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.