In 1968, I was a student at the Sophia Hagopian High School in Beirut, Lebanon. One day, I went to the head teacher’s office and told him that my parents could not pay the tuition (学费). Although I was the top student in my class, I was sent home because of being short of money. This was a heartbreaking experience for me, as I really wanted to continue my education.

I went home and spent my day at my father’s tire-repair shop. One day, a very old man saw me in the shop and wondered why I was not in school. I told him the reason. He offered to help by calling the head teacher of the Hovaguimian-Manougian High School and asking him to accept me without tuition. The next day, I took a city bus to the school and went to the head teacher’s office. However, when I told the head teacher the reason for my visit, he shouted at me that there was no free tuition. I immediately turned around and rushed back to my home.

On the third day, one of my classmates from Sophia Hagopian High School came to inform me that the head teacher had sent him to tell me that I should come back to school and register (登记). When I arrived at school, I told the registrar that I could not pay the tuition. She said that my tuition had been fully paid. I asked the registrar who paid for my tuition so that I can thank him, I was told that the kind person wanted to remain unknown.

I went to my classroom, but kept wondering who was the person that gave me the golden opportunity to continue my education. I went back to the head teacher's office after classes and begged the registrar to tell me the name of the kind person. Finally, on the condition that I wouldn’t go and express the thanks, she told me that it was my English teacher, Olivia Balian. I promised that I would not talk to her.

A year later, I came to the United States and finally received two Master’s degrees.

After visiting my former high school, I really wanted to see Ms. Balian and thank her for her generosity (大方).

A MOTHER’S DAY SURPRISE

The twins were filled with excitement as they thought of the surprise they were planning for Mother’s Day. How pleased and proud Mother would be when they brought her breakfast in bed. They planned to make French toast and chicken porridge. They had watched their mother in the kitchen. There was nothing to it. Jenna and Jeff knew exactly what to do.

The big day came at last. The alarm rang at 6 a.m. The pair went down the stairs quietly to the kitchen. They decided to boil the porridge first. They put some rice into a pot of water and left it to boil while they made the French toast. Jeff broke two eggs into a plate and added in some milk. Jenna found the bread and put two slices into the egg mixture. Next, Jeff turned on the second stove burner to heat up the frying pan. Everything was going smoothly until Jeff started frying the bread. The pan was too hot and the bread turned black within seconds. Jenna threw the burnt piece into the   sink and put in the other slice of bread. This time, she turned down the fire so it cooked nicely.

Then Jeff noticed steam shooting out of the pot and the lid starting to shake. The next minute, the porridge boiled over and put out the fire. Jenna panicked. Thankfully, Jeff stayed calm and turned off the gas quickly. But the stove was a mess now. Jenna told Jeff to clean it up so they could continue to cook the rest of the porridge. But Jeff’s hand touched the hot burner and he gave a cry of pain. Jenna made him put his hand in cold water. Then she caught the smell of burning. Oh dear! The piece of bread in the pan had turned black as well.

As the twins looked around them in disappointment, their father appeared.

The twins carried the breakfast upstairs and woke their mother up.