The first time Hank, a two-year-old-cat, went out of his yard, he got stuck in a 60-feet-tall tree for five days, with no food or water.
One day last November, when Delores, the 1, returned from a market, she found Hank didn't come in for his lunch. As it got 2, she began to look for him around the house. Then she heard the mew of a cat, 3, and saw Hank on her neighbor's tree. He must have climbed onto the tree while some dogs were running after 4, and became too afraid to climb down.
Delores, now very 5 called the fireman immediately. But it was not easy, as they didn't have a ladder（梯子） tall enough to 6 the cat. She asked a tree company for help them. 7, they failed for safety reasons.
The poor owner could do nothing but sit 8 the tree and call to Hank. A kind neighbor offered her some cat food. 9 it would make the hungry cat come down. Nearby dog owners took their pets for 10 instead of letting them out in their yards, so that Hank would not climb even 11 with fear.
Nothing had worked until it come to day five. 12 Lydia, another neighbor, talked of a clever way of getting the cat down from a tree. Delores decided to 13 it at once. Together, they produced a system of pulley（滑轮） and lifted a 14 with some of Hank's favorite things up to him. To their excitement, Hank jumped into it.
Delores was really thankful. "I feel good living in such a 15 neighborhood. It gave me hope when Hank was in trouble." She said.
A mother and daughter living in my community are two of the most unfriendly people I have ever come across in my life. They are totally separated, mixing with 1. As they drive past 2they keep their eyes looking away and make no sign of acknowledgement. The only fame they have is making a nuisance (讨厌的人) of themselves to the local police station by 3music played too loud, dogs barking more than once a day and any other petty4
Gripe (把柄).
On moving into this neighborhood, I was warned of these two but decided I would make up my own mind. This proved quite a 5 to me as more than once either the mother or the daughter would knock on my door and blast (猛烈抨击) me with some 6or other.
I 7 answered politely and made sure I 8 as they went past my place and also made the effort now and then to make a kind remark about their garden or pets.
Time passed and in October, as part of the Kindness Rock Give (送爱心石活动), Maureen and I decided to place a kindness rock in their garden. Their 9remained unchanged, however, and I continued to be as friendly as possible. During the Easter, we decided once again to 10these two unhappy ladies to our list and left a packet of cookies on their 11. Imagine my 12when two days later they13 at my gate and jokingly said they are considering hanging their Christmas stocking on their gate, and they brought me a bunch of flowers!
So, my fellow gifters, do not 14 on your random gifts of kindness. You may never know just what this means to others, nor how many broken or 15 hearted people you may just change with a simple act of kindness.
This story happened to my grandmother fifty years ago.
One morning, Mr. White was sitting in his usual compartment（车厢）,1for the train to start. He looked through the window and2he saw a young girl running towards the train. The man on duty tried to put out his hand to stop3, but he failed. No sooner had she got on the train than the whistle（汽笛）blew and the train moved off. The girl came into Mr.
White's compartment and took her4.
"I nearly missed it, didn't I?" she said, "5does it take to get to London?"
"It depends on the engineer driver, "said Mr. White, "Some days it's much6than others, even for more than forty minutes."
"I'll have to have my7repaired so as not to be late again tomorrow. "she said, ""It's my first8at work with a new factory today. Someone told me that the man I'm going to work for is very9. I haven't met him yet,10I don't know what he is like, but he sounds a bit frightening. "
She talked about her new11on the way to London and before long he realized that she was going to work for him. His secretary had just12so he must be her new boss. It was only13to tell her about that.
"Oh, dear! I am so sorry," she said," What a terrible mistake I've made! I wish I had 14that. "
"15,"he said," At least you'll know when your train is late that mine will be, too. "After hearing this, she smiled.
It was a cold winter morning. I hadn't slept very well the night before so I was trying to1a little longer before I got up. The rising sun had other 2, however.
The bright sunshine came in 3the window. I had to open my eyes with great 4. I sat up on the side of the bed lazily and 5 stretched my sore back. It 6 I had just completed a full day's work rather than I was just about to begin one. I wasn't looking forward to another day of doing mountains of chores.
I sighed(叹气) and 7 on my trousers, shirt and heavy coat. Opening the bedroom door, I saw my dog waiting for me. He looked at me with a 8 face and an energetic body.
