Toastmaster of the contest, honorable judges and fellow Toastmasters.

One day I was walking down Lin Sen Bei Lu, feeling very lonely. All of a sudden, I saw a very small shop with many strange things inside. And on one shelf, I saw a very beautiful sapphire ring.

The store owner was a very old man, with a long white beard. He said his is a very special ring, but you must be very careful." He then asked re you married?" I told him the long sad story of how I had lost my girlfriend, Zhou Hui-min.

This store owner said oung man, I may have the answer to your problem. You see, any woman who puts on this ring will immediately fall in love with you. For you, a special price, only NT$100,000." Now, I wasn sure if I believed the old man, and $100,000 is a lot of money, but I was feeling very lonely. So, I decided to give him the money and buy the ring.

I thought to myself his is a great opportunity that I cannot waste." I decided I would take my ring to the presidential ball to be held that evening, and try to find a high-class lady to match with a high-class gentleman [pause] like myself.

However, when I arrived at the ball I realized I had one big problem - I didn exactly have a ticket. I strode up to the door and told the guard [fast paced voice, with imperious voice] I was the ambassador of a very important country, but I just couldn remember the name just now, but I sure President Lee will know who I am, et cetera, et cetera.

Unfortunately, the soldier was not convinced, and he began to push me back. Thinking quickly, I took the ring out of my pocket and slipped it on the soldier finger. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he smiled a big broad smile! And we began to dance! [dance in elegant style]. [pause] Actually, he was not bad dancer. Just then, his supervisor appeared, and he was furious. Why was his soldier dancing with a guest, especially when this guest was a man! the supervisor saw the ring on the soldier finger, took it off in rage, and threw it across the room.

I took my chance amid the confusion and ran into the room trying to find my precious ring. I saw it on the floor, only 15 meters away. But as I approached, someone picked it up -[with trepidation] it was Mrs. Lee Teng-hui. She put the ring on her finger just as I was approaching. Her eyes lit up, and a broad smile came across her face.

I wasn sure what to do, so I offered my hand and we began to dance. [dance in elegant style] I said rs. Lee, may I say that dancing with you is like dancing with an angel." She smiled even more broadly. But I had to think of something ... as I didn really want to marry Mrs. Lee Teng-hui. Finally, luck went my way. you see, Mrs. Lee fingers are quite slender, and when I swung her out one time, the ring flew off her finger and sailed across the room!

Her face returned to normal. I immediately chased after my precious magic ring. [start crawling] I crawled among the feet of the people on my hands and knees - suddenly I saw it ! But just as I reached for it, someone else picked it up - it was Mrs. Lien Chan! Nooo! Not Mrs. Lien Chan! Mrs. Lien saw me, and her eyes lit up.

Suddenly, the music changed, [play tape of African-beat song usk" by Fleetwood Mac, begin dancing in Caribbean style} I knew I was in trouble. I offered my hand, like a gentleman should, and then I put my other hand on hers, and tried to pull the ring off! {pretending as though briskly shaking hands with both hands] h, Mrs. Lien, it very nice to meet you . etc.] But you see, Mrs. Lien fingers are quite a bit larger than Mrs. Lee and the ring wouldn come off her finger!

Just then, the music shut off. [turn off tape] I looked up, and I saw Mr. Lien Chan walking toward me with very serious look upon his face. I could only smile pleasantly, pretend as though I was only shaking Mrs. Lien and then quickly make my escape out the back door-leaving both Mrs. Lien and my precious ring behind.

And ladies and gentleman, that ring is still on Mrs. Lien finger. and that is why, to this very day, on the face of Mrs. Lien Chan there is always a big, broad, never-ending smile!

Toastmaster of the contest