2 . When I was three, I had a very good friend named Gemma. She was fearless where I was anxious, rebellious where I was conservative, and _________ where I was awkward. She was also entirely imaginary. With Gemma’s support, I almost made it to the top shelf of the bookcase before my parents found me — and “Gemma said it was fine!” did not _________ me from a telling-off (责骂).

I cannot remember when or how I “met” Gemma, and, perhaps sadder still, I do not remember the _________ time I “saw” her. _________ my brain created her, she inspired me to go on adventures I would not have had the confidence to embark upon without her. It _________ me, then, that 72 percent of nursery workers believe children have fewer imaginary friends than they did five years ago, as is shown by a recent survey. This is believed to be a result of _________ screen time.

It is thought that 40 percent of us at one time or another had imaginary friends during our _________. In an essay for Aeon, writer Sophie Elmhirst found that 81 percent of those surveyed had “lost” their imaginary friends after they turned ten, but most of these friendships ended _________. Perhaps imaginary friends simply stay with us for as long as we need them. They move on when our lives become too _________ for our brains to make space to generate their own entertainment.

If you have enjoyed an imaginary friendship, I would guess that you did not __________ sit down to create a perfect pal. They probably arrived as an indication of the thoughts and ideas you never knew you had. In order to be a good __________ to an imaginary friend, you need to be able to make “what if?” into an exciting proposition. When we grow up, we are too quick to finish the sentence with “what if it goes wrong?”

Having grown up, we might not need our imaginary friends anymore, but we could still use a reminder that a little bit of boredom is good for us, and that our brains can create the best ideas when they are left to their own devices. If there are fewer imaginary friends __________ the worlds where our children live, that might lead to a future with fewer artists, writers and problem-solvers. This is a real cause for __________.

As an adult, I think of my fearless, invisible friend Gemma whenever I have to do something that __________ me — usually public speaking, rather than scaling a bookcase. However, whenever I __________ my own expectations and meet myself in a place that I did not think I could quite reach, I can hear my subconscious whispering, “Gemma made me do it.”

Jenny was the only child in her family. She had a quarrel (吵架) with her mother that afternoon and she ran out of the house angrily. She couldn’t help weeping sorrowfully when she thought of the scolding from her mother. Having wandered aimlessly in the street for hours, she felt a little hungry and wished for something to eat. She stood beside a stand (货摊) for a while, watching the middle-aged seller busy doing his business. However, with no money in hand, she gave a sigh and had to leave.

The seller behind the stand noticed the young girl and asked, “Hey, girl, you want to have the noodles?”

“Oh, yes, but I don’t have money on me.” she replied.

“That’s nothing. I’ll treat you today,” said the man, “Come in.”

The seller brought her a bowl of noodles, whose smell was so attractive. As she was eating, Jenny cried silently.

“What is it?” asked the man kindly.

“Nothing. Actually, I was just touched by your kindness!” said Jenny as she wiped her tears. “Even a stranger on the street will give me a bowl of noodles, while my mother drove me out of the house. She showed no care for me. She is so merciless compared to a stranger!”

Hearing the words, the seller smiled, “Girl, do you really think so? I only gave you a bowl of noodles and you thanked me a lot. But it is your mother who has raised you since you were a baby. Can you remember the times she cooked for you? Have you expressed your gratitude to her?”

Jenny sat there, speechless and numb with shock: she remembered her mother’s familiar face and weathered hands. “Why didn’t I think of that? A bowl of noodles from a stranger made me feel grateful. Why haven’t I thanked my mum for what she has done for me?”

On the way home. Jenny made up her mind to make an apology to her mother for her rudeness as soon as she arrived home.

Nearing the doorway, Jenny took a deep breath.

At that time, her mother came back and touched her hair gently, which called her mind back.

When the water came in under the door of their home in Naples, Florida, it was just a glimmer (隐约的迹象) on the floor, a sign that it was time to go. It was around noon on Wednesday, September 28 last year when Darcy Bishop woke her two brothers who had been resting after lunch. She pulled the wheelchair up to the oldest, Russell Rochow, 66, and helped him into it. Her other brother, Todd Rochow,63, was in his room. He could manage with a walker.

