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It was a hot summer day.My dad and I were getting ready to go out for a ride on the boat with my friend Katie and the dog when the phone call came, the call that made that bright, beautiful day a cold, dark, gloomy one.
I had just put on my suit, shorts, and tank top, and packed my bag with sunscreen and everything else I would need for the day.I ran into my parents' room to find Dad.When I saw him on the phone, he was crying.I'd never seen my dad cry before.My heart sank.What possibly could have happened?
"Max, I'm so sorry," I heard him say.That's when it hit me.I knew that Suzie had died.Max has been my dad's best friend for years.Suzie, his daughter, had a rare disease that mainly affected her body.Her brain was OK.She knew what was going on; she knew that she had problems and was different from other kids.Once she told her dad that she wished she could die and be born in a different body.Yet although she couldn't live a normal life, she was still happy.
When Suzie and I were little, we spent quite a bit of time together.As we grew up, we grew apart.She lived in New York, and I lived in the Midwest.When Suzie was ten she had to live in a hospital in Virginia.About eight months before she died, Max gave us her number at the hospital and we talked at least twice a week until the end.Suzie was always so excited to talk to us and wanted to know every detail about my life.She wanted to know everything I did and every thing I ate.In a way, she lived through me.
After we found out about her death, we made our plans to go to New York for the funeral.When she was alive, I sent her a Beanie Baby and she sent one back to me.I had bought her another one but never had the chance to send it to her, so I took it to put in her casket(棺材).
Her funeral was very different from any funeral I'd ever been to.After they lowered her casket, each one of us put a shovelful of dirt over her.I remember crying so hard, I felt weak.My cheeks burned from the tears.My whole body was shaking as I picked up the shovel, but I'm glad I did it.
When Suzie and I first started calling one another, I thought it would be more of a burden on me, but I was completely wrong.I learned so much from her.She gave me more than I could ever give to her.I will never forget her or the talks we had.I now know that I must never take anything for granted especially my health and the gift of life.