Chris and Paul were good friends and on the same school basketball team, The Lions. They loved basketball very much and were both huge fans of the NBA. After school, when they weren’t playing on the court which was next to their building, they were watching a basketball game on TV. Chris’s favourite player was LeBron James. Paul’s favourite player was Tyrone Bogues, although they actually agreed that they were both champions.

Bogues was only 1.6 metres tall, which made him the shortest player ever in the NBA. Guess what? Paul was only 1.6 metres tall, too! Paul knew that being shorter than other players meant that he had to practise more. He did not miss a single practice and participated in every training. During all those hours of doing jump shots on his own, he used Bogues as his inspiration. Paul once said firmly, “If Bogues could make it, why not me?”

Their coach was not so sure. Paul had to try out many times just for making the team. He was still usually on the bench, being just a replacement, which was really tough on him. Everyone knew Paul had real skills, and was someone who worked really hard and had a strong desire to play for the team. Chris always comforted him and encouraged him, telling him not to give up. However, Paul didn’t get a chance.

This week, The Lions were playing against their main competitors, The Bears, a team whose record this season had been perfect. They hadn’t lost a single game. It would be a tough one.

Everyone of the Lions played to the best of their abilities. Suddenly, a player and Chris crashed into each other. Pain raced through Chirs’s body. His knee hurt badly. The team gathered around, looking worried. The last quarter was about to begin, and The Lions was behind by 10 points.

“You can’t play anymore,” the doctor said, putting an ice pack on Chris’s knee.

The coach agreed, “Paul, it’s your time to shine.”

Jasmine lived on a small farm with her parents and her sister Grace. They were poor and made a living selling animals, but they treated the creatures very kindly. Jasmine was quite a help to her parents. She loved riding horses and caring for them. Of all the horses, Madeline was her favorite. She was a white horse with beautiful locks of golden hair. She was the swiftest horse in the stable. Jasmine always dreamt of riding Madeline in a race and winning it.

Whenever Jasmine had time, she went to check on Madeline and take care of her.

On the day of the race, Jasmine headed to the race course with Madeline.

It was the last game of the season between the yellow team and the blue team. Cali had been playing soccer all summer. She really enjoyed running around with the other players in her bright blue uniform, kicking the black and white ball across the grassy field. Much though Cali tried, she still had not scored one single goal.

“Don’t give up,” said her coach. Before each game, he showed Cali and her team how to pass the ball to each other and take shots at the goal. Cali was pretty good at passing the ball, but she couldn’t kick the ball past the goalkeeper. She wondered if she should give up soccer forever.

“Don’t give up,” said her teammates. Some had been playing soccer for a couple of years, and some were new to the game just like her. “You just need to keep trying and you will get better.” So Cali stayed on the team and did her best.

“Don’t give up,” said Aunt Lisa. But it was half-time, and Cali was feeling frustrated (泄气的). She had been trying! Every time she got a chance to kick the ball, it would go in the wrong direction or a player from the other team would take control of it.

The break was over and the referee (裁判员) asked the players to start the game again.

She was woken from her daydream by some music that was definitely not hip-hop.