“Supermarket girl” wasn’t her name. It was the way I’d always________ the numbers of random people who weren’t friends or family in my phone.

I met “supermarket girl” while shopping for groceries. We________ numbers and promised to meet up, but I walked away knowing we probably never would. This is Japan. The________work culture demands that I leave my day job at 5: 00 P. M. and________to my evening and weekend part-time job by 6: 00 P. M. Sparing________ to meet and greet was a concept I’d given up on.

Every day felt like an eternity (漫长时间). The supermarket became my________. That’s where I ran into her again: supermarket girl. This time, I learned her name: Julia. She explained that she felt________ too. So we made a date to go for a Saturday morning walk together. That’s how it started.

Ten kilometers to the nearest recycle shop. We talked about the stress that comes with settling in a foreign land: the differences in culture, the language________. We talked about how we always felt like the odd one out, an outsider. Oftentimes, we felt that we didn’t________there.

Eight kilometers to Costco. This time, we bonded over the main thing we had in common:________that come with being a woman. She shared that her insecurities kept layers of sadness beneath her________of happiness. I gave her a glimpse into what was happening behind my surface as well.

Every single Saturday, rain or sun, we were ________ to our tradition, never missing an outing. Walking outdoors gave us the beautiful simplicity of human________. I was able to open up to someone who________my experience. I’m proud of us. Instead of________ in despair, we took control.

It was cold that day but Chelsea was very happy. She and her mom went to visit ________. “Mum, can we walk a little ________?” she begged. “what’s the hurry?” Mum replied. “Today is Cookie Day!” she said. “Grandma ________ me!” “What do you mean?” asked Mum. “Who will eat all those cookies?” she said.

Mum smiled as she ________ growing up in the old house. “Yes, it is ________ Day,” she said. “I think I can smell chocolate chips already.” Chelsea stopped. Then she took a deep breath. She said ________, “Mum, can we walk a little faster? I think I can ________ peanut butter, too!”

As they reached the house Chelsea struggled hard to open the door. “We must ________, Chelsea!” Mum shouted. “It is not ________ to do that. Okay,” she said and then began knocking. The door opened and in she ________, dropping her hat and gloves along the way. “Mother, I’m ________,” her Mum said. Grandma just ________     and added, “Just like you did.” They both laughed. The house was ________ with the sweet smell of cookies.

“What do you ________, milk or hot cocoa?” Grandma asked. “Cookies!” Chelsea replied. “Okay, but you will need something to ________. I suggest milk,” Mum said. The three sat quietly around the table for some time. The________ was there for the cookies. The oldest was there for the ________, a kind of feeling you can’t buy in a fast food restaurant.

And Chelsea’s Mum? She was there to think about ________ own childhood. Sit for a moment right now and remember. Close your eyes. Take a deep breath. Can you smell the memories? Never ________ a chance to make memories. They are sure to warm your heart on the coldest days. They will always ________ the darkest moments when you feel sad.

Greenwood has been playing ball games since five years old. She is a catcher (接球手) for UR Baseball Team, and has recently been _________ by the USA Baseball National Team Development Program.

As a college girl, her goal is to _________ to the top 20 for USA Baseball Team, which will allow her to participate in worldwide _________ like the Baseball World Cup.

Greenwood described the _________ she feels when playing baseball. For many, she may be the first _________ player they see at a high level game, so each time she _________ on the field, she admits definitely feeling high expectations, knowing that if she makes a mistake, it may influence people’s _________ on how women in baseball look like. So she _______ hard, trying to get to an advanced level.

Besides playing and training, Greenwood also travels across the country,_________ with other women in baseball, and shares her stories and experiences with them. At one of the first camps she went to, 30 girls attended, which was a ________ experience for her. Before that point, she had __________ seen girls play baseball. Now, Greenwood is __________ to see a growing number of girls __________ involved in the game and trying to walk on to the UR Baseball Team.

“It’s been cool to know that I’m having lasting __________ and greatly changing these girls’ lives for the better and showing them that they can __________ their dreams and passions.”