Charles and I used to hang out all the time , together with a few other guys , but he seemed too cool for us lately . We couldn’t understand the 36 , and we didn’t ask him for an explanation . 37 , we decided to 38 him a lesson in the way he treated us .
Once we started giving Charles the 39 shoulder , almost everybody was taking no notice of him . He looked so 40 , especially at lunchtime when he sat alone in the cafeteria . Now and then he nodded and said , “Hey!” when 41 passed his table , but all he got 42 return were mean looks and silence .
At first I was glad my plan had 43 , but Charles’ unhappiness made me upset . I only wanted him to know 44 it felt like to be blown off , but I hadn’t thought about how badly my “l(fā)esson” would 45 him .
During one lunch period, I 46 as Charles repeatedly glanced at his watch , obviously 47 the minutes until he could leave the cafeteria . I suddenly realized I had done wrong .
“Hey ! man . I’m terribly sorry.” I called out .
Charles turned around 48 , clearly wanting to avoid eye contact .
“Oh, so you are talking to me now ?” he asked .
“I’m so sorry , 49 I had thought that you wanted to end our friendship.” I said .
“What?” he nearly shouted , looking much 50 . “I’ve left you alone because I thought that was what you wanted.”
“Oh, my God ! Why would I want 51 ?” I shouted , completely puzzled .
Clearly , we both had been 52 each other wrong .
At first Charles couldn’t accept my 53 . I knew he needed time to 54 all the hurt I’d caused him . But eventually , he did forgive me . We even started hanging out together 55 . And our friendship wasn’t destroyed at all .
The other day, I happened to meet someone I hadn’t seen for many years. I couldn’t believe the change in him. In fact, he didn’t even seem like the 21 person.
When I first knew Bill, back in 22 , he was one of the most carefree（無憂無慮）people I had ever 23 . He was always ready to have a party. He thought 24 of going out for beer at three o’clock in the morning or driving 50 miles to see an old 25 he really liked. Bill and I were in the same class in college, and 26 was never dull when he was 27 . With him there was one wild 28 after another. Sometimes I wonder how we 29 to study for our exams.
Last week I was in Houston on business and I ran into Bill in the bar at the hotel. 30 , I wasn’t even sure it was 31 . Was this short – haired businessman really the same person? I wasn’t really sure until I came near him but it indeed was Bill. Now he works for a bank. He 32 most of the evening about his job, his new car and his house. How he had changed! Back when we were in college, the 33 thing Bill cared about was possessions. Now they seemed to be his main 34 . Although I have changed quite a bit myself, somehow, I never 35 Bill changing so much. My image of him 36 the one I had formed 37 the time when we were college students together.
I suppose it’s 38 to expect people to remain the same, especially 39 I have changed so much myself. But I must say that I enjoyed the old Bill much more than the new Bill. Maybe he 40 the same way about me.
