A mother and daughter living in my community are two of the most unfriendly people I have ever come across in my life. They are totally separated, mixing with 1. As they drive past 2they keep their eyes looking away and make no sign of acknowledgement. The only fame they have is making a nuisance (讨厌的人) of themselves to the local police station by 3music played too loud, dogs barking more than once a day and any other petty4
Gripe (把柄).
On moving into this neighborhood, I was warned of these two but decided I would make up my own mind. This proved quite a 5 to me as more than once either the mother or the daughter would knock on my door and blast (猛烈抨击) me with some 6or other.
I 7 answered politely and made sure I 8 as they went past my place and also made the effort now and then to make a kind remark about their garden or pets.
Time passed and in October, as part of the Kindness Rock Give (送爱心石活动), Maureen and I decided to place a kindness rock in their garden. Their 9remained unchanged, however, and I continued to be as friendly as possible. During the Easter, we decided once again to 10these two unhappy ladies to our list and left a packet of cookies on their 11. Imagine my 12when two days later they13 at my gate and jokingly said they are considering hanging their Christmas stocking on their gate, and they brought me a bunch of flowers!
So, my fellow gifters, do not 14 on your random gifts of kindness. You may never know just what this means to others, nor how many broken or 15 hearted people you may just change with a simple act of kindness.
