Mom was cooking in the kitchen. She could hear the girls arguing in the living room. It was the third time this week that the sisters had been arguing over nothing. A few minutes later, Maria rushed into her bedroom angrily and closed the door heavily.

"Come to the kitchen, young lady," Mom firmly (坚定地) said to Maria in her best mother tone (语气) of voice.

Maria walked into the kitchen and shouted, "I can't stand living with Felicia another minute. I don't ever want to talk to her again!"

Mom called out, "Felicia, come to the kitchen right now."

While Felicia was on her way, Mom put two chairs opposite each other but very close together.

"Maria, you sit here and Felicia you sit there." The girls sat face to face, with their knees almost touching. "Now you look each other in the eye for five minutes," Mom ordered.

At first the girls moved their bodies from side to side. Mom said firmly, "You must stay staring at each other for five minutes. Each minute you don't make eye contact (眼神交流) means another minute sitting in the chairs." They both wanted out, so they had to sit there and look at each other.

Felicia looked at Maria's pouting (噘嘴的) face while Maria looked at Felicia's angry face. They each thought the other one looked ridiculous (可笑的). In fact, they were being ridiculous to fight and be mad at each other over nothing.

Soon Maria couldn't stand it any longer and began giggling (咯咯地笑) and so did Felicia. They giggled and laughed.

Mom wisely didn't say anything except, "Okay girls, you can go now."