Outstanding Stories » Shy Friendship

“Shy Friendship” is one of the outstanding stories (junior) of the second biannual International Short Story Contest 2018 written by Isabella Lee, Maroubra Junction Public School (MJPS), Australia.

Shy Friendship

This is the story of me and my best friend in the entire universe, Belle. It was the start of a new school year. I walked into the colossal marble building as a new girl. Again my parents were always moving around because of their jobs. I couldn't have any forever friends, but that was fine by me... I had no friends. Not ever. At day-care, I sat in a corner of the room, playing with a little Barbie. If someone else wanted it, I gave it up and stared at the ceiling. And at the five primary schools I had been to, if someone spoke to me, I'd either go "uh, ye-,um" or just laugh in a demented clown way until they ran away. I was just too shy. I didn't think this new school was going to be any different.

I strutted to the office, and the office lady asked my name. "Tatiana," I whispered. “Sorry, what was it?" she enquired. I stuttered again "Tatiana, ma'am." "Oh, ok, Tatiana." Her fingers tap, tap, tapped at her laptop. "Ok, here's a map and your timetable." She reached over and grabbed two sheets of paper. She got out her stapler and CUNK! In went the little staple. She handed the sheets to me. "Thank you, ma'am." "Please, sweet, call me Ms Kent." "Ok, Ms Kent. " "Now that's a girl. Bye bye, dear. "

I tiptoed to my first class, then my second, then third. Soon enough, recess came. I sat alone at a corner table. I dared to ask a little girl where the drinks were. I poured myself a cup of apple juice. As I was walking back to my table, I tripped over someone's leg, spilling the juice all over them. “Oh my! I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!!!" I whispered profusely. “It's ok." I looked up. I saw a girl a little older than myself, with golden curls pouring down her face, a beaming smile, a voice like an angel... and apple juice spilt down her dress.

As soon as she had reassured me that it was ok, I trudged back to my little corner table. I picked up my ham sandwich and started gnawing it. The golden angel came to me and asked, "Can I sit down?" I stared at her, half a mouth full of bread and ham. I gulped down my mouthful. "Yes." She timidly sat down. "I'm Belle." "I'm, uh- h-Tat-" I started my round of horrendous clown laughter. Belle smiled politely, and then coughed. "Um.. ok! Hi, Tat! Can I call you that?" I simply nodded.

Belle and I really understood each other. We were both shy, friendly sort of people. When I laughed hysterically again, Belle handed me a notepad. It had a glittery cover and inside was the words "FRIENDS?" in glitter. I nodded. She gave me an identical notepad, except with my name neatly written on the first page in glitter pen. From then on, whenever I didn't want to speak, I simply took out the notebook and wrote out my words on paper.

As we went on, we faced bullies, who thought of us as stupid people who couldn't communicate. They would stick their foot out 'accidentally' and trip us up. They would hide a few worms in our lockers. These bullies were led by the ULTIMATE bully. The Ice Queen, The Heartless Princess, Tatiana Redfern. It was revolting to have someone with the same name as you who was against you in every way. Tatiana the Bully would sneer as we passed her in the lunch room and make faces and call us rude names such as " Smelly Pong" when there were no teachers around to catch her and give her a detention slip.

"Oh HI, Stinky Breath!!" We were greeted one morning as we entered the English Classroom by Tatiana, who snarled at us like a wolf, ready to feast. Belle and I sat down, our cheeks flushed bright pink with anger. We stared at Tatiana. " Oh no, Pinky Pies! What are you going to do? Stand up to me?! OHHH, I'm soo scared!!! Ha, that will make headlines in the school paper! Shy Pinky Pies actually speak! Ha, losers!!" That was when I truly wanted to be Belle's friend. She stood up and went over to Tatiana. Tatiana actually backed away a bit. Belle smiled and loudly, but politely said "well, everyone has their way of communicating with others. Some are creative, some a little complicated, and some a bit weird, but YOURS, Tatiana, is just simply DISGUSTING." "Quite right, Belle." Ms Herder, our English teacher walked into the room. "I heard everything. Ms Redfern, Principal's Office. NOW."

In the end, Tatiana got a two- day suspension for bullying other students. Belle and I are the greatest of friends and best of all, my parents saw how great a friendship I finally had, they asked their boss if they could switch to another unit of work within their workplace and he said YES! Always remember, true friendship is a treasure to have!