外研英语选修6课文原文(每个模块4篇文章齐全)

外研英语选修6全部阅读课文原文〔每个模块4篇〕Module1SmallTalkHowGoodAreYourSocialSkills?Haveyouevercrossedtheroadtoavoidtalkingtosomeoneyourecognize?Wouldyoulovetogotoapartyandtalkconfidentlytoeveryguest?Doyouwanttomakemorefriendsbutlacktheconfidencetotalktopeopleyoudon’tknow?Andareyounervousabouttheideaofbeingatasocialeventinanothercountry?Don’tworry–wecanhelpyou!Youneedn’tworryaboutsituationsliketheseifyouhavegoodsocialskills.Andtheyareeasytolearn.Peoplewithgoodsocialskillscommunicatewellandknowhowtohaveaconversation.Ithelpsifyoudoalittleadvanceplanning.Hereareafewideastohelpyou.Learnhowtodosmalltalk.Smalltalkisveryimportantandpreparesyouformoreseriousconversations.Beprepared!Havesomelow-riskconversationopenersready.Forexample:Thinkofarecentnewsstory–nottoserious,e.g.astoryaboutafilmstarorsportsstar.Thinkofthingstotellpeopleaboutyourstudies.Thinkof“safe〞thingsyoucanaskpeople’sopinionsabout–music,sport,films,etc.Thinkoftopicsthatyouwouldavoidifyouweretalkingtostrangers–andavoidtalkingaboutthem!Thatway,youdon’tdamageyourconfidence!DevelopyourlisteningskillsListeningisaskillwhichmostpeoplelack,butcommunicationisatwo-wayprocess–itinvolvesspeakingANDlistening.Alwaysremember–youwon’timpresspeopleifyoutalktoomuch.Herearesomeideastomakeyouabetterlistener:DOShowthatyouarelisteningbyusingencouragingnoisesandgestures–smiling,nodding,saying“uh-huh〞and“OK〞,etc.KeepgoodeyecontactUsepositivebodylanguageAskformoreinformationtoshowyourinterestDON’TLookatyourwatchYawnSignLookawayfromthepersonwho’stalkingtoyouChangethesubjectFinishotherpeople’ssentencesforthemAlwaysrememberthewordsofBenjaminDisraeli,BritishPrimeMinisterinthe19thcentury:“Talktoamanabouthimself,andhewillspeaktoyouforhours!〞LearntherulesIfyougotoasocialoccasioninanothercountry,rememberthatsocialrulescanbedifferent.Insomecountries,forexample,youhavetoarriveontimeataparty;inothercountries,youdon’tneedto.Inaddition,youneedtoknowhowlongyoushouldstay,andwhenyouhavetoleave.Somehostsexpectflowersorasmallgift,butinotherplaces,youcantakethings,butyouneedn’tifyoudon’twantt.rememberalsothatinsomecountries,youmustn’ttakeflowersofacertaincolour,becausethey’reunlucky.Inmostplaces,youdon’thavetotakeagifttoaparty–butfindourfirst!TheWrongKindofSmallTalkEstherGreenbaumwasasaleswomanforafirmoffaxmachinesandbusinesssupplies.Butshewasalsothemostoutspokenhumanbeingintheworld–well,WestchesterEstherGreenbaum’smajorshortcomingwasthatshehadacompleteabsenceofsmalltalk.No,that’notquitetrue.Shehadsmalltalk,butitwasthewrongkind.Infact,shehadneverlearntthebasicrulesofsocialcommunication,andasaconsequence,shemadesystematicmistakeseverytimesheopenedhermouth.Itwasnocoincidenceeitherthatshewasn’taverygoodsaleswoman.Onedayduringameeting,Estherwasintroducedtoanimportantcustomer,amaturewoman.“Nicetomeetyou,〞shesaid.“Howoldareyou?〞Thecustomerlookedawkward.“Forty?Forty-five?〞saidEsther.“Youkookmucholder.Andyourfriend…she’solderthanyou,butshelooksmuchyounger!〞Onanotheroccasion,Estherteasedatypist,“Hey!When’syourbabydue?〞ThetypistwentredandcontradictedEsther.“Actually,I’mnotpregnant,〞shesaid.“Oh,sorry,〞saidEstherwithoutanyapology.