On Friday afternoon Class Seven had an Art lesson. It was their favourite lesson of the week. Everyone ____1____ Trudy Hubble looked forward to it. Trudy had arms that stuck out and always knocked things over.
When Trudy came into the classroom, Rob Mason said, “Look out, here comes Trouble!” All the kids ____2____. Trudy had to smile and pretended she didn’t mind. How she wished she could be more like Lisa Gibbs, who had small hands and feet and never ____3____ things over!
That day, they were going to paint animals. Again, Trudy knocked over the jam jar. Dirty water spread in a pool across the table and ____4____ Lisa’s dragon. Every time Trudy tried to do Art, it was always a ____5____.
“I hate Art,” Trudy thought as she went home on the bus, wishing never to go to school again.
As soon as she got home, Mum asked her to take a ____6____ to Mrs. Willow.
Trudy knocked on the door and the door opened. There stood an old lady, so tall and elegant, like her house, which was full of ____7____ china.
“My mum’s your home help. She won’t be able to come tomorrow. She’s got a cold.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. What she needs is my special cold ____8____. Come inside and I’ll give you some. ” Mrs. Willow opened the door wider.
Keeping her arms pressed to her sides, Trudy stood ____9____, much like a statue, afraid to move in.
“Why?”
“I am the clumsiest person in our school! I know something will get broken when I’m ____10____.”
“I used to be clumsy too, a real ugly little duck,” Mrs. Willow smiled. “But I grew up to be a swan(白天鹅).”
“But I don’t think I shall,” Trudy doubted. “I’ll just grow up to be an ugly ____11____.”
“Not if you do as I did. You have to keep telling yourself that inside, where it matters, you’re really a swan.”
“I’m a swan,” Trudy ____12____ her throat and took the medicine, heading for home.
Next morning Mum’s cold was much better. “If Mrs. Willow’s cold cure is a kind of ____13____, then her swan cure must work as well.” Trudy couldn’t wait to try it out.
In the school playground some children stood looking up into the chestnut tree. Lisa was in tears.
“What’s the matter?” asked Trudy.
“It’s my kite,” Lisa said, wiping her eyes. “Rob let go and it’s got ____14____ up the tree.”
“I’ll get it down for you,” Trudy said kindly.
“No, you’ll tear it!” Lisa looked ____15____. “It’s a special Chinese kite! I got it for my birthday.”
For a moment Trudy felt like her old ____16____ self. But then she remembered what Mrs. Willow had said. It didn’t matter how she looked outside. Inside, she was really a swan.
She jumped up and grabbed the lowest ____17____ and began to climb. “Swans never rush,” she told herself. It took her ages, but she didn’t rush. At last she managed to ____18____ the kite. But now she had to climb down again using only one hand. Very, very ____19____ she swung herself down to the ground. The kite was safe!
“Thanks, Trudy.” Lisa showed it to the others. “Look, it’s all right!”
Trudy felt very, very proud and different. Smiling at everyone, she walked swan-like across the playground and into school, so tall and ____20____.