I didn’t question Timmy, aged nine, or his seven year-old brother Billy about the brown wrapping (包装) paper they passed back and forth between them as we visited each store.

Every year at Christmas time, our Service Club takes the children from poor families in our town on a shopping tour. I chose Timmy and Billy, whose father was out of work. Their mother was still in poor condition. Besides, they also had two younger sisters to care for. They lived a hard life.

After giving them the allotted (指定的) four dollars each. I began the shopping trip with the two boys. One store after another, they could find their desired gifts. At different stores. I made suggestions on what they should buy, but always their answer was a polite shake of the head, no. Finally I asked, “Where would you suggest we look? What on earth do you want to buy for this Christmas?”

“Could we go to a shoe store, sir?” asked Timmy, I felt confused about his question, so I asked why.

Timmy replied, “We’d like to buy a pair of shoes for our Daddy so that he can go to work.”

In the shoe store, the shopkeeper asked what the boys wanted. Out came the brown paper. “We want a pair of work shoes to fit this foot,” they said.

Billy explained that it was their Daddy’s footprint. They had drawn it while he was asleep in a chair. The shopkeeper held the paper against a measuring(测量的)stick, and then walked away. Soon he came with an open box. “Will these do?” he asked.

Timmy and Billy held the shoes with great expectation. “How much do they cost?” asked Billy.

Then Timmy saw the price on the box. “They’re $16.95,” he said, feeling downhearted. “But we only have eight dollars. It is far from enough to buy them for our Daddy. What should we do? If only we could get a discount (折扣)!”

At that moment, I looked at the shopkeeper and asked, “Can you give us a discount?”

The boys went back home with the shoes happily.

I will never forget what happened when I was at the age of 10. It was one week before Children’s Day. I was looking forward to my gifts. Given the fact that I was the youngest in my family, the other members would like to give me a different gift. Whatever the gift was, I was always more than glad to accept them. Undoubtedly, I was being taken care of. Naturally, it was feeling so good.

In most cases, my uncles would ask me smilingly what I desired before Children’s Day and that year I was eagerly waiting to be asked. What a beautiful spaceship it was! That flashed across my eyes when I opened a big gift box. However, it greeted me against my expectation that year.

It was exactly one week before Children’s Day. Just one week, she could hardly wait. My dear mother told my father she, my future-to-be little sister, would come to the world. Immediately, we went to the hospital. After an hour, they told me that I had the little sister. I didn’t want her but I wanted a spaceship. The days that followed went so fast. No one was taking care of me. Everyone was talking about her. My life would go off the beaten track. I had no intention of being a big brother. But it just happened in an instant.

On the day before Children’s Day, everyone in my home was paying closer and closer attention to my newborn sister. My family was becoming hers. Even my uncles asked me nothing about the gift again. She stole everything I’d ever had. My life and presents were completely spoiled. On thinking of this, I couldn’t help crying in the middle night sleep. Suddenly, I had a nightmare and was startled (吓一跳) awake. Shadows being all around me, I was defenseless and helpless. I rushed into my parents’ bedroom but they were sleeping so soundly that I couldn’t wake them up. They were just stressed out and worn out. Standing near their bed, I tried not to cry when I saw her. She was wide awake, looking at me with her big eyes twinkling in her small bed.

All of a sudden, a slim shadow danced in the bedroom, startling her.

Having comforted her, I felt some change slowly happened to me.

6-year-old Quinn Hill became her family’s hero when she took immediate action during an emergency that saved her mother’s life with the help of her neighbor, Mrs. Smith.

Jennifer, a 39-year-old single mother, began the day by sending her child, Hill, to school. Having no idea what would happen, Jennifer was filled with anxiety. After all, it was the first day of a new school year for Hill, a fresh start! On the way school. she repeatedly reminded Hill to solve problems positively and fit in. Though worried, Jennifer had to wave goodbye to her daughter, watching her towards the school gate.

The whole day was packed with housework. Jennifer tidied the house, washed clothes, and prepared for the evening meal. As the school bell rang, signaling the end of the day, Jennifer picked Hill up from school. On seeing Jennifer, Hill couldn’t wait to hug her, sharing the school experiences. Chatting and laughing accompanied them all the way. Hill’s innocent laughter was like Jennifer’s ray of sunshine.   

Approaching home, they encountered Mrs. Smith, a most kind and thoughtful housewife living in their neighborhood for many years. Mrs. Smith often invited Jennifer and Hill to her home and shared her homemade desserts and cookies. The two families developed a close relationship and Hill liked to stay with Mrs. Smith, who always brightened her days with willingness and timely help. After exchanging greetings, they went back to their own homes.

On arriving home, Jennifer set out to prepare dinner. As the sun began to set, the house was full of a pleasant smell of cooking food. Jennifer and Hill sat at the kitchen table when Jennifer suddenly began to seize. She was sitting in a chair, looking up at the ceiling. and experiencing abnormal breathing. She then fell out of the chair onto her left side, her hands balled into fists, and her body was shaking violently. Her eyes were open, and Hill kept calling “Mommy, Mommy”, but she could not respond.