I walked home from school happy, forgetting my troubles for a few moments. A large group of my school friends had decided secretly to follow me home and give me a surprise celebration party. Five minutes after I entered the house, the doorbell rang. The servant answered the door to a group of laughing girls, all asking to see me. The servant took the girls into the living room and climbed the stairs to my room. There was a frightened look on her face as she whispered to me, "A crowd of your friends has come from school to see you. They've asked for you"Is Niang home?' I asked. "I'm afraid so. And your father too." As I went quietly down the stairs to greet my friends, I could hear twelve ten-year-old girls laughing loudly through the whole house.
My school friends were too happy and excited to notice my white-faced silence. They surrounded me, shouting out their congratulations. My stomach turned over. "I'm only ten years old, I thought. "Surely Niang can't kill me for this The servant reappeared in the doorway. "Your mother wants to see you now. I excused myself and went upstairs. I knew this was going to be terrible. As I stood in front of my parents, we could hear the girls laughing from downstairs. Who are those people, and who invited them here?' Niang demanded loudly. They are my friends. No one invited them. They came to celebrate with me because I've become class president. "Is this party your idea No, Niang. I had no idea. Come here!" she screamed. She hit my face so hard that I was knocked over. "You're lying! You planned it, to show off our house to your penniless schoolfriends.