Mama and Papa were like most parents. They wanted the best for their kids. Jeff and Jenna were like most kids. They wanted the best for themselves－the best place in front of the TV, the biggest piece of cake and the most candies.

One night, when the noisy kids were sound asleep, Mama lay awake worrying. She sighed a big sigh, thinking how to teach Jeff and Jenna to mend their selfish ways. Lecturing didn’t work.

As Mama lay there, she thought about how kids learn. Kids learn by doing. They learn to walk by walking. That’s the answer, thought Mama. The kids will learn to help others by helping others. But questions of who, when, and where went unanswered as she drifted off to sleep.

To her pleasure, those questions were soon answered. The next day, they happened to meet Mrs. Marie, the elderly widow who lived just down the road, at the checkout line at the supermarket.

Mama asked the kids to say hello to Mrs. Marie, about whom the kids were a little nervous. She was really old and kind of bent over. And there was that crooked cane she used when she walked. But the real reason they were nervous about her was that two days ago their ball had gone into her yard and knocked over some flowers in the garden and broke the glasses of the attic. They had never apologized.

When Mama and the kids were loading their groceries into the car, Mrs. Marie came out of the supermarket pushing her little collapsible shopping cart.

“Where are you going?” called Mama.

“To the bus stop,” she said, “The bus goes right by my house.” “So does our car,” said Mama.

Mama asked the kids to help Mrs. Marie into the car and put her things in the trunk(后备箱).

As the car was approaching Mrs. Marie`s house, Mama made a decision.

More communication, fewer conflicts

When I arrived home from school, night was falling. A call came from the public: a bird of unknown species was being attacked by a group of noisy children in his front garden. He scared them off and grabbed their victim. I immediately called for my classmate Jack to the spot.

We were standing in front of a stranger’s house in an unfamiliar street, rescue box in hand. My head full of instructions to follow. “The bird would be our first test as a volunteer wildlife rescuer!” Jack said excitedly. We had completed the two-day intensive training course the previous month and learned the basic skills of rescuing animals in various situations.

But we were anxious, too. After all, it was the first time for us to rescue a bird. Would I be able to transfer the bird neatly into my rescue box? Many worries flashed in my mind. Sensing my unease about the act ahead, Jack said, “These things are pretty easy to deal with!”

I was wondering what kind of bird it was when a kind-looking man appeared and led us inside to see our very first patient. I lifted the edge of the shoe box very slightly to see an angry-looking bird standing to attention on very thin and long legs, together with a slice of banana and a small dish of water. He didn’t know its true name but the folks called the creature Red Fan. “It’s eaten some banana,” said the man proudly. The poor soul seemed rather nervous, so l decided not to grab it by hand but just transfer the whole shoe box into my rescue box.

Back home, we could only see some minor injuries in the left wing, but there was no blood on its feathers. Jack managed to treat the injuries with some iodophor (碘伏药水). We assessed its condition to find out if it was appropriate to release the bird the next day. How could we help it spend the night peacefully? We hadn’t seen this species of bird before, let alone its habits.

“Why not do a search on the Internet?” suggested Jack.

The next day, we were glad to see the bird was well enough.

I was still hoping Goldie might come back. But it was the day after the race and there was no sign of her. I was sitting in Grandad’s garden, staring into the sky.

“Come on, Goldie, come on, Goldie.”

Sometimes racing pigeons turned up days after a race. They got lost, or hit bad weather. But that never happened to Goldie. She always came home, right on time.

I had known Goldie ever since she was an egg. I had known her since she was a pink baby pigeon. I helped Grandad look after her. I had held her in my hands after a race and felt her little heart beating. She was beautiful. She had got shiny green and blue feathers on her neck.

“Come on, Goldie.” I couldn’t stop saying that. I had been whispering it ever since I woke up. But it wasn’t working. It wasn’t bringing Goldie back.

What was I going to do? I wanted my Grandad to get better. I wanted him to come out of hospital. But when he came out, he’d come straight to his pigeon cage to see Goldie. “Where’s my champion racer?” he’d ask me.

Suddenly I got a sick feeling in my stomach. I remembered what Grandad had said about the falcons (老鹰) in the old quarry (采石场). I hated those falcons. They probably killed Goldie. I could feel myself getting really angry. My fists were bunched up. Now I knew exactly what to do.

It only took five minutes to run to the old quarry. My chest was burning when I got there and I was gasping for breath but I didn’t stop. I slid down through the trees to the quarry floor.

I wanted to get those falcons. I wanted revenge (复仇), for Goldie. I wanted to be able to tell Grandad, “Take it easy, Grandad. You don’t have to worry any more. I’ve taken care of those falcons for you!”

But I couldn’t see any falcons. Where was their nest? I looked around the quarry walls. That must be it. It was on the deepest side of the quarry.

“I’ll get you, falcons!” I shouted to the nest. My hands were bleeding. But I didn’t feel the pain. Finally I was there.

“Got you!” I reached out my hand to sweep the nest away but I saw the baby bird, so lovely and so gentle. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Music is playing an important part in our study and daily life.

In a word, music should make life better and help people become happier.