One day last December, Flores Gonzalez, the mother of a four-year old girl Luna, came up with the idea of having the girl send a letter to Santa by balloon, saying that Santa would grab the balloon while he flew through the air on his sled.

The girl was excited. Flores helped her compose the letter, writing down all the things she dreamed Santa might bring her, and then put the notes into festive red balloons. Flores then took her outside to release the wish to the universe. “Bye, balloon!” the girl called waving as the balloon floated away, sailing above the trees and into the sky.

Some days later, Alvin Bamburg, 66, was deep in the woods in Grand Cane, Louisiana when something drew his attention. Caught in a fallen tree, it looked like litter. But Bamburg couldn’t help picking it up. “God just told me” he said.

As Bamburg approached, he saw that the object was a broken balloon. Attached was a piece of paper decorated with sparkly star stickers. It was a child’s Christmas wish list.

“Dear Santa” the handwritten note read. “My name is Luna. I am four years old. I live in Liberal, Kansas. This year I have been nice. I would like candy, Spider-Man ball, Frozen doll, puppy, My Little Pony. With love Luna.”

Bamburg’s heart pounded in his chest. Ever since he was a child, he had dreamed of this very scene. “Years ago,” he says,“classes at school released balloons with notes. I’ve always wanted to find one.” He believed this was his childhood wish coming true. And he knew he was going to make Luna’s wish come true too. He just wasn’t sure how. Liberal, Kansas, is more than 350 miles from Grand Cane, Louisiana. But Bamburg’s wife, Lee Ann, was not discouraged by the distance. As a keen Internet user, she had seen other people find all sorts of connections on the Internet and thought it might help her husband find Luna.

Alvin also thought it was a good idea.

Several days later, the couple got out of the car with presents in front of the girl’s house.

Wednesday morning came. Anne got up at sunrise because she was too excited to sleep. She planned to make a cake for Mrs Allan, the best teacher she had ever met, who was invited over for a tea party. When she finally shut the oven door, she took a long breath.

“I'm sure I haven't forgotten anything this time, Marilla . But do you think it will rise? What if that cake doesn't rise?”

“We'll have plenty without it,”was Marilla’s uninterested way of looking at the subject.

The cake did rise, however, and came out of the oven looking perfect. Anne was red-faced with delight and, in imagination, saw Mrs Allan eating it and possibly asking for another piece!

Mrs Allan arrived and they all enjoyed a lovely tea. Everything went well until Anne's cake was passed. Mrs Allan, having already been helped to a lot of desserts, declined it. But Marilla, seeing the disappointment on Anne's face, said smilingly:“Oh, you must take a piece, Mrs Allan. Anne made it specially for you, expecting that you would love it.”

“In that case I must try it,”laughed Mrs Allan. She took a mouthful and a strange expression crossed her face; not a word did she say, however, but continued eating. Marilla saw this and hastened (急忙) to taste the cake. “Anne Shirley!” she shouted, “what on earth did you put into that cake? What flavoring did you use?” “Vanilla (香草精)，only vanilla.”said Anne.

“Go and bring me the bottle of vanilla you used.”

Anne returned with a small bottle and Marilla took it and smelled it.

“Mercy on us, Anne, you've flavored that cake with ANODYNE LINIMENT (镇痛剂). Why couldn't you have smelled it?”

Ashamed of her mistake, Anne burst into tears and fled to her room.

I was born in a small town, and was well fed by my parents. Every day my father worked long hours in a glass factory, so that my family could live comfortably.

However, my father could not earn much money to meet all household expenses. I, who dreamed of becoming a doctor, was just a student of average academic achievement in school, for which I could not get my favorite course to study. Instead, I joined a bachelor’s degree course, completed it, and eventually got a job in a company.

While my life was going on with no dramatic change, my father continued to work in the factory, so that he did not have to depend on me. After one year of work, at my parents’ request I got married to a girl from a neighbouring town, and at the same time got a promotion in my job. In the years that followed, my wife gave birth to three kids and we had a happy family.

However, when I began to earn a handsome salary, I also started to live luxuriously (奢侈地), spending money like water. As a consequence, I was neither able to manage all the household expenses, nor pay for the children’s education and other basic necessities.

It so happened that my father fell sick, and as a result, could not continue his work in the factory. He came to the company where I worked and requested me to give some money for his treatment. I, who was now trapped in financial trouble. shouted at him, complaining, “You never gave me what I needed and wanted, and it took me more than 10 years to get settled. Now, while I am again struggling for money, you are not doing anything to help me, but instead are a burden to me! So, please don’t come to me again.” Hearing these words, my father left sadly.