Story Contest 2016 #1 - Outstanding Stories » Best Friends

“Best Friends” is one of the outstanding stories of the first biannual Short Story Contest 2016 written by Hridya Anna Panackal, Chung Hua School, Brunei Darussalam.

Best Friends

Chloe, a kind and hardworking girl, lived in a village in England with her parents. Being a single child, she often felt lonely. Even at school she did not have friends that she could call ‘best friends’. She was quite shy and often too afraid to talk to her classmates. She was truly at home only with her puppy. She wished she had friends like other normal girls.

It was almost the end of school holidays. On the day the school reopened, Chloe got ready fast, and slung her backpack on her shoulder. “Bye mum,” she called out, and began her walk to school.

As she was walking, a girl of about the same age as her ran past. She was running so fast that her bag was swinging from side to side. “That girl must be in a hurry,” Chloe thought. Then she remembered that, being the first day of school, there was assembly that morning at school. She quickened her steps.

Suddenly, Chloe heard a ‘thud’ sound and a scream. She ran ahead and saw that the girl who had run past her just then had tripped on a stone and fallen. “Are you okay?” asked Chloe, with concern.

The girl looked up. Chloe saw that she was crying, and that there was a deep cut on her knee from which blood was oozing out. “Thank you, I am ok,” said the wounded girl, though it was clear that she was in pain.

“What is your name?” asked Chloe.

“I am Minnie.”

“Minnie,” Chloe said softly, “Your knee is bleeding. Come, I will take you home.”

“It is ok. I will be alright. You better hurry, since today there is assembly at school,” Minnie said, trying to get up.

Chloe thought for a while, and then said, “No Minnie. I am not leaving until you are feeling better. Tell me where you live. I will take you home.”

“I live just about five minutes away from here,” said Minnie, trying to sound normal, but it was obvious that she was in a lot of pain.

“Ok, let’s go,” Chloe helped Minnie up, and to walk slowly, till they reached Minnie’s house. Minnie’s mother opened the door as soon as they rang the bell. “What happened?” she asked, clearly surprised to see her daughter.

“Ma, I fell down and cut my knee, on the way to school. This….sorry, I didn’t ask your name,” stammered Minnie in embarrassment.

“It is alright. I am Chloe. I just wanted to see her home,” Chloe said with a smile.

“Oh, thank you so much. Let me look at your knee. Please come on in,” Minnie’s mother said.

“There, does it feel better?” said mum after she had disinfected and dressed Minnie’s wound.

“Yes mum. Thank you very much Chloe. If you weren’t there no one would have helped me and my knee would have kept on bleeding,” Minnie said.

“You are welcome, Minnie,” Chloe said happily, “I will take Minnie with me to school. Is that ok?” she asked Minnie’s mother.

“Yes, that is great,” said Minnie’s mother, smiling.

So, they walked to school together. Half way to school, Chloe asked Minnie, “Will you be my friend?”

“Of course, I will be your friend. After all you helped me,” Minnie said happily. Chloe felt overjoyed, and held Minnie’s hand tightly.

After that Chloe was not lonely anymore. Sometimes Minnie would come to Chloe’s house and Chloe would go to Minnie’s house. They talked and played with each other. They became best friends, sharing their toys and their thoughts, and their lives became full of fun and laughter.