1 . I was born in Detroit. My father, Robert, made his first fortune selling paint to the car industry. My mother, Hazel, was a telephone operator.

Our house in Detroit was beautiful, right off the Detroit Golf Club. We spent much of the time fishing and riding horses. It was one of the few times in my life that I had my father’s undivided attention.

When I was 7, my parents decided to move to Los Angeles. But my parents didn’t move out to L. A. immediately. Instead, they remained in Detroit for a year. I was sent on ahead, probably so my parents could enjoy their social life without disruption. My father put me on a train in Detroit, tipped a porter to keep an eye on me and when I arrived I was taken to the Hollywood Military Academy, where I had been registered.

My father had been so successful that he was able to retire. I admired his success, but he was strict and didn’t hesitate to punish or hit me for the slightest offence. I came to hate him, and I became rebellious(叛逆的). The four boarding schools I attended were like an extended Hollywood family. Many stars sent their kids there so they could work on movies without distraction. I became connected to the film industry through my friendships. I already was determined to become an actor. My father hoped I’d join his company, but I wanted nothing to do with it or him. Instead, I decided to try my luck in the picture business.

In 1950, when I was 20, I had a screen test. When the head of the studio, Darryl Zanuck, saw the test, he signed me. The day I found out, I felt absolutely great. Suddenly I was recognized. Through the years, my father voiced doubt about whether I’d make it. My mother’s support was our secret and canceled out his discouragement. At the end of his life in 1964, my father finally told me, “Nice job” about my film work. That’s the praise I got.

Tim’s daughters, Hope and Hannah, have smartness, great humor, athletic abilities and beauty. His home is full of medals and many other awards his daughters have won over the years.

But the one thing they have never had in abundance (大量) is money. Having a single parent with a low-paid job, they never have pocket money. They wear hand-me-downs store clothing. But they never complain and never cry out for something Tim can’t afford.

Tim has many wonderful memories of his daughters. However, there is one that stands out.

When Hope was 10 years old and Hannah was 8 years old, they were looking for a gift to give Tim for Christmas. “Dad often gave us gifts. Now I think we should also give one to him,” Hope suggested. Hannah said it was a good idea. And they wondered what gift they should give their dad. After thinking for long, they thought of the National Geographic magazines. Their dad always loved the magazine. But because money was especially tight (紧的) that year, Tim had not been able to subscribe (订阅) to it. “The magazines sold in the bookstore aren’t that cheap. Well, at least, we can buy one and give it to Dad as a Christmas gift,” Hope said.

Not having any money of their own, Hope and Hannah then wondered how to solve the problem. Finally, they decided to find part-time jobs in the small neighborhood to make money. First, they needed to be permitted (允许) by their dad.

When they shared their decision one night, Tim thought they wanted to buy some toys, candy or something else for themselves. Since he couldn’t give them pocket money and thought part-time jobs could be helpful to a kid, he agreed. But he didn’t want them to be too tired, so he reminded them, “When you find you dislike the jobs, you can just give up.” Hope and Hannah smiled and nodded, and Tim thought they surely wouldn’t stick to their part-time jobs for long.

The next morning, Hope and Hannah walked around the neighborhood to look for possible part-time jobs.

With the money, Hope and Hannah rushed to a nearby bookstore.

5 . I cleared the dishes from the kitchen table, with Mama following close behind to carry our tableware to the kitchen. There was no stopping her. Despite everything, she still wants to _______ , I thought.

My mama had _______ in moving around and had lost much of her speech to Parkinson’s disease. After a recent fall that left her with a broken arm, the _______ suggested she use a wheelchair. It was _______ to see her like this. From the time I was a kid, Mama had always been an active person with a positive _______ . I could still see her in my mind, cooking and cleaning in the house I grew up in, sometimes humming (哼唱) while _______ .

Now I did my best to _______ her like she’d done for me. I made the long drive as often as possible to _______ her and help around the house. Independent as ever, she never _______ working. “You’ve done ________ , Mama,” I said when she took the towel to clean the table. Where does she get the ________ ？

I turned on the tap to wash our dishes and noticed a ________ coming from Mama’s direction. I turned off the running water. Mama was humming! I ________ as she moved around the table, her happy song filling the room. “What’s it that you’re humming, Mama?” “Count Your Blessings (常怀感恩),” she ________ with a smile on her face.

________ , it was where Mama’s strength came from. There was no stopping her from being thankful, always.

When John pulled into his mother’s driveway with his young daughter, Lily, the sight of the familiar lychee (荔枝) tree welcomed them. “Look, Lily,” John said, pointing to the towering tree in the front yard. “It’s the family tree.”

Lily smiled as John treated the tree as if it were a real family member, patting its trunk (树干) affectionately. As they were admiring the tree, the screen door opened and out stepped Grandma Mei, bathed in the warm Florida sunlight. Grandma Mei, who came from the province of Guangdong in China, was known for her green thumb, particularly when it came to lychees.

Seeing her granddaughter, Grandma Mei adjusted her baseball cap and asked if Lily was ready for some lychees. But Lily hesitated, for the fruit’s appearance was unlike any other fruit she had tried before. With a laugh, Grandma Mei gave her a gentle hug. “More lychees for me then, John,” Grandma Mei said.

“Let’s get busy!” John said with enthusiasm, rubbing his hands together. “Family tree’s waiting.”

Hearing Dad calling the tree by name, Lily couldn’t help laughing. “Laugh if you want, Lily, but this tree is really family. On cold nights, before family tree was fully grown, Grandma Mei used to take my blanket and throw it over that tree.” Grandma Mei nodded, adding that she had to protect the tree from bad weather so that it would become a big strong tree and grow fruit for the whole family.

John, eager to start the day’s work, began climbing the tree, determined to harvest the best lychees for the family. Lily watched in amazement, noticing the clusters (簇) of lychees, their skin rough yet inviting.

As John skillfully cut through the branches with a cutter, Lily expressed her concern for the well-being of the tree. John explained to her that cutting the ends of branches won’t hurt family tree. Instead such behaviour made it healthier and stronger.

Lily’s hesitation towards the fruit gradually shifted to curiosity and she wanted to try it.

Later in the afternoon, they all sat under the tree, surrounded by boxes filled with lychees and sharing stories related to lychees.