I wondered 9 he got that way every morning without even a cup of coffee. I opened the front door10 he could happily take his morning walk. He11 me to a park with his nose smelling all the way.
The air smelt fresh and clean so I breathed in deep. I looked up to the 12 and saw the beautiful sunrise. Its pinks, purples, and yellows were a masterpiece (杰作) painted by Nature's hand.
I smiled and thought maybe another day wouldn't be so 13 after all. I looked forward to another day of hugging my kids, petting my dog and talking with my friends.
I looked forward to another day living in 14 and sharing my own love as well. What a good gift from Nature is another day here in this wonderful world. Hope you make 15a day of love, a day of laughter, a day of kindness, and a day of joy.
Edgar McGregor is a 20-year-old climate activist. He spent 589 days straight picking up litter1Eaton Canyon(峡谷). Eaton Canyon is a part of the Angeles National Forest in southern California.
Edgar promised to pick up litter left by visitors while 2 his progress on an online social platform (平台). He has more than 17, 000 followers now!
Edgar started this journey when he learned that Los Angeles would 3 the Olympic Games in 2028. He thought the litter would be a "4embarrassment" for the United States. He decided to start with 5 Eaton Canyon since he lives closest to it. There are many trails (小径) and waterfalls as well as homeless encampments (营地).
Thanks to his work, Eaton Canyon is now free of 6. Edgar said recently that there was no more rubbish in the canyon. However, his work doesn't 7. He plans to go back to the canyon often to keep its clean 8.
When asked about his 9, Edgar said, "Whether it is hot or 10, it doesn't matter. 11 stayed there for at least an hour every day, cleaning up the canyon. "
All of the recyclable things he picked up were sold and he 12 all the money. Edgar has donated the money to organizations such as World Central Kitchen and some schools in Uganda.
He often 13 everyone to take action in cleaning up online. "If you think my work is inspiring, go outside to clean up the planet and let me see it," Edgar wrote on the online social platform. "It has nothing to do with your abilities. It's 14 something that everyone could do. "
15don't always wear capes (披风) like Superman. What can you do for the environment?
When I was in seventh grade, I was a volunteer at a local hospital in my town. I worked about thirty to forty1a week during the summer. Most of the time I spent there was with Mr. Gillespie. 2seemed to care about his condition and he never had any visitors.
I spent many days there holding his hand and 3to him. He became my close friend, even though he reacted with only a squeeze (捏) of my 4from time to time. Mr. Gillespie was in a coma (昏迷).
I left for a week to vacation with my parents, and when I5, Mr. Gillespie was gone. I didn't have the 6to ask the nurses where he was. I was afraid that they might tell me he had 7.
Several years later, I was at the gas station when I 8a familiar face. I asked him if he was Mr. Gillespie, 9if he had been in a coma five years ago. With an uncertain look on his face, he replied yes. I 10how I knew him and that I had spent many hours talking with him in the hospital. His eyes became wet and he gave me the 11hug I had ever received.
He began to tell me how he could hear me talking to him and could 12me holding his hand the whole time. He thought it was an angel, who was there with him. He13believed that it was my voice and touch that had kept him alive.
14I haven't seen him ever since, he fills my heart with happiness every day. I know that I made a 15between his life and his death. I will never forget him and what he did for me: he made me an angel.
Sophia was outspoken, fashionable, and the "Queen Bee" in my school.
I looked up to her and idolized (崇拜) her. I listened to the music she listened to, wore the clothes she wore. I even took art class 1 I had really wanted to take theater. I finally fitted in her group.
One day, I skipped out of my last class a few minutes early to 2 seats for our group at the dining hall. Doing my homework, I didn't notice they had sat down behind me. Before I could say a word, I realized what they were 3.
I listened silently. "She's such a loser," one girl said.
Another girl added, "Sophia, she always 4 you, trying to copy you. "
"I wish she would leave us alone. We were in the same summer school and now she thinks we're best friends. The once familiar voice sounded so 5 and strange.
I was embarrassed. My hands were shaking. I couldn't help crying 6. I felt heart-broken for the very first time. How did this happen? I 7 we were friends.
I ran home. My mother just held me while I sobbed for hours. The 8 she gave was so simple, and I had heard it a million times. "Just be yourself and people will like you for 9 you are." This time it became so profound (深邃的). Then and there I 10 to find myself back. That was exactly what I did.
