefully.

When the work was almost done, the bell announcing the beginning of class rang.

Mr. White never asked about the scratch, even never noticed it.

Just like on every break, Asiri would go with his uncle to his workshop, who made costumes for elephants! Asiri had been asking to help make the costumes. But he’d been told he was too little to sew the fine stitches (缝线) needed for the costumes.

Waiting for Uncle Thad, Asiri smoothed his practice piece beside him. Across it he had sewn, pulled out, and resewn stitches just as Uncle Thad had taught him. He couldn’t wait to show it to his uncle.

When his uncle finally came over, Asiri leapt from his seat. “Look, Uncle, ” said Asiri, holding up the stitched cloth. “These are fine stitches, Asiri, ” said Uncle Thad. “Just right to fix sequins (亮片). ” Together they walked to the workshop.

Uncle Thad and his team were busy making the costumes. They had to be ready for Esala Perahera, the biggest festival held in the city of Kandy. Since the elephants were the stars of the parade, their costumes had to be dazzling. He especially loved the sequins sewn on them that made them sparkle.

Uncle Thad, his team, and now Asiri, would finish the costumes. Asiri hoped he’d get to sew a sequin onto the costume for the most important elephant in the parade. After lunch, Asiri was putting away a piece of cloth when his uncle called. “Asiri? Please bring me the box of golden sequins. ”

Here was his chance, thought Asiri. He’d bring the box to Uncle Thad and then ask to sew one on. Uncle Thad was sure to say yes. Asiri lifted the box from the shelf but turned a little too quickly, and the box was turned over, leaving the golden sequins on the floor. Uncle Thad turned to stare-first at Asiri and then at the golden sequins. Asiri felt his cheeks turning red. Now, Uncle Thad would never let him sew a single sequin on the costumes this year. Asiri dashed out of the door, down the street, and all the way back home. Hearing the rush of his footsteps, Asiri’s mother came to the door.

“What’s wrong, Asiri?” asked his mother.

Reaching the workshop, Asiri found the sequins were still there.

It was a bright, sunny day and Amelia was on the way to the grocery store that was not far from her house.

Suddenly, she saw an old man holding a cardboard sign (纸牌) near a street crossing. Although some stores hired (雇佣) people to hold signs around, attracting business, this man was sitting on the ground, so Amelia thought he was homeless and asking for money. Luckily, she had some bills in her wallet and decided to give him some.     

As she got closer, she offered him a $5 bill. To her complete shock, the man refused it. “No, madam. I don’t need money. What I really need is a job,” the old man said.   

Amelia walked a few steps more to get a good look at his cardboard sign. It read: “A shoemaker is looking for work. I can repair any kind of footwear!” She realized the man was actually not a homeless man begging for money. “Oh! You’re a shoemaker. I think many factories out there will offer you some jobs,” she told the man, finally noticing some of his tools around him.

“No, miss. At my age, no one wants to hire me anymore, so I’m trying to find some work this way. If you know someone who needs shoe repair, please let them know about me,” the man said.

Amelia nodded, thinking about a few pairs of shoes at home that needed repairing. Generally, she would donate them and buy new ones, but if this man could repair them, she could keep using them. “What’s your name, sir?” Amelia asked.

“I’m Martin, young lady,” he said and smiled at her. “OK, sir. I have to go shopping now, but I’ll return with a few pairs of shoes that need some fixing,” Amelia told him with a smile and then walked towards the store. After she finished her shopping, she went back home.