A Walk In The Forest

楊艷

Tuesday

Going through the forest is my favourite part of the walk. My dog Benji loves it too. Im Grace. I live on a farm with my parents and I take Benji for a walk most days after school. While Benjis playing， I stop to take a photo of a butterfly. Im thinking about posting it on Facebook， but then I hear Benji barking. Hes jumping and running around a boy. The poor boy looks worried. “Benji， stop！ Come here！” I call and throw him his ball. Im about to say sorry to the boy， but hes gone.

Wednesday

Its cold today， so Benji and I are walking fast. As we go through the forest， it starts raining so I run. Suddenly， I fall and Im on my back. OUCH！ That hurt！

Then theres someone there and a voice asks，“Are you all right？” I look up and see the boy. I know he is from Manchester from our talk， but forget to ask his name.

At home， Mums watching the news.

“Hi Grace. Do you know about this boy， Mark？” she asks.

“No， what boy？” I say.

“A boy from Manchester. Hes run away from home. Look！ This is his dad.”

Theres a man on TV sitting with a policeman. Hes crying as the policeman asks people to help. Then they show a photo of the missing boy. Its the boy from the forest. Hes Mark. Should I say something？

“Poor man，” says Mum. “I just hope they find his son soon.”

No， I mustnt say anything. If I tell Mum， the police will come and find Mark. What if hes run away for a good reason？ I should talk to him first.

Thursday

He appears when he hears me calling his name. I tell him what has happened at my home.

He tells me his mother is dead， and his father is going to marry another woman and moving to London. He doesnt want to， so he runs away from home.

“But what will you do？ You cant live here.” I ask him.

“I know， but my grandad and my friends are in Manchester. I dont want to move to London.”

“You might like London，” I say.

“Thats what my dad says.”

I feel sorry for Mark， but I think of his dad crying on TV and feel sorry for him too.

“What are you going to do？” I ask.

“I dont know. I need time to think.”

Friday

Marks waiting for me in the forest. Ive got some news.

“The police came to the farm this morning. Theyre going to search the forest tomorrow.”

Mark looks sad， “I didnt want this， my dad crying on TV and the police looking for me. I dont know what to do.”

“Ive got an idea. Why dont you live with your grandad in Manchester？ Let your dad and Mel move to London and visit them in the holidays.”

Mark doesnt answer at first， then he looks at me and smiles.

“Can I use your phone？” he asks. “I need to call my dad.”

閱讀選擇

1. Grace takes a photo of .

A. Benji B. a butterfly C. plants

2. Why is the boy staying alone in the forest？

A. He runs away from his home.

B. He wants to know Grace.

C. He likes to live in a forest.

3. What happens to Marks father？

A. He is going to leave his wife.

B. He is going to marry another woman.

C. He is going to become a policeman.

4. What do you think Mark will do？ He will tell his father .

A. he will go with him

B. he will stay at Graces home

C. he will live with his grandad