I knew it was going to be a bad fireworks season this year when I saw so many different tents selling them to the public. I was right. The bangs and booms (噼啪声) started before the first of January and lasted way past the fourth. I have never been a big fan of fireworks since I was a boy. It was then that a local fair set off a huge show near our house and I saw how the noise terrified our dogs. I sat on the floor with them during the whole show, holding their shaking bodies.

I know a lot of people enjoy the colorful light shows the fireworks can put on at times. They can be bright and beautiful. Still, I find that I prefer the gentler lights of summer to these noisy ones. I love seeing the moon rising above the hills in the evening. Its gentle, smiling face always reminds me that someone loves me and is watching over me from above.

The shinning stars also always look so heavenly and wonderful when you take the time to look up into the skies and watch them shine. I also love the beautiful, blinking (眨眼的) lights of the fireflies this time of the year. Seeing their lovely, little lights as they fly around always fills my heart with light and delight as well. It warms my soul and reminds me of what a perfect world we live in.

I think we all might do better to grow the gentler lights within ourselves. Our society seems to praise and admire those who come off as booming and brash (自以为是的).

Mr. Black and Mr. White were two very famous artists in the city. Their drawings were also very popular in the city. But they tried to see who could draw the best picture.

One day they asked an old man to be the judge. Mr. Black drew an apple tree. He put his picture in the field. Soon the birds came and tried to eat the apples. The old man saw it and said, “You have certainly won. Mr. White cannot draw so good a picture as yours. But we will go to see his picture.”

They went to Mr. White’s house. There were nothing but red beautiful curtains on the wall. The old man asked, “Where is your picture, Mr. White?” He said, “Lift the curtains, and you will find my picture.” The old man tried to lift the curtains but found that they were drawn there. They were Mr. White’s picture. The old man said, “Birds thought the apples were real. Men thought the curtains were real. So Mr. White won. His picture is the best one.”

Where to put your trust “Why did she spill the beans (泄露秘密)?” I thought regretfully. I’ll always remember that day, when I was so surprised by all the strange looks everyone was giving me. Those thoughts will always stay with me. And I couldn’t believe I would lose the friendship of the person I trusted the most.

Five years back, Sally was the new kid in class. I don’t know what it was, but something unique about her drew me to her. She was the friendliest person I knew. We started as classmates, but after a few months, we were like best friends. So, I never expected her to hurt me in such a big way.

I don’t know what made me tell Sally about my personal life. She made the matter bigger than it was, adding her own spin (倾向性描述) on it and telling everyone at school. It was like someone had stabbed (刺) me in the back. After she gave away my secrets, everyone at school started laughing at me, looking at me and giggling (咯咯地笑) whenever I passed by. After this terrible situation, I changed schools. Sally called me many times, but I didn’t answer. My heart was broken.

I tried hard to heal (治愈) from the scars she left on my heart. I started a new life. After five years, my life went back to the way it was, with new friends. But one day, I met Anna at the market. She was my classmate from 3rd grade. She told me that Sally wasn’t the one who brought my secrets to light. Mary was. Mary was our school’s big mouth who always wanted to stick her nose into other people’s business.

I was at a loss. I wished I could have asked Sally about this. I wished I could go back in time and fix my mistakes. From that, I learned a life lesson that we should trust those we love because one little mistake could really damage our lives.

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Where to put your trust I told Sally, my best friend, about my personal ______ . I felt ______ to have a best friend. Other students ______ at me and giggled whenever I passed by. I ______ school and cut off contact with Sally. I was surprised and disappointed. My heart felt ______ and I was hurt. I tried to ______ from the scars left by Sally and started a new life. I moved on from the ______ of the past I met my classmate from 3rd grade. She told me that it was actually Mary, not Sally, who had ______ my secrets to light. I realized I had misunderstood Sally. I wished I could go back in time and ______ my mistakes. I felt ______ . I learned the importance of trust and realized that one mistake can have a big influence on our lives and relationship.