Friends Forever.

A mouse and a frog were friends. Every morning the frog would hop out of
his pond and go to visit his friend who lived in a hole in the side of a tree. He
would return home at noon.
The mouse delighted in his friends company unaware that the friend was
slowly turning into an enemy. The reason? The frog felt slighted because
though he visited the mouse everyday, the mouse on his part, had never
made an attempt to visit him.
One day he felt he had been humiliated enough. When it was time forhim to
take leave of the mouse, he tied one end of a string around his own leg, tied
the other end to the mouses tail, and hopped away, dragging the hapless
mouse behind him.
The frog dived deep into the pond. The mouse tried to free himself but
couldnt, and soon drowned. His bloated body floated to the top.
A hawk saw the mouse floating on the ponds surface. He swooped down,
and grabbing the mouse in his talons, flew to the branch of a nearby
tree. The frog, of course, was hauled out of the water too. He desperately
tried to free himself, but couldnt and the hawk soon put an end to his
struggles.
In Africa they have a saying: Dont dig too deep a pit for your enemy, you
may fall into it yourself.

A Father learns A Lesson from His Son

Velan was a carpenter. He was living in a village. His mother dies a long time back. His aged
father, Kuppan, lived with Velan. Kuppan was very weak. He could not even walk well. He
was so weak. It was because Velan did not give him enough food. He had given his father a
small earthen plate. Even a small quantity of rice in the plate appeared to be much. Velan
was a bad man. He was a drunkard also. After taking drinks, he abused his father badly.
Velan had a son. His name is Muthu. Muthu was just ten years old. He was a very good boy.
He loved his grandfather. He had great respect for his grandfather. He did not like his
fathers attitude and character, because his father was treating his grandfather cruelly.
One day Kuppan was eating his food out of earthen plate that his son had given to him. The
earthen plate fell down. The plate broke into pieces. The food also fell on the floor. Velan
was working at the other end of the room. He saw the broken plate. He was very angry with
his father and used very harsh words to abuse his father. The old man felt bad about what
happened. He was sorry for his mistake. Velans words wounded him very deeply.
Velans son, Muthu, saw this. He did not like his father. His father was ill-treating
hisgrandfather. He was afraid to speak against his father. He was sad about his grandfather.
But he was not powerful to stand in support of his grandfather.
The next day Muthu took some of his fathers carpentry tools and a piece of wood. He
worked with the tools to make a wooden plate. His father saw him working.
What are you making, Muthu? he asked.
I am making a wooden plate! replied Muthu.
A wooden plate! What for? asked his father.
I am making it for you, father. When you grow old, like my grandfather, you will need a
plate for food. A plate made from earth mat break very easily. Then I may scold you
severely. So, I want to give you a wooden plate. It may not break so easily.
The carpenter was shocked to hear this. Only now he realized his mistake. His father was
kind to Velan He had looked after Velan very well. Now, he was old. Velan was treating his
father severely. Velan was now very sad about his own behavior. He realized his mistakes.
He then became a different person.
From that day, Velan treated his father with great respect. He gave up drinking too. Velan
learnt a lesson from his own son.
You should honor your parents at all times. It is your duty. It brings you their blessings.

