Ariana caught another whiff(难闻的味道) and tried to hold her breath. She moved away slightly, but Ashley only moved closer and continued talking. Ariana felt trapped. She wanted badly to tell Ashley that she didn't smell very good. But how could she do that without hurting her feelings? Instead, she gathered the remains of her lunch to throw in the trash, thankful for the excuse to get some fresh air. She looked back to see Ashley eating quietly. Ashley's hair was tangled(乱糟糟的), and her clothes were dirty. Ariana forced herself to go back to the table and take her seat, vowing(发誓) that she would not sit with Ashley tomorrow.
When Ariana got home from school, she complained to her mother, "There's a girl named Ashley who likes to sit next to me in school, but she smells bad."
"She's probably having a tough day," said her mother.
"No, it's not just one day. She smells bad a lot," Ariana explained. "Nobody else likes to sit next to her, either."
"I don't think you understand Ashley's situation, so let me ask you this…," Her mother's tone was serious. "Who makes sure that your hair is combed every morning so you'll look nice when you go to school?"
"You do," answered Ariana.
"Who makes sure you're bathed and cleaned every day? And your clothes are washed and neatly ironed?"
"You and Daddy," Ariana said again.
"Do you live in a nice home? Do you have enough to eat?"
Ariana nodded, beginning to feel guilty. She was starting to understand now. Ashley couldn't help her situation because she was only seven years old—the same age as Ariana. Grownups are supposed to take care of kids.
"Why doesn't her family take better care of her?" Ariana asked.
"Not all children live in the best situation," her mother said. "The best thing you can do for Ashley is to treat her with kindness and sympathy."
Paragraph 1:
Ariana bit her bottom lip. Sadness for Ashley filled her heart.
Paragraph 2:
At the end of the school year, the second grade prepared to go on a field trip to the zoo.
