When my grandmother moved from Hualian to our house, she brought only one big (11) with her. It was old, and one of its legs was short, so it never stood straight on the carpet. My father wanted to throw it away. (12) She said her own mother had kept her letters and her wallet in it for forty years. (13), my father put a small piece of wood under the short leg and painted the whole thing white. Now it stands in the living room, (14) every visitor says it is the nicest item in our house.
My brother and I share a room that is only three (15) wide. There is one bed, one desk, and a bookcase that we made ourselves from an old box. Every item must have its own position, or we cannot walk to the door. (16) We agreed that he keeps the top shelf and I keep the bottom one. He is careful about his things, (17) I often leave my cup on the mat. Last week he did not blame me; he just put a small dish beside my bed for the cup. (18), sharing a small room has taught me more about people than any book.