Read an excerpt from the story The Big Move:
By the time Sandeep reached Den, they were near the ferry landing on the western side of the island. The ferry bobbed slightly as its doors lowered to allow the cars off the boat and another line up of cars, which had accumulated since the last trip, on. Sandeep remembered how, one time, he and Den rode their bicycles to the ferry and crossed to the small mainland town on the other side. He yelled for Den to stop, "Hey, Den! I'm sorry, and I didn't mean it!" Den stopped and looked back him with eyes full of salty tears. Sandeep rode up to him and continued, "I'm really sorry about what I said to you there. I just don't know how to react to this. I mean, you're my best friend, and we do everything together."
Den's face softened as his tears began to dry while he spoke, "It's okay, Sandeep. I'm upset about it, too, but if you would have let me talk earlier, I could have told you that we are still going to be going to the same school every day. My family bought a cottage on the island, so we can vacation here every summer. We are just moving to the mainland on the other side because Dad wants to cut waiting for the ferry from his trip. We'll be just a short ferry ride away. Do you remember that time when we rode our bikes to the ferry? Well, we can do that again, and as we get older, we can probably just meet up on either side all the time. It won't be too bad."
At this news, a smile grew across Sandeep's face. "Well, why didn't you say so in the first place?" he laughed. Den began to laugh as well as the two boys looked across the water to the other side. "Well," Den said, "we'd better get moving." Sandeep looked confused. "Moving where?" he inquired with a worried look on his face. Den smirked as if he was about to tell a joke, "Back to your house to finish our lunch, of course!" The boys rode back to Sandeep's house side by side and as inseparable as always.
( question )
Select phrase from this excerpt that best supports the theme of the story.
He and Den rode their bicycles to the ferry.
I just don't know how to react to this.
It's okay, Sandeep. I'm upset about it, too.
The ferry bobbed slightly as its doors lowered.