Amy walked toward Miss Brown's backyard, where she was planting roses. Last week, Amy and her parents just moved into the house next door.
The old woman looked up, "Why the long face, Amy?"
"There aren't any kids around to play with," said Amy. "I have nothing to do."
Miss Brown smiled, "You sound just like a girl who used to live here."
"Really? Who?"
"Her name is Rachel," said Miss Brown. "Too bad you two young girls couldn't have lived here at the same time."
"What did Rachel do when she was bored?" asked Amy.
"She planted a flower garden," answered Miss Brown.
Amy looked at Miss Brown's roses. "Could I,too?"
Miss Brown handed Amy some tools and roses. "This will get you started."
"Thanks." said Amy.
Amy worked hard the whole afternoon in her garden. When she saw the lovely roses planted, she smiled. Still it was too bad that Rachel wasn't there.
The next day, Amy watered her roses and walked to Miss Brown's backyard, where she sat reading. "What else did Rachel do?" asked Amy.
"She wrote poems in her flower garden," Miss Brown answered. "One of her poems even won a prize in a school competition."
Amy closed her eyes. "How good it would feel, but I don't know how to write poems," she said. Miss Brown smiled, "The best way is to read poems first." She handed Amy her book. "Thanks," said Amy.
Amy lay on her stomach next to her roses and read. Then she started to write. That night she had a poem that might not be a prize winner but sounded good enough. Still, it was too bad that Rachel wasn't there.
The third day, Amy watered her flowers, wrote a new poem, and then walked to Miss Brown again. "What else did Rachel do?" asked Amy, "She played in the attic (阁楼). Come with me," Miss Brown invited. "Thanks!" said Amy.
"Make yourself at home," Miss Brown said and left Amy to search alone there. Then Amy found a trophy(奖杯) with these words--First Prize in Poetry, Rachel Brown, 1937.
Slowly, a smile spread across her face. Amy ran back to Miss Brown, "I wonder if Rachel would like to write poems in my flower garden." Miss Brown smiled, "I think she would love to."