I’m Kevin. The first twelve years of my life were perfect (完美的) until my parents told me ________ bad that would change my life forever. But before I tell you the bad news, let me tell you about a ________ day in my life. Every morning, my mom wakes me up and listens to my ________. She laughs at the funny ones and looks afraid (害怕的) when I tell her the bad ones. Then the ________ of breakfast carries me downstairs. At dinner, Dad and I share what happens during the day happily.

Well, it’s the time for the bad news. In February, my parents said that I was going to have a little sister soon. Ugh! For ________ years, I haven’t had to share my parents with anybody. Now everything will be different. For example, ________, Mom won’t have time to listen to my dreams any more.

I said I didn’t want a baby sister. But it didn’t ________. Today, Mom and Dad are coming home from the hospital with my new sister.

Here they are. Suddenly, Mom hugs and kisses me and ________ I say anything, Dad puts the baby in my arms. She opens her eyes and then ________ my finger! Maybe she knows I’m her big brother and she likes me already.

Well, having a little sister won’t be so bad. I believe Mom and Dad will have ________ love for both of us.

Here is a notice on the notice board of a swimming center.   

Class Afloat is a Canadian school on a tall ship! The ship is 210 feet long and 30 feet wide. The classrooms are well-equipped (装备精良的) and comfortable, and there’s even a library!

Not all the students in this school are Canadians. This year, there are students from Mexico, the US, Germany, and Turkey. There’s a mix of ages too. There are high school students from sixteen to eighteen years old, and there are also first-year college students (大学生).

The teachers design special programs for each student. For example, Marine Biology (studying the animals and plants in the sea) and History of Geography courses about the places you visit. Students also learn all about sailing!

Students don’t just study. They must also do the cleaning, cooking and sailing the ship. In their free time, students can rest, read, or watch a movie. In the evening, they relax with friends and have club meetings.

Every sixteen to twenty days, the ship stops in a port (港口) for three to six days. In port, there are a lot of sports. Parents can meet up with the students in one port every term.

It was September 2007. I was a new Grade Seven student. I was all alone reading books during the breaks while my classmates were busy making new friends. I was doing well until the third lesson on the first day.

The teacher had us finish a questionnaire (问卷) with “get to know you” questions. I thought she would read them herself after class, so I felt safe to write about who I was. But after getting the sheets, she mixed (混合) them up and handed them out to the class. One by one, we read out the student’s name and then our two favorite answers. My sheet went to an unfriendly kid.

The first question was “What’s your favorite movie?” While other kids wrote popular Disney movies, my answer was “The Wizard of Oz (《绿野仙踪》), a film made in 1939.” The next question was “Where would you like to travel?” The others had said “Australia” or “France”; I wrote, “Wherever a good book takes me.” A loud laugh broke out.

My face was on fire. I wish I could hide inside my school bike! But I didn’t know what to do.

But then, a voice from the back of the room said. “Guys, cut it out!” It was Michael Siever, a popular boy. The room went silent (寂静的).

Michael then turned to the teacher and said, “There’s no need of doing this activity if we make fun of each other.”

Fifteen years have passed since then. I don’t remember (记得) the names of most people in that class. But Michael and I still chat with each other on the phone from time to time. He is not only a friend of mine but also a hero.