I had never had a birthday party before,so at my “ripe old” age.I decided to throw one for myself.About 20 people1that they were coming.I don't have a lot of money,but I spent more than2in the $1 store to buy decorations and plates.I had a tiny3in order to ford all of them.

    I sat,I4,and,although all of my “friends” had said they were coming,no one5!The celebration was supposed to6at 12 noon.Here it was,4:00 pm,and7,no one was here.The ice-cream cake was8,the food on the barbecue was burnt beyond9.I tried really hard not to cry.

    I decided to sit back and relax,reflecting on the10moments that I did have.All of a sudden,I heard a roar of an engine,just outside my front door.Mr.Kenny,apparently,did11he could to show up.I cried in his12,sawing,"I'm not worth anything!"He wiped away my tears,13me tight,and said the14words:"I will always be your friend!" The dark clouds in my mind cleared away at once.

    He had had so many challenges and difficulties over his past couple of weeks,but he15to come.As we sat outside under a blanket of clear blue skies,laughing and16,I felt that I was17.He appeared just before I wanted to give up on this18world.

    Yes,life is beautiful.Yes,there are some people who love each other for over 50 years.19 there are some of us who do not have those luxuries（福气）.However,never give up the20maybe it is round the comer.

明史专家吴晗在《朱元璋》一书中曾这样描述我国古代的君臣关系：“在宋以前有三公坐而论道的说法……到宋朝便不然了。从太祖以后，大臣上朝在皇帝面前无坐处，一坐群站，……到了明代，不但不许坐，站着都不行，得跪着说话了”。君臣关系从坐到站再到跪，说明中国古代中央政治制度演变的重要特点是