Ray was thought to be a strange boy. One day when he was flying his kite, he said to himself, “Did anybody ever try to fly a kite at night? I think it must be very fun. But the kite can’t be seen in the dark, what if I tie a light to it? That would be really good. I     1     (try) it tonight.”

As soon as it was dark, he     2    (take) his kite and lantern, and went to a large field about a mile from his   home. He tied the lantern to the tail of his kite. The lantern     3    (make) of paper. The kite flew higher and higher. He tied the string( 线) to a tree, then he stood there, staring at his kite. It floated( 飘 ) high up into the air. How wonderful! While Ray    4    (enjoy) his special kite, some people in the village also saw it.

“Look! A light     5    (fly) in the sky,” one person said. “It can’t be a light,” said a man.

“Perhaps it’s a big firefly(萤火虫) ,” said another.

“Maybe it’s a comet(彗星),”said another man. “How strange!” said a boy.

“Let’s find out what this strange light     6    (be).” the last one said. Then they went to the field.

While this was taking place, Ray, who had gotten tired of standing, was sitting behind a tree. He     7    (see) the men as they came, but they didn’t see him. When they reached under the light, and saw what it was, they looked at each other and said while laughing, “There is nothing unusual     8    (happen)! This is just a trick of some naughty boys’, but it     9     (fool) us all, let us keep the secret.” Then they laughed again and went back to the village.

When the men had gone, Ray thought it was time for him     10     (go), so he went home, too. When his mother heard what he had done, she hardly knew whether to laugh or scold(责备), but just told him to go to bed.

In 1998, I wrote a letter for my future self with instructions not to open until my birthday in 2010. It was now 2011, so I decided to open it. This is what it said:

By the time you read this, you will be 30. At the age of 18, I had many hopes and dreams about you. Right now I hope you have traveled and seen everything you’ve always wanted to, both in Canada and abroad, maybe you have even settled (定居) down somewhere in France, and maybe you are working in the field of art. I hope you're married to Gwynn-the man of your dreams. You’ll probably have two children-a girl and a boy.

If everything goes okay, you’ll be living in France in a big house in a small town with Gwynn and your two children. You are doing research in painting. Gwynn will be a computer programmer and you will be doing all right for yourselves.

However, if things don’t go according to the plan, I wish you love, happiness and joy.

Love,

Sherri “18”

When I read this, I was surprised. So much of what I wanted has come true.

I did travel to a few more places in Canada. I’ve traveled to the UK, Australia and Egypt. 3. I have been living in France for nearly 4 years in a big house, in a small suburb (郊区), in a major city. I am an art teacher in a university. I have two lovely kids.

But not everything went as what I hoped. I married a man named Tom Rees, and he is an excellent artist. We are doing all right for ourselves.

4. I find it cool that the dreams of a young girl can become a grown woman’s reality (现实).