“Justputtingonalittleweight,huh?〞Estherwasnevercautiousaboutotherpeople’sfeelings.Oneofheracquaintances,asalesmaninthefirm,wasgoingthroughaverymessydivorceandwasverydepressed.Shetriedtocheerhimup.“Forgether!Shewasacompletefool.Noonelikedheranyway.〞Muchofthetime,Esthersaidthefirstthingtocomeintoherhead.Onedayatwork,aclerkcameintotheofficewithanewhairstyle.“Nicehaircut,〞saidEsther.“Howmuchdiditcost?〞Thewomanreplied,“I’drathernotsay.〞Estherreplied,“Well,anyhow,eitheryoupaidtoomuchoryoupaidtoolittle.〞Shemetaveryfamouswriteronce.“Hey,whatacoincidence!〞shesaid.“You’rewritingabookandI’mreadingone!〞ThetroublewithEstherwasshesaidwhatshethought,anddidn’tthinkaboutwhatshesaid.Ayoungmanwastryingtomodestabouthisnewjobmanymilesaway.“Iguessthecompanychosemesothey’dgetsomepeaceintheoffice,〞hesmiled.“No,Iguesstheychoseyoutodiscourageyoufromspendingyourwholecareerwithus,〞Estherrepliedsweetly.Once,Estherwenttoabrunchpartytomeetsomeoldschoolfriendsontheanniversaryoftheirgraduation.Shegreetedthehostess.“Doyourememberthatguyyouweredating?Whathappenedtohim?〞sheasked.“Youknow,theuglyone.〞Atthemoment,amancameupandstoodbyherfriend.“Esther,I’dlikeyoutomeetmyhusband,〞shesaid,“Charles,thisis…〞Estherinterruptedher,“Hey,soyoumarriedhim!〞MakingFriendsintheUSAIntheUSA,conversationislesslivelythaninmanyothercultures,whereeveryonetalksatthesametime.Whensomeonetalks,everyoneisexpectedtolisten,nomatterhowdulltheperson’sspeakingmaybe.Ifyou’renotsurewhattotalkabout,youcanaskwhatpeopledo.We’redefinedbyourjobsandwe’reusuallyhappytotalkaboutthem,unlessyou’respy!SomepeoplesaythatAmericanstalkabouttheirfeelingsmorethanAsians,butaremoresecretiveaboutfactualmatters.Youcansafelyaskquestionsaboutfamilies,whereyoucomefrom,leisureinterests,aswellasthelatestmovies.We’reinterestedinpeople’sethnicbackgroundtoo.Butit’sbesttoavoidpolitics,religionandothersensitivetopics.Ahighlypersonalconversationcantakeplaceafteraveryshortperiodofknowingsomeone,butthisdoesn’tmeanthatyou’reclosefriends,ortherelationshipisverydeep.Butalotofpeopleareveryfriendlyandhospitable,andthefamousinvitation“Ifyou’reeverinMinneapolis/SanDiego/Poughkeepsie,docallbyandseeus!〞isnevermadewithoutagenuinedesiretomeetagain.ButwhilefewAmericanswillworryaboutthequestionsyoumayask,particularlyifyouclearlyshowyou’reawareofculturaldifferences,theymayhesitatebeforetheyaskyousimilarquestions.Infact,it’sasignthattheydon’twishtoviolateyourprivatelife.So,manyAmericanswilltalkaboutsafetopicsbecausetheydon’tdaretobetoocuriousorpersonal,butwillhappilytalkaboutmoreprivatemattersifyoutakethelead.Generallywedislikearguments,andweavoidtopicswhichleadtodisagreement.It’seasytoreturntodiscussingtheweather:“DoyouliketheUSA?〞Howdoyouliketheweather?〞ormakingcompliments:〞Whatlovelyflowersandwhatabeautifulvase!〞“That’sfabulousdressyou’rewearing.〞Youshouldacceptcomplimentsgraciouslyandsay“Thankyou!〞Thereareacoupleofdangeroustopicsofconversation:ageandmoney.Ageisnottreatedassomethingveryspecial,unlesssomeoneisveryold:“Isn’tshewonderfulforherage!