Nikki gets a new friend
MARGARET HELEN
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Nikki looked out of the window and saw people moving in next door. And there was a little girl her age too.
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Nikki heard voices and looked out of her window. "Somebody is moving in next door, Mamma," she said. Her mother came and stood behind her.
"Look, there's a girl too. She could be eight years old, almost your age," said Mamma. Nikki nodded. "What good can that be?" she thought.
All that Sunday morning there were all kinds of sounds next door. Sounds of boxes being unloaded, and sounds of furniture being moved. Sounds of voices; tired voices, happy voices.
"I'm taking some tea over to them," Mamma said. "Want to go with me, Nikki? You could make friends with their girl."
Girl next door
"No Mamma, I'll stay here and play with Ravi." Her little brother Ravi looked at her.
"Ravi wants to play with Nikki, Mamma," Ravi said. Ravi was three.
Nikki hated change. Nikki hated making friends. Nikki carried the open secret that lay like a milestone around her little heart. Nikki had a club foot. She actually had to hobble rather than walk. People stared at her; kids giggled and laughed as she walked past. Nikki hated school because there were prying eyes around her. She felt terribly lonely. In a short while Nikki watched Mamma returning with the girl next door. Nikki held her breath, she knew her mother meant well. She sat on the couch unmoving. She felt her whole body stiffen.
"Nikki this is Reesha. Reesha, this is Nikki and my son Ravi." Saying this Nikki's mother went into the kitchen.
There was only one thought in Nikki's mind — Reesha must not know. Reesha looked at Nikki, she wanted so badly to be friends. Nikki made no move. Reesha sat on the floor with Ravi and they played with Ravi's little toy cars. Reesha spoke in small whispers to Ravi while they made the cars race across the floor. She giggled and laughed when the cars collided. Now and then she stole little hopeful glances towards Nikki.
When she was ready to leave she waved a silent `bye' to Nikki and Ravi. Then she skipped out of the door and ran home.
Nikki sighed in relief. "You should have played with us Nikki. Reesha is good fun." But Nikki was not listening.
The following week school reopened. Nikki was surprised to see Reesha there. "She's in the same school," she thought. "Thank goodness she is not in my class." She avoided Reesha all week.
One Monday evening Nikki almost froze when Reesha ran towards her. She tried to get away but Reesha had already caught up with her. Nikki tried to walk away. Nikki always waited for the rush to die down before she left. She did not expect Reesha to wait for her. Just then, Nikki slipped on the grass and went sprawling. Reesha rushed to help her.
In that instant Reesha saw Nikki's foot. A sadness clouded Reesha's eyes. "I don't want your sympathy," she thought.
Reesha reached out and held Nikki's hand. She was struggling to say something. "She's nervous," thought Nikki. But no, it was not that. Nikki realised that Reesha had a terrible stutter.
The two girls stood holding hands, as if they had known each other for years. Nikki realised that her inner hurts were of her own making. She would have to banish them and be happy; accept the way she was. It didn't make her less human because her foot was not quite right.
Then they smiled. Each saw tears in the other's eyes.
"Will you be my friend?" asked Reesha. "I have no friends in school. The other kids laugh at me when I try to speak." Nikki nodded. They walked home together that evening.
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