He was driving home one evening when he saw an old lady standing by the road. He could tell she needed help. So he stopped his car in front of her car and got out.
He smiled at her, but she was worried. Was he going to hurt her? He looked poor and hungry.
He said: “I’m here to help you ma’am. Why don’t you wait in the car? By the way ,my name is Joe.”
She had a flat tire（轮胎瘪了）. Joe crawled under the car and soon he was able to change the tire. But he had to get dirty and his hands hurt. She said that she couldn’t thank him enough for his help. Joe just smiled as he closed her trunk（后备箱）.
She asked him how much she owed（欠）him. But Joe wasn’t thinking about the money. This was helping someone in need. He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she should lend a hand.
He waited until she had driven off and felt good as he headed for home.
A few miles down the road the lady saw a small café. She went in to get a bite to eat. The waitress brought a clean towel for her to wipe her wet hair. The waitress was nearly eight months pregnant（怀孕的）.It was tiring for her to move about. But she did it all with a sweet smile on her face. The lady was moved by the wonderful service the waitress was giving. After the lady had finished her meal, and the waitress had gone to get her change（零钱）from a ￥100 bill, the lady slipped（溜）out the door. At her table, the waitress found something written on a napkin.
There were tears in her eyes when she read what the lady had written. It said: “You don’t owe me a thing. I know life is hard for you right now. Someone once helped me out, the way I’m helping you. If you really want to pay me back, don’t let the chain（链）of love end with you.”
【小题1】When the old lady first saw the man, she was        .

He came again the next day and worked until it was time to leave. His name was Jerry. He was 12 and had been at the Children’s Home(孤儿院)since he was only four.  I thought of him. He was honest(诚实). For example, the handle (柄) of the ax (斧)broke one day. Jerry said the Children’s Home would mend it. I handed him some money to pay for it. He wouldn’t take the money. "I’ll pay for it, mama. I broke it. I didn’t hit the wood in the right place. "
"But Jerry, no one hits the wood in the right place all the time. And it was a weak handle. I’ll speak to the seller. " It was only then that he would take the money.
Another thing about Jerry was that he would do those little but helpful things. The things would not be badly needed but would make life so much easier. For example, he found a hole near the fireplace. "I’ll put some wood in the hole, mama. Then when a sudden storm(暴风雨)comes up, you can stay warm. "
One cold day, Jerry sat close by me near the fire. We watched the fire bum. He suddenly talked of something he had never talked of before. "You look like my mother, especially(特别) next to the fire"
But you were four, Jerry, ’when you came to live at the Children’s Home. Do you still remember your mother?"
【小题1】How long had Jerry lived at the Children’s Home by the time he met the writer?