My best friend Carla Hernandez called me on Thursday afternoon. She asked me to meet her in the park near the playground five minutes later. She said she had a great idea! This worried me because Carla’s great ideas almost always meant big trouble for me!

I rushed outside and jogged to the park. When I saw Carla, my heart sank because her huge dog Perro was with her. I liked everything about Carla except Perro. I’d never had a pet, so I felt uncomfortable and nervous around animals. I was embarrassed to say that I was afraid of Carla’s dog. Carla smiled. “Isn’t this the perfect location for a pet show?” she asked. “All the kids in the neighborhood can show off their pets’ talents and demonstrate the things they do well. There are plenty of comfortable benches (长椅) for our parents and friends to sit on. And since you don’t have a pet to enter into the show, you will be the announcer.”

“I’m sorry,” I apologized, “but that’s impossible! Crowds made me nervous and unsure. Besides, I didn’t like animals, remember?” “That’s nonsense,” said Carla. “There’s nothing to be concerned about because you’ll be great!” Carla encouraged me to be brave and confident. But just then, Perro leaped up, slobbered all over (毫不掩饰地表示喜爱) me, and almost knock me down. “Down, Perro! Stay!” I shouted. Perro sat as still as a statue. “Wow, you’re good at that,” said Carla. She thought I was talented at giving orders to pets, and asked me to get started with her immediately because we would have a lot to do.

By Saturday morning I had practiced announcing each pet’s act a hundred times. I felt my heart pounding by the time the audience arrived. The size of the crowd made me feel even more anxious. When the show began, I announced the first pet, nervously. It was a bird named Butter whose talent was walking back and forth on a wire. When Butter finished, everyone clapped and cheered. So far, everything was perfect.

I was beginning to feel calmer and more relaxed.

This was a disaster, and I had to do something.

Shanti wanted the wooden doll in Ramu’s toy shop and told her best friend, Jodi about it. Jodi wondered if she could afford it.

Shanti smiled. “I asked my mom if I could make jasmine garlands（花环） and sell them at my aunt’s stand in the market.” Jodi thought it was a good idea.

Early the next morning, the girls met at the jasmine bushes outside Shanti’s house. Delicate white flowers surrounded them with fresh scent. They picked blossoms with their fingers and then sat under a mango tree, tying up the flowers into garlands. Shanti could already see herself hugging that beautiful doll.

“If we sell enough garlands, we can each get a doll.” said Shanti.

Jodi shook her head. Her family was low on money that week. She had to use her money to pay for Kiran’s medicine. Kiran was Jodi’s little brother. Then Jodi picked up her garlands.“My mother is expecting me. I’ll meet you at the market.”

Shanti spent the afternoon selling garlands alone. By early evening, Shanti had sold all her flowers.

On the way home, Shanti saw Jodi heading to the market with her garlands. She was late because she had to watch Kiran while her mother was away.

“Why didn’t you take him with you?” Shanti said.

Jodi shook her head. “He’s too sick to go out. He coughs and coughs.”

Shanti knew Jodi wouldn’t make enough money for the medicine now.The market would be closing soon.

Shanti looked at the purse tightly held in her hand. It was supposed to be for the beautiful doll she’d been dreaming of for long. Then she looked at her friend’s tired face. “Here. Keep this for the medicine.”

That night Shanti cried, thinking about the doll. What if someone bought it before she’d saved up enough again?

The next week, while Shanti and Jodi gathered blossoms, Kiran came, too.

Mom comforted Shanti with hugs, and then handed her a filled package wrapped in paper.

Jane was waiting in the corridor outside her class. She had two exams that day and physics was the first. She really hated physics. Her friend Terry looked at her from the front of the line, and then looked away quickly. Jane thought she looked guilty. She didn’t have a problem with physics. She didn’t have a problem with anything… Miss Perfect!

“Hi, Jane, it’s your favorite exam today,” said Maya, laughing as she joined the line. Terry was looking at Jane again. “So what’s wrong with her?” asked Maya. “I thought you were friends.” “Yes, so did I,” said Jane. “but she hasn’t spoken to me for two weeks now. She promised to help me review for the physics exam too, but then she ignored all my calls and texts. She seemed to have forgotten who her friends are!” said Jane angrily. “Are you listening to me?” Mr. Richard was talking to the class and the other students were going into the exam room. Jane gave Maya a worried look and followed them.

Jane couldn’t answer question number five. She looked up and saw Terry sitting two rows in front of her. Jane couldn’t believe it! Terry was holding her phone on her knee under the table and reading from it. Is that how Terry always got such good grades? She felt really angry at Terry, but she didn’t know what to do. She thought about telling the teacher, but what would everyone else think of her? “Stop writing and put your pens down,” said Mr. Richard as he started as he started to collect the exam papers.

Jane wanted to talk to Terry at lunch time, but she couldn’t find her anywhere. The next exam was history. That was Jane’s favorite subject but she wasn’t feeling good. She didn’t know what to do about Terry. “It wasn’t fair!” she thought. “Terry was getting good grades by cheating all the time.” thought Jane. Just then, Mr. Richard walked past her table. “Mr. Richard…”

Jane was sitting behind Tom again in the history exam that afternoon.

Jane was walking towards the school gate, when she heard footsteps behind her.