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Think before you speak
“I’ll see you tomorrow, okay? I would have stayed longer but I’m getting late for tuitions.” Tania, my best friend, told me, to which I replied, “Okay, see you tomorrow.”
Now let me introduce myself. My name is Sarah and I go to a school called “Education Sensation!” I know it’s a weird name but it still is a good school. My best friend’s name is Tania. We have been friends since we were in kindergarten.
Even though we are now in class VII our friendship has never failed us. We help each other out, share each other’s secrets, get into trouble sometimes but still, have some good time too.
But one day something happened which changed our lives forever. You see, I am rash and careless — I never think before doing something. Whereas Tania is just the opposite — she is kind, sweet, polite and understanding, in other words, she always thinks before taking any action.
It was only because of my uncontrollable habit that I deprived myself of something, without which anyone’s life is incomplete.
It was a dull grey Tuesday, and as usual, I got ready to go to school. As soon as I reached school, I decided to look for Tania. I found her standing at the end of the corridor looking distressed. I went up to her and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” came the reply.
“Girl, look, we’ve been best friends since we were in kindergarten, if you can’t tell me, then who can you tell?”
“Well, okay… fine… I’ll tell you but please don’t tell anyone.”
“Sure,” I said. She leaned towards me and whispered, “I heard my mom and dad talking and dad said that he had lost his job and if he doesn’t find another one soon enough, I’ll have to drop out of school.”
I stared at my friend. Apart from being kind she was also rich, having to drop out of school would be a big torment for her.
“I won’t tell anyone. I promise,” I comforted her, “Listen, if you need any help you know where to find some.”
“Thanks a lot,” she said.
Just then the bell rang.
“I have to go. See you later.”
I was about to go when I bumped into someone.
“Sorry,” I muttered (my mind was still on Tania). “It’s alright, but your friend isn’t. What’s wrong with her?” said a sneering voice I recognised instantly.
“Keep out of this Sonia,” I muttered.
“Why, something embarrassing happened to your friend?” she asked sneeringly (Sonia had always envied our friendship).
“Will you please keep out of this!” I muttered angrily (losing my temper).
“Aha! It is something worth the wait! Now tell me what has happened,” Sonia said, the evil grin on her face getting bigger.
“Will you please leave! I will never tell you that Tania has to drop out of school because her family can’t afford to keep her in it!” the words were out of my mouth before I could stop them, and not only did Sonia hear them, but everyone in the corridor did. I was thunderstruck, and rushed out of the corridor. The rest of the day was spent in whispers. I could not believe myself and spent the rest of the day in fear, ‘What would Tania say? Would she be understanding?’ and because of that I hardly understood what was going on around. The only thing in my mind was ‘I have to explain to Tania. I have to explain to Tania.’
After school I went to find Tania.
“Tttttaaaaaaaaaannnnniiiiiiia! Where are you?” Suddenly I heard a sob. “Tania?” I asked.
I found Tania sitting on her desk in the History class. “Tania?” I asked.
“What are you doing here? Haven’t you caused enough trouble for me already? I trusted you Sarah! And you broke my trust! I will never be able to trust you again.” I just stood there, my face turning even redder than a tomato or a strawberry.
“Grandmamma!” I stepped away from my past and moved into my future, as a wrinkled old woman sitting with her granddaughter Tania. Yes, Tania. I had named her after my childhood friend. Let me summarise the ending.
Even though Tania forgave me, her trust had been lost forever, and even after all these years I could not regain it.
The moral of this story is for all the rash and careless people to improve themselves or they might end up like me, the child who did not lthink before opening their mouth!
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