Mya finished playing a Christmas carol (颂歌) and looked up at her piano teacher. “You played that very well,” Ms. Jackson said. “How would you like to join some of the other students and play carols at the shopping center this Saturday afternoon?”

“I can’t,” Mya said quickly.

“Lots of kids are shy,” Ms. Jackson said, “but the best way to overcome your fear of playing in public is by actually doing what scares you. Remember, our art festival is going to be right after Christmas. You’ll have to play in front of an audience then. Playing at the shopping center this weekend would be great practice.”

“I’m sorry. I can’t be there,” Mya went on. “My great-grandmother invited my family to the Christmas party at her retirement community that afternoon.”

Mya didn’t add that she was relieved to have an excuse not to have to play at the shopping center. The thought of playing piano with so many people around made her stomach clench into a knot.

On Saturday morning, as Mya helped Mom and Dad wrap presents for Great-Grandma, she thought about her friends playing the piano at the shopping center. She pictured hundreds of shoppers hanging around and listening while going from store to store. Some of them would take breaks from shopping to sit on benches and watch the piano players. “I’m so glad I won’t be there,” she thought to herself.

When Mya and her parents arrived at the retirement community, they greeted Great-Grandma with hugs and wishes for a merry Christmas. Mrs. Carmen, the party activities director, showed a short holiday movie first. Then they played games, and the residents opened their gifts.

“We usually end by singing Christmas carols,” Mrs. Carmen said. “But our pianoplayer wasn’t able to make it today.” “Mya plays the piano,” Great-Grandma announced, smiling proudly.

“Wonderful,” Mrs. Carmen said. She smiled at Mya. “Mya, would you like to play while we sing? It would be such a help.”

In a small Italian town, hundreds of years ago, a small business owner owed a large sum of money to a loan-shark（放高利贷人）. The loan-shark was a very old, unattractive looking guy that just so happened to fancy the business owner’s daughter, who was pretty, lively and intelligent as well. He racked his brains and decided to offer the businessman a deal that would completely wipe out the debt he owed him. However, the catch was that he would only wipe out the debt if he could marry the businessman’s daughter.

Needless to say, this proposal was met with a look of disgust. Neither the businessman and his daughter would easily fall for it. In order to make them fall into the trap, the loan-shark said that he would place two pebbles（鹅卵石） into a bag, one white and one black. The daughter would then have to reach into the bag and pick out a pebble. If it was black, the debt would be wiped out, but the loan-shark would then marry her. If it was white, the debt would also be wiped out, but the daughter wouldn’t have to marry the loan-shark.

Standing on a pebble-strewn（铺满鹅卵石） path in the businessman’s garden, the loan-shark bent over and picked up two pebbles. While he was picking them up, the daughter noticed that he’d picked up two black pebbles and placed them both into the bag. He then asked the daughter to reach into the bag and pick one, which of course would determine her fate.

Elizabeth walked on to the patio (露台), carrying a bunch of roses. “Beautiful flowers for… for… oh, I’ll never get it right!” she cried, throwing the roses on the ground.

Elizabeth had been practicing her speech for a week. She’d presented flowers to the dog, the cat, and the statue in the garden. Part of her couldn’t wait. This Saturday, the great Ana Wolff, famous pianist, would perform at the concert hall in town. For four years, Elizabeth had taken piano lessons. She’d listened to Ms. Wolff’s recordings over and over again, loving the way the notes flowed like a rushing mountain stream.

Part of Elizabeth was terrified. Her music teacher at school, Mr. Leaf, had asked her to present the flowers to Ms. Wolff after the performance. Why did he have to choose her? She hated oral reports, plays at the gatherings — anything where she had to talk in front of people. Some of her classmates liked giving speeches. Myron gave a speech every time Mr. Leaf called on him. Melissa always volunteered to make announcements. Let one of them present the flowers!

“How’s the speech coming?” asked Elizabeth’s mother from the back door. “Want to practice on me?”

“No, thanks,” said Elizabeth. “Mum, I can’t do this! I’ll forget. I might even pass out!”

“No, you won’t, honey. Think about it… sharing the stage with Ana Wolff. What an honor!”

“Not if I do something dumb.”

But Elizabeth kept practicing. “Beautiful flowers for a beautiful performance…” Each night, Elizabeth dreamed about music, spotlights, and a shining grand piano. Sometimes she tripped and fell. Other times she messed up the words. Once the dream ended with Ms. Wolff rushing offstage before Elizabeth could say anything.

Then the big day when Ms. Wolff gave a concert finally came. Elizabeth and her mother took their seats. She held a bunch of red roses.

“All set, Elizabeth?” Mr. Leaf asked.

Her stomach tightened, but she nodded at him.

As the lights dimmed, Ms. Wolff walked onstage and bowed, smiling.

Before Ms. Wolff was about to walk offstage, Elizabeth, seizing the roses, walked slowly towards her.