Tardy value
By: Zongyu Li
Tags: Short Story, Values, Frienship, Sad

‘Peter, how dare you?’ My teacher shouted in class. I just saw the scene that Peter was reading his after-class fiction and caught by my teacher. Peter said, ‘the textbook is really boring!’

Peter was a close friend of mine in middle school. He was outgoing but naughty, and he always came to internet café in the noon on weekdays (which received adults that was older than 18 years old). He sometimes refuted what teachers said unreasonably and he usually violated discipline of class. Contrary to his character, I was shy and obedient. Because of the huge differences, my impression of him was not good.

I was one of the top three students in study. For this reason, Peter adored me a lot and thought I was strong enough to trust. He always deliberately created chances to work with me. When I almost had no friends to hang out with, he always asked me whether he could join me. In grade 9, in an experimental chemistry lesson, nobody wanted to become my partner because I always tried finding another new way to finish my experiment and maybe it’s dangerous. As a time I use high-heat alcohol burner to heat the test tube in a new angle that teacher never mentioned before, the tube just exploded. In spite of this, Peter joined me. He helped me washed test tubes and cleaned the table.

During the experiment, he always talked to me about his new recreational activities. However, I never talked back. When the lesson might end, he said to me, ‘Bro! In this noon, I won’t go to internet café. Instead, I will have a try riding my cousin’s new motorcycle. It’s pretty cool, isn’t it?’ I thought it’s just a joke he always told or it’s normal for him to behave just like such a naughty boy. Thus, I didn’t think more about that. However, he never came back to school.

In that afternoon, after 2 pm, the bell rang. Maybe it’s normal for him to be late for class. But the bell for the third lesson rang, he didn’t come. His absence filled me with fear and I became more and more worried as the hands of the clock turned. The low temperature of the desk made me upset.

He died in a car crash. Suddenly, I just bent my neck and burst into tears. Gradually, I became angry with myself and asked myself why I didn’t stop him! I beat my desk continuously. I thought the hurt can make me calm down.

That is a terribly shocking information for me. I sank into self-accusation for a long time. I always told myself that the accident wouldn’t happen if I exhorted him not to do it. He always obeyed my words. As the saying goes ‘after losing it, just know how to cherish it.’ I recalled the moment he always relieve me when I felt that nobody understood me. Every time I bent my neck and put my head on the desk, he always bent his knees and squatted near my desk and said ‘Bro, who teased you? I will beat that guy up!’ when I just bent my head on desk in low spirits.

It took me a long time to walk out the darkness. I told myself ‘to be positive for me and for Peter!’ I would try my best to cherish my close friends and give them warmth and be serious about what my friends said. Also, don’t make the value of other people late.

A sentence for all of you

Don’t suspect how short the time will be when you accompany with the person who loves you.

Remember that.