College Entrance Exam English Full Score Composition

Chapter 8

Shelaidthepieceofcarpetonthekitchencounter,andthetwogirlsheadedoutsidetoplaywiththefamilydogs.

Holly’sdisappointmentovertheincidentdidn’tbecomeevidentuntilthefollowingeveningwhenshecamedownstairstosaygoodnight.“Well,Iguessweknowhowmuchmybestfriendthinksofme,huh,Mom?”Herattemptatacheerfultonefailedcompletely.

Thenextmorning,Icarriedakitchenrubbishbagoutside.MyheartwrenchedasIopenedtherubbishcanandsawSusan’scarpetlyingamongtheotherwasteitems.Hesitatingonlyamoment,Ireachedinandpulleditoutofthecan.Aftergivingitalightbrushing,Ibroughtitintothehouseandputitawayinthehallcloset.Occupiedbythebusinessofdailyliving,thecarpetwassoonforgotten.

BeforeHolly’sbirthday,Susanhadbeenaregularvisitorinourhome.Onseveraloccasions,sherodethebushomewithHollyandwasoneofthefewfriendseverpermittedtostayoveronaschoolnight.Thegirlsdidtheirhomeworktogetherandwenttobedatareasonablehour.NowasIcookedtheeveningmeal,Irealizedithadbeennearlythreeweekssincewe’devenheardthementionofSusan’sname.Imissedherwarmsmileandeager-to-pleaseways.

ThenoiseatthefrontdoortoldmeHollyhadarrivedhomefromschool.“Susaninvitedmetocomeovertoherhouseafterschooltomorrow.”Sheannouncedassheputherbooksdownonthekitchentable.Althoughhervoicecarriedaso-whatattitude,Isensedshewaspleasedbytheinvitation.

Arrangementsweremade,andthegirlsrodehometogetherontheschoolbusthefollowingday.AsItravelledalongthewindingcountryroadthatledtoherhouse,Susantalkednervouslyaboutherfostermom(养母)andtheseventeencatsshehadtakeninandcaredforwithSusan’shelp.

Susanguidedusthroughthehouse.Sheproudlyshowedusherroom,whichwasdecoratedwithusedfurniture.Anoldpictureframe(框架)sittingbesidethebedcontainedpicturesofSusan’sparentsandsiblingsfromwhom,welaterlearned,shehadlongsincebeenseparated.

IfollowedSusan’sfostermom—whointroducedherselfasGlenda—intothekitchen.Afterclearingasmallarea,Glendaplacedacoupleofcupsonthetable.Herhandtrembledslightlyasshepoureduseachacupofsteamingblackcoffee.Shebegantorelaxaswedrankourcoffeeandchattedabouthercats.

HereyesshoneassheshowedherfondnessforSusan. Butherexpressionturnedbluewhenshereferredbrieflytothegirl'spast.

Asday lightbegantofade, we offered our thanks for the visit and said good-bye.

Hollysatquietlyinthecaronthewayhome.Stealingaglance,Inoticedherbackwasstraight.Herheadandshoulderswerethrustforwardasifwillingthecartomovefaster.Nosoonerhadwecometoastopinthedrivewaythanshethrewo