A Teeny Tiny Treasure Box

She took me by the hand and walked me into the lobby like a five-year old child. Didn't she
know I was pushing 15? This was the third home Nancy was placing me in - in a span of
eight months. I guess she felt a little sorry for me. The bright fluorescent lights threatened to
burn my skin as I walked towards a bouncy-looking lady with curly hair and a sweetly-smiling
man. They called themselves Allie and Alex. Cute, I thought.
After they exchanged the usual reams of paperwork, it was off in their Chevy Suburban to
get situated into another new home. This time, there were no other foster children and no
other biological children. Anything could happen.
Over the next few weeks, Allie, Alex, and I fell into quite a nice routine. She'd make
pancakes for breakfast, or he'd fry up some sausage and eggs. They sang a lot, even
danced as they cooked. They must have just bought the house because, most weekends,
we were painting a living room butter yellow or staining a coffee table mocha brown.
I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop. When would they start threatening a loss of
pancakes if I didn't mow the lawn? When would the sausage and eggs be replaced with
unidentifiable slosh because he didn't feel like cooking in the morning? But, it never
happened. They kept cooking, singing, and dancing like a couple of happy fools.
It was a Saturday afternoon when Allie decided it was time to paint the brick fireplace white.
As we crawled closer to the dirty old firepit, we pulled out the petrified wood and noticed a
teeny, tiny treasure box. We looked at each other in wonder and excitement. She actually
said, "I wonder if the leprechauns left it!" While judging her for being such a silly woman, I
couldn't help but laugh and lean into her a little.
Together, we reached for the box and pulled it out. Inside was a shimmering solitaire ring.
Folded underneath was a short piece of paper that read:
"My darling, my heart. Only 80 days have passed since I first held your hand. I simply cannot
imagine my next 80 years without you in them. Will you take this ring, take my heart, and
build a life with me? This tiny little solitaire is my offering to you. Will you be my bride?"
As I stared up at Allie, she asked me a question. "Do you know what today is?" I shook my
head. "It's May 20th. That's 80 days since Nancy passed your hand into mine and we took
you home."
It turns out, love comes in all shapes and sizes, even a teeny, tiny treasure box from a
wonderfully silly lady who believes in leprechauns.

Second Story
It was my second day on the job. I was sitting in my seemingly gilded cubicle, overlooking
Manhattan, and pinching my right arm to make sure it was real. I landed an internship at
Condé Nast Traveler. Every aspiring writer I've ever known secretly dreamt of an Anthony
Bourdain lifestyle. Travel the world and write about its most colorful pockets.
When my phone rang, and it was Mom telling me Dad had a heart attack. He didn't make it. I
felt as though the perfectly carpeted floors had dropped out from under me. Now that I've
come out the other side, I realize Dad left me with a hefty stack of teachings. Here are three
ideals I know he would've liked for me to embrace.
First, you have to stand on your own two feet. As much as our parents love and support us,
they can't go to our school and confess to the principal that we stole a candy bar from Sara.
We have to do that. Neither can they walk into the Condé Nast office and nail a job interview
for us. At some point, we have to put on our "big girl pants" and be brave, even if we're not.
Also, there's a difference between love and co-dependence. Being grateful to have someone
to turn to for love and support is not the same as needing someone to turn to for love and
support. With the loss of my father, I've also lost my sounding board. All I can glean from
that is it's time to look within myself and make proper assessments. If I can't make sound
decisions with the tools already in my kit, then I risk falling for anything.
Finally, memories are, perhaps, the only item that cannot be taken away from us. Will I miss
my father? Every single day. What can I do in those times? I can open up our suitcase of
memories, pick out my favorite one, and dream about it, talk about it, or write about it. Maybe
I can't pick up the phone and call him anymore, but that doesn't mean he's gone.
Next week, I'm off to Istanbul to explore their art scene. As soon as I read the email from my
editor, I picked up my phone to call Dad. Then, I realized he'll never answer my calls again. I
fought back the tears, got up to make a cup of peppermint tea, and added a new note to my
iPhone titled, "Istanbul Packing List."
In the end, life goes on. I'm not sure why he had to leave during the single most poignant
chapter in my life. So, I won't dwell on that. Instead, I'll hold tightly to these three ideals and
write about Karaköy in Istanbul's Beyoğlu district. Dad will be with me every step of the way.

My Best Friend
   Friends are a part of our life and plays a significant role in our life.The wise saying,books
and friends should be few but good explains the importance of friends in life.I have such a
good friend in my life.His name is Sam Wai Keat.He is the same  age as me and we are in
the same class.

    Sam has a good sense of humour. He always entertain me when I am depressed and
sad.His humour joke will definitely make me laugh  my head off.He is as tall as me.Sam is
also a hardworking and a intelligent student.He always teaches me when I am facing
problems in my studies.He loves reading and so he is known as a bookworm.We often go to
the library to access the books.

    Sam lives within a stone away from my house.Every morning,I tag along with Sam and we
walk to school together.I always visit Sam in his house and we study together.Although we
are from different races,it does not put a strain on our friendship.I go to Sam's house to
celebrate Chinese New Year every year.

    Sam is born with silver spoon.His father runs a company.Although his family is rich,he
never shows off and proud.He is thrifty and spends money wisely.He also advise me to be
thrifty.He saves his pocket money in his piggy bank.

     One day,I forgot to ask my parents for money to buy lunch.At first,I thought that I would
have survive the whole day without eating anything but I felt hungry during recess.Without
asking anything,Sam bought me my favourite mee siam.My eyes filled with tears and I was
speechless.As the saying goes,a friend in need is a friend indeed.

     I am grateful because I have a good friend.Sam adds gaiety to my life.Everyone needs a
friend in their life.