ACME
28-04-2014, 09:32 PM
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A LONG WALK HOME
by Jason Bocarro
from Chicken Soup for the Teenage SouI
http://www.saudienglish.net/upload/image30339.html
I grew up in the south of Spain in a little community called Estepona
I was 16 when one morning, my father told me I could drive him into a
remote village called Mijas, about 18 miles away, on the condition
that I take the car in to be serviced at a nearby garage. Having just
learned to drive and hardly ever having the opportunity to use the car,
I readily accepted. I drove Dad into Mijas and promised to pick him
up at 4 p.m., then drove to a nearby garage and dropped off the car.
Because I had a few hours to spare, I decided to catch a couple of
movies at a theater near the garage. However, I became so immersed
in the films that I completely lost track of time. When the last movie
had finished, I looked down at my watch. It was six o'clock. I was two
hours late !
I knew Dad would be angry if he found out I'd been watching
movies. He'd never let me drive again. I decided to tell him that the
car needed some repairs and that they had taken longer than had
been expected. I drove up to the place where we had planned to meet
and saw Dad waiting patiently on the corner. I apologized for being
late and told him that I'd come as quickly as I could, but the car had
needed some major repairs. I'll never forget the look he gave me.
"I'm disappointed that you feel you have to lie to me, Jason."
*What do you mean? I'm telling the truth."
Dad looked at me again. "When you did not show up, I called the
garage to ask if there were any problems, and they told me that you
had not yet picked up the car. So you see, I know there were no
problems with the car.:smile (84):" A rush of guilt ran through me as I feebly
confessed to my trip to the movie theater and the real reason for my
tardiness. Dad listened intently as a sadness passed through him.
"I'm angry, not with you but with myself. You see, I realize that I
have failed as a father if after all these years you feel that you have to
lie to me. I have failed because I have brought up a son who cannot
even tell the truth to his own father. I'm going to walk home now and
contemplate8 where I have gone wrong all these years."
"But Dad, it's 18 miles to home. It's dark. You can't walk home."
My protests , my apologies and the rest of my utterances were
useless. I had let my father down, and I was about to learn one of the
most painful lessons of my life. Dad began walking along the dusty
roads. I quickly jumped in the car and followed behind, hoping he
would relent. I pleaded all the way, telling him how sorry I was, but
he simply ignored me, continuing on silently, thoughtfully and
painfully. For 18 miles I drove behind him, averaging about five miles
per hour.
Seeing my father in so much physical and emotional pain was the
most distressing and painful experience that I have ever faced.
However, it was also the most successful lesson. I have never lied to
him since.
The End
.
A LONG WALK HOME
by Jason Bocarro
from Chicken Soup for the Teenage SouI
http://www.saudienglish.net/upload/image30339.html
I grew up in the south of Spain in a little community called Estepona
I was 16 when one morning, my father told me I could drive him into a
remote village called Mijas, about 18 miles away, on the condition
that I take the car in to be serviced at a nearby garage. Having just
learned to drive and hardly ever having the opportunity to use the car,
I readily accepted. I drove Dad into Mijas and promised to pick him
up at 4 p.m., then drove to a nearby garage and dropped off the car.
Because I had a few hours to spare, I decided to catch a couple of
movies at a theater near the garage. However, I became so immersed
in the films that I completely lost track of time. When the last movie
had finished, I looked down at my watch. It was six o'clock. I was two
hours late !
I knew Dad would be angry if he found out I'd been watching
movies. He'd never let me drive again. I decided to tell him that the
car needed some repairs and that they had taken longer than had
been expected. I drove up to the place where we had planned to meet
and saw Dad waiting patiently on the corner. I apologized for being
late and told him that I'd come as quickly as I could, but the car had
needed some major repairs. I'll never forget the look he gave me.
"I'm disappointed that you feel you have to lie to me, Jason."
*What do you mean? I'm telling the truth."
Dad looked at me again. "When you did not show up, I called the
garage to ask if there were any problems, and they told me that you
had not yet picked up the car. So you see, I know there were no
problems with the car.:smile (84):" A rush of guilt ran through me as I feebly
confessed to my trip to the movie theater and the real reason for my
tardiness. Dad listened intently as a sadness passed through him.
"I'm angry, not with you but with myself. You see, I realize that I
have failed as a father if after all these years you feel that you have to
lie to me. I have failed because I have brought up a son who cannot
even tell the truth to his own father. I'm going to walk home now and
contemplate8 where I have gone wrong all these years."
"But Dad, it's 18 miles to home. It's dark. You can't walk home."
My protests , my apologies and the rest of my utterances were
useless. I had let my father down, and I was about to learn one of the
most painful lessons of my life. Dad began walking along the dusty
roads. I quickly jumped in the car and followed behind, hoping he
would relent. I pleaded all the way, telling him how sorry I was, but
he simply ignored me, continuing on silently, thoughtfully and
painfully. For 18 miles I drove behind him, averaging about five miles
per hour.
Seeing my father in so much physical and emotional pain was the
most distressing and painful experience that I have ever faced.
However, it was also the most successful lesson. I have never lied to
him since.
The End
.