〞andtherearenospecialrulesorsignsofextrarespectforelderlypeople.Anyway,Americansalwayswanttolookyoungerthantheyreallyare,sodon’texpectanaccuratereply!Incomeisaveryprivatematter,andyou’ddowelltoavoidaskinghowmuchpeopleearn,althoughsomepeoplemaynotonlybeopenaboutit,butshowofftheirwealth.Wedon’taskhowmuchthingscost,either.Butwhatwedon’tlikeissilence,andalmostanythingisbetterthantheembarrassmentforaquietpartyandsilentguests.TheAAAItisestimatedthat80%ofallconversationinEnglishissmalltalk.Averyimportantfunctionofsmalltalkistoestablisharelationshipbetweenpeoplewhodon’tknoweachotherverywell,ordon’tknoweachotheratall.PsychologistssaythatthemostsuccessfulformulaforsmalltalkbetweenpeoplelikethisistheAAAmodel.AAA=answer,addandask.Thisishowitworks.Imagineasituationwheretwostrangersaretalkingtoeachotheraftersomeonetheybothknowhaslefttheroom,orthecaféorparty,etc.thefirstpersonasksaquestion:A:Doyoulivenearhere?Thesecondpersonrepliesbyansweringthequestion,addingsomeextrainformationandthenaskinganotherquestion:B:(Answer)Yes,Ido.(Add)InanapartmentonBrownStreet.(Ask)Doyoulivenearbytoo?Thefirstpersondoesthesame,answer,addandask:A:(Answer)No,IliveinBristol.(Add)I’mjustvisitingLondon.(Ask)Haveyoulivedherelong?B:(Answer)Notsolong.(Add)Imovedherethreeyearsago.(Ask)What’sthepurposeofyouvisittoLondon?Thespeakersmayhavedifficultyatfirst,buttheysoonrealizethattheimportantthingisthattheyaresayingsomething.BycontinuingwiththeAAAmodel,theconversationcontinues.Becausethethingtheybothwanttoavoidisanembarrassingsilence.Theconversationcancontinueinthiswayforalongtime.However,somethingcanhappenthatcompletelychangestheatmosphere.B:WhydoyouliveinBristol?A:I’mstudyingthere.History.Areyouastudent?B:Yes.AndIknowsomepeoplewhoarestudyingatBristol.DoyouknowagirlcalledHelenBrown?A:HelenBrown?Yes!She’sonofmybestfriends!Howdoyouknowher?B:She’smycousin.Atthispoint,theAAAmodelstops.Becausetheyusedthisveryusefultechnique,theyfoundsomethingtheyhaveincommonatlast.Module2FantasyLiteratureTheCatThatVanishedWillwasstupefiedwithexhaustion,andhemighthavegoneontothenorth,orhemighthavelaidhisheadonthegrassunderoneofthosetreesandslept;butashestoodtryingtoclearhishead,hesawacat.Shewasatabby,likeMoxie.ShepaddedoutofagardenontheOxfordsideoftheroad,whereWillwasstanding.Willputdownhisshoppingbagandheldouthishand,andthecatcameuptorubherheadagainsthisknuckles,justasMoxiedid.Ofcourse,everycatbehavedlikethat,butallthesameWillfeltsuchalongingtoturnforhomethattearsscaldedhiseyes.Eventuallythiscatturnedaway.Thiswasnight,andtherewasaterritorytopatrol,thereweremicetohunt.Shepaddedacrosstheroadandtowardsthebushesjustbeyondthehornbeamtrees,andthereshestopped.Willstillwatching,sawthecatbehavecuriously.Shereachedoutapawtopatsomethingintheairinfrontofher,somethingquiteinvisibletoWill.Thensheleaptbackwards,backarchedandfuronend,tailheldoutstiffly.Willknewcat-behaviour.Hewatchedmorealertlyasthecatapproachedthespotagain,justanemptypatchofgrassbetweenthehornbeamsandthebushesofagardenhedge,andpattedtheaironcemore.Againsheleaptback,butlessfarandwithlessalarmthistime.Afteranotherfewsecondsofsniffing,touching,whisker-twitching,curiosityovercamewariness.Thecatsteppedforward,andvanished.Willblinked.Thenhestoodstill,closetothetrunkofthenearesttree,asatruckcameroundthecircleandsweptitslightsoverhim.Whenithadgonepasthecrossedtheroad,keepinghiseyesonthespotwherethecathadbeeninvestigating.Itwasn’teasy,becausetherewasnothingtofixon,butwhenhecametotheplaceandcastabouttolookclosely,hesawit.Atleast,hesawitfromsomeangles.Itlookedasifsomeonehadcutapatchoutoftheair,abouttwometresfromtheedgeoftheroad,apatchroughlysquareinshapeandlessthanametreacross.Ifyouwerelevelwiththepatchsothatitwasedge-on,itwasnearlyinvisible,anditwascompletelyinvisiblefrombehind.Youcouldonlyseeitfromthesidenearesttheroad,andyoucouldn’tseeiteasilyevenfromthere,becauseallyoucouldseethroughitwasexactlythesamekindofthingthatlayinfrontofitonthisside:apatchofgrasslitbyastreetlight.ButWillknewwithouttheslightestdoubtthatthatpatchofgrassontheothersidewasinadifferentworld.Hecouldn’tpossiblyhavesaidwhy.Heknewitatonce,asstronglyasheknewthatfireburnedandkindnesswasgood.Hewaslookingatsomethingprofoundlyalien.Andforthatreasonalone,itenticedhimtostooppandlookfurther.Whathesawmadehisheadswimandhisheartthumpharder,buthedidn’thesitate:hepushedhisshoppingbagthrough,andthenscrambledthroughhimself,throughtheholeinthefabricofthisworldandintoanother.Hefoundhimselfstandingunderarowoftrees.Butnothornbeamtrees:theseweretallpalms,andtheyweregrowing,likethetreesinOxford,inalinealongthegrass.Buthiswasthecentreofabroadboulevard,andatthesideoftheboulevardwasalineofcafesandsmallshops,allbrightlylit,allopen,andallutterlysilentandemptybeneathaskythickwithstars.Thehotnightwasladenwiththescentofflowersandwiththesaltsmellofthesea.Willlookedaroundcarefully.Behindhimthefullmoonsonedownoveradistantprospectofgreatgreenhills,andontheslopesatthefootofthehillsthereerehouseswithrichgardensandanopenparklandwithgrovesoftreesandthewhitegleamofaclassicaltemple.Justbesidehimwasthatbarepatchintheair,ashardtoseefromthissideasfromtheother,butdefinitelythere.HebenttolookthroughandsawtheroadinOxford,hisownworld.Theturnedawaywithashudder:whateverthisnewworldwas,ithadtobebetterthanwhathe’djustleft.Withadawninglight-headedness,thefeelingthathewasdreamingbutawakeatthesametime,hestoodupandlookedaroundforthecat,hisguide.TheStoryofJ.K.RowlingandHarryPotterTheelderstateswomanofBritishfantasyliteratureisJ.K.Rowling,thegiftedcreatorofHarryPotter.JoanneRowling’srootsareinthesouthwestofEngland,whereshegrewup.ButtheideaforHarryPottercametoherwhileshewasonadelayedtrainbetweenManchesterandLondon.Shewrotedownherideasonthebackofanenvelope.ShethenwenttoteachEnglishinPortugal,whereshecontinuedtoaddfleshtothebonesofthefirstHarryPotterstory.ButhernameisforeverassociatedwithEdinburghinScotland,whereshelivedanddevelopedtheformatforthewholeseriesofsevenbooks.Therearemanyanecdotesabouthow,in1990,J.K.RowlingbeganthefirstdraftofHarryPotterandthePhilosopher’sStone.Shehadtheextraburdenoflookingafterherbabydaughterwhilesheworked,andbecauseshewastoopoortoownatypewriter,shewrotebyhand.ShespentmanyhoursoverasinglecupofcoffeeinawarmcafeteriainEdinburghbecauseshehadnomoneytopayfortheheatingathome.SuccesswasnotswiftandRowlingmighthavegivenup.Butshewasstubbornandovercameallthedifficulties.Itwasonlyin1997thatshecompletedthefirstHarryPotterstory,which,becausethepublishersintheUSArequestedanadjustmenttothetitle,wasalsoknownasHarryPotterandtheSorcerer’sStone.Rowlingalwaysintendedthatheroutputwouldbeabookeveryyearuntilshehadfinishedtheseries.Infact,ittookherabouttenyearstocomplete.Butafterthefirstbook,thesuccessofeachofthefollowingtitleswasautomatic.Thefifthbook,TheOrderofthePhoenixsoldaboutsevenmillioncopiesthedayitwaspublished.Rowling’sstylehasbeenatargetforsomecriticism,butwhatmakesthebookssoimportantisthat,becausetheyappealtoreadersofallages,theycreateaspecialliterarybondbetweenparentsandchildren.Inanageofcomputergamesandtelevisionprogrammes,itisalsoclaimedtheyareresponsibleforarenewedinterestinreading.HarryPotterhasevenbecomepartoftheschoolcurriculum,muchtothepleasureoftheschoolchildren.AndtheHarryPottereffectisnotjustrestrictedtotheEnglish-speakingworld.Rowling’sbookshavebeentranslatedintomorethan55languages,andithasbeenestimatedthathmorethan250millioncopieshavebeendistributedaroundtheworld.In2005itwasestimatedthatRowlinghadaccumulatedmorethanonebilliondollarsondepositinherbank.Shehasthusattainedthestatusofbeingthefirstwritertobecomeabillionaire.IntroductionOneofthegreatestBritishwritesoffantasyliteraturewasC.S.Lewis(1898-1963),whowroteTheLion,theWitchandtheWardrobe.LucydiscoversthewinterlandofExtractfromTheLion,theWitchandtheWardrobeAndthenshesawthattherewasalightaheadofher;notafewinchesawaywherethebackofthewardrobeoughttohavebeen,butalongwayoff.Somethingcoldandsoftwasfallingonher.Amomentlatershefoundthatshewasstandinginthemiddleofawoodatnighttimewithsnowunderherfeetandsnowflakesfallingthroughtheair.Lucyfeltalittlefrightened,butshefeltveryinquisitiveandexcitedaswell.Shelookedbackoverhershoulderandthere,betweenthedarktreetrunks,shecouldstillseetheopendoorwayofthewardrobeandevencatchaglimpseoftheemptyroomfromwhichshehadsetout.(Shehad,ofcourse,leftthedooropen,forsheknewthatitwasaverysillythingtoshutoneselfintoawardrobe.)Itseemedtobestilldaylightthere.“Icanalwaysgetbackifanythinggoeswrong,〞thoughtLucy.Shebegantowalkforward,crunch-crunchoverthesnowandthroughthewoodtowardstheotherlight.Inabouttenminutesshereacheditandfounditwasalamppost.Asshestoodlookingatit,wonderingwhytherewasalamppostinthemiddleofawood,andwonderingwhattodonext,sheheardthepitter-patteroffeetcomingtowardsher.Andsoonafterthataverystrangepersonsteppedoutfromamongthetreesintothelightofthelamppost.HewasonlyalittletallerthanLucyherselfandcarriedoverhisheadanumbrella,whitewithsnow.Fromthewaistupwarshewaslikeaman,buthislegswereshapedlikeagoat’s(thehaironthemwasglossyblack)andinsteadoffeethehadgoat’shoofs.Healsohadatail,butLucydidnotnoticethisatfirstbecauseitwassoneatlycaughtupoverthearmthatheldtheumbrellasoastokeepitfromtrailinginthesnow.Hehadaredwoolenmufflerroundhisneckandhisskinwasratherreddishtoo.Hehadastrange,butpleasantlittleface,withashortpointedbeardandcurlyhair,andoutofthehairtherestucktwohorns,oneoneachsideofhisforehead.Oneofhishands,asIhavesaid,heldtheumbrella;intheotherarmhecarriedseveralbrown-paperparcels.WiththeparcelsandthesnowitlookedjustasifhehadbeendoinghisChristmasshopping.HewasaFaun.AndwhenhesawLucyhegavesuchastartofsurprisethathedroppedallhisparcels.