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While I was talking to Robin in Mrs. Gable’s language class, Heather came in. The warning bell rang alerting us that we had five minutes until school officially started. Turning towards the front of the class, I watched Heather as she took her seat. Inside, I felt nervous. I was hoping that yesterday’s truce would be a permanent one. Heather wasn’t too bad once you got to know her a little.
“Hi,” Heather said, when she turned to drape her handbag over the back of her desk.
“Hi,” I replied.
Two fingers digging into my shoulder made me wince with pain. Turning around in my seat, I asked Robin what she wanted.
“Why are you talking to Heather?” Robin asked, her eyes darting from me to Heather.
“Why not? She’s okay once you get to know her,” I told Robin.
“Since when did you get to know her?” Robin asked.
“At tryouts. She’s really good. You should have seen her,” I told Robin.
“I’ll take your word for it. Seriously though, have you forgotten how she really is?” Robin asked.
“People can change,” I told her, feeling confident that Heather had made progress. After all, Heather had even said hi to me already today. That was a good sign. Robin frowned, but we didn’t get a chance to talk about it anymore because class began.
By the time class was over, Robin was fit to be tied. “I don’t get you. Here Heather is all little Miss Priss, rubbing our noses in how much better she is than us, and now you two are pals? Get real,” Robin stormed.
I let out a heavy sigh, took a deep breath, and then began to explain things to her. “Look, I know Heather hasn’t been an angel or anything. She has been pretty rotten, but she deserves a chance to change.”
Robin frowned, her brows creased on her forehead.
“It’s pretty rough on her right now. How would you feel if we turned against you?” I asked.
Robin’s face lit up with surprise. “You wouldn’t,” she insisted.
“No, I wouldn’t. Heather’s friends did. Now she doesn’t have anyone to talk to about her problems. You go to church. You know we’re supposed to be a good witness,” I said.
“Well,” she stammered.
“If I treat her as badly as she has treated me, I’m no different than she is. It’s not easy being nice to someone who has been a royal pain, but I have to try,” I said sincerely.
“Yeah. I know what you mean. I guess you’re right,” Robin reluctantly agreed.
It wasn’t until study hall that I got a chance to talk to Heather again. For once, I didn’t mind sitting next to her. We had a substitute. She was nice and allowed us to talk quietly if our work was finished.
“I thought a lot about what you said last night,” Heather said. “I’d like to know what makes you so different.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “I hope that was good.”
Heather laughed when she realized how funny her comment sounded. “Yes, it was good. You’re different in a good kind of way. I wish I wouldn’t have been so mean to you in the past. Can you ever forgive me?”
“Of course I forgive you. Hey, we have Bible study at church tonight. Wanna go with me?” I asked.
“Sure. I’ll ask my mom if it’s okay.” Heather wrote her telephone number on a piece of paper and handed it to me. “Give me a call after school and I’ll let you know what she says.”
“Okay,” I promised.
Gym and Social Studies passed quickly. I was so excited that Heather might come to church with me that my mind was preoccupied and the last two classes passed by quickly.
“What’s your hurry?” Darla asked after Social Studies were over.
“Heather might go to church with me tonight. Can you believe it?” I beamed joyfully.
“You’re kidding? Maybe she is beginning to change,” Darla admitted.
“I think she wants to try. Will you give her a chance?” I pleaded.
“Well...” she said, hesitating. “Maybe. I’ll try to be nicer to her the next time I see her. But only for you.”
“It’s not me you should do it for.” I raised my eyebrows and gave her a look that said she knew what was the right thing to do and why. I knew God would want us to treat her nice and show her friendship. Even if it wasn’t easy.
“All right already. I get your point.”
“Thanks, Darla. You’re a true friend. I’ll call you later.” Zipping my backpack, I hoisted it upon my shoulder and hurried to my bus. Darla and I have been friends for as long as I can remember. Heather needed to make new friends like that. Friends who would be there no matter what happened.
Mom had to work today, so Mrs. Severs was there to greet me when I walked in the door. “Hello, Stephanie. How was your day today?”
“It was fine. I don’t have any homework, so can I call a friend? I invited her to church and I want to see if her mom’s gonna let her go,” I told Mrs. Severs.
“I think that would be all right,” she agreed.
I took the piece of paper out of my pocket with Heather’s telephone number on it, I picked up the telephone and began to punch in the numbers. I was just about to hang up when someone answered. “Hello?”
“Hello. Is Heather home?” I asked.
“This is Heather. Who’s this?”
“Stephanie.”
“Oh, hi. I just got off the other line with my mom. She said it’s okay if I go,” Heather exclaimed.
“Great.” I told Heather when church began and gave her directions on how to get there. Then I promised to meet her by the front doors.