mandylamented，“hodoyouknothisisthebestforme?icouldhaveledanotherlife”l

“idon'tthinkit'stherightattitudeforlifeitseemsyouillalaysberegrettingoveryoureachandeverychoiceordecision”thereasanedgetohisvoice，buthestayedcool，“stopparingithothers'livesandstopmoaningformorethefishermanandhisifeshouldhavebeencontentedithhattheyhavereceivedfrnetthegoldfishandthey'dbetternotbegformorethantheydeserved”

mandyremarkedithadangeroustone，“areyoutellingmeidon'tdeservethebestoflife?”

locksensedsnetething，“don'ttistityouknohatimeantyououldneverbeabletofigureouthatthebestishenyoueresixteen”

mandymurmuredasifshehadbeeninadream，“hoiishtobesixteenagain，carefree”

lockcamenearertoher，andhuggedher，leavinghisheelchairbehind，“thepointis，hateverhappenstoyou，frnetnoontosixtyorninety，youillalayshaveus”

mandyburstintotears，“ihavenothingexceptyouandthekidsifeelcoldthisorldlooksatmeithviciouseyes”

“youcanalayscountonus，”lockprnetised，“igiveyoumyordthere'snopartingofusuntilonediesstaypositiveandcherisheveryminute”

mandyleanedagainstlock'sshoulder，totallyforgettingheshouldnothavestoodupandsupportedhereight“ion'tfallforittheylookasiforriedformebutiguesstheyreallyenjoyedthemselvesseeingmealmostcrashed”

shelookedatlockandassuddenlystartled，“iasalmosttakeninishouldn'thavetoldthemhoibrokedoniouldneverletthemreceivetherongmessageasifmylifeereajoke”

“don'toverrespond”locksaid，“theyareyourfriends，andtheyshoedconcernsaboutourlifethemorepatheticelook，thefunnieritouldbehentheyknohate'rereallylike”

“yes，sneteofthemdidtrytoruinmyself-esteemandnearlyconvincedmetopitymyselfhocanonebesnetean?”

locksuggested，“i'veeupithanideahydon'teholdaparty?”hehesitated，“doesanyofthemhaveafamily?”

“no，noneofthemdopeopledon'tgetmarriedthesedays，iguesstheyareafraidtogivemitments”mandyformedasmileasthoughshefeltsorryforherfriends

“so，thatsettleseverything”locksmiledback，“einviteabunchofkids”

“doeknootherkidsbesidesthoseinoscar'skindergarten?”mandyasked

“oh，ofcourseedo，”announcedlock，“thereareplentyofkids，asian，latino，andblackinthechildren'shospitalthisillbeafund-raisingpartyfordisabledchildren，andmeasell”locksatbackintotheheelchairasquicklyashiskneesalloedtocarryhim，hichamusedmandylikehell

“sincetheyaresokind，suretheydon'tminddonatingsnetedollarsforthegoodcourse?”lockquestioned

“that'sreallyniceofyouallofmyfriendsouldbeverythankfuliftheyareofferedachancetoshothattheyreallycareforthehandicapped”mandybitherlips，tryinghardnottolaugh

“isuddenlyrememberihaveoneortoacquaintancesonthepress”locksneered，“theyoulddietoseemeonthemoveagain”