Our three-year-old daughter Becky wanted a dog. But we were too busy to buy one. One day, Becky ran in, ______ , “Mom! Come to see my dog!” Her face was red with excitement.

I followed her to the bush and found a wolf! He was hurt. Seeing me, he stood up suddenly! I could see his ______ ! God! My mouth felt dry. “Don’t be afraid. That’s Mom. She loves you, too.” Becky said. Then he became ______ . It was unbelievable!

I rushed to find my husband and told him about the wolf. We should have killed the wolf, but Becky was ______ this idea. Besides, he was kind to Becky.

Becky named the wolf Ralph and she carried food to ______ every day. Later, Ralph got well. They played together in the daytime. At night, Ralph would return to the mountains. Sometimes he disappeared for a while and came back ______ .

On Becky’s first day of school, we could see Ralph’s ______ . After Becky left school, Ralph lay by the side of the road and waited. When Becky returned, he got happy again.

Twelve years passed.

One day we heard that a wolf was hurt and ran away. We ______ Ralph. That night, Ralph returned with a wound. Becky held his head kindly and comforted him. We hoped he could come through. ______, he died.

Becky cried. I noticed something strange in the bush — two little yellow eyes! Before he died. Ralph brought his child to us! He deeply ______ us, as he had done. Ralph. Ralph, I was moved. “Don’t be afraid, little...little Ralphie. That’s Mom. She loves you, too.”

Hawaii is a truly beautiful place. Most people know Hawaii for its lovely beaches. However, Hawaii is also famous for hula, a special dance.

The Start

Hula started in Hawaii about 300 years ago. One hula teacher tells the story of how the dance started. “The hula started, as far as the story tells it, when a local girl Hiiaki and her good friend Hopoe went down to the beach, they noticed the waves and imitated. They used their hands like showing the waves.”

The Ban

Not everyone has always liked the hula. In 1820, some religious people from Western countries came to Hawaii. The visitors were very surprised because the dancers were not wearing many clothes. So the local government banned the dance. After that, most Hawaiians were not allowed to perform the hula in public for almost 60 years. But many dancers still performed it in secret. The dance was always there.

__________

At the moment, people of all ages want to study the old culture. As a result, more and more people are going to halaus. Halaus are special schools that teach hula in the traditional way. Kumano is a hula teacher. For him, the dance is a way to bring the best of old Hawaii culture to people today. Kumano says that the dance is not really about the body, but the mind. “For new dancers, the dancing means very little, because for Hawaiians today, many of them don’t speak the Hawaiian language. So, what I try to do is to bring to mind the real thing they see today.”

I’m Alfred. I was born with a problem in my backbone and moving freely was difficult for me, but thanks to my teachers and friends, my school life was not as difficult as I thought.

My friends and I used to sit together and have lots of fun. We often started shouting or played games. I took part in competitions, such as story writing, painting and all activities like Teachers’ Day or anybody’s birthday and had much fun.

My English teacher was very tall. The moment she entered the class, we would all sit well and open the books. She would encourage me by giving me important tasks and also morning news to read. She would come down and hear my English debate, which made me take part in all debate competitions.

The same was true of my science teacher. She was very nice and sweet. She would always give me more information on the science project. I could not go to the lab for the practicals(lessons or exams in science, cooking etc. in which you have to do or make something yourself rather than write or read about it), so she would bring the lab down and help me with the science practicals and would give me excellent marks.

My friends made me monitor and the boys listened to me. My friends used to help me with my notes if I was at home. My teachers always gave me important project work and I felt proud when they smiled after I finished it quickly and correctly.

I was never shouted at or made fun of or scolded by any of my friends and teachers. Today I saw the terrible punishments given to students on television news. I felt very sad. I really hope that each child in the world has caring teachers and wants to attend school every day like me.