I sat in the breakfast corner with my four-year-old son, Matthew, trying to ignore the ache in my stomach. I was still recovering from a surgery. I hoped for strength and happiness. But the future seemed so hopeless.

Matthew jumped up from his spot on the kitchen floor. “Bird!” he shouted, rushing to the sliding door. Sure enough, there was a white dove seated on a rubber tree. It sat there a few moments, and then flew away. I’d never seen one in our neighborhood before.

When I dragged myself to the kitchen the next morning, the dove was back. This time it was with a mate carrying twigs (嫩枝), “Look, Matthew,” I said, pointing to the tree. “They’re going to make a nest.” The doves flew in and out of the courtyard all week, building on the top of the rubber tree. Matthew could hardly contain his excitement. Every morning, he’d run into the kitchen and take his spot by the sliding glass door, talking to the birds while they worked. As much as I was grieving (感到悲伤), I couldn’t help but look forward to the doves’ visits too. We watched their progress as if it were a real-life soap opera unfolding before us. Gradually, my pain disappeared, replaced by joy.

Then it all went wrong. The courtyard was a safe enough spot for a nest, but the rubber tree’s broad, thin leaves were far from stable. One night, a strong wind blew through, throwing the doves’ nest to the ground. I heard the twigs break apart. Nothing good ever lasts. I wouldn’t blame the doves if they never came back. But they returned. And they paid no attention to the pi le of sticks that had once been their nest. They started again from scratch, though the wind destroyed all their hard work. The next day, and the next, they renewed their efforts, as if nothing had happened.

Paragraph 1: I knew I had to do something for the poor creatures.

Paragraph 2:“The birds were back!” Matthew announced.

I am a proud mother of three children, my last little one being delivered in the middle of this pandemic (疫情). She was born in August and her name is Aida.

Shortly after having Aida, my mother-in-law Ann showed me something she learned from her friend’s mother in an art class she attended weekly, She had showed me how to knit (编织) a scarf.

I spent a lot of time breastfeeding my sweet little girl, so I had some extra time to do something with my hands throughout the day. I enjoyed making the scarf so I purchased tons of yarn (线) since it was winter. I wanted to make scarves for my three children as Christmas gifts.

There was a new family that moved in down the street. The only daughter of the family was Jane, a shy girl, aged 14, the same age of my oldest son David. It seemed that she came from a financially disadvantaged family, for she always wore old clothes. Worse still, in such cold days, she had no more clothes to wear and trembled with cold.

Due to the pandemic, society was thrown into crisis mode. Schools were closed, food supplies and deliveries were suspended and children were stuck at home. In such discouraging time, however, they became good companions, talking and playing at home or around the houses.

It was dreadfully cold this winter. Every time David came back from outside, with red face, he always cried, “Mum, it is freezing outside!” Then, he came over to see whether I finished the scarf. I could tell how impatient he was to wear my scarf sooner! I had to speed the project to satisfy his expectation. But David comforted me by saying he could wait a few days. What a kind and considerate boy he was! Then my great art project finally was accomplished on the morning ahead of Christmas.

“Hurry up you guys, or you’ll be late for school!” called Mom. We dashed downstairs and had a quick breakfast. I was eating my favorite — very sweet cereal, and Sara was having eggs. When I rose to have my bowl washed, Mom whispered, “You know you need to be cautious today when you’re walking Sara to school. It’s your job to assure me she gets there all right.” Then she cast me a very serious look. I thought to myself, wondering why Mom was making such a big deal out of this. I was Sara’s first day of kindergarten, but I could manage it. It wish Mom wouldn’t treat me like such a baby.

“Goodbye, Mom!” Sara yelled. She ran out the door, and I went behind her.

“Be careful!” my mom yelled.

“I will!” I said back and ran outside. Sara was skipping down the front walkway to the sidewalk.