Reward for bravery

There was once a kind Duke. He was loved and respected by his subjects. This Duke had a
wicked brother. His name was Frederick. Frederick rebelled against his brother. He drove
away the Duke. The Duke was a peace loving person. He left the Dukedom. He went to the
forest called Arden. His followers also went with him. There he led a peaceful life with his
followers. Frederick became the Duke.
The Duke had a daughter. Her name was Rosalind. Frederick also had a daughter. Her name
was Celia. Rosalind and Celia were fond each other from their childhood. Celia wanted
Rosalind to be with her in the palace. Frederick allowed Rosalind to be in the palace with his
daughter. This was for the sake of his own daughter, Celia.
Sir Rowland De Boys was friend of the elder Duke who was in the forest. Sir Rowland died
leaving all his property to his eldest son whose name was Oliver. Oliver was jealous of his
younger brother whose name was Orlando. Oliver did not give any part of the property or
money to Orlando. He did not even educateOrlando either.
In Duke Fredericks court, there was a powerful wrestler. His name was Charles. No young
man dared to challenge Charles. But Orlando accepted the challenge. Oliver met Charles
secretly. He instructed Charles to do the worst to Orlando.
At the wrestling place there were many people. Duke Frederick was also there. In the earlier
matches Charles threw little challengers one after another. All the three challengers had
broken their ribs. They were struggling for life. Celia and Rosalind also had come there.
Duke Frederick asked the girls to talk to the young man,Orlando. Frederick had felt that
Charles would throw Orlando down in the fight. The girls approached Orlando. They
requested him not to fight. Orlando refused gently. He said, I have no one to care for me. I
do not care even to die.
The match began. Orlando was much stronger than Charles. Orlando lifted Charles above
his shoulders. Then he threw him down. Charles became unconscious after falling. Frederick
and all others were happy. They congratulated Orlando. Orlando told Frederick, I am the
second son of late Sir Rowland de Boys.
Frederick did not like Orlando from that minute onwards, because Frederick had not liked
Sir Rowland de Boys.
The two girls on the contrary praised Orlando. Rosalind was happy. Sit Rowland had been
her fathers friend. She then took out a chain from her neck and presented it to Orlando.
This was the reward for his bravery.

HOME ALONE
It was a dark and stormy night.
I was alone at home and about to go to bed, when I saw a scary shadow figure at my
window.
"Whos there" I shouted.
Suddenly there was a flash of lightning followed by thundershower.
I saw a lions face followed by a scary thunderous roar at the window. It looked like the lion
from the local circus that had been announced missing on the television news channel. I felt
very scared. I ran to my bed and pulled my blanket over my head. I started to shout for
myparents but there was no reply. Then I remembered they were at a late night party.
I peeped out of my blanket but it was too dark to see anything. Then I heard footsteps.
They were getting louder and louder. Soon the footsteps died off.
The grand father clock struck 12. I went back to bed and tried to sleep, but couldnt. I felt
too frightened. I sat up my mind full of scary thoughts. After some time passed, finally I fell
asleep.
I woke up only after eight in the morning and switched on the TV news. I was excited to see
the lion was already trapped in the wee hours of the morning by the ring master of
thecircus. I felt very much relieved after the news.
Later I narrated the whole incident to my parents.
They were dumb shocked and decided in future not to leave me alone at home during night.

Holidays .
Kevin was eagerly waiting for his holidays. His mother kept on hinting there would be a big surprise
for him during holidays. Kevin took out his scrapbook. The exams were just over and summer
vacation just started. Now he was free like a bird. Free to draw, paint, play cricket and watch
Televisionanything he wanted to do.
Suddenly the doorbell rang startling him.
It was his pain of a cousin, Max, Hiii!, screamed Max as he jumped on to Kevins bed breaking his
crayons in the process. I have come to stay here for theholidays
Kevin never expected his mothers surprise to be this bad. If this were the starting of his vacation
then the next weeks would be his worst experience. The next few days were horrible for Kevin.
After breakfast Kevin decided to do a painting. Luckily Max was not around. Kevin spread out all his
art supplies and started painting beautiful scenery. When he was doing the finishing touches Max
entered the room with a Pepsi bottle. He slipped on some water spilling Pepsi all over the painting,
totally ruining it.
The next day was even worse for him. Everything was peaceful till the evening. It all started when
Max put the dirty clothes in the washing machine. After sometime Kevin heard some weird sounds
from the washing machine. He went to investigate and later found that Max had put his best pair
of shoes into the machine along with the clothes.
One day Kevin was going through the newspaper when some interesting news caught his attention. He
read it aloud The world famous philatelist Dick Browns stamps have been stolen last week in his
town. Several other stamp robberies also have taken place and police suspect that all the robberies
are linked.
This piece of news concluded warning all stamp collectors to keep their stamps safe. Kevin had a
nice stamp collection and it was with his friend Allan. He decided to get his stamp album back as
he felt it would be safer with himself. But Kevin couldnt go because his mothers friend was coming
over for tea and his mother wanted him to be present at home during her friends visit.
Kevin decided to send Max to get his album. Kevin gave Max the address of Allans and Max set off.
Max soon came back with the album and when Kevin checked it he found that it was not his album & it
contained valuable stamps. Actually Max had gone to another house by mistake and he had
knocked on the door but there was no response. He found the door unlocked and so he went in and
found an album which resembled Kevins and he had brought it.
Kevin doubted that it might be the stolen album probably belonging to Dick Brown.Kevin contacted
the police and told that he had found a valuable album. A week had passed since that incident and
Kevin and Max got reward for finding Dick Browns album.
I will never be angry at Max, Kevin thought.
Kevin, I was jumping on the sofa and accidentally I broke your spectacles. No one is perfect, he
added before running from Kevins clutches.

