At one table by the window, a lady just finished up her lunch. It wasn’t anything fancy, just a sandwich and some salad, with a cup of tea to wash it all down. She seemed to be in her own little world, staring out the window every now and then, like she was waiting for something. After a bit, she got up, paid for her meal at the counter and left.

Her table was still a mess, with bits of her meal left behind. I, a young boy, had a hard time, and had been watching her from the table around the corner.

I was in rough shape. My clothes were too big. My hair was all over the place, and my face had streaks (条痕) of dirt on it. When the lady left, I saw my chance. I quickly sat down and started wolfing down the leftovers (吃剩的食物) like it was the best meal I’d ever had.

But then, the waiter walked over. He was an older guy who’d probably seen everything. He didn’t say anything at first, just watched me for a second. I got scared, stopped eating, and tears started to fill my eyes. I thought the waiter would kick me out for sure. Instead, the waiter took away the half-eaten plate, and my heart sank.

I got up to leave, but before I could get far, the waiter came back and asked me to wait for a moment. The waiter gave me a full and fresh meal.

Seeing what was happening, all the people in the cafe smiled.

I couldn’t thank the waiter enough with a full stomach and a happy heart.

2. 请按如下格式在相应位置作答。

We were headed to the nationally famous Blue Owl Restaurant, in historic Kimmswick, Missouri, to celebrate my husband’s birthday. It is said that the restaurant is warm and romantic with smiling waitresses dressed in long blue dresses with white aprons. The food was delicious, and the service was extremely good. This week, the restaurant offers a sweetheart dinner that is well worth the price. So we decided to have a try.

There would be freezing rain today, but it might be around midnight. We would be safely home by then. But then, as we were near the restaurant, it suddenly started raining heavily. We were closer to the restaurant than home so it seemed wise to go to the restaurant.

By the time we arrived, the street in front of the restaurant was a sheet of ice. The parking lot was also a sheet of ice and in front of our car was a pool of water. I couldn’t pull in the parking lot and I knew, even if I parked on the street, we would never be able to get out and walk in the rain.

My husband couldn’t walk steadily (稳步地) and I was not strong enough to help him to cross the street. I was afraid we would fall, so we were planning to give up the meal in the fancy restaurant. But we really wanted to try the special chocolate- covered strawberries that were as large as baseballs. Also, we wanted to take pictures of the two of us.

At that moment, an unknown lady walked toward us.

To our surprise, the lady, who just helped us, was the owner of the restaurant.

Every day, on the way to and from school I pass by a children’s hospital. One morning, as I was hurrying to school, I noticed a child staring out of a small window on the first floor. The next minute I tripped (绊倒) on the ground. As I slowly pulled myself up and dusted myself off, I looked up again and saw the child laughing. In spite of my situation, I was pleased to have made someone laugh. I bowed as though I were a performer. The child clapped (拍手) and waved at me. As I stepped closer, I saw that the girl’s head was bald (秃顶的), a sign that she was a cancer patient. I quickly waved one last time to her before heading for the school.

The next morning and the next, I looked out for the little girl and waved to her, doing a little jig just to make her laugh. I thought about her and wondered what her life must be like. Was that how the child lived from day to day?

I felt the urge to visit the child. I went to the hospital and looked for the room facing the road. I found the little girl. She was thin and pale. When she saw me, her eyes widened with recognition and she welcomed me with a shy smile. I talked to her a bit and learned her name, Susan. The nurse who saw me talking to her later told me that Susan was a leukemia (白血病) patient. Her mother died two years ago and her father was now on duty outside the country. The nurse encouraged me to visit Susan so that she would not be so lonesome (孤单的). As I was leaving, Susan called to me, “Tomorrow?” I understood and said, “Yes, tomorrow.”

After that, I popped in to visit Susan after school every day.

Two months later, Susan told me the good news.

In the quiet town, Ethan and his parents lived a peaceful life. His father John, a hard-working architect, and his mother Sarah, a great teacher, had always struggled to provide the best for Ethan.

As Ethan entered high school, something began to change their once harmonious home. School grades were the first battleground. While John believed in traditional hard work, Ethan, a creative boy, found himself crazy about art. Every time he painted well, his mother Sarah would praise and encourage him, but John only thought it was a waste of time. So Ethan often argued with his father.

One stormy night, the conflict (矛盾) came to a head. John, reviewing Ethan’s report card, frowned (皱眉) at the grades. “Ethan, you must focus more on your studies. These grades won’t help you become an engineer. Stop painting!”

Ethan couldn’t bear the disappointment in his father’s eyes, and argued back, “Dad, I want to be a painter, not an engineer.” Sarah, trying to stop the argument, quickly said, “John, maybe we should let Ethan have a try. It could be his true calling.” However, John stuck to his belief and replied, “Art won’t put food on the table or pay the bills. He needs a stable job.” Sarah was between her husband and son and tried to settle the argument.

Sarah, who often helped solve problems between John and Ethan, saw their pain.

As the storm outside got calmer, there was new found understanding among them.

Twenty years ago, I drove a taxi for a living. One night, I took a fare (出租车乘客) at 2:30 AM. When I arrived to collect, sanding on the sideway was a small woman in her 80swith a big suitcase.

After I helped her into the taxi, she gave me an address and asked, “Could you drive through downtown?” “It is not the shortest way,” I answered quickly. “I don’t mind,” She said, “I’m in no hurry. I’m on my way to a hospice (临终安养院).” I looked in the rear-view mirror (后视镜). Her eyes were wet. I quietly reached over and shut off the meter (计价器). “What route would you like me to take?” I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newly married. She had me stop in front of a shabby house where she had gone dancing as a girl. Sometimes she asked me to slow in front of a particular building and sat staring into the darkness, saying nothing. At last, she said, “I’m tired. Let’s go now.”

We drove in silence to the destination. It was a grey low building.

It was my first year teaching in a special needs classroom, and I wasn’t sure what to expect at our yearly Special Olympics track meet. My students had a range of challenges, from mild learning disabilities to severe palsy (瘫痪).

Mark was one with severe palsy. Restricted (限制) to a wheelchair, he had to fight his spasms (痉挛) just to control his movements. However, he always had a positive attitude and greeted everyone each morning with a huge smile.

His classmates loved him and always took the time to make sure he was included in group activities, especially Mike, Andy and Lucas, three boys who were good at sports. In my heart I knew Mark wanted to be like them, unrestricted by the limitations of his body, and watching the grace with which they moved on the playing field seemed to fill him with wonder. He never missed their competitions and always cheered for them. Seeing Mike, Andy and Lucas passing the finish line, Mark looked extremely excited.

When track and field day came, Mike, Andy and Lucas placed well in their heats (预赛), and gave the normally peaceful crowd something to cheer about. Mark sat on the sidelines, cheering them on, and placing last in his own heat because his wheelchair wouldn’t go fast enough.

The final event of the day was the 400-meter race. Everyone was invited to either walk or run, according to their ability, around the entire length of the track. We watched as the students took off—Mike, Andy and Lucas determined to prove who the best player was.

But when the three exhausted runners reached the finish line, they stopped and turned to look behind them. At the back of the crowd, determined not to be left behind, was Mark. His classmates had passed him by and even the slowest walkers were outdistancing him.

Mark was alone on the track with over half the distance left to finish.

Mark was moved to see his three friends come back and run with him.