1 . Maria’s Plans

Maria stared thoughtfully at the tree fort. It was the first thing her grandpa had built for her. She had been little — it was before her younger brothers had been born.

Of all her brothers, Maria felt that she was most like her grandpa. Grandpa had been a carpenter. Maria had always loved visiting him in his workshop. Only she had been allowed because she was the oldest. He could do anything with his own two hands, she thought________.

Recently, Maria had decided that she was going to build a tree swing. Now she was standing________the tree, with her rope, seat, and tools, thinking about the best way to________the swing. She could throw the ropes________the branch. But then how would she tie the knot? She would probably need to________a ladder.

“Hey, what’re you doing?” called a voice from a little distance away. Maria turned and saw her little brother Ricardo ran up to her. “None of your business,” she replied. Then, thinking better of it, she said, “________ a swing.”

“Really? Can I help?” Ricardo asked. Maria thought it over — it would be nice to have some help. But she was the builder in the family now, so she would have to solve her own problems. “No,” Maria said. “I don’t need any help.”

Suddenly, her other brother, Emil, came running towards them. “Hey, what’re you guys doing?”

“We’re building a swing,” Ricardo said.

“No, we’re not,” Maria said. “I am!”

“Can I help?” Emil asked. “No!” Maria was turning red. “This is my project. Not yours. You________even knew Grandpa.” She ran into the house, leaving Ricardo, Emil, and her materials beneath the tree.

“What’s wrong, Maria?” Grandma asked.

“Ricardo and Emil are bothering me,” Maria explained the situation.

“They’re just trying to help. And how are you going to do it all by yourself?”

“Grandpa didn’t need anyone’s help,” Maria said.

“Who do you think helped him cut the boards for your tree fort?”

Grandma asked. Maria was________. “But I don’t remember...”

“Maria, Grandpa was a great carpenter, but even great carpenters need help sometimes.________ he needed a second pair of hands, he’d ask me to help.” Grandma glanced out the window. “And it looked like you need help, too.”

Maria hurried outside. Ricardo and Emil were carrying the ladder in the yard, waving at Maria. Smiling, she began to wonder if she might not be the only one to________Grandpa.

2 . Growing up, I was fortunate to have dinner with my family almost every day. Sometimes, the family dinner circle ________ to include relatives stopping by. Yet, I knew some friends whose parents got home after dinner or even ________ the entire evening. So I ________ the quality time around our kitchen table, which witnessed countless valuable ________ in my life.

________, my kids cannot relate to my childhood memories. They have been left to ________ with babysitters more times than I would like to admit. My husband and I have ________ careers. And we often end up staying at the office way past dinnertime. When this happens too often, it ________ the balance of our family.

Apart from suffering from ________, what else can a hardworking family do? I think we can all try to ________ our own ways to spend time together. Surely there are days when I’m too busy to share a meal with my family. But I would make efforts to ________ and chat later that day, ________ setting aside cellphones every time. And I even find a bedtime reading with My kids much ________. I am also proud to have our “big breakfast” routine every Saturday. My husband serves as the head chef, and my younger son ________ him to make the breakfast.

I am aware that my sons are growing up quickly and will be out of the ________ someday. But now, I am happy to have so many wonderful things on my plate.