The Kindhearted Villager

.
Once a gentle man was traveling in a train. He felt thirsty and got down at a station in
search of water. No sooner had he reached the watertap then the engine whistled and
started. He ran back but missed the train.
It was getting darker and he decided to spend the night at the station.
The next morning he enquired about the next train. He came to know that the next train
was on the other day.
So he decided to find a place for a day's stay. He went to the nearby lodges to ask for a
room but found none. It was getting darker and he could not find a room.
At last he reached a small hut. He asked the owner of the hut whether he could stay in his
house for a day. The owner readily agreed. That day the owner served him food and gave
him a room to stay. But did not ask nor expected anything in return.
At night when it did strike seven in the clock, the gentleman heard a knock at the door. The
villager opened the door. The gentleman saw that a man dressed in gaudy and rich clothes
entered the hut and demanded the owner to pay his debts.
The gentleman came to know that the villager was in need of money. The next morning he
slipped a pocket in the drover of the room and left.
When the villager came to know about the pocket, he saw that there was a note addressed
to him, it read "You helped me but did not expect anything from me. Yesterday I heard the
conversation between you and the stranger and came to know that you were in need of
money. This is what you need".

HAPPY FAMILY PROLOGUE

My dad is this man who hurts my mother. I force myself to love him, but in fact I hate him.
When he throws knifes on the wall, because the meat is not tender enough while we are
having dinner, exactly like tonight, I keep on dipping my chips inside my glass full of dirty
salty water, then, I drink the water pretending its the sea, and then, I start to go in my
head to pretend nothings happening.
I am seven and a half years old, but I can hear and understand nearly everything. I am not
dumb because Im small. I have feelings, a heart clicketting, a stomach with butterfly
wings, eyes crying. I was born in London the 26 of November. My name is Rebecca Fisher,
like her fish but upside down, get it? Each time I say that, no one laughs, but I dont care,
because I am a funny girl anyway. Thats what my mam always says. Sometimes I make
her laugh but many times I make her cry. Its because Ive got a sharp tongue, she says,
and a big mouth with bumps and holes and teeth falling apart. She always says Ive got
weird taste, but she loves me very much, because Im exactly like her, she says, a little bit
loopy. Like when I eat cheddar cheese with strawberry ice cream, or when I put cherries on
my ears pretending they are precious hearings.
My mam also says that I am blind as a mole, because, even if I have beautiful blue eyes like
a Siamese cat, I dont see anything with them. But its not my fault if my eyes are
buggered. Thats what my best friend Shane Kane, whos already 9 years old, says. He
thinks theyve been buggered since I was in my mams belly, because maybe my dad
punched her belly by accident, and I just got kicked in the eyes. Now, I dont see anything
without my tree double frame glasses, and I am always afraid to loose them, but Im not
afraid to fight the bullies at school. And even If I die, I swear to Jesus the Christ that no one
will ever call me four eyes. One day, the eye doctor said that, I will not need my glasses
anymore when I will reach the age of 15. With a big smile on his face, he said that instead,
I will have plastic glasses stuck on my eyes, and that would be very handy, and I will look
extremely beautiful, he said again starring at me with a strange face. But then, in the night,
I started crying imagining him sticking them on me with super glue, so I guess I will never
be beautiful.
I am blond like my mam, who looks exactly like the film star named Julie Christie. But me,
Im too chubby to be in movies. So I prefer to sing. I love to sing alone! I sing in my bath
with my bubble bathing suit, made especially by myself, in front of the mirror opposite me.
I sing songs that I have in my head, sometimes very loud, so I dont hear my mam and dad
shouting at each other. And sometimes, I whisper, so no one can hear any of my secrets,
apart from one very special person: Peggy Colquhoun. Shes my favourite Barbie doll. Shes
Scottish, and she loves me so much, because whatever I say or do, she always smiles at
me. She is not very pretty, because she misses one ear, but shes got a very lovely red

sweater with a quilt, white shoes all chewed up, and a small white bag attached to her hand
where I can put tiny teeny little papers with scribbling on what I think of life, so she can
carry all my secrets. And I forgot! I love bags and high heel shoes! They are my favourite
things in the whole wild world. When my mam is not at home, and Im all alone, I rush to
her cupboard with Peggy Colquhoun, and then, we both dress up to pretend we are
beautiful girls.

