Missy was absolutely my best friend in the whole world. We had known each other since first grade, and we literally did everything together. We frequently visited each other’s homes, we knew each other’s families like they were our own. The interesting thing about our relationship, however the fact was that the older we got, the more our values seemed to differ. We still enjoyed a lot of the same things, but I was a bit more settled while she loved being associated with popular people and things. Although she was basically a good person, she had no problem with forcing things to go her way.

Perhaps this is why it seemed that her family actually trusted me more than they trusted her. So, on the day when Missy showed up at my house with a huge dent (凹痕) in her father’s car, I knew that we were in for a troublesome time.

She had banged the car into a tree while out that day, and she knew her father was going to have an explanation. So she stopped by my house in order to make up a story that would lessen her father’s rage. Missy decided to tell him that while in a parking lot, someone must have backed into the car and dented it. Looking at the dent with some crashed leaves and bark still sticking there, I attempted to perish (打消) her thought. “I don’t think your father will buy it.” “ Don’t worry,” she insisted,“even if my dad doesn’t trust me, he’ll trust you.” My role was to confirm for her. Now keep in mind that I had strong objections to lying and I wanted absolutely nothing to do with the situation. I loved her parents just like my own, and I did not want to be a party to this lie that Missy was creating. Nevertheless, after much request and a general questioning of my loyalty to our friendship, I decided that the least I could do was to act as a silent witness. That way, I wasn’t actually lying; I just wasn’t telling the full truth.

The Amazing Day I Learnt to Swim

There are certain days when we feel our lives change greatly——days we remember for a lifetime. Such, for me, was one morning in July in the Ligonier Valley of Pennsylvania, at a place called Devil’s Hole.

On that morning, my twin brother Roger and I had finished our chores, and the whole day lay before us. “Let’s go to Devil’s Hole,” Roger suggested. I readily agreed, but for all my eagerness there was a feeling of restlessness deep in my heart. Although he had never said a word about it and never laughed at me, Roger could swim and I could not. I had been too afraid to try. Now Roger could slip through the water expertly with the experienced, confident older kids.

Roger led the way to the kitchen door. “Grandma, can we go to Devil’s Hole?” We leaned against the screen, peering into the dark kitchen. Grandma, busy baking cakes stood at the kitchen counter. “Well, I guess the big kids are up there now, but mind the road and be careful in that place,” warned Grandma.

With a yell, Roger pushed open the screen door, dashed through the kitchen and climbed up the stairs. I followed racing to get into my bathing suit. Throwing towels around our necks, we ran across the field next to our house and headed up the dirt road.

Roger and I reached the destination. Sunlight flooded through a break in the trees. A quiet path of smooth stones and mossy ground led to a deep green pool of icy water reflecting a huge rock on the opposite bank, partially in the water. The rock was my province and protection. While the others swam, I always pretended to be trying to catch fish along its base with an old tin can.

Roger joined the older boys and girls at once. They excitedly dived in, swam swiftly across the pool and pulled themselves up on the big rock to feel the sun on the skin, their shouts, splashes and laughter echoing (回响) through the trees.

I watched with envy and decided to have a try.

I couldn’t help shouting, “I can swim!”

Sledding Alone

“Come on, Simon,” said Gabe. “Let’s try out our new sleds (雪橇)! The snow is perfect.”

“I’m not ready,” Simon said. He watched his older brother throw on his jacket and head for the door.

“What’s to get ready?” Gabe asked.

Simon wanted to say “I need to learn how to control the sled” or “What if the other kids laugh if I mess up?”. But he said nothing.

“You’re going to miss a lot of fun,” Gabe said.

“Go with your brother, Simon,” said Mom. “He’ll show you how to do it.”

Simon took as much time as he could pulling on his snow pants and boots, zipping up his jacket, and finding his helmet and gloves. His brother paced the front hall. “Let’s go!”

The brothers walked to the park, the sleds knocking against their snow pants. Swish, swish, swish. The wind circled like a lasso (套索) around them.

