Bill grew up poor and worked hard over the years. Eventually, he created his own repair company and made a fortune. Though rich, he treated people kindly and would handle matters on his own. He had already joined his work team many times to repair water pipes, so he was also an expert when it came to repair work.

One day, he had just finished a meeting at the office and was about to go to lunch when he received a call from a woman saying that the water pipe in her house was broken and needed urgent repair. However, all the repair employees were sent out. He decided to take on the job himself. After changing into his repair clothes, Bill hurriedly drove to where the woman lived.

On the way, he came across a snack bar. Hungry, he decided to buy something to eat. Unfortunately, the line was too long and he was stuck in the long queue. He had no other choice but to wait patiently. Finally, it was Bill’s turn. Meanwhile a lot of people in line behind him were waiting anxiously Just then, a flamboyantly(华丽地) dressed lady suddenly appeared and intervened before Bill. Bill smiled and said, “Sorry, ma’am, you’re jumping in line.” The lady looked at Bill with an arrogant(傲慢的) attitude saying, “So what? I’m in a hurry.” Bill gently replied, “I’m in a hurry too.” The lady looked at the plainly dressed Bill and said angrily, “My time is more valuable than yours. You just have to be patient.” Hearing the lady’s rude words, Bill told her politely that he had a job on the clock and couldn’t waste any more time. But the lady yelled, “You can wait. Besides, your job doesn’t look very important!”, surveying Bill from head to toe,

Frustrated, Bill stopped talking.

To Bill’s surprise, the lady who had cut in line opened the door for him.

I'm Marcus, and I love to play video games. So much that my mom thinks I'm hooked on them. She might be right. I do spend a lot of time playing them. “Marcus, will you feed Patches, please?” That's my mom, and Patches is my dog. I'm right in the middle of this awesome game where I have to find my way through an Egyptian pyramid, and then I'll feed Patches.

“Just list a minute, Mom.”

“All right, but don't forget I need to get the casserole out of the oven for lunch,” Mom says.

This game is really difficult. I'll try getting to the amulet from the sphinx one more time. Then Fil feed my favorite pet. Forty-five minutes and several tries later, I hear Mom again.

“Marcus, time to eat.”

I go to the table, and Mom asks if I feed Patches. I'm in big trouble. I got so into my game that I forgot about my dog. I bet Patches is starving by now. I know I am.

“Mom, I forgot, I'll feed her now.”

I go to the back yard to bring Patches in, but I can't find her. She’s not lying under her favorite shade tree. She's not watching our neighbors walk by through the gate.

Wait, the gate's open. Oh no! Patches is gone, lost, and nowhere to be found. I must have left the gate unlatched when I took her out this morning. I'm in even bigger trouble now.

“Mom, Patches isn't in the yard. I think I might have left the gate open this morning. I think she escaped.” “She's not there? Marcus, this is bad news.” Mom says, “very bad news.” I know she's right, but I'm torn between being excited about beating the sphinx and sad about Patches being gone. I hear Mom making telephone calls trying to locate Patches. From what I can hear, it sounds like no one has seen her, and I'm worried. I know what I'll do—I'll make signs so people can contact us if they see Patches. Then I'll go look for her.

Mom helps me make signs even though she's still disappointed in me.

I'm happy Patches is safe.

My cousin Isaiah and I went fishing on the lake. Midweek, no one was around here. The nearby protected wetlands ran along the shore. Songbirds, ducks, and Canada geese slid by on the breeze, touching down briefly on the water’s surface before flapping (拍打)and quacking their way back up into the sky.

Standing at the lake’s edge, I cast my fishing line onto the smooth-as-glass water. Down the shoreline was Isaiah, who liked to fish alone, away from noise and other people.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of a few great northern loons (潜鸟) crowded together not far from the shoreline. Loons usually travel alone, but here were five of them in a group. One loon, making painful sounds, swam away from the group, toward me. It seemed like it was trying to get my attention.

”Isaiah! Come here!” Isaiah pressed his finger against his lips, pointed to where he had cast his line, and shook his head gently.

“Just get over here. Now!” I yelled.

He laid his fishing pole down and dragged his feet, moving toward me at a snail’s pace.

“Come here!” I yelled again. “Take a look at that loon. It keeps getting closer and closer!”

On hearing this, Isaiah fastened his pace.

The loon stopped in the shallow water near shore, not ten feet away from us. It was so close that we could see its red eyes. Oddly, the bird’s wings were held tight against its spotted black-and-white body. Though scared of its sharp beak (喙), we stepped into the water cautiously. As we approached the loon, we both saw something around its neck. Reaching down, I touched its head, my heart racing. I could see there was a shiny red-hook deeply stuck in its body, and fishing line was wrapped tightly around its neck. Left like this, the loon couldn’t fly or fish or survive. It was asking us to help!

Isaiah rushed to grab the scissors from the toolbox and came back.

With a sigh of relief, I set the loon down on the water.