“Goodnessgraciousme!〞exclaimedtheFaun.TheLordoftheRingsOneofthemostfamousfantasystoriesofthetwentiethcenturyisthetrilogyTheLordoftheRingsbyJ.R.R.Tolkien.Allthreepartsofthestoryhavebeenmadeintoverysuccessfulfilms.ThestorytakesplaceinaworldcalledMiddleEarth.Humansareonlyoneofthecreatureswhoexistatthistime.Therearealsoelves,tallbeautifulcreatureswhohavemagicalpowersandneverdie.Therearehobbits,whoarelikesmallhumansandliveinholesinhills.Therearealsodwarves,whoaresimilartosmall,uglymenandlivedeepinthemountains.InTheLordoftheRings,awickedwizardcalledSauron,whohasgreatmagicalpowers,hascreatedninerings.Anycreaturewhopossessesoneoftheseringshasgreatpower.ButSauronhascreatedonering–theRing–thatcancontrolalloftheserings.ThepersonwhohasthisringcontrolsthewholeofMiddleEarth.Fortunately,thisringhasbeenlostforhundredsofyears.Butthenitisdiscoveredbyahobbit.Sauron,realisengthattheRinghasbeenfound,sendshiscreaturestogetitback.IfhefindstheRing,SauronwillruleMiddleEarthanditwillbecomeaplaceofdarknessandfear.Gandalf,agoodwizard,realizesthatinordertosaveMiddleEarth,theRingmustbedestroyed.Todothis,someonemusttaketheRingintoSauron’skingdom.There,theymustdestroytheRinginthefiresthatcreatedit.ThethreebookstellthestoryofthejourneytodestroytheRing.InthelastbookofthetrilogythereisaterriblewarbetweenSauronandhiscreatures,andthosewhowanttosaveMiddleEarth.ManypeoplebelievethatTheLoadoftheRingsisthebesttwentiethcenturynovelinEnglish.Ofcourse,therearealwaysthosewhodonotenjoyreadingfantasynovels.Butifyoudo,thenthisisonestoryyoushoulddefinitelyread.Module3InterpersonalRelationships–FriendshipRoy’sStoryIrememberthefirsttimeImetRoy.Hewasstandinginthecentreofagroupofboys,andhewastellingajoke.Whenhereachedthefinalline,everyoneburstoutlaughing.Roylaughedtoo.Aloudhappylaugh.“Popularboy,〞Ithoughttomyself.MynameisDaniel.IwasfromthenorthofEngland,butmyfatherhadbeenofferedabetterjobinLondon,andourwholefamilyhadmovedthere.Iwastwelveand,havinglostallmyoldfriends,Ifeltshyandlonelyatmynewschool.Therewere33studentsinmynewclass,andmostpeopleweren’tveryinterestedinashynewboy.Roywasoneofthefewpeoplewhowerekindtome.Heofteninvitedmetojoinhisparticulargroup,andasaresult,Istartedgettingtoknowpeople.RoyandIbecomegoodfriends.Wetrustedeachotherandwecouldtalkaboutpersonalmatters,thingsthatwereimportanttous.Fiveyearslater,RoyandIarestillinthesameclass.Butjustunderayearago.Roy’sfatherwasknockedoverbyacar.Hediedafewdayslater.Thefamilyhadtomovetoamuchsmallerhouseinordertomanagefinancially.Roy,whohadalwaysbeenveryclosetohisfather,changedcompletely,becomingsilentandmoody.Hehadalwaysbeenaclever,hard-workingstudentbutnowheseemedtoloseallinterestinhiswork.Hestartedlosingfriends.Thesedays,RoyandIseeeachotherfromtimetotime,butwenolongerclose.Aboutthreemonthsago,agroupofuswereplayingfootballtogetherafterschool.Havingleftsomethinginthecloakroom,Iwentinsidetogetit,andfoundRoygoingthroughthepocketsofpeople’scoats.Inhishandhehadawallet–andIknewitwasn’this!MymouthfellopenandIjustlookedathim.Roywentbrightred.