I grabbed Sara’s hand. “Are you eager and excited for your first day of school?” I asked, trying to sound like a grown-up. Sara smiled and nodded her head yes. Meanwhile, my mom was staring at us through the window. “When will she stop treating me like a little kid?” I thought. “I’ll show you the way.” I said, I felt proud to be the elder sister. We walked past beautiful gardens and big, leafy trees. Suddenly, I heard a growl and saw a dog walking towards us. He was big and fierce looking with long sharp teeth. “GRRR!!!” the dog growled. I didn’t see its owner or anyone who could help us. My hand became sweaty and Sara stopped walking. “I’m scared, Julie,” she said. I didn’t want her to be scared. I wanted to seem brave. “Everything will be okay,” I said.

“GRRR!!!” The dog stepped closer and we could see it was the size of a small horse — with red eyes and sharp teeth.

I was trying to make my voice sound calm.

I told Mom what had happened.

“Mom! I’m home!” John closed the door and dropped his books on a nearby chair. “Hi, John, home already?” His mom turned around.

“It’s spring. I was thinking more of our annual spring cleaning,” John’s mom suggested. “Tomorrow is Saturday. Let’s do some cleaning, okay?” “Okay,” John agreed unwillingly.

The next day, they cleaned upstairs, downstairs, inside, outside, until everything was spotless. Tired, they sank into the couch. Pointing to Grandpa’s chair, John’s mom exclaimed, “Oh my! That old chair has got to go. We’ll buy Grandpa a new one.” John’s grandpa lived with them since Grandma had died. “John, Let’s take the chair to the curb (马路边). Tomorrow the garbage truck is picking up on our block.”

As they attempted to move the chair, Grandpa walked by dragging his feet through the door and quickly blocked their way. “Oh, no!” he protested. “You can’t take my chair.”

“It’s old and worn. We’ll buy you a new one,” John’s mom argued.

“No,” John’s grandpa persisted, trying to push his chair back into place. “I don’t want a new one,” his voice trembled.

John’s mom had to give up and said she would discuss it with John’s dad, who was still at work. John’s mom left the living room to prepare the dinner. With a sigh of relief, the old man sank into his chair and closed his eyes.

“Grandpa, why won’t you let us get rid of the chair? It’s so old,” John asked his grandpa when his mom left the room.

“You don’t understand, John,” Grandpa shook his head from side to side. After a long pause he said, “I sat in this chair, with your grandma right here, when I asked her to marry me. When I sit in this chair and close my eyes I feel she is near.” Grandpa softly stroked (轻抚) the arm of the chair. “And the night your father was born, I sat in this chair. I was nervous and scared when they placed the tiny baby into my arms, yet I was never happier.” A smile flashed across his old face.

“I think I’m beginning to understand,” John said thoughtfully. “The chair gave you comfort and warmth. This is not just a chair. It is more like a friend.” However, that night when John and his grandpa were asleep, John’s mom and dad carried the chair to the curb.

The next morning, when John came downstairs, his grandpa stood by the window and looked outside sadly.

Seeing John rescue the chair from the garbage men, his mom turned and looked at John’s grandpa.

Emily White was born seventeen years ago with so many birth problems in her body. Some of her organs, bones and muscles were out of shape. No one expected her to survive. She did make it but with her strange body figure, everyone could recognize her, even from a distance.

In Emily White’s hometown, there was a yearly outdoor performance in the school auditorium (大礼堂). It had been performed for so many years and actually had become one of the most important events of the Christmas season for many of the town’s people.

Many people tried out each year for it, but so many were turned away. It can only include the most excellent people in the field.

Emily had a beautiful singing voice. Last year she went to Mrs. Owens — her music teacher to ask to join in the performance. Without letting her sing, Mrs. Owens took a look at Amy’s body and said, “Child, you just don’t fit. Everyone would stare at you and that would make you uncomfortable. It would make them uncomfortable, too.”

Without singing a single note, Emily was sent back through the door of the choral room. Hurt and upset, she decided never to try out again. But Mrs. Owens then retired.

