A Friend

Nicole came home from school yesterday deflated. It had been an emotionally rough day for her. As she sat at the counter and shared with me all that had gone wrong, the phone rang. It was her good friend asking if he could bring over the math homework sheets that she needed. He said he would be right over.

A few minutes passed and the doorbell rang. Nicole got up to answer it while I unloaded the dishes from the dishwasher. I heard the door open and then I heard a high pitched voice, squealing? crying? laughing? I wasn't sure.

Before I could turn to investigate, Nicole shut the door and came around the corner carrying her math papers and an Oreo shake, tears streaming down her face, unable to even speak.

Her friend, who knew of her bad day, had brought her all time favorite treat in hopes that he could somehow make her day a little better.

She folded into my arms in a tearful heap and cried for a few minutes. And then she was fine. As she lifted the first spoonful to her mouth, a smile was on her lips.

I love what Elder Marvin J. Ashton once said, "A friend is a person who is willing to take me the way I am but who is willing and able to leave me better than he found me."

And that is exactly what this friend did for Nicole. It was a beautiful thing.