1 . Sometimes when it feels like things are falling apart, they may actually be falling into place. This is exactly the case for Holly Smith, 34, from Surrey, when she lost her job two years ago.

At the beginning of 2020, Holly was working as a general manager for a small independent bakery business in Surrey. She had been there six years and couldn’t believe it when they told her she had to pack up her bags and leave. Being made redundant came as a huge shock for her and she panicked about struggling to pay the bills and finding another job during such a difficult time.

Holly didn’t know where to turn initially, but she was determined to find a silver lining, so she picked up a paintbrush and began to paint. Holly painted a portrait of her parent’s dog, a Spinone Italiano named Bailey, and shared the image online. Straight after, a few friends requested their own pet paintings and soon her career took off.

Holly named her business Holly & Murphy, after her special five-year-old cocker spaniel, Murphy. She is often at her most creative when she’s floating on water, together with her furry companion in her boat. She combines watercolour paints and pencils to bring dogs’ faces to life. A small painting usually takes two to three days to complete. Customers love how she captures their pet’s personality in great detail. Some of the most memorable paintings she has been asked to do are of dogs that have passed away. Her dog portraits start at £295 and can cost up to £595.

“When it first happened, it felt like the end of the world,” Holly, a current full-time painter and business owner, told The Mirror, “but it was the best thing that ever happened to me. And I’m so grateful to have a job that I love.”

Jim slumped on the couch. Mother’s Day was coming up, and he didn’t have a present. “How can I buy a present without money?” he thought.

Jim picked up the newspaper that was lying on the couch. He noticed a large advertisement on the front page. The local department store was sponsoring a contest. “Tell us why your mom is special and win a shopping spree(疯狂购物) for her,” said the ad.

“This is perfect!” thought Jim. He ran to his room with the newspaper, taking a pencil and a blank piece of paper from his desk, he started to write.

“My mom is the best mother in the world. She always makes a lunch for me to take to school, and she never forgets my dessert. She reads as many books to me before bed as I want. She always remembers to check under the bed for monsters. And she gives the best hug, but never in front of my friends, who would laugh at me for hugging my mom.”

Jim liked what he had written. He copied it neatly and got an envelope and a stamp from his dad. He ran to the mailbox with his entry(参赛作品), “Mom will love having a shopping spree,” he thought.

Jim checked the mailbox every day for his prize. Days passed by, and then weeks. Soon it was the day before Mother’s Day. Jim still hadn’t heard anything about the contest.

“What am I going to do now?” he wondered. He didn’t have a present, and he didn’t have a shopping spree, and he still didn’t have any money. He had to think of something. Jim closed his eyes and curled his toes and thought so hard that his ears hurt.

Suddenly he had an idea.

The next morning, Jim handed his present to his mom.

8 . Derek Rabelo was born in Brazil in 1992. His father called him Derek after a famous _________ star, Derek Ho. Derek’s father wanted Derek to become a surfer, too, but there was a _________: unfortunately, Derek was born _________. His father’s dream to see his son surf seemed _________!

When Derek was 17, his father told him about his _________. From that moment on, Derek tried his best to become a surfer. He went to the _________ every day and started taking surfing _________ with a coach. Derek kept trying and _________, he learned to surf.

Derek explains that _________ he can’t see, he understands the noises that the waves make and can __________ them when they are coming. He says every part of a wave makes a different noise, __________ he knows which direction to surf in.

In 2012, he flew to Hawaii to surf one of the most challenging and dangerous __________ in the world. Local surfers were very __________ to see the confident young man surf the huge wave with no problem __________.

A film producer decided to make a film about him. Beyond Sight tells Derek’s inspirational story and teaches us that nothing is impossible if you ________ yourself!

9 . At 91 years old and with Alzheimer’s (阿尔茨海默病) disease, Gene McGehee was finding his golden years to be his loneliest. That all ________ one day when he heard the clear ________ of children’s laughter right outside his home.

When Gene ________ outside, he couldn’t believe his good fortune (运气) to discover a group of lively young kids playing. The children, from the daycare centre across the street, were more than ________ to include Gene in their fun. They nicknamed him Big Gene, and a special, long-lasting friendship was ________ between Gene, the kids and Megan Nunez, the daycare teacher.

Gene’s ________ Alzheimer’s disease means he now has only short-term memory. For the last three years, Gene has been ________ Megan and the kids every day for what he thinks is the first time. “Every day, I cross the street, and we stay together,” explained Megan. “I always tell the kids that his ________ is kind of sick, but his heart remembers us.”

Gene’s daughter, Cathy, said he suffered from (遭受) ________ until the kids came into his life and ________ his days. He now gets to just go outside and make new friends on a daily basis. “They have been such a blessing to Daddy, and he lights up,” Cathy ________ shared.

Gene and the kids enjoy their one-hour “playdate” every afternoon. They ________ jokes, stories, laughs and hugs. He sometimes even ________ their games. Even though the day’s cherished memories disappear as the sun sets, something remains in the depths of Gene’s mind. It is that ________ feeling that makes him go outside as soon as he hears the children’s ________ once again.

10 . Susan had long blonde hair and big blue eyes. So did most of the other children in her school class, which______ her a lot. “I look like everyone else! I’m not ______! I’m boring!” Susan complained to her mother.

She decided to try to make herself look ______. She painted big pink spots on her neck and when she didn’t get attention, she stuck (粘贴) a long plasti nose on top of her real nose. Nobody noticed that ______. She took ink and poured it all over her ______. She wore clown (小丑) clothes to school and stuck leaves in her ears.______, no matter what she did, she still didn’t get any______ and nobody thought she was special.

One morning her______went to wake her up and told her to get ready for school. She made Susan _______ the ink out of her hair and clean her neck. “I’m not going to school ______! I’m boring!” She buried (埋藏) her head under the quilt (被子) and ______.

“Susan,” her mother said, “You are different. You are unique and special. ______in the world looks just like you. Some people have blonde hair like you and some have blue eyes like you, but none of then has your smile or the twinkle in your eyes or your pink face. Nobody laughs like you, either. Now______and get ready for school.”

Susan went to school that day and looked at all the other kids in her class. “Mom was ______. Nobody looks just like me.” Susan smiled.“I am special. I am unique and I am not ______!”