My mom only had one eye

My mom only had one eye. I hated her She was such an embarrassment. She cooked for students and
teachers to support the family.
There was this one day during elementary school where my mom came to say hello to me. I was so
embarrassed.
How could she do this to me? I ignored her, threw her a hateful look and ran out. The next day at school
one of my classmates said, EEEE, your mom only has one eye!
I wanted to bury myself. I also wanted my mom to just disappear. I confronted her that day and said, If
youre only gonna make me a laughing stock, why dont you just die?
My mom did not respond I didnt even stop to think for a second about what I had said, because I was full
of anger. I was oblivious to her feelings.
I wanted out of that house, and have nothing to do with her. So I studied real hard, got a chance to go
abroad to study.
Then, I got married. I bought a house of my own. I had kids of my own. I was happy with my life, my kids
and the comforts. Then one day, my Mother came to visit me. She hadnt seen me in years and she didnt
even meet her grandchildren.
When she stood by the door, my children laughed at her, and I yelled at her for coming over uninvited. I
screamed at her, How dare you come to my house and scare my children! GET OUT OF HERE! NOW!!!
And to this, my mother quietly answered, Oh, Im so sorry. I may have gotten the wrong address. and
she disappeared out of sight.
One day, a letter regarding a school reunion came to my house. So I lied to my wife that I was going on a
business trip. After the reunion, I went to the old shack just out of curiosity.
My neighbors said that she died. I did not shed a single tear. They handed me a letter that she had wanted
me to have.
My dearest son,
I think of you all the time. Im sorry that I came to your house and scared your children.
I was so glad when I heard you were coming for the reunion. But I may not be able to even get out of bed
to see you. Im sorry that I was a constant embarrassment to you when you were growing up.
You see..when you were very little, you got into an accident, and lost your eye. As a mother, I couldnt
stand watching you having to grow up with one eye. So I gave you mine.
I was so proud of my son who was seeing a whole new world for me, in my place, with that eye.
With all my love to you,
Your mother.

What goes around comes around

One day a man saw an old lady, stranded on the side of the road, but even in the dim light
of day, he could see she needed help. So he pulled up in front of her Mercedes and got out.
His Pontiac was still sputtering when he approached her.
Even with the smile on his face, she was worried. No one had stopped to help for the last
hour or so. Was he going to hurt her? He didnt look safe; he looked poor and hungry. He
could see that she was frightened, standing out there in the cold. He knew how she felt. It
was those chills which only fear can put in you. He said, Im here to help you, maam. Why
dont you wait in the car where its warm? By the way, my name is Bryan Anderson.
Well, all she had was a flat tire, but for an old lady, that was bad enough. Bryan crawled
under the car looking for a place to put the jack, skinning his knuckles a time or two. Soon
he was able to change the tire. But he had to get dirty and his hands hurt.
As he was tightening up the lug nuts, she rolled down the window and began to talk to him.
She told him that she was from St. Louis and was only just passing through. She couldnt
thank him enough for coming to her aid.

Bryan just smiled as he closed her trunk. The lady asked how much she owed him. Any
amount would have been all right with her. She already imagined all the awful things that
could have happened had he not stopped. Bryan never thought twice about being paid. This
was not a job to him. This was helping someone in need, and God knows there were plenty,
who had given him a hand in the past. He had lived his whole life that way, and it never
occurred to him to act any other way.
He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who
needed help, she could give that person the assistance they needed, and Bryan added, And
think of me.
He waited until she started her car and drove off. It had been a cold and depressing day,
but he felt good as he headed for home, disappearing into the twilight.
A few miles down the road the lady saw a small cafe. She went in to grab a bite to eat, and
take the chill off before she made the last leg of her trip home. It was a dingy looking

