13.The Ruler Was Broken in Two
It was the art class and the teacher had placed Henry beside me.
Suddenly he jogged my elbow and made me blot(把墨水溅到) my painting, a two-week work for my little sick sister. With great anger, I said something (1) to him. "I didn't do it purposely," he calmly replied, which (2) me a lot.
I paid him back by pushing him to mess his work. "You did that on purpose!" Henry shouted and even raised his hand. The teacher saw it, which made Henry stop and (3) his hand back quickly.
"I shall wait for you outside!" he said angrily. At that moment, I felt uneasy and (4) what I had done to him. Henry couldn't have meant to do it. In fact, he was always so nice and I remembered him being ready to help me whenever I had difficulties. What should I do?
My father's words rang in my ears, "If you do something wrong to someone, you should beg his pardon." But I was just ashamed to apologize. I tried to find (5) , but the words "excuse me" stuck in my throat.
He looked at me doubtfully, more sad than angry. "We shall meet again!" he said. I agreed, trying to show him I was not afraid. I told myself I would just defend (防卫), not fight.
After school, while walking back home alone, I discovered Henry (6) me. I stopped, waiting for him, a ruler in hand.
He stepped forward. I raised my ruler.
"No, David," with a kind smile, he waved my ruler aside. "Let's be friends as before."
I stood still in amazement.
"We'll have no more quarrels, will we?"
"Sure, never again!" I said in (7) , holding Henry's hands tightly with a quick nod of my head.
Looking at the ruler in my hand, I broke it in two. I shouldn't have raised it at Henry who was more upright (正直) than I!
The broken ruler will forever be a (8) for me not to misunderstand a friend.