When I was about 12, I had an “enemy”, a girl who liked to point out my shortcomings (缺点). Week by week her list grew: I was very thin; I wasn’t a good student; I talked too much; I was too proud, and so on. At last, I couldn’t stand it. I cried and ran to my father. He listened to me quietly. Then he asked, “Sweetie, are the things she says true or not? Didn’t you ever wonder what you are really like? Well, you now have that girl’s opinion. Go and make a list of everything she said and find out the points that are true. Pay no attention to the other things she said.”

I did as he told. To my surprise, I discovered that about half the things were true. Some of them I couldn’t change (like being very thin), but a good number I could and suddenly I wanted to change. For the first time I got a fairly clear picture of myself.

I brought the list back to Dad. He refused to take it. “It’s just the case for you,” he said, “you know better than anyone the truth about yourself. But you have to learn to listen, not just close your ears in anger and feeling hurt. When something said about you is true, you’ll find it will be of great help to you. Our world is full of people who think they know your duty. Don't shut your ears, listen to them all, but hear the truth only and do what you know is right to do.”

Daddy’s advice has returned to me at many important moments. In my life, I’ve never had a better piece of advice.

Everyone gathered around and Paddy read out loud, slowly, his tone growing sadder and sadder. The little headline said: BOXER RECEIVFS LIFE SENTENCE.

Frank Cleary, aged 26, professional boxer, was today found guilty of the murder of Albert Cumming, aged 32, laborer, last July. The jury (陪审团)reached its decision after only ten minutes, recommending the most severe punishment the court could give out.It was, said the judge, a simple case. Cumming and Cleary had quarreled violently at the Harbour Hotel on July 23rd and police saw Cleary kicking at the head of the unconscious Cumming. When arrested Cleary was drunk but clear-thinking…

Cleary was sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labour .Asked if he had anything to say, Cleary answered, “Just don’t tell my mother.”

It happened over three years ago, “Paddy said helplessly. No one answered him or moved, for no one knew what to do. “Just don’t tell my mother, said Fee numbly. “And no one did!Oh. God! My poor, poor Frank!”

Paddy wiped the tears from his face and said, “Fee dear, pack your things. We'll go to see him.”

She half-rose before sinking back, her eyes in her small white face stared as if dead. “I can't go, “She said without a hint of pain, yet making everyone feel that the pain was there. “It would kill him to see me. I know him so well - his pride, his ambition. Let him bear the shame alone. It’s what he wants. We’ve got to help him keep his secret. What good will it do him to see us? ”

Paddy was still weeping, not for Frank, but for the life which had gone from Fee’s face, for the dying in her eyes. Frank had always brought bitterness and misfortune, always stood between Fee and himself. He was the cause of her withdrawal from his heart and the hearts of his children.

Every time it lookcd as if there might be happiness for Fee. Frank took it away. But Paddy's love for her was as deep and impossibile to wipe out as hers was for Frank.

So he said. “Well, Fee, we won’t go. But we must make sure he is taken care of. How about if I write to Father Jones and ask him to look out for Frank?

The eyes didn't liven, but a faint pink stole into her cheeks. “Yes. Paddy, do that. Only make sure he knows not to tell Frank we found out .Perhaps it would ease Frank to think for certain that we don't know.”

I think a close friend is someone you get on well with，who helps you when you have problems, who gives you advice，and who always has time for you. I didn't use to have many close friends when I was at school because I was very shy，but now I have several. They are all women. I think it's difficult to have a close friend of the opposite sex（异性）.

---Marie

I think a close friend is someone who you've known for a long time，and who you still get on with. They have similar hobbies to you so you can do things together. I've got three close friends who I was at middle school with and we often go out together （without our parents of course）. We often go camping，play football，or walk outside in the open air．

---David

I'm not sure how to answer the question because I don't really have any close friends. I know a lot of people but mainly through work，and the social occasions（场合） when we meet are business dinners, things like that. I think if you come from a really close family，friends are a bit unnecessary. I like spending my free time with my family．

---Richard

For me close friends are the people you spend your free time with. I go out at weekends with a group of people，and they are all my close friends. They're also people who live near me. I don't think you can have close friends at a distance because you need to be able to see each other often. But I don't think you need to be doing the same things. I mean I'm at school but none of my friends are．

---Anna