restaurant. Outside were two old gas pumps. The whole scene was unfamiliar to her. The
waitress came over and brought a clean towel to wipe her wet hair. She had a sweet smile,
one that even being on her feet for the whole day couldnt erase. The lady noticed the
waitress was nearly eight months pregnant, but she never let the strain and aches change
her attitude. The old lady wondered how someone who had so little could be so giving to a
stranger. Then she remembered Bryan.
After the lady finished her meal, she paid with a hundred dollar bill. The waitress quickly
went to get change for her hundred dollar bill, but the old lady had slipped right out the
door. She was gone by the time the waitress came back. The waitress wondered where the
lady could be. Then she noticed something written on the napkin.
There were tears in her eyes when she read what the lady wrote: You dont owe me
anything. I have been there too. Somebody once helped me out, the way Im helping you. If
you really want to pay me back, here is what you do, do not let this chain of love end with
you. Under the napkin were four more $100 bills.
Well, there were tables to clear, sugar bowls to fill, and people to serve, but the waitress
made it through another day. That night when she got home from work and climbed into
bed, she was thinking about the money and what the lady had written. How could the lady
have known how much she and her husband needed it? With the baby due next month, it
was going to be hard She knew how worried her husband was, and as he lay sleeping next
to her, she gave him a soft kiss and whispered soft and low, Everythings going to be all
right. I love you, Bryan Anderson.
There is an old saying What goes around comes around.

Helpless love
Once upon a time all feelings and emotions went to a coastal island for a vacation. According to their nature,
each was having a good time. Suddenly, a warning of an impending storm was announced and everyone
was advised to evacuate the island.The announcement caused sudden panic. All rushed to their boats. Even
damaged boats were quickly repaired and commissioned for duty.
Yet, Love did not wish to flee quickly. There was so much to do. But as the clouds darkened, Love realised it
was time to leave. Alas, there were no boats to spare. Love looked around with hope.Just then Prosperity
passed by in a luxurious boat. Love shouted, Prosperity, could you please take me in your boat?
No, replied Prosperity, my boat is full of precious possessions, gold and silver. There is no place for
you.A little later Vanity came by in a beautiful boat. Again Love shouted, Could you help me, Vanity? I am
stranded and need a lift. Please take me with you.
Vanity responded haughtily, No, I cannot take you with me. My boat will get soiled with your muddy
feet.Sorrow passed by after some time. Again, Love asked for help. But it was to no avail. No, I cannot
take you with me. I am so sad. I want to be by myself.
When Happiness passed by a few minutes later, Love again called for help. But Happiness was so happy that
it did not look around, hardly concerned about anyone.
Love was growing restless and dejected. Just then somebody called out, Come Love, I will take you with
me. Love did not know who was being so magnanimous, but jumped on to the boat, greatly relieved that
she would reach a safe place.
On getting off the boat, Love met Knowledge. Puzzled, Love inquired, Knowledge, do you know who so
generously gave me a lift just when no one else wished to help?Knowledge smiled, Oh, that was Time.
And why would Time stop to pick me and take me to safety? Love wondered.
Knowledge smiled with deep wisdom and replied, Because only Time knows your true greatness and what
you are capable of. Only Love can bring peace and great happiness in this world.
The important message is that when we are prosperous, we overlook love. When we feel important, we
forget love. Even in happiness and sorrow we forget love. Only with time do we realize the importance of
love. Why wait that long? Why not make love a part of your life today?

Marriage very touching!

When I got home that night as my wife served dinner, I

held her hand and said, Ive got something to tell you. She
sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her
eyes.
Suddenly I didnt know how to open my mouth. But I had
to let her know what I was thinking. I want a divorce. I
raised the topic calmly.
She didnt seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she
asked me softly, why?
I avoided her question. This made her angry. She threw
away the chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a
man! That night, we didnt talk to each other. She was
weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had
happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a
satisfactory answer; she had lost my heart to Jane. I didnt
love her anymore. I just pitied her!
With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement
which stated that she could own our house, our car, and
30% stake of my company.
She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces. The woman
who had spent ten years of her life with me had become a
stranger. I felt sorry for her wasted time, resources and
energy but I could not take back what I had said for I loved
Jane so dearly. Finally she cried loudly in front of me,
which was what I had expected to see. To me her cry was
actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce which had
obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and
clearer now.

