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.