When I was little, I left Germany with my family and moved to the Netherlands. For months, my main company had been my mother or other adults. I could only speak German and hardly spoke a word of Dutch. I only met one girl who also spoke German in the neighborhood grocery store.

I was shy, so when I set off for my first day of a new school, I was really terrified. I cried leaving our apartment. I entered a classroom where there were about 20 children who looked extremely busy. Suddenly, I saw a girl with dark hair. I couldn’t see her face, as her back was turned towards me. In that moment, she turned around and looked at me. In a flash, we recognized each other. It was the girl from the corner grocery store! We instantly rushed into each other’s arms like long-separated sisters, sentences in German flowing between us. I smiled and my anxiety disappeared immediately.

“My name is Annelies. You can call me Anne,” she said smilingly. As two little girls who didn’t know Dutch, we were excited to find each other.

I was attracted by Anne immediately. Apart from being outgoing and kind, Anne was confident enough to get close to others though they spoke Dutch. Soon I also began to play with other children.

When we went home after school, Anne and I were glad to discover we were also next-door neighbors. Anne’s apartment was a floor above mine. After that, every day she came to knock at my door and then we walked to school together.

Soon we became inseparable friends and I knew more about her. She liked seeing films and her father even rented a film projector (放映机) on her birthday every year, which made her very happy. But she still felt she had difficulty integrating (融入) fully into the lives of local people.

With the desire to fit in, Anne and I began to learn new Dutch words and phrases.

Here came Anne’s birthday again and in our hands were many invitations.

Forty-three years seems like along time to remember the name of a mere acquaintance (认识的人). I have forgotten the name of the old lady to whom I delivered newspapers, but I can’t forget the lessons he taught me in forgiveness.

On a winter afternoon, a friend and I were throwing stones on to the roof of the old lady’s house. I found myself a perfectly smooth rock and threw it out. The stone was too smooth, however, so it slipped from my hand as I let it go and headed straight not for the roof but for a small window of the house.

At the sound of broken glass, we knew we were in trouble. We turned and ran away quickly. I was too scared about getting caught that first night to be concerned about the old lady with the broken window in winter. However, a few days later, when I was sure that I hadn’t been discovered, I started to feel guilty for her misfortune.

She still greeted me with a smile each day when I gave her the paper, but I was no longer able to act comfortably in her presence. I made up my mind that I would save my paper delivery money, and in three weeks I had the seven dollars that I thought would cover the cost of her window.

I put the money in an envelope with a note explaining that I was sorry for breaking her window and hoped that the seven dollars would cover the cost for repairing it. I waited until dark and put the letter that I didn’t sign in her letterbox.

The next day, I delivered the newspaper to her as usual.

After several cookies, I felt an envelope and pulled it out of the bag.

The event that stands out in Tom’s memory happened one morning when Tom was only ten years old.He was at home with his elder sister Jane.Tom was doing his homework when he heard raised voices.At first he thought nothing of it since customers in the motorcycle shop directly below their flat often became loud，but he soon realized this time it was different.

“Quick! Quick! Remove the motorcycles from the shop.” someone shouted.Then a thick burning smell filled the air.When Tom opened the front door of their flat to investigate，a thick cloud of smoke greeted him.The motorcycle shop had caught fire and people were running and crying.

Jane，who had been playing the violin in her room，hurried to the living room.They rushed out of the door and along the corridor (走廊) through the smoke.

They were heading towards the stairway at the far end of the corridor when Jane suddenly stopped in her track.She turned around and headed back the way they came.Tom had no idea what she was doing，but he followed her.

Jane had suddenly remembered the lady in her 70s who lived next door to them，who they called Makcik.Jane began banging on Makcik’s door，but got no answer.As the smoke thickened around them，Tom could see many of their neighbors—some still in their pajamas (睡衣)—running for safety.The thought of fear crossed his mind.

“She would have run for safety like everyone else!” Tom cried.However，Jane refused to give up.“I know Makcik’s still inside.” She said she was familiar with Makcik’s daily routine and was certain she would still be sleeping.She pounded against the door.“Go downstairs.Go now! Go!”

Tom noticed the flame (火焰) was reaching up.

Luckily，some neighbors passing by stopped and offered help.

Three years ago, I was offered a better job and went to work in a new clinic of a small hospital in Victor Harbor, an hour away from my house. I rushed there on my first day, driving to the clinic and getting used to the different rules there.

In my worry and anxiety, and feeling a little unfamiliar in the new environment, I removed my three rings according to the rules: my wedding ring, a ring that belonged to my mother and one that was a gift from my husband. I put them in a wrinkled tissue and placed them beside my computer.

During midday break, I ate my lunch at my desk and when I was finished, I hurriedly cleared away the waste, together with the wrinkled tissue into the rubbish bin. I went about my duties and my day went on well. I met new patients and felt that I had done a good job.

Driving home at the end of the day, just moments before I reached my house, I noticed that my rings were missing. I felt the heat in my body rise, my cheeks burning red. I went inside and tried to calm down. I spent an hour or so making telephone calls，trying to locate my rings. The first people I called were my manager and colleagues, and they gave me a few contact numbers for the cleaners. I got in touch with a lady who managed the cleaning services for the clinic, and she told me that the bins had already been emptied and gone to rubbish station.

Heartbroken, I knew nothing could be done then. I had lost my wedding ring and one of my most important rings-my mother’s wedding ring. If I had not been so careless, all this would not have happened. With great sorrow and regret, I just sat there in my chair wondering what I should do.

After two hours or so, I received the most amazing phone call in my life.

I decided to thank the wonderful person face to face.

The New Year

One pleasant New Year morning, Edward rose, washed and dressed himself in haste(匆忙). He wanted to be the first to wish a happy New Year. He looked in every room, and shouted the words of welcome. He ran into the street to repeat them to those he might meet.

When he came back, his father gave him two bright, new silver dollars. His face lit up as he took them. He had wished for along time to buy some pretty books that he had seen at the bookstore.

He left the house with a light heart, intending to buy the books. As he ran down the street, he saw a poor German family,the father, mother, and three children trembling with cold.

“I wish you a happy New Year,” said Edward, as he was gayly(快乐地) passing on.

The man shook his head.

“You do not belong to this country,” said Edward.

The man again shook his head, for he could not understand or speak the language. But he pointed to his mouth, and to the children, as if to say, “These little ones have had nothing to eat for a long time.”

Edward quickly understood that these poor people were in need of help.

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When Edward came home, his father asked what book he had bought.

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