Simon could see the sledding hill ahead of them. To him, it looked more like a sledding mountain. It was so high that the park district had built wooden steps into the hillside to help sledders climb back up. Kids were taking turns on sleds, screaming all the way down. Simon couldn’t tell if their cries meant they were happy or terrified. He knew which one he felt.

Gabe was taking the steps two at a time. “Come on!” he called to Simon.

Simon started up. He was both sweating and freezing, short of breath. Should he turn back? But the line of kids on the steps behind him meant he had to keep climbing.

At the top, the boys joined a group of kids waiting their turn. Simon stamped his feet to stay warm. Was he the only one who had butterflies in stomach?

His brother stopped and looked at Simon. “Do you want me to go down with you?” he asked When they were younger，they used to ride on one sled down the gentle slope (斜坡) in their backyard.

“Are you two going or not?” a girl behind him said impatiently.

Simon took a deep breath. “I’m going. By myself.”

Thankfully the sled approached the flat ground.

People think being a delivery person is easy, but it’s more complex than anyone can imagine. Although Harry always did his best, he was not able to afford a car. He used his motorbike to deliver orders and usually it was convenient except for severe weather conditions.

One day, he was trying to get off the highway when he saw an old beggar trying to cross the road. He was weak and looked cold in his dirty jacket. The honks (鸣笛) of cars echoed as they passed him, and the man backed away with fear. If that kept going, someone would run over the man, so Harry stopped to help him cross.

Harry grabbed the man’s arm to guide him and started leading him through it. Luckily, they reached the other side after a few minutes, and the old beggar smiled brightly at him. “Thank you so much, young man. I can’t believe I finally crossed. Can you tell me your address? I want to send a thank-you gift.” the older man said, reaching for Harry.

“Oh, that’s not necessary.” Harry said and straightened his motorbike to get back on it. “Please. I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t repay this kind gesture,” he insisted, and Harry nodded, telling him his address. Still, he didn’t expect anything from this poor older man. “Thank you again!” the senior beggar waved as Harry rolled away to continue working.

Harry lived in a nice neighborhood but because the pandemic cost him his job, and now food delivery was his entire livelihood. Some days he had to work 18 hours to make ends meet. He was his children’s only parent because his wife had abandoned them long ago, and Harry was determined to build a promising future for them, even if he didn’t have a car to make those deliveries properly. He was saving for that.

However, he found a brand new car in his garage the following day.

The sincerity in the old man’s face couldn’t be denied.

10 . Have you ever suddenly developed an appetite from a passing glance at a freeway billboard featuring a brightly colored cheeseburger, or decided to step into a candy or ice cream store displaying a window full of lively shades and hues (色调)of sweet treats? If so, you are in good company. Unless we are medically restricted or strictly dieting, we are not likely to resist inviting fare simply because we recognize the lack of nutritional value.

Devina Wadhera and Elizabeth D.Capaldi-Phillips in A Review of Visual Cues Associated with Food recognize the impact of sensory cues (信号)on food consumption and enjoyment, and the potential they have to promote healthy eating behavior. They cite previous research in providing some interesting examples of the visual impact of different color schemes (方案)on taste and food enjoyment. They note that pink food on a white plate was considered sweeter and more flavorful than the same food on a black plate. Apparently, we consume with more of our senses than we realize. So given the rainbow of colors around us when faced with so many appealing food choices, is there any way to control our appetite? Thankfully, some research says yes.

Oliver Genschow demonstrated that when it comes to eating less colors impact consumption. They specifically researched the effect of the color red. They found that people ate fewer pretzels when using a red plate, as opposed to white or blue, and drank less from a red cup than a blue cup. They suggest that the color red reduces food and drink intake by functioning as a stop signal.

But when it comes to healthy eating, instead of putting on a pair of sunglasses to block the inviting hues of food cues, consider the value of discipline. Healthy eating involves intentional choices, not mindless responses to sensory cues. And before you invest in many red tableware to slim down, remember that what goes onto those plates is much more important.