This story is about a man named Jim Brennan, who lives alone. It was his seventy-six birthday and he is thinking about the past and all the mistakes that he have done in the past that made him felt remorseful. On his birthday, he woke up and he later then realised that it was his birthday, there wasn't any cards, no cakes, no ale, no songs,nobody celebrated for him, nobody cares about him. This story is also about Jim letting his childhood sweetheart, Ellen down ; his father didn't lead by example and hence, he married a girl he met in business as his father influenced him. When he was young, he always reject Ellen when she asked him out to play but when Jim wants to call Ellen out, he cannot becaue Ellen's already dead.

Long long time ago, Jim and Ellen were a loving a couple. They did many enjoyable things together. Until Jim met another girl later, he abandoned Ellen. In the following year, he brought the pearly girl for a holiday. Leaving the sick Ellen alone, not even saying a goodbye. When Jim is back and got more mature,Ellen died already, he was too late, there is no way of turning back.

Jim was so immature at that time. He abandoned a nice and loving girl that loved her a lot for a pearly girl that doesn't love her that much. Jim didn't cherish such a great gift, such a wonderful girl. After Ellen's death, he regretted for his wrong doings and he realised that he still love her and in fact, more. Although, Ellen isn't with him already, he still feels that Ellen is around him.

I feel that everybody should make right,wise decisions before we do anything as there's a chinese saying, "一失足成千古恨,再回头已百年身". This means that if we missed a step and fall or do something wrong, we will regret it forever and there's no way of turning back. In Jim's case, it means that once Jim abandoned Ellen, leaving her sick and die, there's no way to save Ellen back. This story also tells us to think of the consequences first. We shouldn't follow Jim's path. All of us must lead by example, so others will learn the correct things from us.

I think that Jim's death is perhaps a good thing as he get to join Ellen in the other world. The loving couple get to be reunited together, just like what they wanted to. We must treasure what we have now if not we'll lose it later.