Lessons+for+Life



Lessons for Life Brett Wagner 3/4 B  Her hair was so perfectly coifed, her movements so graceful and precise. The soccer ball moved under her feet so smoothly you could hardly believe it was there. There wasn’t a movement from anything or anyone as I watched her smile and her clothing glisten off the sun’s reflection. I am so late, I thought to myself as I rushed out to gym class and just my luck they had already picked partners. Why is it always me who gets trapped in a social bubble? I know I am just Leah the seventh grader suffering from social outcast tides but would it hurt anybody if I could have a partner for gym? It’s like my school is a sandwich and I am the crust people cut off cause they don’t like it. I guess I will just have to kick the soccer ball by myself again--nothing new today or so I thought. I was so engrossed in the soccer ball I didn’t realize what was in front of me. BAM! I just crashed into another person. God, I am such a klutz I thought as I pulled myself up. “I am so sorry,” I said to the girl in front of me. I finally gathered up myself and I looked her in the eye.

“My name is Elizabeth are you ok?” said the girl I had bumped. I couldn’t even scramble out words because this was the most a person has talked to me in my whole middle school career. Oh come on Leah you can scramble out a simple “hi” I told myself. I was still trying to get myself to say at least one word and I didn’t even realize Elizabeth was talking to me. “Would you like to be my partner? I am new here and I don’t really know how things work around here.” said Elizabeth.

”Sure,” I said.

We started out silently just kicking the ball back and forth. We gradually started to talk but it started out small, just simple things like “good kick” and “nice hustle”. But it started to turn into things like, “Where did you come from?” and “What are your hobbies?” Before we knew it gym class was over and everyone began to rush inside.

“Would you like to go to the park with me this weekend?” asked Elizabeth. Oh boy, I thought to myself, I have plans this weekend I never thought I would say that!

The park was almost empty and the only sound was the leaves rustling as they moved in the quiet wind. Elizabeth broke the silence by asking me, “What are your other friends like?”

“Well, I don’t really have any other friends. I am not the most popular person at South East Junior High and I wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t want to hang with me.” I told Elizabeth in a somber voice.

“See, that’s just it. You are the first person I met at school and you were the only one that didn’t bump me in the hallway or laugh. I think you’re different and I am very different and we are completely compatible,” said Elizabeth.

“Thanks! That is probably the nicest thing somebody has ever said to me I think this could be the start of an amazing friendship,” I said as I hoped this wasn’t just a dream. It turned out it wasn’t a dream and I was right.

Elizabeth and I began to hang out even more but our true friendship started in her tree house on a Saturday morning. The air was cold and dry. The ground was coated with a thick blanket of rain. “Do you ever think that your life isn’t worth living?” I asked in a curious voice. I am not sure why I asked but I guess I was just being my weird, obsessive self.

“Well I did, but not too long ago something happened that really opened my eyes to what life is truly about,” said Elizabeth.

“What happened? Please tell me,” I asked her in a pleading voice.

“Alright, I will tell you but you have to promise not to tell anybody,” she said.

“I promise,” I said. “Okay, a couple months ago my mom was diagnosed with brain cancer and the doctor said she was going to be alright but after a month it started to get worse and two months later she was gone. My parents had divorced when I was five and my dad just took off so I didn’t know where he was so I had to go live with my Aunt in Iowa. At first it was horrible, she wouldn’t let me go out or eat junk food but one night she took me to a bench in a deserted park and told me about when her dad died. She said it was like someone had come and stabbed her in the stomach. She could hardly believe he was really gone. She then had to go live in a foster home she said that her guardian once told her if you dwell on the bad things you miss out on what your life has to offer. Ever since hearing that I have always tried to live my life to the fullest,” explained Elizabeth. “Wow! I had no idea how much you have been through. Thank you for sharing that with me but it’s late and my Mom will kill me if I don’t go home,” I said in a hurry.

“Ok,” said Elizabeth. “I will see you tomorrow.”

At school the next day, Elizabeth and I talked under a tree. She told me about when her parents got divorced and and about how her mom told her that flowers lose there petals all the time but they grow new ones even better then the old. Elizabeth told me this was another piece of advice she had learned about life.

Elizabeth and I became amazing friends and we hung out even more. We went to the beach, the park, her house, my house and, even amusement parks. She really changed my life. It was so good to have a best friend

The next two weeks is winter break at school. I was so excited to have more time to spend with Elizabeth. I called her house and there was no answer. I tried her cell phone and again there was no answer. Where was she? What was going on? I got really worried. The entire break there was no answer. I couldn’t wait to get back to school and find out from Elizabeth what was going on.

“Leah, they need you in the principal’s office,” said my math teacher. As I left I was wondering in my mind what could this be about?

“Are you Leah?” said a woman I had never seen before.

“Yes I am,” I said in a confused voice.

“I am Elizabeth’s aunt and I am afraid I have some terrible news. Elizabeth died this morning of cancer,” she said.

“What? No you are lying! Elizabeth doesn’t have cancer, you are LYING!” I screamed.

“I am so sorry but she wanted me to give you this,” said Leah’s aunt with tears in her eyes.

It was a letter and I could hardly believe what was happening. The letter trembled in my hand as I read it. Dear Leah, I am writing this letter to my best friend Leah. I am sorry I didn’t tell you that I have had chemo since I was 11. I didn’t want to worry you. I just wanted to say thank you. You gave me a chance when know one else did. You listened to my stories and believed in me. I am sorry to leave you so soon but as you know flowers lose their petals all the time but they grow back into even better ones then before. I know you can go on with out me just remember don’t dwell on the bad things cause you will miss out on what life has to offer. Thanks for everything Leah, you are truly my best friend. Live your life to the fullest. Love Elizabeth.   When I finished reading the letter I remembered all the good times we had and a small tear began to trickle down my face. When I first spotted Elizabeth I thought she was beautiful and I knew I wanted to be just like her but I never knew we would become friends. You taught me everything Elizabeth and you lived a great life now its time to live mine.

