Jack was surprised惊讶的 /səˈpraɪzd/ when he got Ben's message消息 /ˈmes.ɪdʒ/ on Tuesday evening: "I need to tell you something. Can we meet见面 /miːt/ tomorrow?" The next morning, they sat on the bench长椅 /bentʃ/ outside the school library图书馆 /ˈlaɪ.brər.i/. Ben looked nervous紧张的 /ˈnɜːr.vəs/ and upset难过的 /ʌpˈset/. He stared盯着 /steərd/ at the ground地面 /ɡraʊnd/ for a moment, then said quietly轻声地 /ˈkwaɪ.ət.li/, "I'm moving away. My dad got a new job工作 /dʒɒb/ in another city. We leave at the end of this month." Jack stared at him. He felt感到 /felt/ as if the air had been knocked out of him.
"That's… really soon," Jack said. He tried to stay calm平静的 /kɑːm/ but could feel感觉 /fiːl/ a heaviness沉重感 /ˈhev.i.nəs/ growing inside. "Are you sad难过的 /sæd/ about it?" Ben nodded slowly. "I'm really sad and a bit anxious焦虑的 /ˈæŋk.ʃəs/ too. I don't know anyone there. Starting at a new school is difficult困难的 /ˈdɪf.ɪ.kəlt/." Jack understood理解 /ˌʌn.dəˈstʊd/ exactly how that felt. He had moved转学 /muːvd/ schools once too, years ago. "I know it's difficult," he said. "But you'll be okay. You make结交 /meɪk/ friends easily."
"You think so?" "I know so," Jack said. "And we can still stay保持 /steɪ/ in touch联系 /tʌtʃ/. We can message发消息 /ˈmes.ɪdʒ/ every day, video call通话 /kɔːl/ at weekends, and maybe I can visit探访 /ˈvɪz.ɪt/ in the holidays." Ben smiled微笑 /smaɪld/ a little. "That would really help. I was worried担忧的 /ˈwʌr.id/ you'd forget about me." "Forget you?" Jack laughed. "You're my best friend. That doesn't change改变 /tʃeɪndʒ/ just because you move搬家 /muːv/." Ben let out a long breath. "Thank you. I already feel a bit more relieved释然的 /rɪˈliːvd/."
After school, Jack walked home slowly缓慢地 /ˈsloʊ.li/. He felt lonely孤独的 /ˈloʊ.nli/ already, even though Ben hadn't left yet. He thought about all the times they had laughed together, done homework作业 /ˈhoʊm.wɜːrk/ together, gone cycling骑车 /ˈsaɪ.klɪŋ/ together. There was a quiet安静的 /ˈkwaɪ.ət/ kind of sadness悲伤 /ˈsæd.nəs/ in his chest胸口 /tʃest/. He didn't want to cry哭 /kraɪ/, but his eyes felt warm. He took a deep breath and reminded提醒自己 /rɪˈmaɪn.dɪd/ himself: this was change, not the end.
Mum was in the kitchen厨房 /ˈkɪtʃ.ɪn/ when he got home. She took one look看 /lʊk/ at his face and said gently温柔地 /ˈdʒent.li/, "Come here. What happened?" Jack sat at the table桌子 /ˈteɪ.bəl/ and told her about Ben. Mum listened倾听 /ˈlɪs.ənd/ without interrupting打断 /ˌɪn.təˈrʌp.tɪŋ/. When he finished, she put her arm around him. "It's okay to feel sad," she said. "Good friendship友谊 /ˈfrend.ʃɪp/ is worth feeling sad about when it change. That's what makes it real." She gave him a hug拥抱 /hʌɡ/ and held him for a moment. "But it'll be okay. Real friends support支持 /səˈpɔːrt/ each other across any distance. I promise保证 /ˈprɒm.ɪs/ you that."
On Ben's last day, they met outside the gate校门 /ɡeɪt/ after school. Ben had a large backpack背包 /ˈbæk.pæk/ on and looked a little tired疲惫的 /ˈtaɪ.ərd/. " Promise答应 /ˈprɒm.ɪs/ me something," Ben said. "Don't let things get awkward尴尬的 /ˈɔːk.wərd/ — just message me." "I promise," Jack said. They hugged拥抱 /hʌɡd/ quickly. " Good luck祝你好运," Jack said. "You too," said Ben. Jack watched望着 /wɒtʃt/ him walk away, then turned转身 /tɜːrnd/ and walked home. The street felt quiet安静的 /ˈkwaɪ.ət/, but he knew that friendship友谊 /ˈfrend.ʃɪp/ does not end just because someone moves away搬走.