Two weeks before the Spring Festival, I lost my job.
As a single parent, my paycheck was survival. I did everything I could to give my daughter Kristil a good life, but there were some things my love couldn’t fix. The next day as we did Spring Festival shopping, I struggled to be cheerful as I eyed the prices.
Monday morning, I set off on my moneymaking pursuits. First, I headed to the pawnshop (当铺) to sell a ring that my mother had given me a decade earlier. Next was the antiques store. I sold six Precious Moments statues for $150.
On day back home, I felt as if the world was closing in on me. Then the doorbell rang. It was my old professor, Esther Heffernan. “I tried to call but couldn’t get through. Then I called your job and they said you weren’t working there anymore, so I thought I would come by, ” She said. “I have gifts for you and Kristil.” Then she kissed me on the cheek. I walked her to her car and waved as she left.
I hadn’t seen her since we’d met for lunch two months ago. I’d first met Esther 10 years earlier, when I was her student at College. Kristil was 3 at the time, and I sometimes took her to class. Esther was always understanding and would bring coloring books to occupy Kristil.
When I opened her card, I gasped in shock. Hundred-dollar bills inside. Tears of gratitude welled up in my eyes. Esther had given me $1,000.
It has been 14 years since that day, but I’ve never forgotten what Esther did for us. In 2020, at age 91, Esther died, but the love she gave during her life lives on in the hearts of many. I am lucky to be one of them.
【小题1】What did the author do to make money?| A．She did several part-time jobs. |
| B．She asked Professor Esther for help. |
| C．She sold some of her valuable stuff. |
| D．She borrowed money from her classmates. |
| A．Defensive. |
| B．Tolerant. |
| C．Grateful. |
| D．Uncaring. |
| A．She got financial support from her family. |
| B．She got some heIp from Esther at college. |
| C．She got divorced and became a single parent. |
| D．She was an excellent student in Esther’s class. |
| A．Never Lose Jobs Before the New Year: |
| B．Get in Touch with Your Old Friends. |
| C．Lend a Hand to Unemployed People. |
| D．Kindness Came to a Single Parent. |
