on behalf of, take up, note down, belong to, in contrast to, take place
My 10-year-old Donna said, "Mom, I made a new friend at school today. Can she come over tomorrow?" Donna was a shy girl and I wanted her to make some friends to bring her out of her shell.
"Sure, honey, that sounds great, " I said, thinking back to my own best friend, Lillian. We lived across the street from each other in Washington Heights, New York. We met at the age of 10, too. Like my daughter, I was shy, but Lillian drew me out. She was one of the friendliest people in school, with shiny black hair and a mile-wide smile. I knew we would be best friends forever.
In senior high school, Lillian went on a trip to Florida. That was the first time we had to be away from each other for a few days. "I'll be back soon, " she told me. But three days later, Lillian's sister told me that she had fallen into a river and hadn't come out any more. I got depressed for a long time. Soon, my family moved to New Jersey. Whenever I thought of her, tears came into my eyes.
The next day Donna brought her new friend home. "Hi, Mrs. Loggia, " the little girl said. Her hair was so shiny and black and she flashed me a big smile, "My name is Laura. "
My daughter's new friend was so much like Lillian. I was still puzzled when Laura's mom came to pick her up later that afternoon. I opened the door to let her in. "Judy!" she cried. "It's me, Lillian's sister, from Washington Heights. " Yes, my daughter's friend looked familiar. She was Lillian's niece.
I grew up in a poor family with six brothers, three sisters, my father and mother. We had little money and few goods, but plenty of love and attention. I was happy and energetic. I understood that no matter how poor a person was, he could still afford a dream.
My dream was to be an athlete. By the time I was sixteen, I could throw a ninety-mile-per-hour fastball and hit anything moving on the football field. And I was so lucky that my high school coach was Ollie Jarvis, who not only believed in me, but often told me "Dream is priceless". However, when I was about to get off the ground, one particular incident happened, which almost ruined my long-held dream.
It was the summer holiday in senior two and a friend recommended me for a summer job. I was offered $12. 25 per hour. Compared with the average $3. 5, that was a big sum. I was so excited, because this meant a chance for money in my pocket, certainly money for a new bike and new clothes, and the start of savings for a house for my mother. The prospect(前景) of the job was inviting, and I wanted to jump at the opportunity.
Then I realized I would have to give up summer baseball training to handle the work schedule. I didn't dare to tell my coach. I thought of the advice my mother often gave me when I lacked courage, "If you make your bed, you have to lie in it. " I decided to talk to my coach in person. After all, my dream of buying my mom a house and having money in my pocket was worth facing his disappointment to me.
注意：续写词数应为150左右。
Paragraph 1:
I gathered my courage and knocked at his door.
Paragraph 2:
That question reminded me of what my coach used to say.
