"A new student is waiting in your room." My principal told me. "Name's Mary. I'll talk to you about her." I nodded, some materials in my hands. "Fine," I said. "We're making valentine envelopes, a good way for her to get 1 ."
She sat in the back of the room, her hands 2 in her lap （大腿）. "Welcome, Mary. I'm glad you are in our room." No 3 . "Mary." I said again, with a smile. She raised her head and looked into my eyes. The smile on my face 4 . Dear God, I thought, what on earth happened to this little girl? The eyes in that face were unexpectedly empty as if her world were coming to an end.
The bell rang, little time to worry about Mary. After 5 Mary into her desk, I distributed materials and then hurried to the office. There I learned weeks ago, her mother 6 a serious illness, unconscious in bed. She had been 7 since. "What can I do?" I stammered. "I've never known a child like this before." "Give her 8 ," the principal suggested.
I returned and grabbed a chance to explain this to my students, urging them to be patient and kind towards her. "It may be a long time 9 she joins us, but you can do your bit." How loving they could be once they understood. On Valentine's Day, Mary's envelopes overflowed. We expected her to cheer up a bit, but still she was silent without any facial 10 .
Later on a March day, my children noticed the flowers 11 and advised making flower baskets! It was something to lift our 12 . Remembering the valentine incident, I expected nothing from Mary; 13 , I encouraged her to try. Soon, a boy exclaimed: "Look at Mary's basket. So pretty!" I was dumbfounded at its beauty, asking how she managed it. She looked at me with the shining eyes of any 14 girl and replied "Mother loved flowers."
"Thank you, God, you've given us a 15 ." I knelt and put my arms around Mary. Ever since, I've kept the flowers in my desk just to remind me of Mary and of the lasting power of love.
