Becky had everything Sarah wanted: a pool in her backyard, popularity, and new clothes. Worse, it seemed (at least to Sarah) that Becky had the Midas touch. Everything she touched turned to gold. She won the class lottery and with it $50! She won every race she entered, every art competition, and every award the school offered. She had all the luck in the world.

Sarah was an only child. She wore hand-me-downs from her older cousin Clementine. She didn't have many friends. Her best friend Kiara was really the best in a lot of ways: kind,generous, and loyal. Just the kind of person you would want for a best friend. But Sarah most certainly did not have good luck. She never won anything. On the days she carried an umbrella, it never rained; on the days she forgot her umbrella, dark ruin clouds seemed to follow her around.

One rainy day in April, though, Sarah and Becky swapped luck. That's how Sarah thought of it anyway. It wasn't expected, and it certainly wasn't planned. But after weeks of wishing for it, Sarah woke up and things felt different. She felt lucky.

She rolled out of bed and noticed a small package on her desk. She opened it: it was a brand new dress, the same one she had been eyeing for weeks. Mom!" she called. Did you get me this dress?”

“It's from your grandmother.” her mother called back," Early birthday gift!”

Sarah shrugged. Her birthday wasn’t until August..

And it didn’t stop there. On the school bus, Carlos, the most popular boy in school, saved her a seat. Then Mrs. Nelson picked her—yes, her!-- to take care of the class rabbit over the weekend. But the best part of the day was art class. Mr. Rodriguez, her art teacher, walked around the room slowly. Sarah hadn't spent much time on her project. But it was still pretty, still unique. Mr. Rodriguez walked past Becky's art project and didn't even pause. Becky looked devastated. Her hair was still wet from that morning's rain. She had forgotten to bring an umbrella.

“Well, class!” Mr. Rodriguez said." I think our winner for this month is Sarah! Excellent work, Sarah--this shows a lot of progress!"

Sarah smiled proudly, “Guess you have some competition," she whispered to Becky.

Sarah was on top of the world. Today, she felt like a better-than-average fourth grader, possibly the best fourth grader who had ever existed. She wondered what was next.

Becky, she noticed had spent most of the day sulking(生闷气的)."Let someone else have a shot at being lucky for once," Sarah thought to herself. Then she noticed that Becky was crying. Small tears dropped down onto her t-shirts.

“What’s wrong?” Sarah asked.

“I just spent a lot of time on that project," Becky said between hiccupped sobs.

Sarah was beginning to feel awful: After all she hadn’t spent much time on her project at all.

Then she felt Kiara tap on her shoulder. “You know, Sarah,” Kiara started. She looked angry and hurt at the same time. “You haven’t been very nice today. You’ve been acting like…like you’re the best person in the world,” She shook her head. “This isn’t just like you at all.”

Now Sarah felt even worse. It was one thing to have the class pet dislike you, but another thing entirely to disappoint you best friend, “I’m sorry, Kiara,” she said. “It’s just been a weird day.”

She walked over to Becky and gave her a hug. “Don’t worry,” she whispered, “your luck will change soon enough.” Luck, Sarah was beginning to think, was overrated.

How to make friends

Friendship is a very important human relationship and everyone needs good friends. Good friendship has many benefits. It offers companionship, improves self-worth and promotes good health. There are times in our lives such as when we have recently moved into a new town, or changed our jobs or schools. Such changes often leave us without a friends. 【小题1】 But for many of us the process is difficult and requires courage. Below are some helpful suggestions on how to make and keep friends.

The first step to make friends is associating with other people. You can go to public places to meet new people. Besides, you will need to make yourself known by becoming an active member of such places.

Starting a conversation is the second most important step in making new friends. 【小题2】 You can always start the conversation. Being able to make small talk is a very useful skill in relating with other people.

Choosing friends with common interests is important in building friendship as these interests would always bring you and your friend together. Hanging out will always be a pleasant experience.

It is a good thing to stay in touch. However, try not to press your new friend with calls, messages or visits as this would likely wear him or her out and finally you may lose your friend. 【小题4】 The best friendships are the ones that grow naturally.

The best way to enjoy friendship is to allow your friends to be themselves. 【小题5】 Try not to change them from who they are to what you want them to be. Become the kind of friend you will want your friends to be to you.

Have you ever noticed that when your friend likes something, you like it，too. It's the situation of "Love me, love my dog.” 【小题1】 A new study has found that friends can affect each other in both positive and negative ways.

Smoking can be influential among friends. 15 years ago, it seemed that everyone I knew smoked. 【小题2】 Smoking is forbidden in offices, restaurants, and other public places. Smokers and nonsmokers don't hang out with each other as much. So, if you're a smoker, keep in mind that if you quit, yo your friends are likely to follow suit. And if you don't smoke, be nice to that guy in the office smoking outside. Maybe you can pass your healthy habit to him.

Donation can be affected by friends.【小题3】 In one Stanford study of a corporate donation program to the United Way, people gave more money when their desks were closer to those of bigger donors. And now, the new study shows how being generous to good friends can set off a domino(多米诺) effect.

【小题4】 Experts have found that having a first-degree friend who is happy increases your possibility of happiness by 15 percent. If that friend lives less than a mile away, the effect goes up to 25 percent. When you have a third-degree friend who is happy, your possibility of being happy increases by a larger percent.【小题5】