She smiled to cover her shyness, and I fancied she had a fear that I would make the sort of gibe that such a confession could hardly have failed to elicit from Rose Waterford.
But in China, the idea of the dragon may have come from the alligator- a shy animal which lives in rivers, but which is usually only seen when there is plenty of water-a good sign for agriculture.
Jambo says he formed a soccer team at his college. " When we play, I automatically find myself talking and laughing. Now all my shyness and fear have gone, " says Jambo.
Cash-strapped young Chinese are rejecting expensive holidays abroad in favor of " special forces tourism" — bustling between tourist hotspots at breakneck speed — and free " citywalks" instead.
When Mr Laurence heard about Beth's shyness, he came to have tea with their mother one day, and began to talk about music and great singers he had heard.