The Gift of Forgiveness
The summer I turned 16, my father gave me his old 69 Chevy Malibu convertible. What did I know about classic cars? For me, the important thing was that Hannah and I could 11 around Tucson with the top down.
69 Chevy Malibu convertible
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Hannah was my best friend, a year younger but much 12 . That summer she 13 with a modeling agency, doing catalog and runway work.
A month after my birthday, Hannah and I went to the movies. On the way home, we 14 at the McDonald’s drive-through, putting the fries in the space between us to 15 . “Let’s ride around awhile,” I said. It was a clear night, hot, full moon hanging low over the desert. Taking a curve (弯) too 16 , I ran over some dirt and fishtailed. I then moved quickly through a neighbor’s landscape wall and drove into a full-grown palm tree. The front wheel came to rest halfway 17 the tree trunk.
There were French fries on the floor, the dash (仪表盘) and my lap. An impossible amount of 18 was on Hannah’s face, pieces of skin hanging around her eyes. We were taken in separate ambulances. In the emergency room, my parents spoke quietly: “Best plastic surgeon (整容医生) in the city…but it is more likely the 19 of her modeling career…”
We’d been wearing lap belts, 20 the car didn’t have shoulder belts. I’d broken my cheekbone on the steering wheel; Hannah’s 21 had split wide open on the dash. What would I say to her?
When her mother, Sharon, came into my hospital room, I started to cry, preparing myself for her 22 . She sat beside me and took my hand. “I drove into the back of the car of my best friend when I was your age,” she said. “I completely 23 her car and mine.”
“I’m so sorry,” I said.
“You’re both 24 ,” she said. “Everything else doesn’t matter.” I started to explain, and Sharon stopped me. “I 25 you. Hannah will too.”
Sharon’s forgiveness allowed Hannah and me to get back in the car together that summer, to stay 26 throughout high school and college, to be in each other’s weddings. I think of her gift of forgiveness every time I tend to feel angry about someone for a perceived（可感知到的） 27 , and whenever I see Hannah. The scars (伤疤 ) are now 28 and no one else would notice, but in the sunlight I can still 29 the faint, shiny skin just below her hairline—for 30 , a sign of forgiveness.
11. A. drive B. run C. wander D. march
12. A. stronger B. healthier C. taller D. smaller
13. A. competed B. chatted C. signed D. bargained
14. A. stopped B. ate C. aimed D. stood
15. A. catch B. share C. hold D. spare
16. A. fast B. seriously C. softly D. slow
17. A. across B. up C. below D. along
18. A. blood B. petrol C. water D. sweat
19. A. path B. base C. point D. end [
20. A. and B. but C. or D. so
21. A. shoulders B. arms C. chest D. forehead
22. A. anger B. regret C. sorrow D. concern
23. A. attacked B. dragged C. damaged D. removed
24. A. alike B. relieved C. injured D. alive
25. A. help B. love C. understand D. forgive
26. A. sisters B. friends C. classmates D. colleagues
27. A. need B. effort C. wrong D. threat
28. A. left B. marked C. shown D. faded
29. A. touch B. see C. feel D. learn
30. A. them B. you C. me D. her
