Dad took back the letter I had been holding in my hand but he didn't say a word. What a bomb-shell! I was completely taken aback by what I had read. Neither my sister nor I had seen it coming. I think mum had known for quite some time, but she had kept quiet.
'I don't want to take you away from all your friends in Hong Kong,' he began. I knew he was nervous because there were beads of sweat on his forehead. 'I don't want to take you away from your school and I don't want to take mum away from her job. But this is a wonderful opportunity for all the family.'
Mum kept her head down all the time dad was talking. 'Believe me, I have thought a hundred times of telling Mr Tan to take his job offer back. But I've decided that would be wrong for all of us.' Dad stopped and looked at my sister and me for our reaction.
Cindy had been taken aback by the news as well. I knew the idea of moving to Sydney for four years was already exciting her. She wouldn't mind in the least if dad's job took us away from Hong Kong for a few years. There was a definite twinkle in her eye. Perhaps it wasn't such a bad idea after all. I took the letter back from dad and began to read it again with a big smile on my face.
Now Your Turn
In the article, three phrases involving the verb 'to take' are used.
1. To take back - to take something you once had given to someone else.