The next day, I came back home very late and found her
writing something at the table. I didnt have supper but
went straight to sleep and fell asleep very fast because I
was tired after an eventful day with Jane.
When I woke up, she was still there at the table writing. I
just did not care so I turned over and was asleep again.
In the morning she presented her divorce conditions: she
didnt want anything from me, but needed a months notice
before the divorce. She requested that in that one month
we both struggle to live as normal a life as possible. Her
reasons were simple: our son had his exams in a months
time and she didnt want to disrupt him with our broken
marriage.
This was agreeable to me. But she had something more,
she asked me to recall how I had carried her into out bridal
room on our wedding day.
She requested that every day for the months duration I
carry her out of our bedroom to the front door every
morning. I thought she was going crazy. Just to make our
last days together bearable I accepted her odd request.
I told Jane about my wifes divorce conditions. She laughed
loudly and thought it was absurd. No matter what tricks
she applies, she has to face the divorce, she said
scornfully.
My wife and I hadnt had any body contact since my
divorce intention was explicitly expressed. So when I
carried her out on the first day, we both appeared clumsy.
Our son clapped behind us, daddy is holding mommy in his

arms. His words brought me a sense of pain. From the

bedroom to the sitting room, then to the door, I walked
over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes
and said softly; dont tell our son about the divorce. I
nodded, feeling somewhat upset. I put her down outside
the door. She went to wait for the bus to work. I drove
alone to the office.
On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She
leaned on my chest. I could smell the fragrance of her
blouse. I realized that I hadnt looked at this woman
carefully for a long time. I realized she was not young any
more. There were fine wrinkles on her face, her hair was
graying! Our marriage had taken its toll on her. For a
minute I wondered what I had done to her.
On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I felt a sense of
intimacy returning. This was the woman who had given ten
years of her life to me.
On the fifth and sixth day, I realized that our sense of
intimacy was growing again. I didnt tell Jane about this. It
became easier to carry her as the month slipped by.
Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger.
She was choosing what to wear one morning. She tried on
quite a few dresses but could not find a suitable one. Then
she sighed, all my dresses have grown bigger. I suddenly
realized that she had grown so thin, that was the reason
why I could carry her more easily.
Suddenly it hit me she had buried so much pain and
bitterness in her heart. Subconsciously I reached out and
touched her head.

Our son came in at the moment and said, Dad, its time to
carry mom out. To him, seeing his father carrying his
mother out had become an essential part of his life. My
wife gestured to our son to come closer and hugged him
tightly. I turned my face away because I was afraid I might
change my mind at this last minute. I then held her in my
arms, walking from the bedroom, through the sitting room,
to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly and
naturally. I held her body tightly; it was just like our
wedding day.
But her much lighter weight made me sad. On the last day,
when I held her in my arms I could hardly move a step.
Our son had gone to school. I held her tightly and said, I
hadnt noticed that our life lacked intimacy.
I drove to office jumped out of the car swiftly without
locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me
change my mind I walked upstairs. Jane opened the door
and I said to her, Sorry, Jane, I do not want the divorce
anymore.
She looked at me, astonished, and then touched my
forehead. Do you have a fever? She said. I moved her
hand off my head. Sorry, Jane, I said, I wont divorce. My
marriage life was boring probably because she and I didnt
value the details of our lives, not because we didnt love
each other anymore. Now I realize that since I carried her
into my home on our wedding day I am supposed to hold
her until death do us apart.
Jane seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud
slap and then slammed the door and burst into tears. I
walked downstairs and drove away.

At the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet of

flowers for my wife. The salesgirl asked me what to write
on the card. I smiled and wrote, Ill carry you out every
morning until death do us apart.
That evening I arrived home, flowers in my hands, a smile
on my face, I run up stairs, only to find my wife in the bed
dead.
My wife had been fighting CANCER for months and I was so
busy with Jane to even notice. She knew that she would
die soon and she wanted to save me from the whatever
negative reaction from our son, in case we push thru with
the divorce At least, in the eyes of our son Im a loving
husband
The small details of your lives are what really matter in a
relationship. It is not the mansion, the car, property, the
money in the bank. These create an environment
conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in
themselves. So find time to be your spouses friend and do
those little things for each other that build intimacy. Do
have a real happy marriage!

