When I was 8 years old, I decided to run away from home after a quarrel with my mother. With my suitcase packed and some sandwiches in a bag, I started for the front door.
My mom asked where I was going. "I'm leaving home," I said.
"What's that you're carrying?" she asked.
"Some clothes and food," I replied.
"If you want to run away, that's all right," she said. "But you came into this home without anything and you can leave the same way."
I threw my suitcase and sandwiches on the floor and started for the door again.
"Wait a minute," Mom said. "You didn't have any clothes on when you arrived, and I want them back."
This infuriated me. I tore my clothes off — shoes, socks, underwear and all — and shouted, "Can I go now?"
"Yes," my mom answered, "but once you close that door, don't expect to come back."
I was so angry that I shut the door forcefully and stepped out of my home. Then I noticed down the street two neighbor girls walking toward our house. I was so shy that I saw the big spruce (云杉) tree in our yard and jumped under the low-hanging branches (树枝). A pile of dried-up brown needles (针状物) were beneath the tree, and you can't imagine the pain those sharp needles caused to my body.
After I was sure the girls had passed by, I ran to the front door and knocked at it loudly.
"It's Billy! Let me in!"
The voice behind the door answered, "Billy doesn't live here anymore. He ran away from home."
Looking behind me to see if anyone else was coming down the street, I said, "Mom! I'm sorry. I'm still your son. Let me in!"
The door opened and Mom's smiling face appeared. "Did you change your mind about running away?" she asked.
"What's for supper?" I smiled back.
