5th Lesson 6: Goodbye for Now

Goodbye for Now

Abby and Eliza sat on a bench in the small garden behind Abby’s house in Boston, Massachusetts. Birds chirped, tree-leaves rustled, and the sun shone cheerfully overhead. The two girls were best friends. They usually loved spending time together in the pretty little garden. But this afternoon, they could think only of the next morning when Eliza and her family would board one of the ships leaving Boston Harbor for Canada. 2 “I can’t believe you’re really going,” said Abby. It was March 1776, and the British soldiers in Boston had finally decided to leave, forced out by rebelling colonists who had surrounded the city. Eliza’s family and many others like them who had remained loyal to Britain were leaving, too. 3 “I wish more than anything I could stay,” said Eliza. “But Father says it won’t be safe for us after the British leave.” 4 “What if . . . what if we never see each other again?” said Abby, her voice starting to break. 5 Just then, Eliza’s brother ran up to the gate and called Eliza home for dinner. The girls promised to meet the following day. 6 It was still dark when Abby stepped out the front door the next morning. The air was damp, and a chilly salt wind blowing from the harbor made her shiver. She went over to the carriage where Eliza and her family were loading their trunks. The girls gave each other a hug. Then Eliza told Abby not to worry, that the whole British and colonial armies put together weren’t strong enough to keep two best friends apart for good. Abby smiled at Eliza’s remark. And she suddenly felt sure that she and Eliza were saying goodbye just for now and not forever.

Compare and contrast the event occurring in paragraphs 1 through 4 with the event occurring in paragraph 6.