true friends accept you as you are

Each day the little girl exited the school house gleefully. She ran with her friends smiling and laughing just the same as all of them and hearing each breath and heartbeat in her head as she flew across the wide open field. She was anxious when the girls and boys slowed themselves one by one reaching the edge of the steep hill. Each turned kind of sideways stepping carefully with arms out to the side as if on a balancing beam. Inching down they called "Take care not to fall!". Soon each had reached the bottom and screamed with delight of the accomplishment. Immediately before them was the stoney brook splashing and dancing about inviting them to come on in. One by one each of the girls and boys took their turn jumping from big rock to big rock following a pattern across the brook. The cuffs of their pants and hems of their skirts drank up the water and by the time they reached the opposite side their shoes were absolutely drenched. The little girl reached the bottom of the hill and ran to the water's edge and full stopped. It was her turn to dance across the water. Her friends looked on from the other bank. She stood still and silent for a brief moment just watching the water flow. "Come on!" the children called to her. She sat down nearby and unlaced her shoes. She removed her stockings stuffing them inside the shoes and then tied her laces together. She tossed the shoes across her shoulder and lifted her skirts to her knees, and then she took her turn jumping from big rock to big rock. When she reached the other bank, she sat once again and put on her stockings and shoes. Her friends waited. Not one inquired about the patchwork stockings. Not one commented on the refashioned shoes. No one said a word to her. They chattered away talking about their school day and the need to hurry home now. When she was done, she stood and met their gaze. Someone grabbed her hand and away they went up the embankment laughing and enjoying their time together. Once they reached the top, the said their farewells. The little girl went left. The others went right. They headed home looking back often and shouting goodbyes again and again as the distance between the grew. The little girl smiled as her heart was warmed from the love of her friends and the knowledge that the distance between them was just a dirt road.