Blue skies, thriving flowers, rushing water, awakened animals. I watch my breath, in and out, and wait for the puffy white clouds to surround me. But they don't come. Could spring truly be here? I glance around eagerly for more signs, and I spot a girl my age running over. Who is she?
"Hello! Isn't it just wonderful?" She asks, beaming. I bend down and pluck a small dandelion from the grass. It finds its way to my nose, and I smell the fresh scent.
"Yes. I am ready for spring." I tuck the flower into my jeans pocket, and I get an idea. She searches my expression for a moment, trying to figure out what I have in mind.
"What now?" She asks me. I hesitate for a moment.
"The creek in my backyard usually has tadpoles during spring! Do you want to find some?" I exclaim. Her excited smile fades, and it turns into an adventurous one.
"I've got a better idea." She gestures for me to follow as she begins to run toward the river. I feel my feet beneath me begin to move, and I find that I am chasing after her like a loose dog.
"Where are we going?" I call.
"You'll see." She beams. We run through the big field by my house, our hair flying behind us. I can smell the cool breeze and feel the warm sun on my arms. Suddenly, the girl trips and falls over.
"Are you all right?" I anxiously ask. She turns over and appears to be laughing.
"Why are you laughing?" She looks up.
"What would life be if you never fell down? It's just another way to make you stronger." She explains thoughtfully. She gets up and wipes a bit of dirt off her pants.
"If you never get dirty, you won't ever learn how to clean it up. That's what I always say. We should all know how to fix our mistakes." The girl states. We walk next to each other all the way down to the river. She starts to walk into the water, but I stop her.
"You're going in?"
"Yes, why not?" She looks confident.
"Well, what if you slip?" I say.
"If you never face your fears, you'll be stuck with the things that eventually bore you. If I slip, you'll catch me." She smiles and steps into the rushing water.
"Okay."
"Now all we have to do is find some tadpoles!" I stand there and shiver, realizing that the air has become colder. She shivers as well.
"Do you want to go back? It's quite cold out here." I say.
"No, I'm fine. You may go if you would like." I begin to walk away, but she says something.
"If it's cold, I like to try and find warmth. What kind of things warm you?" She wonders. I turn back to her.
"My family warms me. My friends. The thought of home." I answer.
"It's the important things that keep us going, whether they're good or bad, don't you think?"
"I suppose so." She steps out of the river and starts to walk away.
"Where are we going now?" I ask.
"Anywhere."
"Aren't we going to get lost? It's getting dark."
"If you want to find light, the only way is through the dark. Sometimes, people will have to experience something negative to receive something positive."
"You certainly are a wise person," I say.
"I get that a lot. However, many people don't appreciate me. I like to say that if something pulls you down, search for the things that will help you fly higher."
"People might think little of you, but you really know more than all of us. A few days ago, these kids were being mean to me, so I was going to do something mean back, but I didn't. Was it the right thing to do?" I ask.
"Revenge is just something that shows people you can't control your anger when it visits."
"Thank you." After a little bit, we decide to return home. Once we arrive, I wave goodbye to my friend.
"This was an incredible day. Thank you for taking me to the river!" I cheer.
"Of course. Before you go, I need to tell you one last thing."
"What?" She looks energetic, even though we've been walking all day.
"Just remember, the world can be cruel. That gives us one more reason to try and make it better." She tells me.
"Thank you. I also have one last thing to say."
"Yes?" I open my mouth and say,
"When the world is cruel, don't hide and wait for happiness. Remember that there is one thing that is stronger than fear: passion. I hope I'll see you again someday, and thank you for the things you've taught me!" I wave again and begin to run away. I look back one last time to see that the girl is smiling. She turns and walks away.
What a day! I think to myself. I'll have to do it again tomorrow!
"Hello! Isn't it just wonderful?" She asks, beaming. I bend down and pluck a small dandelion from the grass. It finds its way to my nose, and I smell the fresh scent.
"Yes. I am ready for spring." I tuck the flower into my jeans pocket, and I get an idea. She searches my expression for a moment, trying to figure out what I have in mind.
"What now?" She asks me. I hesitate for a moment.
"The creek in my backyard usually has tadpoles during spring! Do you want to find some?" I exclaim. Her excited smile fades, and it turns into an adventurous one.
"I've got a better idea." She gestures for me to follow as she begins to run toward the river. I feel my feet beneath me begin to move, and I find that I am chasing after her like a loose dog.
"Where are we going?" I call.
"You'll see." She beams. We run through the big field by my house, our hair flying behind us. I can smell the cool breeze and feel the warm sun on my arms. Suddenly, the girl trips and falls over.
"Are you all right?" I anxiously ask. She turns over and appears to be laughing.
"Why are you laughing?" She looks up.
"What would life be if you never fell down? It's just another way to make you stronger." She explains thoughtfully. She gets up and wipes a bit of dirt off her pants.
"If you never get dirty, you won't ever learn how to clean it up. That's what I always say. We should all know how to fix our mistakes." The girl states. We walk next to each other all the way down to the river. She starts to walk into the water, but I stop her.
"You're going in?"
"Yes, why not?" She looks confident.
"Well, what if you slip?" I say.
"If you never face your fears, you'll be stuck with the things that eventually bore you. If I slip, you'll catch me." She smiles and steps into the rushing water.
"Okay."
"Now all we have to do is find some tadpoles!" I stand there and shiver, realizing that the air has become colder. She shivers as well.
"Do you want to go back? It's quite cold out here." I say.
"No, I'm fine. You may go if you would like." I begin to walk away, but she says something.
"If it's cold, I like to try and find warmth. What kind of things warm you?" She wonders. I turn back to her.
"My family warms me. My friends. The thought of home." I answer.
"It's the important things that keep us going, whether they're good or bad, don't you think?"
"I suppose so." She steps out of the river and starts to walk away.
"Where are we going now?" I ask.
"Anywhere."
"Aren't we going to get lost? It's getting dark."
"If you want to find light, the only way is through the dark. Sometimes, people will have to experience something negative to receive something positive."
"You certainly are a wise person," I say.
"I get that a lot. However, many people don't appreciate me. I like to say that if something pulls you down, search for the things that will help you fly higher."
"People might think little of you, but you really know more than all of us. A few days ago, these kids were being mean to me, so I was going to do something mean back, but I didn't. Was it the right thing to do?" I ask.
"Revenge is just something that shows people you can't control your anger when it visits."
"Thank you." After a little bit, we decide to return home. Once we arrive, I wave goodbye to my friend.
"This was an incredible day. Thank you for taking me to the river!" I cheer.
"Of course. Before you go, I need to tell you one last thing."
"What?" She looks energetic, even though we've been walking all day.
"Just remember, the world can be cruel. That gives us one more reason to try and make it better." She tells me.
"Thank you. I also have one last thing to say."
"Yes?" I open my mouth and say,
"When the world is cruel, don't hide and wait for happiness. Remember that there is one thing that is stronger than fear: passion. I hope I'll see you again someday, and thank you for the things you've taught me!" I wave again and begin to run away. I look back one last time to see that the girl is smiling. She turns and walks away.
What a day! I think to myself. I'll have to do it again tomorrow!
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