Ellie was the daughter of our next-door neighbors,and our mothers introduced us before we were a month old.We went to the same school, and we spent nearly all our free time together.We knew each other so well that we could communicate without a word.

It was around eighth grade that my classmates began rebelling(叛逆)----boys and girls dating, shoplifting(入店行窃),smoking.Such activity made me uncomfortable.Ellie and I had both always done well in school.And I didn’t want to get into trouble with my parents.Besides,smoking smelled bad and made you cough.

But I could feel that some of my friends began turning away from me.When I tried to talk about this with Ellie,she would simply say,“Things are changing,Caroline.”

One Saturday, I was told Ellie got drank at a party and fell down the steps and cut her forehead.What? How had I not known about this?Since when Ellie had been a drinker?Why?What happened to us?

When I called Ellie,she made some excuse to get off the phone.From that moment I knew that things between us had changed.I had lost her.

Throughout most of high school,I was lonely.My decision not to drink or smoke or lie to my parents caused me a lot of pain.But I don’t regret(后悔).I know now that being yourself is never worse than not being yourself. I spent much of my high-school years studying,and it paid off when I got into my favorite college.

As for Ellie,the last time I saw her was the summer when I graduated from college. I knew she had left school to work,and soon after,became pregnant(怀孕). I was afraid to ask,but I was pretty sure that she wasn’t married.

My dear students, I think this is a good article for you,after you read it ,please answer my questions: