英语睡前故事--Best-Friends

BestFriends

We’reswalloweduponlywhenwe’rewillingforittohappen.

NathalieSarraute

“Pleasestay,”Ibegged.

Annwasmybestfriend,theonlyothergirlintheneighborhood,andIdidn’twanthertogo.

Shesatonmybed,herblueeyesblank.

“I’mbored,”shesaid,slowlytwirlingherthickredpigtailaroundherfinger.Shehadcometoplayahalfhourago.

“Pleasedon’tgo,”Ipleaded.“Yourmothersaidyoucouldstayanhour.”

Annstartedtogetup,thenspottedapairofminiatureIndianmoccasinsonmybedsidetable.Withtheirbright-coloredbeadsonbutteryleather,themoccasinsweremymostcherishedpossession.

“I’llstayifyou’llgivemethose,”Annsaid.

Ifrowned.Icouldn’timaginepartingwiththemoccasins.“ButAuntRebagavethemtome,”Iprotested.

Myaunthadbeenabeautiful,kindwoman.Ihadreallyadoredher.Shewasnevertoobusytospendtimewithme.Wemadeupsillystoriesandlaughedandlaughed.Thedayshedied,Icriedunderablanketforhours,unabletobelievethatIwouldneverseeheragain.Now,asIcuddledthesoftmoccasinsinmyhands,IwasfilledwithfondmemoriesofAuntReba.

“Comeon,”proddedAnn.“I’myourbestfriend.”Asifsheneededtoremindme!

Idon’tknowwhatcameoverme,butmorethananything,Iwantedsomeonetoplaywithme.IwantedsomeonetoplaywithsomuchthatIhandedAnnthemoccasins!

Aftershestuffedtheminherpocket,werodeourbikesupanddownthealleyafewtimes.Soonitwastimeforhertogo.UpsetatwhatIhaddone,Ididn’tfeellikeplayinganyway.

Ipleaded“nothungry”thateveninganddraggedofftobedwithoutdinner.Onceupinmyroom,Ibegantoreallymissthosemoccasins!

Whenmymomhadtuckedmeinandturnedoutthelight,sheaskedmewhatwaswrong.Throughmytears,ItoldherhowIhadbetrayedAuntReba’smemoryandhowashamedIfelt.

Momhuggedmewarmly,butallshecouldsaywas,“Well,Iguessyou’llhavetodecidewhattodo.”

Herwordsdidn’tseemtohelp.Aloneinthedark,Ibegantothinkmoreclearly.Kids’codesaysyoudon’tgive,thentakeback.Butwasitafairtrade?WhydidIletAnntoywithmyfeelings?Butmostofall,isAnnreallymybestfriend?

IdecidedwhatIwoulddo.Itossedandturnedallnight,dreadingdaylight.

Atschoolthenextday,IcorneredAnn.Itookadeepbreathandaskedforthemoccasins.Hereyesnarrowed,andshestaredatmeforalongtime.

Please,Iwasthinking.Please.

“Okay,”shesaidfinally,producingthemoccasinsfromherpocket.“Ididn’tlikethemanyway.”Reliefwashedovermelikeawave.

Afterawhile,AnnandIstoppedplayingtogether.Idiscoveredtheneighborhoodboysweren’thalfbad,especiallywhentheyaskedmetoplaysoftball.Ievenmadegirlfriendsinotherneighborhoods.

Throughtheyears,Ihavehadotherbestfriends.ButIhaveneveragainbeggedfor