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"Did you hear about Gemma? She got
into trouble from Mrs. Noble for cheating on her exams," Samantha said. "I
heard that Emily got a bad mark on her last exam too."
"Samantha, you shouldn’t talk about
people all the time. One day you’ll do something wrong and people will
gossip about you. You won’t like that, will you?" her friend, Hayley said.
"I’m not gossiping! I’m just telling
you what I heard. Oh, and by the way, Matthew McGregor was going to ask
Natasha Hogg to go to the chip shop, but found out she never brushes her
teeth!"
"Samantha! That’s a horrible thing
to say. I like Natasha and I see nothing wrong with her teeth. You really
need to stop gossiping!" Hayley said and walked away.
Samantha sat at the table, watching
her friend walk away. "Well! She’s in a bad mood. I wonder what happened
to her?" Just then Rachel and Holly walked past. "Say, Rachel, have you
heard anything about Hayley?"
"No, why? Is she sick or something?"
Rachel asked.
"Something’s wrong. She’s in a bad
mood, like she’s sick or something," Samantha said.
"I hope she’s not got a disease!"
Holly said.
"Well, come on, Holly. We’ll be late
for class," Rachel said and they walked away.
 Samantha thought about what Holly
had said. "I wonder if she’s got a disease. I’ll go and ask Robert." She
headed for class and sat down next to Robert. "Pssst, Robert. What sort of
disease does Hayley have?"
Robert looked up from his book.
"What do you mean?"
"Hayley’s got something wrong with
her, a disease or something," Samantha said.
The teacher walked into the room and
told the class to begin reading Chapter 11 in their Scottish History book.
Samantha opened hers but wasn’t reading. Just then Robert whispered, "I
wonder if she’s got a brain tumor? I read about it last night."
"Do brain tumors make you in a bad
mood?" Samantha asked.
"Yes, because you feel horrible and
are in pain. Poor Hayley!" Robert sighed.
Samantha couldn’t read a word. She
was too upset. She stared at the words as her mind raced. Her best friend,
Hayley had a brain tumor! After history class was over, Samantha hurried
to her next class. Before the teacher came in, she stood at the front of
the room. "Did you all hear about Hayley? She’s got a brain tumor! She’s
not been feeling well lately and been in a bad mood, but of course, that’s
because she’s in so much pain. The whole class gasped.
"I don’t believe it. I saw Hayley a
few minutes ago and she seemed fine," Thomas said.
"It’s true. Robert told me so,"
Samantha frowned.
The teacher. Mr. Semple, came into
the room. "What’s going on here?" he asked.
"Hayley’s got a brain tumor and is
going to die," Samantha explained. "She’s been in horrible pain and can
hardly walk."
"Oh dear, that’s terrible," the
teacher replied.
When school was over, Hayley put all
her books into her backpack and headed out the door. "Hayley," shouted Mr.
Semple, "I’m so sorry to hear about you being sick. Is there anything I
can do?"
"What do you mean?" she asked,
curiously.
"I heard about your brain tumor. I’m
so sorry."
"What brain tumor? I don’t have a
brain tumor! Who told you that I had a brain tumor?" Hayley shouted.
"Why, it was Samantha. She was very
concerned about you, said you were so ill that you couldn’t walk. Then,
it’s not true?" he asked, apologetically.
"No, it’s not true. I’m fine. I need
to talk to Samantha. Excuse me, Mr. Semple," Hayley said and ran towards
Samantha’s house. She knocked on the door. "Samantha, you are a gossip and
a liar. I don’t have a brain tumor. Why are you telling everyone that I
have one and that I am sick and going to die! I don’t ever want to speak
to you again!"
Samantha stood at the door in shock.
Hayley was her best friend and now she was so angry with her that she
never wanted to speak to her again. That night, Samantha went to Hayley’s
house. Hayley opened the door. "What do you want!" she scowled.
"I’m sorry, Hayley. It all got blown
out of proportion. I didn’t mean to gossip. I promise you I’ll never
gossip again," Samantha said, hanging her head.
"Well, all right, if you promise,
but you have to go to school tomorrow and tell everyone that I am not sick
and that I don’t have a brain tumor and that you made it up," Hayley
demanded.
"If that’s what you want. I have got
to keep my big mouth shut from now on," Samantha said. "Friends again?"
she smiled.
"Friends," Hayley said.
Samantha learned a valuable lesson
that day – not to gossip. She stopped saying things about people and
minded her own business. She soon discovered that she had more friends and
that people liked being around her instead of avoiding her. Gossiping is
bad! |
