Mary Allen was my best friend—like a sister I never had.We did everything together：piano lessons，movies，swimming and horseback riding.
When I was 13，my family moved away.Mary and I kept in touch through letters and we saw each other on special occasions—like my wedding and Mary's.Soon we were busy with children and moving to new homes，and we wrote less often.One day a card that I sent came back stamped “Address Unknown”．
Over the years，I thought of Mary often.I wanted to share stories of my children and then grandchildren.And I needed to share my sadness when my brother and then mother died.There was an empty place in my heart that only a friend like Mary could fill.
One day I was reading the newspaper when I noticed a photo of a young woman who looked a lot like Mary and whose last name was Wagman—Mary's married name.“There must be thousands of Wagman，”I thought，but I wrote to her anyway.
She called as soon as she got my letter.“Mrs Tobin！”she said excitedly.“Mary Allen Wagman is my mother.”Minutes later，I heard a voice and recognized it immediately，even after 40 years.We laughed and cried and caught up on each other's lives.
Now the empty place in my heart is filled.And there's one thing that Mary and I know for sure：We won't lose each other again.
【词海拾贝】
1．keep in touch (with...)(和……)保持联系
2．occasion n．场合
3．be doing...when...(某人)正在做……这时……
4．recognize v．辨认出
【问题思考】
True (T) or False (F)：
1．It is 40 years since Mary and the author last saw each other.( )
2．They wrote less because they didn't like each other.( )
答案：1.T 2.F
