1 . I was grocery shopping recently in my hometown, N.Y., when I heard a young voice rise. “Mom, come here, you’ve gotten see this! There’s this lady here my size!”

The mother was mortified and rushed to a boy she called Mikey, who looked to be about seven; then she turned to me to apologize. “Oh, I’m so sorry.”

I smiled and told her, “It’s okay.” Then I looked at her wide-eyed son and said, “Hi, Mikey, I’m Darryl Kramer. How are you?”

He studied me from head to toe, and asked, “Are you a little mommy?” “Yes, I have a son,” I answered.

“Why are you so little?” he asked.

“It’s the way I was made,” I said.

It takes only one glance to see my uniqueness. I stand three feet, nine inches tall. I am an achondroplasia dwarf (软骨发育不全的侏儒). Like most achondroplasia dwarfs, I have two average-height parents, as well as an average-height brother. When I was born, my mother was told in the hospital that I was a dwarf. Not knowing a lot about dwarfism, my mom’s main concern was my health. Our family doctor put her mind at ease when he told her he felt I would not have any major medical concerns. He was right.

When I was growing up, my parents encouraged me to do all the things the kids around me did. So when my neighbors got two-wheel bikes, I got a two-wheel bike. When they roller-skated, I roller-skated. I didn’t see anything different in my parents’ eyes about me. Why should I look   at myself differently? Therefore, I just tried to smile and accept the fact that I was going to be noticed my whole life. I was determined to make my uniqueness an advantage rather than a disadvantage. And when I accepted myself as I was, life wasn’t that difficult after all. Most people around me were friendly and protective.

I’m 47 now, and it’s the children’s questions that make my life special. “Why are you so short? How old are you? Are you a mommy?” When I talk with children, they leave content that their questions have been answered. My hope is that in taking time with them, I will encourage them to accept their peers, whatever size and shape they come in, to know that every human deserves due respect.

3 . The Secret Garden-A Classical Novel about Hope and Redemption

The Secret Garden is a popular work of children's literature.The novel is set in theearly1900s! The main character is Mary Lennox, a 10-year-old British girl.     1    Mary is then sent to live with her wealthy uncle Archibald Craven, who owns a large estate in the countryside. At first, Mary is bored by the people she meets as well as the slow pace of rural life. One day, a maid tells Mary about a hidden garden that Mrs.Craven kept before her death.The tale of Mrs. Craven's secret enclosure awakens Mary's curiosity. She makes it her mission to find out more about the mysterious garden.

While exploring the property, she sees a robin resting on a mound of dirt. Mary digs through the soil and finds the key to the locked garden door.     2     She decides to do whatever it takes to bring the secret garden back to life.

Meanwhile, Mary starts to hear haunting cries on the estate at night. One evening, she follows the sounds and discovers Mr. Craven’s son, Colin. Mary learns that Colin is ill and can’t walk.    3    

Mr. Craven ordered his servants to care for Colin but would never visit because his son reminded him of his wife.

Mary and Colin become good friends. Mary convinces Coin that he can use his mind to overcome his illness.     4     There, they meet Ben Weather-staff, one of Mr. Craven’s servants. They all decide to work together to restore the area. When their work is finished, they plan a surprise for Mr. Craven. He arrives at the garden and finds the flowers in bloom, just like they were when his wife was alive. More importantly, he’s overjoyed to lean that Colin has become a healthy boy. Their relationship is repaired, and they look forward to a brighter future.

“Any apples today?” Effie asked cheerfully at my window. I followed her to her truck and bought a kilo. On credit, of course. Cash was the one thing in the world I lacked just then.     1    

All pretense （借口） of payment was dropped when our funds, food and funds decreased to alarming lows. Effie came often, always bringing some gift: a jar of peaches or some firewood. There were other generosities.     2    

Effie was not a rich woman. Her income, derived from investments she had made while running an interior decorating shop. had never exceeded $200 a month, which she supplemented by selling her apples. But she always managed to help someone poorer.

Years passed before I was able to return the money Effie had given me from time to time. She was ill now and had aged rapidly in the last year. “Here, darling,” I said, “is what l owe you.”    3    

“Give it back as I gave it to you--a little at a time.” I think she believed there was magic in the slow discharge of a love debt.

The simple fact is that I never repaid the whole amount to Effie, for she died a few weeks later. By now, the few dollars Effie gave me have been multiplied many times. But a curious thing began to happen.

Whenever I saw a fellow human in financial trouble, I was moved to help him. I can't afford to do this always, but in the ten years since Effie's death, I have indirectly repaid my debt to her.

    4     At that time, it seemed that my debt would forever go unsettled. So the account can never be marked closed. for Effie's love will go on in hearts that have never known her.

5 . Paul received a car from his brother as a Christmas present. On Christmas Eve when Paul came out of his office, a boy was walking around the shiny new car, admiring it.

“Is this your car, mister？” he said.

Paul nodded. “My brother gave it to me for Christmas.” The boy was astounded. “You mean your brother gave it to you and it didn't cost you anything? Oh, I wish…”He hesitated.

Of course Paul knew what he was going to wish for. He was going to wish he had a brother like that. But what the boy said shocked Paul all the way down to his heels.

“I wish.” the boy went on, “that I could be a brother like that.”

Paul looked at the boy in astonishment, and then impulsively （冲动地） he added, “Would you like to take a ride in my car?”

“Oh. yes, I'd love that.”

After a short ride, the boy turned to Paul and said. “Mister, would you mind driving to my house？”

Paul smiled a little. He thought he knew what the boy wanted. He waned to show his neighbours that he could ride home in a big car. But Paul was wrong again. “Will you stop where those two steps are?” the boy asked

He ran up the steps. In a little while he came back. carrying his little disabled brother. He sat him down on the bottom step. and pointed to the car.

“Buddy just like I told you upstairs. His brother gave it to him for Christmas and it didn't cost him a cent. And some day I'm going to give you one just like it... then you can see for yourself all the pretty things in the Christmas windows that I've been trying to tell you about.”

Paul got out and lifted the boy into the front seat of his car. The older brother climbed in beside him and the three of them began a memorable holiday ride. That Christmas Eve. Paul learned what Jesus meant when he said. “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”