It’s still light out, and Dad isn’t home yet. He works all day cleaning pools. In South Port. Florida, that means a lot of pools. Mom tells us we need to wait for dinner so all of us can eat together. Even when Dad doesn’t get home until after eight or eight thirty, usually on days when he has to clean the urban pool. I don’t mind. If Dad’s late, it means I can spend more time outside playing basketball with my brother.

A few years ago. when there was more money to spend and life was normal, before some of Dad’s customers who had lost their jobs told him they couldn’t afford to pay Dad to clean their pools anymore, Dad bought us a backboard and hoop (篮筐) and paid someone to install a tall metal pole on the side of the driveway so we could have our own basketball court.

My brother and I would shoot baskets from morning to night if Mom let us. but she says homework always comes first. Still, during the summer months, between part-time jobs delivering newspapers, cutting lawns. and helping Dad clean pools, we come pretty close to spending as much of the day as we can on the court. We practice all sorts of shots. When I was in the court, all the problems of the world seem to fade away. Each time the ball leaves my hands. I feels like I’ve just discovered the secret of flight.

Yesterday Dad came home and told us he’d lost more customers. His shoulders slumped (耷拉) forward with tiredness. and he couldn’t hide the worry in his eyes. He stood a moment by the side of the pickup to stretch his arms and caught his breath, and for a moment he closed his eyes. In that moment the sunlight revealed a lot more wrinkles (皱纹) in his face than I remember.

“We must do something to make Dad courageous again,” I whispered to my brother.

After the basketball match, father was relaxed and refreshed.

Jean’s dream was to be a great chef, so when she was 20, she travelled to France, which has the most famous cuisine in the world, to learn to cook. After twelve years, she was among the best.

Her father, Bob, was getting old, and she wanted to be near him. Jean accepted an offer from one of Washington’s top restaurants. The manager offered her a handsome salary, and 30% ownership of the restaurant. The next day, Jean went to sign the contract. As she got out of the car, she caught sight of a green sunshade. Instead of going to meet the manager, she crossed the street towards the old restaurant, Fargonetti’s. She pushed open the door and the memories came flooding back.

Jean’s mum died when she was just 11, and her father lost his job and was forced to freelance (从事自由职业). Money was very short. When Jean turned thirteen, Bob had made a reservation at Fargonetti’s, the capital’s best restaurant.

“I’m not hungry, baby girl. I had a huge breakfast,” Bob said. “This is all for you!” “Oh,” Jean cried. “Daddy was so silly! He’s been saving to come here for lunch for MONTHS and now he ruined his appetite with breakfast!” The waiter, Carl Bader, immediately realised what was going on and went to Mr Fargonetti, the restaurant owner, and told him about Jean and Bob.

An hour later, surprisingly, the waiter brought wonderful dishes and set them before the father and daughter. “Lunch is on the house with Mr Fargoneti’s compliments (致意),” Carl said. For Bob and Jean, it was a free but magical meal. They were on cloud nine when they walked out. “Jean,“ said Bob happily. “I feel our luck has changed!” And it did! The next day, one of Bob’s old friends called and offered him a job at a new magazine, and Jean believed Fargonetti’s had made it all happen. That was when she decided to become a chef!

Twenty years later, the old restaurant looked run-down and sad, but Jean recognised the waiter immediately. “Carl?” she asked delightedly.

The man looked surprised.

Jean was staring at Carl and a brilliant idea was taking shape in her mind.

My baby Reese started screaming as we watched my eight-year-old kick and hit while he was tested for his longing-for black belt. I struggled to hold him in my arms as we pushed our way through the crowd to the side of the taekwondo (跆拳道) studio.

I looked up, and that’s when I saw it. There was a woman on a flyer with a bright white smile surrounded by her daughters. “OUR MOM NEEDS A KIDNEY (肾脏),” it said above the photo. “My name is Vonchelle Knight, and I have kidney disease. I am a single mother of two girls and have been on the transplant waitlist for eight years,” it said below.

As I continued to read, I was attracted. My eyes couldn’t get to the next word fast enough. My eyes were filled with tears as I thought about how desperately this mother needed a kidney. And that’s when I felt deep in my gut, “It’s me. I’m going to be her donor.” In the middle of that busy taekwondo studio, I was called on to donate my kidney to a woman whom I had never met.

The drive home was not a typical Saturday kind of drive home. I trembled at the thought of speaking aloud what I was so convinced of just moments before. I glanced over at my husband who was driving.

“Hey, babe?” I asked nervously. “I need to tell you something.”

He looked at me, unsure and a little afraid of what might come out of my mouth next. After all, I do like to keep him on his toes. “Yeah, what is it?” he asked intently.

“I think I want to donate my kidney to a stranger.”

I thought he might drive right off the road. By the look on his face, he clearly thought I had lost my mind, I was a busy mom of two boys, working a full-time job as a sales account manage.

Mary Lee seemed to have everything. She was very beautiful with a wonderful figure and an attractive face. She was very rich. Her clothes were better than anyone else’s and she had more of them. Her books were always new and expensive as were her pens, school bags and bicycle. She was very clever too and without appearing to do very much work. She was always the first in all the examinations and always answered all the questions, while the rest of the class were still thinking.

