She must have seen that I was disappointed.I couldn't believe she could let me down. She knew how much I had looked forward to the theatre trip.She hardly ever saw her brother.Kathy had often said that her parents were worried about him,and that they were convinced he was getting into trouble. Before she left,she gave me the theatre ticket saying:"Take your Mum to see the show.I don't want any money for the ticket." I was almost in tears.After she had gone,Mum was very kind and understanding. "There aren't many friends you can trust,"she said.And she made me promise that I would never see Kathy again.I agreed,and felt that was the least I could do by way of revenge for my disappointment. Two months later I read in the newspaper that the police had arrested Kathy and her brother for shoplifting.The judge gave them a discharge,on condition that they did not repeat their offence.In other words,they had been found guilty and warned not to do it again. I could not understand how Kathy could have done such a thing.It was so unlike her.I felt intensely sorry for her and longed to tell her so. The next day,though,I was shopping with my Mum when we both saw her.She looked very unhappy.She seemed to have lost her sparkle. Kathy stopped to say hello.Mum said "Hello,Kathy,nice to see you!"and smiled politely but carried on walking. I stopped and thought hard and unhappily about what I should say. "Have you got a job yet,Sarah?" I managed to reply "Yes.It's great.It's great fun!" Mum was walking away from me.I wanted to stop and talk-but there was my promise to Mum.There was even that little part of me that still wanted revenge.I hesitated.I knew that my mother was wrong.After all,what's a little shoplifting between friends?But I hesitated a little too long.For Kathy turned away and said "I'm glad." And she was gone.I had no chance to ask if she too was working.I had no chance to mend our friendship. I caught up with Mum who said "You did well to be like that with her.She's not your s0rt.” It was a long time before I found another friend like Kathy.And to this day I feel guilty about her. 925She must have seen that I was disappointed. I couldn't believe she could let me down. She knew how much I had looked forward to the theatre trip. She hardly ever saw her brother. Kathy had often said that her parents were worried about him. and that they were convinced he was getting into trouble. Before she left. she gave me the theatre ticket saying: "Take your Mum to see the show. I don't want any money for the ticket. " I was almost in tears. After she had gone. Mum was very kind and understanding. "There aren't many friends you can trust." she said. And she made me promise that I would never see Kathy again. I agreed. and felt that was the least I could do by way of revenge for my disappointment. Two months later I read in the newspaper that the police had arrested Kathy and her brother for shoplifting. The judge gave them a discharge. on condition that they did not repeat their offence. In other words. they had been found guilty and warned not to do it agam. I could not understand how Kathy could have done such a thing. It was so unlike her. I felt intensely sorry for her and longed to tell her so. The next day. though. I was shopping with my Mum when we both saw her. She looked very unhappy. She seemed to have lost her sparkle. Kathy stopped to say hello. Mum said "Hello. Kathy. nice to see you!" and smiled politely but carried on walking. I stopped and thought hard and unhappily about what I should say. "Have you got a job yet. Sarah?" I managed to reply "Yes. It's great. It's great fun!" Mum was walking away from me. I wanted to stop and talk - but there was my promise to Mum. There was even that little part of me that still wanted revenge. I hesitated. I knew that my mother was wrong. After all. what's a little shoplifting between friends? But I hesitated a little too long. For Kathy turned away and said glad. " And she was gone. I had no chance to ask if she too was working. I had no chance to mend our friendship. I caught up with Mum who said "You did well to be like that with her. She's not your sort. " It was a long time before I found another friend like Kathy. And to this day I feel guilty about her. 925