MymotherMarisolTorrescamewithherfamilytoAustraliaintheearly1960s.Thenmyparents’marriageendedandMumbeganthestudyofpreciousstones.Herinterestinopals(猫眼石)tookhertotheNewSouthWalesremotetownofLi
MymotherMarisolTorrescamewithherfamilytoAustraliaintheearly1960s.Thenmyparents’marriageendedandMumbeganthestudyofpreciousstones.Herinterestinopals(猫眼石)tookhertotheNewSouthWalesremotetownofLightningRidge.Therewerenoluxuries(奢华的享受)butshewasclosertonatureandhadachancetofindblackopalsandmakesomemoney.
Mymotherwasbeautifulwithdarkhairandbrowneyesbutshewasalsoquietandshy.EarlyintheRidgeyearsshekepttoherselfbutlatershestartedgoingtotheneighbourhoodcentretomakefriends.
Itwasherdreamtominebutherget-rich-quickthinkingwasunrealistic.Shewascheatedandshewasneververysuccessful.Butshekeptasenseofhumourandacharmingsmile.
Thenjustasfriendshipsbegantoblossomshewasdiagnosedwithcancerandhadtoreturnsouthfortreatment.ShehadtheintentionofcookingSpanishfoodasspecialtreatforherRidgefriendsbutdiedtoosoon.InherhonourmyauntMarisaandIfulfilledherdesirewhenwevisitedtheRidgeinMarchlastyear.
PeoplewhominetheRidgecomefromacrosssectionofsocietyfromlawyerstotravels.Looksdon’tmeanmuch:itcanbehardtotellwhoismillionaireandwhoispoor.OpalsattractedSebastianandHannaDeisenbergertoLightningRidge.Theyplannedatwo-yearstaybutbecamepermanentresidents.
Thenthere’sNeilSchellnegger45whomovedtotheareawithhisparentswhenhewasachild.HeliveswithhissonLuke.Lukeisashy19-year-oldboywhoenjoyshelpinghisdad.Theyhaven’thadmuchluckoverthepastcoupleofyearsbuttheirpassionforopalsconquersdisappointment.Theylovethepeacefullifestyle.
DannyHatcher38isasecond-generationminerandpresidentoftheLightningRidgeMiners’Association.Heisanoptimisticmandrivenbythedesiretofindtheperfectopal.“It’smagic”heexplains.“Onceyoustartopalminingyoudon’twanttodoanythingelse…Thereisalwaysthepotentialforfindingamilliondollars.Nothingbeatsit.”
It’saplacewheredreams---spiritualormaterial---canbefulfilled;aplaceforonelastbetinlife.
1.Whatmadetheauthor’smothergotoLightningRidge?
A.Theluxuriouslifethere. B.Hernewmarriagethere.
C.Herinterestinopals.