(A short heartwarming story)
Just having moved to New York from Maryland, Jessica would be the new girl at school. Jessica hated having to be the new girl.
She told her mom her fears, “But Mom, it’s not fun being the new girl and I miss my old friends already. What am I going to do?”
“I know darling,” said her mom. “But you’ll like it here too once you get to know everyone. You’re going to have no trouble making new friends. You’re a very sweet and brave young girl,” her mom reassured her.
“Thanks Mom,” Jessica said, “I will sure try.”
In just a short while the big day arrived, October 1st, Jessica’s first day of kindergarten at her new school. She slowly entered the classroom and was directed near the front of the room to a desk with big bold letters across the top that said, J E S S I C A. So far, so good. The teacher seemed nice enough and the other kids in the class did too. They all gave a big, happy hello when the teacher introduced Jessica as the new girl. (Although Jessica still hated being called the new girl).
Soon it was lunch time and everyone got to play in the schoolyard. Jessica remembered what her mom had said and bravely started going up to kids in the playground one by one, introducing herself. She wanted so much for the other kids to like her that she may have tried a little too hard at first.
“Hi, I’m Jessica!” She said to a little freckled faced boy. “I can count from one to 20 backwards…20, 19, 16, 11, 9, 14… Oh well, sometimes I can.” The little boy looked at her, smiled and walked away.
She then said hi to a little girl in pig tails, “Hi I’m Jessica and I can jump on one foot for five minutes!” Jessica tried so hard, but she fell after ten seconds and then bounced back and forth on both feet until the little girl turned around and walked away.
“Wow, it’s not easy making friends. I may need to try harder,” Jessica thought to herself.
Next, she went up to a girl wearing a yellow polka dotted dress, “Hi, I’m Jessica and I can spell hippopotamus, H Y P O P P I… Oh, I’m getting confused,” she tried to say, but before she could explain this girl walked away too.
Jessica came home from school that day feeling very disappointed. “Mom,” she said, “I keep trying really, really hard and still no one wants to be my friend!”
“Well,” said Jessica’s mom, “Could you maybe be trying too hard? If you just be your kind, warmhearted, caring, loving self, I’m sure you’ll have a friend in no time!”
“Mom, I think you’re right,” said Jessica. “Besides trying so hard can hurt.” She rubbed her knee where she had fallen trying to stand on one leg.
A short time later in the playground, Jessica was watching some girls playing T-ball. She wanted to ask if she could join in but felt timid after being turned down so much that first day of school. Suddenly a ball was thrown over the outfielder’s head and hit the glasses off a boy playing in the sandbox. Jessica jumped up without even thinking and quickly ran to help the boy. Some girls followed behind, but Jessica was faster. The boy was scared and crying because his glasses where missing, though luckily he didn’t get hurt. Because Jessica is such a fast runner, she got to the sandbox and found the boy’s glasses before anyone else. Within a couple minutes a crowd had gathered. The teacher, a parent on lunch duty and a bunch of kids from the playground had come over to see what the ruckus was all about.
Jessica introduced herself to the boy and said, “I’m sorry you were hit. My sister Leanna has glasses, so I know how you feel.”
“Thank you so much,” said Jeremy. “You’re the nicest person I ever met!”
That afternoon the teacher gave Jessica two special stickers, one said “Super-Hero” because she helped Jeremy. The other one said, “Fastest Runner.” No one could believe just how fast Jessica could run. Some girls had already started asking Jessica to be on their team for the next T-ball game.
Jessica was feeling very happy but a little embarrassed from all the attention. Still, she was glad to be able to do a good deed and help someone else out. Jessica cared a lot about other’s feelings.
She went home and told her mom about her day. Then she said, “Mom, you were right. I guess I do only have to be myself to make a friend.”
“Yes, Jessica,” said her mom, “and to have a good friend, you showed how important it is to be a good friend. I’m so proud of you! Three cheers for the new girl!” Jessica’s mom beamed and gave her a great big bear hug.
By- gilda patricia
gildaspoems 