提要
今天是「情人節」（Valentine's Day），是紀念基督教修士Valentine違抗羅馬暴君禁令，祕密替人證婚、因此犧牲的日子，也是向心愛的人傳情的日子。表達的最佳方法，是記住對方的「好」，接納他的「不夠好」。
Peter and Mike were best friends. They fought for many reasons and but never gave up their friendship, once they went in search of a job and visited many places to earn more money. They passed through various places, villages, towns, forests, beaches, and were supporting each other all the way through out their journey.
One day they reached a desert and they had a very little food and water. Peter told Mike to eat half the quantity of food, and then once they get very tired and feel like they cannot make a step they can eat another half and save water for later use.
However, Mike disagreed. He wanted to drink water as he was very thirsty. They quarrelled each other to have water. Peter slapped Mike and they walked in silence. They decided to have food and continue their journey. Mike wrote in sand, "My best friend slapped me!"
They shared the meagre amount of food and water and finally reached an oasis. They were very tired after passing through the dry and hot desert. Mike was so happy to see the oasis and had a lot of fun in the water. While they both were bathing, Mike was a bit careless and began to drown. Peter rushed to him and saved Mike.
Mike hugged his friend and thanked him. They had a little nap and decided to leave the place. They were about to leave and Mike carved something on the rock.
It was "My best friend saved my life!"
Peter asked "why you were marking all these here Mike?" Mike replied, "You slapped me, I wrote in sand. It was definitely not good. However, if you go and see the sand you can find no letter wrote on the sand. Now I carved the good thing on the stone, and it will remain forever!"
We have to forget the bad things done to us and engrave the good things in the stone.
解 說
彼得和麥克是最好的朋友，他們會因為各種大小事起爭執，但是從未影響他們的友誼。有一次，為了賺更多的錢，他們出門尋找工作，拜訪了許多地方。他們經過各種場所，村莊、城鎮、森林、海灘，一路上，好朋友彼此照應扶持。
有一天，他們走進了沙漠中，他們只有非常少量的食物和水。彼得告訴麥克：先吃一半數量的食物，然後等到他們非常疲憊、覺得自己不能再踏出半步時，再吃另一半，並節約用水。
但是麥克不同意，他很渴想喝水，他們因此吵架，彼得給了麥克一記耳光，他們默不吭聲地走了一段，然後決定吃東西，接著繼續他們的旅程。麥克在沙子上寫：「我最好的朋友摑了我耳光！」
他們分享所剩無幾的食物和水，最終到達綠洲。經過又乾又熱的沙漠後兩人非常疲憊。麥克開心地看到綠洲，並在水中玩得不亦樂乎。他們都好好地洗了個澡，但是粗心的麥克一腳踩空，開始下沉……彼得衝過去抓住他 ，讓好朋友免於沒頂。
麥克緊緊抱他的好朋友，由衷感謝他。他們打了個小盹，決定離開這個地方繼續前進。在他們即將離開時，麥克刻了一些字在岩石上：
「我最好的朋友救了我的命！」
彼得問麥克：「為什麼你在這裡做這些事？」麥克回答：「你摑我耳光，我寫在沙子上，那肯定是不好的。但是，如果你去沙灘看看，上面什麼字也看不到。現在我刻在石頭上的好事，則會永遠保存！」
別人對我們做了不好的事情，我們應該忘記；別人對我們好，則應該銘記在心，永遠感激。
對話……
During a Train Journey
Rosie : Sally, When did you arrive at the station？
Sally : I came here at 5 p.m.
Rosie : Which train are you waiting for？
Sally : I am waiting for the National Express Coaches.
Rosie : What is the time of departure？
Sally: 9.40 hrs.
Rosie : Have you reserved？
Sally : I have reserved two tickets for me and my brother.
Kurt : We are going to our grandfather’s house.
Rosie : Where does you grandfather reside？
Kurt : He resides in Paris.
火車旅途中
羅茜：莎莉，你什麼時候到車站的？
莎莉：我下午五時到這裡的。
羅茜：你在等哪班車？
薩利：我在等歐洲跨國快車。
羅茜：什麼時間出發？
薩利：九時四十分。
羅茜：你有訂位嗎？
莎莉：我已經預留了兩個位子給自己和我弟（寇特）。
寇特：我們要去爺爺家。
羅茜：你爺爺住在哪裡？
寇特：爺爺家在巴黎。
reside
「reside」是「居住、存在」，例如：
He resided there only while he was visiting the old lady.（在拜望老夫人時，他才在這兒下榻。）
The only little change that the coin ever showed resided in the two dints .（錢幣上僅有的微小變化，全在這兩個凹陷處。）
「reside」也是具備，例如：
The real power resides in the people .（真正的權力，屬於人民。）
meagre
「meagre」是「貧乏」，例如：
They lived on meagre government grants in early days.（在早先時候，他們靠政府的微薄救濟勉強度日。）
She grew thin and meagre.（她日漸消瘦憔悴。）
The show is drawing but a meagre audience.（觀看演出的觀眾寥寥無幾。）