Hospital window
Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit
up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was
next to the rooms only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.
The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their
jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.
Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the
time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be
broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.
The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water
while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of
every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.
As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of
the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.
One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by.
Although the other man couldnt hear the band he could see it. In his minds eye as the
gentleman by th! e window portrayed it with descriptive words.
Days and weeks passed.
One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless
body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened
and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.
As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the
window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was
comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world
outside.
He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed.
It faced a blank wall. The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased
roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window
The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.
She said, Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.

How the poor live

One day, a father of a very wealthy family took his son on

a trip to the country with the firm purpose of showing his
son how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and
nights on the farm of what would be considered a very
poor family. On their return from their trip, the father
asked his son, How was the trip?
It was great, Dad.
Did you see how poor people live? the father asked.
Oh yeah, said the son.
So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip? asked the
father.
The son answered, I saw that we have one dog and they
had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our
garden, and they have a creek that has no end. We have
imported lanterns in our garden, and they have the stars at
night. Our patio reaches to the front yard, and they have
the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on,
and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have
servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our
food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our
property to protect us; they have friends to protect them.
The boys father was speechless.
Then his son added, Thanks, Dad, for showing me how
poor we are.

the miracle of love, true story!

Like any good mother, when Karen found out that another baby was on the way, she did
what she could to help her 3-year-old son, Michael, prepare for a new sibling.
The new baby was going be a girl, and day after day, night after night, Michael sang to his
sister in Mommys tummy. He was building a bond of love with his little sister before he
even met her.
The pregnancy progressed normally for Karen, an active member of the the Creek United
Methodist Church in Morristown, Tennessee, USA.
In time, the labor pains came. Soon it was every five minutes, every three, every minute.
But serious complications arose during delivery and Karen found herself in hours of labor.
Finally, after a long struggle, Michaels little sister was born. But she was in very serious
condition. With a siren howling in the night, the ambulance rushed the infant to the
neonatal intensive care unit at St. Marys Hospital, Knoxville, Tennessee.

The days inched by. The little girl got worse. The pediatrician had to tell the parents there
was very little hope. Be prepared for the worst. Karen and her husband contacted a local
cemetery about a burial plot. They had fixed up a special room in their house for their new
baby they found themselves having to plan for a funeral.
Michael, however, kept begging his parents to let him see his sister. I want to sing to her,
he kept saying.
Week two in intensive care looked as if a funeral would come before the week was over.
Michael kept nagging about singing to his sister, but kids are never allowed in Intensive
Care.
Karen decided to take Michael whether they liked it or not. If he didnt see his sister right
then, he may never see her alive. She dressed him in an oversized scrub suit and marched
him into ICU. He looked like a walking laundry basket.

The head nurse recognized him as a child and bellowed, Get that kid out of here now. No
children are allowed.
The mother rose up strong in Karen and the usually mild-mannered lady glared steel-eyed
right into the head nurses eyes, her lips a firm line, He is not leaving until he sings to his
sister.
Then Karen towed Michael to his sisters bedside. He gazed at the tiny infant losing the
battle to live. After a moment, he began tossing. In the pure-hearted voice of a 3-year-old,
Michael sang:
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine, you make me happy when skies are gray.
Instantly the baby girl seemed to respond. The pulse rate began to calm down and became
steady.
Keep on singing, Michael, encouraged Karen with tears in her eyes.
You never know, dear, how much I love you, please dont take my sunshine away.
As Michael sang to his sister, the babys ragged, strained breathing became as smooth as a
kittens purr. Keep on singing, sweetheart.
The other night, dear, as I lay sleeping, I dreamed I held you in my arms.
Michaels little sister began to relax as rest, healing rest, seemed to sweep over her. Keep
singing, Michael. Tears had now conquered the face of the bossy head nurse. Karen
glowed.
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. Please dont take my sunshine away
The next day,the very next daythe little girl was well enough to go home.

