This was the first communication that had come from her aunt in Jessie’s lifetime.

“I think your aunt has forgiven me at last,” her father said as he passed the letter across the table.

Jessie looked first at the autograph(签名). It seemed strange to see her own name there. There was a likeness between her aunt’s autograph and her own, a hint of the same decisiveness and precision. If Jessie had been educated fifty years earlier, she might have written her name in just that manner.

“You’re very like her in some ways,” her father said, as she still stared at the autograph.

“I should think you must almost have forgotten what Aunt Jessie was like, dear,” she said. “How many years is it since you last saw her?”

“More than forty,” her father said. “We disagreed. We invariably disagreed. Jessie always prided herself on being so modern. She read Darwin and things like that. Altogether beyond me, I admit.”

“And so it seems that she wants to see me.” Jessie straightened her shoulders and lifted her head. She was excited at the thought of meeting this mythical aunt whom she had so often heard about. Sometimes she had wondered if the personality of this remarkable relative had not been a figment(虚构) of her father’s imagination.

But this letter of hers that now lay on the breakfast table was admirable in character. There was something of intolerance expressed in its tone. It was just like what her father had told her.

Mr. Deane came out of his past memories with a sigh.

“Yes, yes; she wants to see you, my dear,” he said. “I’ve heard she has set up a school and helped many youngsters. I think you had better accept this invitation to stay with her. If she took a fancy to you, you could get a better education…”

He sighed again, and Jessie knew that for the hundredth time he was regretting his own past weakness...

8-year-old Evan was standing by the sidewalk when he noticed Mrs. Carter opening her shop again.

85-year-old Mrs. Carter was a woman selling flowers for a living and Evan had befriended her when he helped her cross the street one day.

Now seeing her again, Evan ran up to her and greeted her. “Can I help you today, Evan? Do you want flowers?” Mrs. Carter asked. Evan smiled, “I’m looking for a job! Can you please hire me?”

“A job?” the elderly lady laughed, thinking Evan was too little for that. But Evan proudly replied he knew many things, like making sandwiches and helping his mom get grocery bags from the car. Mrs. Carter laughed and asked Evan how much money she would have to pay him if she hired him.

Evan shook his head. “All I want is a big bouquet (花束) for my mom. Her name is Stacey and her birthday is one week away. Mom says we should work hard for what we want. I want to work hard for that bouquet. Can you hire me?” Evan asked. Mrs. Carter was impressed and nodded.

Then for a whole week, Evan would come to Mrs. Carter’s store in the evenings and help her, and having Evan around relieved Mrs. Carter’s boredom while she was working. Some customers thought Evan was lovely and entertaining, so they bought more flowers. Mrs. Carter’s business became better.

A week later, on Evan’s last day on the job, Mrs. Carter was emotional. They had grown close for working together, and Evan had become like a grandchild to her. While making a huge bouquet for Evan’s mother, Mrs. Carter secretly placed one envelope into the bouquet. The envelope contained $200. When handing him the bouquet, she said, “Will you come to see me someday, Evan? I’d be delighted to have you here.”

“I will!” Evan smiled and waved goodbye to Mrs. Carter. Carrying the flowers, Evan rushed home to surprise his mom…

With disastrous global warming already part of the climate system, today’s children face a future entirely unlike that of their parents. Unsurprisingly, children can have many feelings about climate change, such as being anxious, frightened, sad and angry. In a recent survey of American teenagers, 57 percent said that climate change made them feel scared and 52 percent said it made them feel angry. 【小题1】.

The most important thing parents can give children is hope: there are solutions, and everyone has something to contribute, whatever their age. Parents can help them discover the facts, know that they are not alone and find ways to take action. 【小题2】, which will help them manage their anxiety. It can also inspire constructive conversations that lead to collective action. However, that can feel hard for many parents.

【小题3】. But learning about the basics is “a critical first step in being able to talk”, according to Harriet Shugarman, who is the author of How to Talk to Your Kids About Climate Change. She is a nationally recognized influencer and trusted advisor to parents. 【小题4】. Understanding the science equips them to make informed decisions.

Coverage includes:

·The realities of the climate emergency, where we are, and how we got here. It casts light on the historical progression of climate change.

·Strategies for talking to kids of different ages about the climate crisis. These include advice from experienced parents.

·How to keep our own hope and that of our children.

·A list of practical actions. 【小题5】.