Assignment on The Test of Friendship

The Test of Friendship
Damian had been dreading this day for weeks and finally it had arrived. This summer
had been the worst summer he could remember. His dad had lost his job and his mom
was struggling to support their family by working two crappy jobs. Damian had tried to
help out where he could but there were few people willing to hire a 14 year old.
“Damian – hurry up, the bus will be here soon!” yelled his mom.
Damian grabbed his dirty backpack and turned to take one last look in the mirror before
heading down the stairs. The image that greeted him was of a boy with too long hair,
wearing a shirt that had been mended twice and jeans worn out around the cuffs. He
knew in his head that his parents couldn’t afford to buy him new school clothes – but
that knowledge didn’t prevent him from feeling self-conscious and ashamed.
As he walked down the stairs his mother, ever sensitive to his feelings, said, “Damian I
know it has been a rough summer, but I hope you know how much we love you and
appreciate how much you have tried to help out this summer. You are a mature, hard-
working boy.”
“Thanks mom,” he mumbled softly as he headed out the door.
On the bus Damian kept to himself knowing that the moment would soon arrive when he
would step off the bus and be greeted by his friends. He had barely seen them all
summer and they had no idea about his family’s financial hardships. He had been too
embarrassed to tell them, so when they called he usually just made excuses as to why
he couldn’t go along to movies or the mall. In his head he imagined what their reunion
would be like. Each of them would have new haircuts and brand new
clothes. He knew Josh, his best friend, would have the new Nikes that had just come in
to the stores.
He was positive that when they saw him they would turn to one another and say, “Uh –
sorry Damian – we have to get to class,” and take off leaving him to walk into the school
alone.
As the bus rolled up to the school steps the moment of truth had arrived. The driver
expertly parked the bus and the door swung open. Kids filed off, the air buzzing with
their excitement to see friends and show off their first day of school outfits. Damian
stayed seated looking down at his lap. “Aren’t you getting off?” asked the driver loudly
once all the other kids had left.
“Uh yah, in a minute,” he replied softly, looking out the window. There they were, Josh
and Terrell, in their traditional meeting spot by the front door. Both guys looked cool and
excited to be back at school. Finally he mustered up the courage and headed off the
bus.

As he walked toward them his heart was beating in anticipation of the laughter and
jeers. “Hey Damian,” Josh called out, “We’re over here!”
As he approached the guys Josh said, “Hey – we missed you, we haven’t seen you all
summer!”
“Yah,” said Terrell, “It hasn’t been the same without you. Let’s go find out what our first
class is.”
Josh and Terrell turned and headed toward the school doors. Damian stood there in
shock that they hadn’t even commented on his shabby clothes and shaggy hair. “Are
you coming?” called Terrell as he headed through the door.
Damian laughed to himself and relaxed. “I guess all my worrying was a waste of time,”
he thought to himself. “They couldn’t care less how much money I have or what my
clothes are like.”
Damian walked confidently toward the school, knowing his two best friends were waiting
for him.
Make a list of the adjectives and adverbs in the passage below. Your list should
have at least 10 adjectives and at least five adverbs.
Adjectives
Worst, crappy, few, dirty, last, long, twice, worn
out, new, self-conscious, ashamed, mature,
hard-working, rough, brand new, best, alone
Adverbs
Finally, soon, softly, ever, barely, usually,
expertly
A. Character
In the left column place evidence from the story that shows what the
character does, thinks, says, and what others say/think about him or her. On

the right indicate what that evidence shows us about the character. Find as
many pieces of evidence as you can.
What the Character Does What This Indicates About the
Character
Example: Damian looks at
himself in the mirror before
heading down to catch the bus
Example: This indicates that Damian
feels insecure about his appearance
and is worried about how others will
treat him because of his shabby
appearance
What the Character Thinks What This Indicates About the
Character
Damien thinks that his “image that
greeted him” in the mirror “was of a boy
with too long hair, wearing a shirt that
had been mended twice and jeans worn
out around the cuffs”.
Damien thought that, when his friends
would see him “they would turn to one
another and say, “Uh – sorry Damian –
we have to get to class,” and take off
leaving him to walk into the school
The character felt ashamed of his clothes as
well as poor financial condition.
Due to his poor financial condition Damien
thought it would be embarrassing to meet his
rich friends and they would probably ignore
him when they would look at his clothes.