Both men had been born with cerebral palsy (脑瘫), and their mental development was like that of a young child. About 10 years ago, they started showing signs of Parkinson’s disease.   Bishop,61, was their lifeline, their little sister who had long felt an obligation to keep them safe.

“We have to go!” she shouted to Todd. She went to open the front door. It would not move. The weight of the water on the other side had made it shut. She rushed to try the door to the garage. It was stuck too. That’s when the house the three siblings (兄弟姐妹) shared began to flood. As Hurricane Ian bore down on Florida, many residents who’d decided to stay found themselves unable to leave even if they tried. Within days, around 100 deaths in the state were caused by the hurricane. On Tuesday, Bishop had planned to leave with her brothers for her daughter’s home 25 kilometres inland. But by then, there were so many warnings to stay put.

Now Bishop and her brothers were trapped. She texted her daughter at 12:34 p.m. “Water’s coming in.” Around her, she could hear the china breaking and the refrigerator falling over. The only way to go was up. Bishop guided Todd to the stairs, and he held the banister (扶手). She helped him pull himself slowly up to the top where he waited in a chair.

But stairs were impossible for Russell, who could neither walk nor bend his legs.

After a while, Bishop heard the rescuers were downstairs.

Jane was still sleeping when the phone rang in the living room. She opened her sleepy eyes and looked at the clock on the table. It was already nine o’clock! Although Jane was still very sleepy, she knew she had to get up because her mother was working in her office and she couldn’t expect her younger brother Tom, who was sleeping like a pig, to answer the Phone. She quickly put on a coat and ran to the living room. When she picked up the receiver, on the other end came the warm greeting, “Good morning!”

It was from her father, who was a seaman and rarely came back. Suddenly, Jane’s sleepiness disappeared.

Born in a not-so-rich family, Jane and Tom felt the stress of life, but they were happy to enjoy the family atmosphere. At school, they were straight-A students and took part in various after-school activities. They were the pride of the family.

“Good morning, Dad. Why do you call us so early on the weekend?” Jane said and pretended to be annoyed. “Tom and I have been very nice recently.” “My dear, today is your mother’s birthday, and I have ordered a cake online and it will be sent to our home late in the afternoon. Do remember to take the cake. It is my surprise for your mother.”

Hearing her father’s words, Jane felt a little ashamed. How could she forget her mother’s birthday?!

While she was chatting with her father, Jane looked around the room and saw a lot of dirty clothes on the sofa. The floor hadn’t been cleaned for a few days since her mother had to work all this week.

She looked at the clock again and was sure that she still had enough time to prepare a surprise for her mother.

“Well, Dad, now I’m going to wake Tom up. We will give Mum a surprise, too!” Jane said and hung up the telephone.

Jane hurried to Tom’s room and shared her plan with him.

“Happy birthday, Mum!” Jane and Tom shouted when their mother opened the door.

Sometimes I really doubt whether there is love between my parents. They don’t act in the romantic way that I read in books or I see on TV. In their opinion, “I love you” is too luxurious (奢侈的) for them to say. Sending flowers to each other on Valentine’s Day is even more out of the question. And my father has a bad temper.

One day, my mother was sewing a quilt(被子). I silently sat down beside her and watched her for a moment, the wrinkle of concentration on her forehead softening as she noticed my presence.

“Is there love between you and Dad?” I asked her in a very low voice, my heart pounding with the weight of the question.

My mother stopped her work with the surprise washing over her face. Her eyes, wide and searching. met mine, and I could see a storm of emotions swirling within them-confusion, reflection, perhaps a touch of sadness. She didn’t answer me immediately. and the silence stretched between us, filled with unspoken thoughts and fears.

I was very worried because I thought I had hurt her. The air felt heavy, filled with my anticipation and her delayed response. But at last, she spoke, her voice carrying the warmth of years of silent understanding and the strength of enduring affection.

“Lily,” she said, her voice soft yet firm, “take a good look at this thread. Sometimes it comes out, but most of the time, it’s hidden within the quilt. Yet. it’s this very thread that gives the quilt its strength and endurance. If life is like a quilt, then love is like this thread. It may not always be visible, but it’s always there, woven into every part of our lives. Love resides within.”

I listened carefully but I couldn’t understand her until the next spring.

My father gently told me, “Don’t worry about me. I’ve fully recovered. I just really enjoy the time spent walking with your mother.