Story Time

The friendship

I watched the dance of the river and heard it singing the charms of nature. Although it looked very beautiful, I knew it was dangerous. The swiftly moving waves of the river had the power to take all of us to the end of our lives. But the rhythm of the water cured my weeping heart, which had been injured by the cruel words of Kathi.

I didn't know why Kathi always cursed me. She may have been jealous because I was clever at my studies. She seemed to take great pleasure by always blaming and hurting me.

When we were getting into the bus to go on our school trip, Kathi suddenly jumped at me and shouted loudly, "Jane, you have stolen my money. I know you are the thief. Oh! what a cunning girl you are!" I was guiltless, but I kept silent as I was timid and had no friend to defend me. I was branded as a thief before all eyes.

I was thinking of this incident that happened in the morning, with my eyes fixed on the river. Suddenly, I heard something falling into the water. Then, I saw Kathi floating in the river and heard her loudly screaming for help. I didn't know what made me do it, but I jumped into the stream at once.

I was a good swimmer, but it was difficult for me to swim through the swift currents of the river. I swam as fast as I could, but realised with a sinking feeling that there was a waterfall ahead. I knew if Kathi had fallen down this waterfall, we will never see her again.

I held onto a rock and looked around me and saw the figure behind a rock. That was Kathi. She had managed to save herself by holding onto a rock. Again, I started swimming towards her, but to my horror, Kathi lost her grip and was being drawn towards the waterfall.

I swam fast towards her and grabbed her hair tightly and was able to save her. She cried in surprise when she saw me, "Jane, you!"

I asked her to hold me tightly. She clung onto my shoulders with one hand and put her other hand around my waist. I started swimming towards the shore, away from the waterfall. I had to struggle with the waves as the pull of the waterfall was strong and also because Kathi was holding onto me. I hit my forehead on a rock and felt blood running down my cheeks.

The pain was unbearable and I was getting weaker, but I swam with all the strength left in my body and at last I heard the cheers of the other children. I reached a rock and held onto it and found that I couldn't swim any further. I lay on the rock and saw Kathi also lying beside me. It was not long before I found myself losing consciousness.

When I opened my eyes, I felt myself resting against a pillow. My parents were standing at the foot of the bed. I was in a hospital. I found my forehead bandaged and felt the pain of the wound.

Suddenly, I saw a figure walking towards me. It was Kathi! She knelt by me and offered me a bunch of flowers. I saw tears shining in her eyes.

"Jane, forgive me for everything. I thank you a hundred times for saving my life." I held her palm.

"Kathi, we will be friends forever," I said. Both of us smiled through tears.

Sent by
Sachini Chathurika
Kumarasinghe,
Devi Balika Vidyalaya,
Colombo 8.