Oneday, whenIwasafreshmaninhighschool, Isawakidfrommyclasswalkinghomefromschool. HisnamewasKyle. Itlookedlikehewascarryingallofhisbooks. Ithoughttomyself, "WhywouldanyonebringhomeallhisbooksonaFriday? Hemustreallybeanerd（呆子）." Ihadquiteaweekendplanned (partiesandafootballgamewithmyfriendthefollowingafternoon), soIshruggedmyshouldersandwenton.
AsIwaswalking, Isawabunchofkidsrunningtowardhim. Theyranathim, knockingallhisbooksoutofhisarmsandtrippinghimsohelandedinthedirt. Hisglasseswentflying, andIsawthemlandinthegrassabouttenfeetfromhim. HelookedupandIsawthisterriblesadnessinhiseyes.
Myheartwentoutto（同情）him. So, Ijoggedovertohim, andashecrawledaroundlookingforhisglasses, Isawtearsinhiseyes. Ihandedhimhisglassesandsaid, "Thoseguysarejerks. Theyreallyshouldgetlives." Helookedatmeandsaid, "Hey, thanks!" Therewasabigsmileonhisface. Itwasoneofthosesmilesthatshowedrealgratitude. Ihelpedhimpickuphisbooks, andaskedhimwherehelived. Itturnedouthelivednearme, soIaskedhimwhyIhadneverseenhimbefore. Hesaidhehadgonetoprivateschoolbeforecomingtothisschool.
Iwouldhaveneverhungoutwithaprivateschoolkidbefore. Wetalkedallthewayhome, andIcarriedhisbooks. Heturnedouttobeaprettycoolkid. IaskedhimifhewantedtoplayfootballonSaturdaywithmeandmyfriends. Hesaidyes. WehungallweekendandthemoreIgottoknowKyle, themoreIlikedhim. Andmyfriendsthoughtthesameofhim. Mondaymorningcame, andtherewasKylewiththehugestackofbooksagain. Istoppedhimandsaid, "Damnboy, youaregonnareallybuildsomeseriousmuscleswiththispileofbookseveryday!". Hejustlaughedandhandedmehalfthebooks. Overthenextfouryears, KyleandIbecamebestfriends.