By Yunzheng Chen

　　On my friend Haylea’s book was a photo of a young American girl. “Who is this?” I asked. “She was our classmate, but unfortunately she died last year,” replied Haylea with a sad expression.

　　Her name was Jennifer. She and her mother were driving to Kansas City when they had a car accident on the highway. They died instantly. Only Jennifer’s dad, who wasn’t with them on that fateful day, was still alive.

　　“Jennifer’s family members will come to our school this Friday, and we will have a memorial anniversary for her,” Mrs. Toalson told us.

　　We had prepared a poem for the memorial anniversary. The poem was To a Butterfly by the English poet William Wordsworth. Mrs. Toalson had explained to us that Jennifer liked butterflies. We practiced until we had memorized the poem.

　　On Friday, Jennifer’s step-dad and uncle came to our school. The memorial anniversary was optional, but all the fifth graders chose to attend. In the playground of our school a hole had been excavated. As we all waited, the principal, Mrs. Gibson and Jennifer’s family members arrived. They were carrying a tree about five feet tall and a plastic butterfly. Other teachers were helping them.

　　The anniversary started. The principal said sadly: “Jennifer has been gone for almost a year now, and we all miss her so very much! That is why we are participating in this memorial anniversary.”

　　“Jennifer was my best friend, I miss her terribly,” Laura said to the audience. Other people also shared their memories of Jennifer. Sadness hung in the air. The adults planted the tree and placed a picture of Jennifer and the plastic butterfly next to it. The anniversary finished with our class reciting the poem To a Butterfly.

　　I ’ve watched you now a full half hour

　　Self－poised upon that yellow flower

　　And， little butterfly Indeed

　　I know not if you sleep or feed …

　　How motionless －－ not frozen seas

　　More motionless And then

　　What joy awaits you， when the breeze

　　Hath found you out among the trees，

　　And calls you forth again