Eduardo reached into his backpack, searching for his cell phone. He was scared of having to spend the spring break at Aunt Letty’s farm. Although he had protested, his parents decided that spending time on the farm would be a great experience for him. They grew up on a farm and believed that responsibility, hard work and respect for the land were valuable lessons.

“So, have you ever ridden a horse?” Aunt Letty asked, trying to turn his attention away from his phone. “Hmmm, no.” he answered. “Well, we’ve got a nice calm horse I think you will like. Hercules----sounds like a beast, but he’s basically a gentle giant-big but kindhearted!” she said, smiling. Eduardo glanced at his aunt, annoyed that he was expected to work. He tried to text a friend, but there was no cell reception.

The next two days were busy. The crow of the roosters woke them up, and they had breakfast before dawn. Then they went out to the barn to get the feed while animals waited to be fed. The afternoons were filled with transporting hay, cleanup, and caring for the animals. At dusk, when the farm was finally quiet, Aunt Letty stretched her arms out and breathed. “Just take a deep breath of that sweet country air!” Eduardo, exhausted from the chores, was unable to appreciate his work.

On the fourth day, without warning, Aunt Letty announced, “It’s time to meet Hercules.” She led him into the stable (马厩). Aunt Letty was right. Hercules was remarkable.

Aunt Letty held her hand open for Eduardo to take. Unwillingly, he let her guide his hand toward Hercules and allowed the magnificent creature to sniff his palm. Softly, Hercules rubbed his nose and mouth against him.

“It feels like velvet (天鹅绒)!” Eduardo beamed. An hour later, he couldn’t help scratching Hercules on his neck and offering him carrots. Magically, a bond between them formed. That night, as they headed toward the house, Eduardo was inspired. His arms spreading wide, he inhaled and said, “Take a breath of that sweet country air!”

One morning, Eduardo found Aunt Letty riding the horse Hercules.

Soon, Eduardo’s spring break came to an end.

It was in New Hampshire. Cody was an 11-year-old boy. Just like other boys, he enjoyed running around the lake, and sometimes picked yellow daisies for his mother’s kitchen table along the paths. But the thing he liked best was fishing. He went fishing whenever he had got a chance and he was proud of his fishing skills.

On the day before that year’s bass (巴斯鱼) season opened, he and his father were fishing early in the evening, catching sunfish and perch(河鲈) with worms. Then he tied on a small silver lure (鱼饵) and practised casting. The lure hit the water, stirring up coloured ripples in the sunset, and then silver ripples as the moon rose over the lake. It was an unusually quiet evening The gentle wind from the lake was so refreshing.

After what seemed a long time, Cody noticed his fishing pole (鱼竿) doubled over, and he knew at once that something huge was on the other end. His father watched with admiration as the boy skillfully brought the fish beside the bank.

Finally, he very carefully lifted the exhausted fish from the water. It was the largest one he had ever seen, but it was a bass.

The boy and his father looked at the handsome fish, gills (鳃) playing back and forth in the moonlight. The father lit a match and looked at his watch. It was 10 pm—two hours before the season opened. He looked at the bass, then at Cody.

“You’ll have to put the fish back, son,” he said.

“Dad!” cried the boy.

“There will be other fish,” said his father gently but firmly.

“Not as big as this one,” cried the boy again.

Cody looked around and saw no one fishing around the lake.

It was one of the hottest days of the dry season. We had not seen rain in almost a month. The crops were dying. Cows had stopped giving milk. The streams were long gone back into the earth. If we didn’t see some rain soon we would lose everything.

I was in the kitchen making lunch for the family when I saw my six-year-old son, Billy, walking towards the woods. I could only see his back. He wasn’t walking in his usual way. He was obviously walking with a great effort, trying to be as still as possible. Minutes after he disappeared into the woods, he came running out again, towards the house.

Moments later, however, he was once again walking in that slow and purposeful step towards the woods. This activity went on for over an hour: walking cautiously to the woods, then running back to the house. Finally, my curiosity got the best of me. I crept out of the house and followed him on his journey.

He was cupping both hands in front of him as he walked; being very careful not to spill the water he carried. Branches and thorns slapped(拍打) his little face but he did not try to avoid them. He had a much greater purpose. As I leant against a tree to spy on him, I saw the most amazing site.

Several large deer appeared threatening in front of him. But Billy walked right up to them. I almost screamed for him to get away. And I saw a baby deer laying on the ground, obviously suffering from heavy loss of water and heat exhaustion, lift its head with great effort to lap(舔着喝) the water cupped in my beautiful boy’s hand.

When the water was gone, Billy jumped up to run back to the house.

And later I knew what was going on.

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