〞I’llputitbackrightnow,〞hesaid,andhedidso.Iturnedroundandwalkedoutwithoutsayingaword.IreallyhopedthatRoywouldexplainwhyhehadbeenstealing,butinsteadhestartedavoidingme.Atthesametime,smallamountsofmoneystarteddisappearingfromstudents’lockers.IwonderifthethiefwasRoybutdecidednottosayanythingtoanyone.Ihopeitwasn’thim.Lastweekourschoolhadabigfairinordertoraisemoneyforacharity.Itwasverysuccessfulandbytheendoftheday,wehadmadeabout$500.Ourclassteacher,MrWhite,cameandchattedtoagroupofusthatincludedRoy,andheldupaboxforustosee.“There’s$500inhere,〞hesaidwithasmile.Buttooursurprise,thenextmorning,weweretoldthatthemoneyhadbeenstolen.MrWhitehadlefttheboxinaclassroomforafewminutes,andwhenhecamebackithaddisappeared.Theheadteacheraskedanyonewhothoughttheymightknowsomethingaboutthethefttocometohim.Thisweekend,havingthoughtaboutthesituationforawhile,IdecidedtoaskRoyaboutthetheft,andthismorningIwenttoseehim.Roywasout,andIwentupstairstohisbedroomtowaitforhim.Itwasacolddayandhisjacketwaslyingonthebackofachair.Iputitonandputmyhandsinthepockets.IcouldfeelalotofpapernotesandIpulledthemout.Itlookedasiftherewasabout$500there.IwassosurprisedthatIjuststoodthere,holdingthenotesinmyhands.Atthatmoment,thedoorswungopen,andRoywalkedin.ChildhoodFriendsThefirsttimeIlostmybestfriend,Ithoughtitwastheendoftheworld.Idon’tmeanthathedied,hejustwentaway,butIstillmeasureallpainbyhowhurtIwaswhenDannyleft.Iwasblessedwithahappychildhood,onethatmostpeoplewouldwanttohave.WelivedinasmallbungalowinatinyvillageinScotlandandwewereaveryclosefamily.OurneighboursnextdoorhadasonnamedDanny,andwegrewuptogether.Wespentlongsummereveningsinthepineforests,diggingupwormsforfishing,andcollectingfeathersleftbythebirdsinthecageswheretheyhadbeenkeptforthehunters.ItwasherethatIdiscoveredthatIwasallergictothetinyflieswhichbitmeandmademyfaceswell.Therewereafewwalnuttreesabovethevillageandwewouldchasethesquirrelsawayandwaitforthemtoripen.Ofcourse,itwastoofarnorthforaproperharvest.Onwindydayswe’dslidedownthestonyslopestothelochandfeelthesprayoftheseainourfaces.Dannywasagoodcarpentertoo,andwemadebroomsoutofbranches,whichwetriedtosellinthevillageshop.Webuiltatreehouse,wherewesmokedourfirstcigar,andIwassick!OnceIslippedonsomedampleaves,fellout,scratchedmyarmsandcuttheheelofmyfoot,sohewashedmywoundsinthestream.Hewasaveryconsiderateboyforsomeonesoyoung.Mymothersimplyscoldedmefortearingmyunderwear.Wewereongoodtermswitheveryoneinthevillage,andweevengaveasalutetothelocalpolicemanashepassedonhisbicycle.Butinourimagination,hewasanenemysoldier,andweweretwospieslookingforsecrets.Itwasthefinestfriendshipanyonecouldhave,andlifeseemedperfect.Andthenattheageof14,hisparentsmovedtoLondon,over400kilometresaway.Thepainwasacute,andIcouldn’tforgiveDannyforleavingme.Ifelthehadbetrayedme.ItwastheworstlossIhaveeverexperienced.I’mnowbackintouchwithDanny,andit’saprivilegetocallhimmyfriend.We’rebothmuchmorematurenow,andwe’restillveryalike.ButwhileI’mnostalgicforthehappytimeswespenttogethermanyyearsago,I’mashamedofmyfeelings,andIdon’twanttorewindtherecordingofmylifeandremembermylossandmypain.FriendsReunitedOneofthebiggestInternetsuccessesisawebsitecalledFriendsReunit