09 Can You Stop a Friend Who’s About to Do Something Wrong?
/09 Can You Stop a Friend Who’s About to Do Something Wrong?
*Chelsea was quiet and not the type to express her opinions much.
/*Chelsea was quiet and not the type to express her opinions much.
But her care for her friends was stronger than anyone else’s.
/But her care for her friends was stronger than anyone else’s.
One lunch break, a few classmates were gathered and talking.
/One lunch break, a few classmates were gathered and talking.
“Hey, let’s play rock-paper-scissors, and the loser goes to buy juice for everyone!” said Jesse, the leader of the group.
/“Hey, let’s play rock-paper-scissors, and the loser goes to buy juice for everyone!” said Jesse, the leader of the group.
“Eh, isn’t that kind of unfair?” someone said, but Jesse laughed and replied,
/“Eh, isn’t that kind of unfair?” someone said, but Jesse laughed and replied,
“They do it on TV too. It sounds thrilling and fun!”
/“They do it on TV too. It sounds thrilling and fun!”
Everyone nodded vaguely.
/Everyone nodded vaguely.
Then Jesse whispered secretly,
/Then Jesse whispered secretly,
“Let’s all throw rock. If Stephan throws scissors or paper, he’ll lose. Let’s keep throwing rock.”
/“Let’s all throw rock. If Stephan throws scissors or paper, he’ll lose. Let’s keep throwing rock.”
*Stephan had had a fight with Jesse a while ago. Jesse seemed to still hold a grudge.
/*Stephan had had a fight with Jesse a while ago. Jesse seemed to still hold a grudge.
*Chelsea heard this and her heart started pounding.
/*Chelsea heard this and her heart started pounding.
“That’s unfair, and Stephan would feel so bad…”
/“That’s unfair, and Stephan would feel so bad…”
But Jesse was signaling to everyone. Some friends seemed to be going along with it.
/But Jesse was signaling to everyone. Some friends seemed to be going along with it.
*Chelsea gathered her courage and spoke up.
/*Chelsea gathered her courage and spoke up.
“Hey, I think that’s not right. Rock-paper-scissors is supposed to be a fair game for everyone. Trying to make Stephan lose on purpose feels kind of shameful.”
/“Hey, I think that’s not right. Rock-paper-scissors is supposed to be a fair game for everyone. Trying to make Stephan lose on purpose feels kind of shameful.”
*Jesse looked surprised.
/*Jesse looked surprised.
“Huh? But Stephan…”
/“Huh? But Stephan…”
*Chelsea continued.
/*Chelsea continued.
“Even if you had a fight, excluding someone isn’t okay. How about taking turns to buy juice? That way, everyone agrees and enjoys it.”
/“Even if you had a fight, excluding someone isn’t okay. How about taking turns to buy juice? That way, everyone agrees and enjoys it.”
Then Rachel said,
/Then Rachel said,
“*Chelsea’s right. But if one person goes alone, it’s hard to carry everything. How about two people go?”
/“*Chelsea’s right. But if one person goes alone, it’s hard to carry everything. How about two people go?”
Other kids started saying, “That’s a good idea,” “If we help, we can buy faster.”
/Other kids started saying, “That’s a good idea,” “If we help, we can buy faster.”
*Jesse looked a bit embarrassed and said,
/*Jesse looked a bit embarrassed and said,
“…Okay. Then today, Stephan and I will go buy it.”
/“…Okay. Then today, Stephan and I will go buy it.”
After school, Jesse and Stephan went shopping together. On the way back, carrying the juice bag, Jesse quietly said,
/After school, Jesse and Stephan went shopping together. On the way back, carrying the juice bag, Jesse quietly said,
“Stephan… I was trying to trick you. I’m really sorry.”
/“Stephan… I was trying to trick you. I’m really sorry.”
He honestly admitted that *Chelsea had stopped him.
/He honestly admitted that *Chelsea had stopped him.
*Stephan looked a bit surprised, but soon said,
/*Stephan looked a bit surprised, but soon said,
“I see. Jesse, I’m glad you told me the truth. And I think *Chelsea was really brave to stop you. I was still bothered by our fight too.”
/“I see. Jesse, I’m glad you told me the truth. And I think *Chelsea was really brave to stop you. I was still bothered by our fight too.”
*Jesse nodded.
/*Jesse nodded.
“From now on, I’ll face things properly. I almost became a coward. I’m sorry.”
/“From now on, I’ll face things properly. I almost became a coward. I’m sorry.”
That evening, Stephan said to *Chelsea,
/That evening, Stephan said to *Chelsea,
“Thank you. What you said really helped me. If things had gone on like that, I think I would’ve been really hurt.”
/“Thank you. What you said really helped me. If things had gone on like that, I think I would’ve been really hurt.”
*Chelsea smiled and said,
/*Chelsea smiled and said,
“It took a bit of courage, but I’m glad I spoke up.”
/“It took a bit of courage, but I’m glad I spoke up.”
The next day, the teacher talked about “expressing your opinion.”
/The next day, the teacher talked about “expressing your opinion.”
“Expressing your opinion doesn’t mean denying others. By sharing your thoughts, you can find better ways together.”
/“Expressing your opinion doesn’t mean denying others. By sharing your thoughts, you can find better ways together.”
*Chelsea nodded happily.
/*Chelsea nodded happily.
“From now on, I’ll keep speaking up. So everyone can feel good together.”
/“From now on, I’ll keep speaking up. So everyone can feel good together.”
Review Questions (Multiple Choice)
/Review Questions (Multiple Choice)
Q1. What words did *Chelsea use when she spoke up?
/Q1. What words did *Chelsea use when she spoke up?
A. “Stephan shouldn’t buy the juice.”
/A. “Stephan shouldn’t buy the juice.”
B. “It feels kind of shameful as a person.”
/B. “It feels kind of shameful as a person.”
C. “I think rock-paper-scissors is fun, so it’s fine.”
/C. “I think rock-paper-scissors is fun, so it’s fine.”
Q2. When did Jesse apologize to Stephan?
/Q2. When did Jesse apologize to Stephan?
A. In the classroom in front of everyone
/A. In the classroom in front of everyone
B. On the way to buy juice
/B. On the way to buy juice
C. Because the teacher told him to
/C. Because the teacher told him to
Let’s Think!
/Let’s Think!
Do you think you could stop someone like Jesse if they were about to do something wrong? Why or why not?
/Do you think you could stop someone like Jesse if they were about to do something wrong? Why or why not?
If you were about to do something wrong and someone tried to stop you, how would you feel?
/If you were about to do something wrong and someone tried to stop you, how would you feel?
