(Written by Hu Ao in far-off Beijing)

          It was drizzling.  The wind flowed across my face - cold and sweet.  Some of the students were already running on the track and later, I would be taking the last P.E. test before entering high school.  It was to be a 1000 meter run and I lacked confidence as I've never been good at running.  I just wanted to get a six out of the possible ten.  That would be good enough to pass.

          We were in a big stadium.  There were over 200 people in the bleachers.  Most of them were students, but some were teachers, and there were a few parents.  People in the bleachers were shouting things like "Go!"  "Be quick" to the students already being tested.  They were running as fast as they could.

          I was to run in a group of 15 students and hoped that I'd be able to keep pace with some of my friends.  All too soon, I heard my name called by a big man who taught at our school, and I got a number card.  As I walked on the runway, I realized that the time had finally come.  I was going to run and needed to warm-up.

          It was then that I heard a familiar voice.  It was my mom's.  She was calling out "Hu er Hu er".  That's her pet name for me.  I raised my head to get a good look at the people in the stands and I saw her at the front.  She was holding the iron railing tightly so that she could bend her body over toward where I was on the track.  She looked very much at home there - as if she was used to attending track meets.

          I walked over to an area under the bleachers and called up to her, "Mom, when did you get here?"

          "Just now", she yelled back.  "I wanted to say two thing to you.  The first is "Try your best" and the second is the same, "Try your best."

          Then she gave me the sign for victory. 

          Her words made me feel warm all over and I nodded my head to let her know that I had heard and would run hard. 

          When I ran back to my group, the big man walked over to me and said, "Your mother?"

          "Yes", I answered.

          "She came here very early and waited for you, as she wanted to encourage you."

          Hearing that filled me with emotion and I stood there awkwardly.

           "She's a wonderful mother", he said

          "Of course", I mumbled, as I turned my head to look at her again.  I squinted for my vision was blurred.  Was it the rain or could it have been tears?

          I was suddenly full of energy and found myself saying, "Yes!  I'm ready!  C'mon; let's go!"