“Would you rather wear normal-looking clothes that were a size too small?” James asked his sister. “Or a clown outfit(小丑服) that was really comfortable? But you’d have to wear it forever!” Isabella stared out the car window and sighed(叹气) . They had just set out on a road trip to visit Grandma, and James was trying to play his favorite game. Again.

“Sorry. I’m taking a nap,” Isabella said and put on her headphones. “Wake me up when we stop at the gas station.”

An hour later, they arrived at the station. As they walked back to the car with some snacks, James said, “How about this, Iz? Would you rather eat cheese cookies soaked in orange juice or popcorn soaked in milk?”

“Mom, will you please make him stop?” Isabella said. “Oh, Izzy. He just wants to play with you. And you have to admit(承认), his questions are pretty creative.” Mom laughed.

Over dinner at grandma’s home, Grandma and Mom continued to join in the fun.

Grandma asked, “Would you rather take a bath in mashed potatoes or drive through a mashed-potatoes storm?”

Later, mom asked, “Would you rather have to use a fork or a spoon for every meal?”

As they cleaned up, James asked, “Would you rather wash the dishes of a thousand elves(精灵) or of one really big giant?”

Isabella fought back a chuckle(轻声笑), although she still wouldn’t play along. Yet.

But that night while James and Isabella lay in Mom’s old bunk beds. Isabella said, “James?” “Mmm-hmm,” he replied, almost asleep.

“Would you rather have a really fun sister who’s always a good sport? Or are you OK with me?”

“I’m OK with you, Iz,” he said.

“I’m OK with you too,” she replied. “And I’d choose to wash the dish of a really big giant.”

He snickered(偷笑).

“And,” she continued, “I could probably play a couple of rounds with you on the way home. As long as you also give me a little time to relax without talking.”

“It’s a deal!” said James.

Many years ago. my dad worked in a children's hospital. A girl in the hospital had a strange illness. She couldn't move her hands or feet. She could only move her head. She lay on bed every day and she was very sad. Even the doctors couldn't help her.

My dad decided to try his best to help her. He brought paints, brushes(刷子) and paper to her room. He hung(悬挂) the paper on the wall, put the brush in his mouth and began to paint. He didn't use his hands at all. Only his head moved. My dad told the girl, “See, you can do anything you want to”.

Soon the girl began to paint using her own mouth. She and my dad became good friends, but my dad fell ill at that time and he had to stay at home.

Three months later, my dad went back to the children's hospital. When he went into the hospital, the girl ran to him and hugged him tightly(紧紧地). She gave my dad a picture and said, “I drew this picture with my hands. Thank you for helping me.”

My dad would cry every time he told us this story. He would say, “Sometimes love is more powerful than doctors.”