With all this, or really because of all this, no one liked Mary Lee. She was too good, too clever and she was also very proud. No one was quite good enough to talk to her or to be seen with her or to be her friend. And so, with all her proud ways and riches and brains, she was lonely but she did not care because she was always the best in everything. She was like a princess in the class. She always thought that the other students kept their distance from her because she was too excellent. “Lions and tigers are always lonely, and only the weak get together,” she told herself.

As the end of term drew near, the pupils including Mary Lee began to think about the most important prize of all. This was the prize, offered by the principal, for the best essay to be written on one of two subjects: Happiness and Friendship. All the teachers and pupils paid close attention to the prize, for it was really a great honor. “I needn’t worry about that,” thought Mary Lee, as the others began to read and to think about the essay. “I shall easily win. After all, my compositions are always better than the other students’.”

“Pride goes before a fall,” they say and it certainly did in the case of poor Mary Lee.

Mary Lee suddenly realized that how silly she had been.

As I sat on the bus waiting to arrive at school, the sun shining, I just sat there full of excitement ready to enjoy the first day of spring. At last, the bus stopped and I started my day.

The whole day I was waiting for one thing, noon break. As the day passed by, I heard the bell rang and everyone rushed out of the door. I hurried and ate lunch just to get outside.

As soon as I was out, my close friend, Riley called me over to play basketball. We all started playing and time flew by as we heard the timekeeper yell, “10 more minutes.” From that point on, the game sped up. Score after score, the competition process was more intense. I passed it to my teammate, Austin, and he dished it back as I pulled up a shot. I felt as if the world around me were barely moving, and all I concentrated on was the ball going to the hoop (篮筐). Not knowing I was pushed back hard, I hit the ground. A huge pain entered my left ankle. I wanted to scream, but I didn’t, hearing the people around me shout for help. I just lay there as Riley came over to pick me up and Austin fetched a wheelchair from the school clinic. Both of them helped me sit on the wheelchair. It seemed like the whole school circled around me as I was being pushed away.

The moment we entered the clinic where I always felt nervous, I didn’t think my ankle hurt as badly as it did just now, so I said, “I’m okay.” Then they had to send me back to class without any treatment. The rest of the day I felt my ankle swelling (肿) up and I thought of how stupid I was to say that my ankle didn’t hurt in the clinic. “I should have gone home.” I thought to myself as I was thrown through this terrible pain. After school, I worried how to go back home.

Just then I found Riley come in with an ice pack in his hand.

As we went out, we were surprised to find Austin holding some medicinal oil.

A great man once married his dream woman. With their love, they had a bright and cheerful little girl. The great man loved her very much.

When she was very little, he would do anything for her and the little girl felt protected around; he would tell her, "I love you, little girl." The little girl lived happily.

When the little girl was growing up, the great man would hug her and tell her, "I love you, little girl."

The little girl would be unhappy and say,"I'm not a little girl anymore. " Then the man would laugh and say,"But to me, you'll always be my little girl."

The little girl who was not little anymore left her home and went into the world. As she learned more about herself, she learned more about the man. She saw that he was truly great and strong, for she recognized his strengths. One of his strengths was his ability to express his love to his family. No matter where she went in the world, the man would call her and say,"I love you, little girl. "

The day came when the little girl who was not little anymore received a phone call. The great man was damaged.

He had a stroke (中风). He couldn't talk more and they weren't sure if he could understand the words spoken to him. He could no longer smile, laugh, walk,hug, dance or tell the little girl that he loved her. He could no longer comfort her.

She went to the side of the great man. She found he looked small and he was not the strong man at all. He looked at her and tried to speak, but he could not.

The little girl did the only thing she could do.She climbed up on the bed next to the great man. Tears ran from their eyes and she drew her arms around the useless shoulders of her father.

Paragraph 1: With her head on his chest, she thought of many things.

Paragraph2: And then she heard the beat of his heart.

DRUMMING WITH GRANDPA

Roger was filled with excitement as his mother told him his grandfather was on his way over. He always had fun together with his grandfather who once drummed in a band. They could make the whole house shake with their joyful music. Roger got excited and practiced drumming all morning.

Finally, Dad's car pulled up in front of the house. Upon hearing the car door opened. Roger shouted for joy from his bedroom window, "Hi, Grandpa! Listen to this!” Taking a deep breath, he raised his drumsticks and began rocking and rolling, just like Grandpa had taught him. Jumping up. he raced outside to his grandfather and asked, "Grandpa. what do you think? Are you ready to drum together?" Grandpa, giving Roger a hug, said. "It was wonderful, but I'm afraid I can't play right now.” Dad smiled at Roger, telling him some of Grandpa's finger joints were hurting him and that maybe he would want to play after a short rest. Roger didn't ask again.

After lunch, Roger went to his room to get his skateboard, finding someone had already stepped into the room. It was Grandpa who stood near the drum set. He picked up a drumstick and began to play. Thump! Thump! But just with two thumps, the drumstick fell onto the floor. Grandpa reached for it, trying to pick it up, but the drumstick fell out of his hand. He tried again and the same thing happened. Grandpa moved his red and swollen fingers, looking upset. Seeing this, Roger shut the door noiselessly. He walked to the sitting room where Dad was reading and asked Dad to drive him to his friend's house. "David has a drum with the pedal （踏板）and I'd like to borrow it," Roger told Dad about his plan. Dad got the car keys and off they went.

''Grandpa, a surprise!” Roger shouted when they returned with a big box.

Slowly, Grandpa reached out his foot and pushed the pedal as Roger did.