When my dear son David was a little boy, he had a friend – she was a nice girl Amanda by name. She was the same age as David. They were about five years old. We were neighbors with Amanda’s family and our children spent much time together all day long. She was the only friend of my son. One day we had learned terrible news – Amanda’s family was moving to another place. It wasn’t a neighboring town or even neighboring state. They were going to move to some country in Europe. Amanda’s father got a promotion and the whole their family moved to European continent. And it meant that my son had to farewell with his only friend. He didn’t know they could meet again, but he promised he would never forget Amanda. The day they left David came home very upset he even refused eating his favorite strawberry pie. He just sat next to me and asked: “Mom, what is it Europe and where is it situated”? To say that Europe is just another continent in thousand miles far away from us would be very simple, besides I thought he was too little to understand it and I decided it was time for inventing. I said to David that Europe was a small planet not far from the Earth. There is very beautiful in that place: wonderful buildings, picturesque landscapes, green and tall trees, clear and deep lakes with swans, good smelling flowers and very kind and open-hearted people ready to help in any time. They are always glad to receive new people. They are never rude and say a lot of compliments to each other. Also, there are a lot of stores you can find anything you want. It is just a dream to live there. Amanda will be very happy there. And when you grow up, you can go there and see your best friend, I told him. But the most interesting is that children in this wonderful planet can get sweets and candies for free. European life is different than we used to live in. Then my little son asked me: “But why does Amanda cry if she expects so great life there”? -“It is a tradition, David. Everyone who goes to Europe cries. She is upset she thinks that she will never see you again”. Then David stood up, gave me a hug and added that he would never forget her and some day he would cry too going to this place visiting Amanda. Now David is seventeen. And yesterday I asked him if he remembered Amanda. And he answered: “Who is Amanda”? So, kids grow up very fast and forget their first friends.
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