Over the next month, I went through a lot of 11. I bought new clothes that I wanted to wear. I no longer went to art class 12 them, and took theater. I began making new friends. I developed my own opinions and 13 again followed the crowd.
I had an amazing school year. 14 I look back, I think it was the year when I discovered the person I was going to be. Despite the pain I felt that day, it was a 15 they had given me.
A long time ago, there was a huge apple tree. A little boy loved to come and play around it every day. He loved the tree and the tree loved to play with him.
Time went by…The little boy had 1 and he no longer played around the tree.
One day, the boy came back to the tree and looked sad. "Come and play with me," the tree asked the boy.
"I am2a kid, I don't play around trees any more." The boy replied," "I want toys." "Sorry, but I don't have 3 …but you can pick all my apples and sell them. " The boy was so excited. He picked all the apples and left 4 . The boy didn't come back after he picked the apples. The tree was sad.
One hot summer day, the boy5and the tree was glad. "Come and play with me!" the tree said.
"I want to go 6 to relax myself. Can you give me a boat?" "Use my trunk (树干) to build the boat. "So the boy cut the tree trunk to make a boat. He went sailing and did not7for a long time.
8, the boy come back after he left for so many years." Sorry, my boy. But I don't have9for you any more. The only thing left is my dying roots." The tree said 10 tears. "I don't need much now, just a 11 to rest." The boy replied. "Good! Old tree roots are the 12 place to relax. Come here, please sit down with me and have a rest." The boy sat down and the tree was glad and 13 with tears.
This is a story of everyone. The tree is our 14. When we were young, we loved to play with Mom and Dad… When we grow up, we leave 15 , and only come to them when we need something or when we are in trouble. No matter what, parents will always be there and give everything they could to make you happy.
My kids and I were heading into the1 over the weekend. On the way, we saw a man holding a piece of paper that said, "2 my job. Family to Feed. "
At this store, a sight like this is not normal. My 10-year-old 3 him and said it must be4 to stand outside in the cold wind.
In the store, I asked each of my kids to 5 something they thought our "friend" there would be grateful. They got some apples, a sandwich and a bottle of juice. Then my 17-year-old suggested giving him a 6. I thought about it. We were low on cash ourselves, but… well, sometimes7from our need instead of our abundance (充裕) is8 what we need to do! All the kids promised something they could do away with for the week.
When we handed him the bag of9, he lit up and thanked us with watery eyes. When I handed him the gift card, saying he could use it for whatever his family might need, 10 burst into tears.
This has been a wonderful 11 for our family. For days, the kids have been 12 others they can help! Things would have played out13 if I had simply said, "No, we really don't have14to give more." Stepping out not only helped a brother in need, it also gave my kids the15of helping others. And it'll go a long way with them.
My grandfather was a house painter whose job is painting buildings, walls, etc. In his lifetime, he must have1hundreds of houses inside and outside. He was a happy, outgoing man who made friends easily while working. It wasn't hard to tell that he loved his2 as well as his life.
Once, when I was in college, I helped my grandpa paint a house. While working inside, I noticed he was very skilled at giving a wall a quality coat of paint so3. In fact, while he was painting, he could have a(n)4with the homeowner, laughing all the time.
At one point, he stopped to watch me. He noticed5I dipped (浸; 蘸)the brush into the paint bucket (桶) and how I carefully wiped (擦) off both sides of the brush as I pulled it out so not to 6 any paint. Then without spilling (泼洒)a drop, I7 the thin coat of paint on the wall. It was a slow and8 process, but I dared (敢) not laugh or have a kidding for fear of making a mess.
Finally, he gave me some9. "Eric, watch this," he said, as he took the brush from my hand and dipped it into the bucket. "See, this is how you do it. Don't 10 spills or a mess. That's not a big problem because 11 can always be cleaned up. Treat a wall the way you treat people. Be generous (慷慨的) and have fun. 12 put enough paint on the brush. "
Yes, he did spill a few drops, 13 I noticed his wall looked much better than mine. I also noticed he was having great fun.
Life is not always 14. Some days, we spill few drops; some days, we spill a lot. The only thing that really 15is what the wall looks like when we are done and how much fun we have painting it.