This year, there came a new music teacher, Mr. Buttler. He heard about Emily and suggested that she have a try.

Emily didn’t want to be rejected again, so she hesitated a little about it. As Emily struggled, the door was pushed open and Mr. Buttler called, “Emily, you’re next.” Although kind of nervous, Emily did as Mr. Buttler told her to do. Mr. Buttler sat by the piano to keep Emily company. When Emily finished her testing performance, she thanked Mr. Buttler and knew the result would be posted on the door of the choral room the next day.

Emily couldn’t sleep that night. She was suffering from the feelings that she didn’t fit and the great need to be accepted. By the next morning, her stomach was even in pain because of stress.

Paragraph 1: The next day, Emily nervously glanced at the list on the door of the choral room.

Paragraph 2: Finally, the day of performance came.

Dora is a seven-year-old girl. One day, when she visited her friend Alice, she saw a beautiful bird in a cage on the balcony of the house. Alice told her it was her new pet. “How beautiful it is!” Dora said. “I also want to have such a bird as my pet.”

That day when Dora returned home, she told her mother about Alice’s bird. Then she asked, “Mom, can I also get a bird?” “Of course, you can,” her mother replied. “But you need to wait because I’ve no time to go to a pet store these days.” Dora agreed. One day, when Dora was back home from school, she saw a cage in the living room. In the cage was a beautiful blue bird. Her mother was standing next to the cage, smiling. “Oh, a bird!” Dora shouted happily. She ran to it and looked at it happily. “It’s a birthday gift for you,” her mother said. “Thank you, Mom. I love it so much!” Dora shouted excitedly.

The following day, Dora invited her friends to come over to see her bird. All of her friends said it was a really beautiful bird and Dora was very glad to hear that. She and her friends played with the bird for a long time that day. Her friends all wished they could have such a bird as their pet.

Sadly, a few weeks later, Dora became sick. The doctor told her parents that she got the flu and had to stay at home. In order not to make her friends sick, her parents asked her friends not to come to play with her. Dora felt very sad. How she wished her friends would come and visit her! But she knew her parents were right. She’d better stay alone. Since Dora had no one to play with, she could only play with her bird. However, she felt that her bird didn’t seem to be happy either.

Dora watched her bird in silence.

When her mother came inside, Dora told her mother about her decision.

Holidays are not necessarily for fun or rest. Doing something meaningful can also gain special pleasure. When the final bell rang, the students were reminded that there was no school on Monday—the Labor Day. “Enjoy your extra day off” said the teacher to her class.

An extra day off unsuited Kayla just fine. She loved breaks. She wanted to go out to play with her friends. When the school bus dropped Kayla off, she ran into the house happily.

“How was school, Kayla?” asked her mom.

“It was great, Mom. I am excited about no school on Monday.”

“You just started back to school two weeks ago. Already in need of a break, huh?” asked Kayla’s mom with a laugh.

Kayla slept in the next morning. Saturday was her favorite day of the week. I trained most of the day, so Kayla enjoyed playing videogames inside. On Sunday, her friends came over and they played basketball for several hours.

Then it was Labor Day, you know, the extra day off that Kayla was so looking forward to. But Kayla was awakened early that morning by her dad. He told Kayla that in honor of Labor Day, the family would be cleaning both inside and outside the house. Kayla couldn’t believe it. This was a holiday. A day when she was supposed to be enjoying freshly squeezed lemonade while playing in her tree house. As Kayla wiped here yes, she began to wonder if this was just a bad dream.

“Kayla, your breakfast is ready. We have a lot of work to do today. Let’s get a move on,” said Kayla’s mom. As she sat down at the kitchen table, Kayla asked her parents，

“Are you serious about working today? Isn’t Labor Day a holiday?”

“Yes, Kayla. It is,” replied her dad. “But your mom and I thought working hard today would make you appreciate why Labor Day was observed in the first place.”

At first Kayla felt disappointed at her parents’ plan for the holiday.

But things began to change as she was doing the chores.