Miracles Happen Brian Boyle true story

They said that I was in Gods Hands because I was; I am living proof that miracles happen.
My name is Brian Boyle, and this is my story.
A month after I graduated high school in 2004, I was coming home from swim practice and
was involved in a near fatal car accident with a dump truck.
The impact of the crash violently ripped my heart across my chest, shattering my
ribs/clavicle/pelvis, collapsing my lungs, damage to every single organ and failure of my
kidneys and liver, removal of spleen and gallbladder, losing 60% of my blood, severe nerve
damage to my left shoulder, and in a coma where I was on life support for over two months
at Prince Georges Hospital Center in Cheverly, Maryland, USA.
I dont have a memory of the accident, or the few days before the day of the accident. The
first thing that I remember after the collision, which is still so vivid in my mind even today,
is being in this very large white tube. In this tube was a boy sitting to my left, and many
other boys and girls on my right side (I use the term boys and girls because they
appeared to be my age); I didnt know why I was there or how I even got there in the first
place.
The more I sat there, the more I was able to visualize my surroundings. The boy to my left
had a cell phone, and he asked me if I needed him to call anyone for me. I told him yes,
can you call my parents and tell them that I love them. The next thing that I remember is
waking up in a hospital bed, chemically paralyzed and hooked up to all these machines.
Through all the buzzes and beeps going off from the medical equipment that was saving my
life at that instant, I could hear my mom and dad telling me in between dramatic pauses of
crying hysterically that I was going to be okay.
Only moments before, I believe I was waiting in line to meet my final judgment, but it must
have not been my time. Moments later, I had come back to life. This was just the beginning
of my suffering.
I died eight times while I was in the intensive care unit and even when I woke up from my
coma, I couldnt talk or communicate. The day that they knew that I would live, was the
day that I either left my room in a wheelchair or a body bag. As far as the future, it didnt

exist. Walking was never going to happen again due to all the extreme injuries and because
of the shattered pelvis. The thought of swimming was just that, only a thought. Just like my
body, my dreams were shattered. But, I didnt give up because I knew that God had a plan
for me.
After spending two months in a coma, 14 operations, 36 blood transfusions, 13 plasma
treatments, I lost a total of 100 pounds and had to go to a rehabilitation center in
Baltimore. I had to learn how to talk, eat, walk, shower, and live independently again. After
that agonizing experience, I had to go to outpatient therapy in Waldorf, MD. After spending
a few months in a wheelchair, I took baby steps to walk on my own. It was a miracle that I
could walk again, but I wanted to prove the doctors wrong and not only walk, but run. After
I accomplished that, I wanted to get back in the pool again. After a few lung tests, I was
able to go in the pool a little bit each week.
Before the accident I had three goals: to go to college, swim on the team, and compete in
an ironman triathlon one day. After a few months of swimming a few laps here and there
with my training partner and good buddy, Sam Fleming, I decided that I was not going to
let my injuries stop me from living my dream, and six months after that I began my
freshman year at St. Marys College of Maryland and also was one of the swimmers to watch
on the team. Its very easy to go through and list these facts and make it look like
everything just seemed to easily fall in its own perfect little place, but the truth of the
matter is that it didnt. It wasnt easy, not then, and not now. The pain and the agony was
real and it existed all the way through, in the good times and the very bad. It was not an
easy situation to be in where youre laying in a bed, staring at the ceiling, knowing that your
life is over while your looking at a priest give you the last rights. I thought to myself over
and over, why this situation had to happen to me. I was always a good kid, received good
grades in school, and went to church. Why would something as horrific as this happen to
me? Why would God allow this? I went on and on for days asking why?

And, then it hit me. All that thinking and pondering on the what-if scenarios and the
questionable doubt only stirred up another question why was I saved? I didnt have
anymore questions after that. I know what my purpose in life finally is. With the 50 year life
expectancy I was given from the doctors, I am just trying to live each day to the fullest and
motivate and hopefully inspire other people, in their lives and in the faith. I have been
labeled on several occasions that I am Lazarus-like because God brought me back to life.

To inspire even more, I just successfully completed the Steelhead 70.3 half-ironman race in
Michigan a few months ago, and was also given the inspirational athlete media slot to
compete in the 2007 Ford Ironman World Championship where my story and race footage
was broadcasted in the Ironman show premiere as the main feature on NBC on Dec. 1.
My story is about the recovery and the comeback, but I want to make it much more than
that, I want to make a positive impact on the world. I am just trying to live each day to the
fullest and motivate and hopefully inspire other people through my endeavors to never give
up on their dreams, and to never stop believing in their faith in God no matter how bad a
situation is because everything happens for a reason.