I'm in my room, getting ready to head to the community theater with my stepbrother Henry.
I'm not in the mood(心情) for being onstage today. "Kirstie, come here," my mom calls from down the hall.
"1is it?" I call back.
My mother gives the book a 2. "Henry's book was in the bathroom. Did you put it there?"
"Not3," I say, shrugging(耸肩).
My mother glares at me angrily, something she4did it before. "You could have been kind to him."
Being kind didn't use to be5. But now that Henry and his dad have moved in with us,6feels different.
As Henry walks ahead of us to the car, my mom takes me aside. "This is our 7of the world now, Kirstie," she says. "Let's 8to make it a good one."
I nod but sigh(叹气).
The community theater is busy when we get there. Theater used to be what my mom and I did together—one play a year for our 9thing. With Henry involved, it doesn't seem so special anymore.
10, it's my turn. I forget my annoyance(恼火) at Henry when I hear my cue(出场提示)to go onstage. As we kids line up on the stage, I11how poorly I've tied the drawstring(束带) on my skirt. I should have asked my12for help.
And then, suddenly, my bow comes untied and my skirt begins to drop. In front of hundreds of people! It's not a(n) 13. It is horribly real. Laughter sprinkles throughout the audience(观众), and I can feel my face burst into flames.
Then Henry, beside me, comes to my aid. He fixes my costume, tying the drawstring with a fancy knot. He makes a joke about me "not" knowing knots, and the audience 14again. This time, the laughter feels OK.
At the end of the performance, I find Henry and tap him on the arm. I smile at him.15. "Thanks," I say. "For, you know."
He grins. "Knot a problem."
Maybe it won't be so bad to have a new person in my corner of the world after all.
