My friend Liz is the most amazing friend anybody could ask for. We’ve been through so much together, we’re basically like sisters. We met on the first day of school in sixth grade, both of us terrified by the massive size of the middle school. She had the locker right above mine.
I told her I didn’t know anybody in our class and she said “You do now. ” We’ve been friends ever since. Most boys think Liz is cute. She has long red hair, cascading over her shoulders. She laughs about everything and when she does, you see about a hundred white teeth – so bright, you almost need sunglasses.
When she laughs, her eyes grow wide, glowing emerald green. Liz likes to dress kind of skater-ish, in camouflage pants, sweatshirts, and wristbands. But, she’s unpredictable, too. Sometimes she’ll wear overalls or a fancy dress. She must have three closets full of clothes, because she barely ever wears the same outfit twice. Liz is the most lively, animated character I’ve ever known.
She’s always rushing around, trying to get the latest scoop on everybody. It’s like she’s in the FBI. Right before she shares important news, Liz tosses back her hair, takes a deep breath, and quickly looks side to side, to be sure the coast is clear.She never says anything mean about people, she just wants to know what’s going on. She always supports me in everything I want to do.
Not many girls in our group of friends play sports, but when I told Liz I wanted to go out for basketball, she said “Go for it. ” Now, she comes to see almost every game I play and cheer me on. Not only is Liz a tremendous supporter, she also trusts me to give her my Honest opinion and to say what I feel. Last year, she thought Mrs. Jones gave her a lower math grade than she deserved.
I told her the truth – that Liz handed everything in late and what did she expect?Next marking period, Liz got her work in on time, and pulled off an A-. Thanks to me, she said. Liz is a wonderful listener. She lets me tell her all my problems and she never diminishes the importance of my worries. I can tell she’s really listening, too, because she looks directly in my eyes the whole time, like she’s trying to see inside my head and figure me out. We don’t always agree on everything, and sometimes we even fight like sisters.
But, in the end, we always stick together.Classic Example of a Character: The Penurious Man The Penurious man is one who, while the month is current, will come to one's house and ask for a half-obol [a silver coin]. When he is at table with others he will count how many cups each of them has drunk; and will pour a smaller libation to Artemis than any of the company. Whenever a person has made a good bargain for him and charges him with it, he will say that it is too dear. When a servant has broken a jug or a plate he will take the value out of his rations; or, if his wife has dropped a three-farthing piece, he is capable of moving the furniture and the sofas and the wardrobes, and of rummaging in the curtains.If he has anything to sell he will dispose of it at such a price that the buyer shall have no profit.
He is not likely to let one eat a fig from his garden, or walk through his land, or pick up one of the olives or dates that lie on the ground; and he will inspect his boundaries day by day to see if they remain the same. He is apt, also, to enforce the right of distraining, and to exact compound interest. When he feasts the men of his parish, the cutlets set before them will be small: when he markets, he will come in having bought nothing.And he will forbid his wife to lend salt, or a lamp-wick, or cummin, or verjuice, or meal for sacrifice, or garlands, or cakes; saying that these trifles come to much in the year.
Then in general it may be noticed that the moneyboxes of the penurious are mouldy, and the keys rusty; that they themselves wear their cloaks scarcely reaching to the thigh; that they anoint themselves from very small oil-flasks; that they have their hair cut close; that they take off their shoes in the middle of the day; and that they are urgent with the fuller to let their cloak have plenty of earth, in order that it may not soon be soiled. "
