Problem: Blameless

I was a freshman in college when I met the Whites. They were completely different from my own family, yet I felt at home with them immediately. Jane White and I became friends at school, and her family welcomed me like a long-lost cousin.

In my family, it was always important to place blame when anything bad happened.

"Who did this? "my mother would scream about a dirty kitchen.

"This is all your fault, Katharine, "my father would insist when the cat got out or the dishwasher broke.

From the time we were little, my sister, brothers and I told on each other. We set a place for blame at the dinner table.

But the Whites didn't worry about who had done what. They picked up the pieces and moved on with their lives. The beauty of this was driven home to me the summer Jane died.

In July, the White sisters and I decided to take a car trip from their home in Florida to New York. The two older sisters, Sarah and Jane, were college students, and the youngest, Amy, had recently turned sixteen. Proud of having a new driver's license ,Amy was excited about practicing her driving on the trip. She showed off her license to everyone she met.

The big sisters shared the driving of Sarah's new car during the first part of the trip, but when they reached less crowded areas, they let Amy take over. Somewhere in South Carolina, we pulled off the highway to eat. After lunch, Amy got behind the wheel. She came to a crossroads with a stop sign. Whether she was nervous or just didn't see the sign no one would ever know, but Amy continued into the crossroads without stopping. The driver of a large truck, unable to stop in time, ran into our car.

Jane was killed immediately.

I was slightly injured. The most difficult thing that I've ever done was to call the Whites to tell them about the accident and that Jane had died. Painful as it was for me to lose a good friend, I knew that it was far worse for them to lose a child.

When Mr. and Mrs. White arrived at the hospital, they found their two daughters sharing a room. Sarah had a few cuts on the head; Amy's leg was broken. They hugged us all and cried tears of sadness and of joy at seeing their daughters. They wiped away the girls' tears and made a few jokes at Amy as she learned to use her crutches .

To both of their daughters, and especially to Amy, over and over they simply said, "We're so glad that you're alive. "

I was astonished. No blame. No accusations.

Later, I asked the Whites why they never talked about the fact that Amy was driving and had run a stop sign.

Mrs. White said, "Jane's gone, and we miss her terribly. Nothing we say or do will ever bring her back. But Amy has her whole life ahead of her. How can she lead a full and happy life if she feels we blame her for her sister's death? "

They were right. Amy graduated from the University of California and got married several years ago. She works as a teacher of learning-disabled students. She's also a mother of two little girls of her own, the oldest named Jane.
1. What was the name of the family that was completely different?
2. They treated Katherine like what?
3. Was Katharine often blamed for things at home?
4. A place for blame was set where?
5. Did the Whites also place blame?
6. What eve?nt drove this home to Katharine
7. Who were the 2 older sisters?
8. Who was the youngest?
9. What was Amy excited about?
10. What did Amy ultimately do?
Answer: 1. Whites
2. a long-lost cousin
3. Yes
4. at the dinner table
5. No
6. Jane's death
7. Sarah and Jane
8. Amy
9. practicing her driving on the trip
10. continued into the crossroads without stopping

Problem: CHAPTER III

SOMETHING ABOUT A RUNAWAY

While Dale and Andy ran off to get the water, the other boys gathered around Jack. The young major still lay with his eyes closed, breathing faintly.

"He got a bad crack on the head," remarked Fred Century.

"He certainly did," whispered another cadet. "If he doesn't come around what shall we do?"

"How did the team happen to run away?" questioned Amos Darrison.

"Some fellows from Pornell Academy threw things at us," explained Pepper. "We'll have an account to settle with 'em for this," he added grimly.

"Wonder how poor Snuggers made out?"

"Here he comes now," was the answer, and looking back toward the highway, the cadets saw the driver of the carryall approaching on a swift limp.

"Did ye stop 'em?" he gasped. "Oh, dear, what a bust-up! But it wasn't my fault--you boys can prove that, can't ye?"

"We can, Peleg," answered Pepper. "Much hurt?"

"I got a nasty twist to my back when I tumbled. Say, what's the matter with Major Ruddy?" And the general utility man forgot his own pains as he gazed at the motionless form of Jack.

The cadets told him, and in the midst of the explanation Dale and Andy came back with a bucket of water and a tin dipper. The major's face was bathed, and a little water was put into his mouth, and with a gulp he opened his eyes and stared around him.

"Oh, my head!" he murmured. "Who hit me?"

"You were in the carryall smash-up, Jack," answered Pepper. "You got a bad one on the head."
1. who remarked about Jack's head
2. who ran off to get water?
3. who inquired about the run away team?
4. what rank was Jack?
5. were his eyes open?
6. was his breathing heavy or faint?
7. who was worried about proving that it wasn't his fault?
8. what did Dale and Andy come back with?
9. what is Jack's last name?
10. was he motionless?
11. what else did Dale and Andy bring?
12. what caused him to open his eyes?
13. where was it put?
14. was his face bathed?
15. what body part did he complain about?
Answer:
1. Fred Century
2. Dale and Andy
3. Amos Darrison.
4. cadet
5. no
6. faintly.
7. Peleg
8. a bucket of water
9. Ruddy
10. yes
11. a tin dipper
12. a little water
13. into his mouth
14. yes
15. his back