The Empty Easter Egg
Jeremy was born with a twisted body and a slow mind. At the age of 12 he was still in second grade. He would make1, and his teacher, Doris Miller, often became angry with him. One day, the children talked2about the coming of Easter (复活节). Their teacher Doris told them the story of Jesus, and then to3the idea of new life springing forth, she gave each of the children a large plastic empty Easter egg. She asked them to bring it back tomorrow with something inside that shows new life.
The next morning, 19 children came to school, laughing and talking as they4their Easter eggs in the large basket on Miss Miller's desk. It was time to open the now filled empty eggs. In the first egg. Doris found a flower. "Oh yes, a flower is certainly a5of new life," she said. The next empty egg shell contained a plastic butterfly, which looked very real. Doris held it up. "We all know that a caterpillar changes and grows into a beautiful butterfly. Yes, that's new life, too."
Suddenly, Jeremy spoke up. "Miss Miller aren't you going to talk about my Easter egg?" Impatiently, Doris replied "But Jeremy, your Easter egg is6."He looked into her eyes and said softly, "Yes, but Jesus's tomb (坟基) was empty, too." Time stopped. When she could speak again, Doris asked him, "Do you know why the tomb was empty?"
"Oh, yes," Jeremy said, "Jesus was killed and put in there. Then his father raised him up. And that's how Easter7!"
The recess bell rang. While the children excitedly ran out to the schoolyard, Doris cried. The cold inside her melted completely away.
Three moths later, Jeremy died. Those who paid their respects were8to see 19 Easter eggs on top of his casket (棺材), all of them empty.
