My sister is my friend. Thirteen years ago, she threw a plastic toy at my nose to see if it would fall exactly on my face. It missed me. I giggled and applauded her poor skills. Again, she threw it, and this time it hit. The pain caused my cry. My mother rushed down the steps and saw my sister's guilty eyes trying to hide her innocent game. I cried for hours, not because of the pain but because I was taken away from my sister who was teaching me how to have fun.

Growing up, she was what I wanted to be. So, I took up basketball in Grade Three, just like her. In Grade Seven, I was on the A team, just like she was. I was a reasonably good player, with the height and the patience to charge up and down the court. But by the middle of the season, I found myself hating it. I didn't like the girls, the coaches, or the competitiveness of the game. I pretended to be sick from time to time so I could skip practice.

Eventually my mum caught on and told me that if I hated it so much, I should quit. Was she serious? I couldn't quit! My sister stuck with everything she started. I finished the season hating every moment, but when it was over, I could breathe again. I realized I could do this no more.

When I turned to my sister, she listened. I told her that the idea of not pursuing basketball felt weird since it was the only thing I knew how to do. I told her that I was afraid of my future and that I didn't like not knowing how to handle the rest of my life. I told her I needed her, and she was there for me.

To my 13-year-old self, this seemed like a crisis, but to my 17-year-old sister, the solution was simple.

So many years later, I became a writer.

An Act of Neighborliness

The skies were dark. A strong wind was blowing hard, cutting my face like a sharp knife. Rain fell in big drops and thunder and lightning flashed across the skies. I shook with cold and fear as I walked home, through the streams of muddy water. Some people were rushing by, completely wet in the heavy rain.

Along the way, I saw some schoolchildren holding their heavy schoolbags tightly and rushing home, I also saw that some road repair work had been abandoned by workers. Obviously, the workers had left in a hurry because of the storm. There were few signs and it was hard to see what was on the road. There were pieces of wood and metal and it looked like a hole had been dug and hurriedly covered with boards.

I moved on but suddenly stopped as I heard some sounds. It sounded like children crying. I quickly turned back and went back to the place from where the sounds came. I was frightened! To my sadness, I found that two small children had fallen into the hole on the road. The boards had moved away with the force of the rushing water. I could hardly see the children as it was dark all around me. I told them that I was going to look for help. I knew the neighbors well, and they all shared a sense of neighborliness, willing to give a hand.

I rushed to the nearest house, Mr. Lee’s, and told him about the problem.

Hearing of what had happened, the children’s parents were in relief.

After a busy week, Emily and her parents decided to go on a mountain picnic. They longed to fully experience nature’s beauty and enjoy quality family time. Little did they know, this outing would be filled with unexpected twists and turns (波折).

Arriving at the mountain’s base, they discovered a house, in front of which Mike and his father had just finished loading a boat onto Mike’s truck. Emily approached them and asked for the best picnic spot in the area. Knowing the mountain well, Mike suggested a location about two hours’ walk away. “It’s worth the effort,” he assured them.

Parking their car next to Mike’s truck and carrying their picnic supplies, Emily and her parents set off on the winding road. Tall green trees on one side, a flowing stream on the other, the road eventually led them to a breathtaking clearing dotted with colorful wildflowers. They enjoyed their delicious sandwiches, fruits, and snacks, engaging in pleasant conversations.

Just as they finished their meal and settled down to relax, dark clouds unexpectedly rolled in. It looked like rain. Panicked, they hurriedly set up the tent they had brought. No sooner had they entered than raindrops began pouring on the roof. Heavy rain enveloped the surroundings, making it impossible to see anything. They had no choice but to patiently wait it out.

After what felt like a century, the rain ceased. Emily and her parents wasted no time packing up their belongings, ready to get downhill. However, their excitement turned to worry when they discovered that the small stream they had previously crossed had turned into a wide and impassable river. With no cellphone signal, they were trapped without a means of seeking help. To make matters worse, darkness was approaching.

Suddenly, they heard the sound of a vehicle from across the river.

Emily and her parents boarded the boat.