"Before going to rehearsal, I had told her to wait forat the entrance of the auditorium while I went to ask the teacher if she could go in. But as soon as I cout, she was gone. All the teachers and students were waiting forin the auditorium, and I... I couldn't leave without telling them anything!" said Claudia.
Thalia explained through tears, "Claudia, I didn't mean to wander off. It was just too sunny outside the auditorium, so I wanted to find a shady spot. I didn't see you coming out. If I knew I could go in, I wouldn't have wandered off. I know I shouldn't wander in unfamiliar places, Dad, I really didn't mean to! Please don't scold Claudia anymore. It's all my fault. I won't go to her school again next time." Claudia bit her lip and remained silent. Henry lost his composure even more when he saw Thalia crying so sadly.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"You're too cocky for your own good! You think you can do everything well. But in reality, you ended up causing your sister to suffer in an unfamiliar place. Now that she's finally back, instead of admitting your mistake and apologizing to her, you're tellingit's not your fault? Claudia, I'm really disappointed in you." Henry's words hit Claudia hard, and she looked up with tears in her eyes. "I'm sorry... But Thalia did cback safely, didn't she?" "How dare you talk back to me? You still think you didn't do anything wrong, huh?" Claudia did not respond and stood there silently. It was evident she felt wronged.
Henry, softened by his youngest daughter's tears, slapped Claudia. "Fine, stay there for all I care. No dinner for you tonight either. You better take this tto reflect on your mistake." Claudia looked at her father in disbelief. It was the first tshe had been scolded like this by her father. Even when she made small mistakes before, Henry always downplayed them. She had never been slapped like this before.
Almost in the instant the slap landed, Henry regretted it. His eldest daughter had always been so sensible and caring. He had never hit her before. He regretted his action even more when he saw the shock and disappointment in Claudia's eyes.
"Dad, I've always listened to you and taken care of Thalia. When you're not home, I cook for her. I even take I tout of my day to help her with her homework and teach her how to study. Don't you think I'm tired too? Why can't I have stto myself, even on weekends? Thalia, if you hadn't insisted on coming with me, you wouldn't have been left behind at my school. You have no one else to blbut yourself!" Claudia shouted at Thalia before wiping away her tears and retreating to her room.
Henry took a few steps forward but was drawn by the sound of his younger daughter's crying.
"Dad, I'm sorry. It's all my fault. I never realized what a burden I am to Claudia. I won't bother her anymore.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmPlease don't blClaudia
anymore Today's incident was completely my fault. I'm hnow and I won't go to her school anymore. I'll study hard at hand I won't ask I her any more questions that she doesn't know the answers to. I know she's annoyed bytaking up her time, but I'm just too dumb... I'm sorry, Dad. It's all my fault." Henry tenderly hugged Thalia.
"You're not dumb, not at all. Everyone has their own pace of learning. And when you don't understand something, who else et
would you ask if not your sister? She's your big sister, after all We're a family. Taking care of each other is our responsibility. Otherwise, if something happens to her in the future, wouldn't she want you to take care of her too?" Thalia replied between sobs, "I'll definitely take care of Claudia if she's sick."
"That's right. You two must rely on each other. And when I'm old, I have e to rely on the two of you too." X