Stella
I find myself on the ground, with a girl hugging my waist, crying into my chest. Don’t tell me she was waiting for me here the whole time.
I guess I didn’t tell her I’ll see her next weekend. Poor girl must have been waiting for me every day after school.
“I’m sorry.”
I started to pat her on the back and repeated my apology.
*******************
After what felt like an hour, the girl fell asleep on top of me after crying. I gently removed her arm away from my body and rolled her gently onto the ground.
I take a look at her face.
Aside from the puffy eyes from the crying, she really is a cute girl. She could easily beat the prettiest girl in class in terms of looks. I wonder if her parents were models or actors. Though the dirty clothes and face dirt on her face and legs don’t help her in her appearance.
When I stare down on her face, she suddenly opens her eyes, scaring me onto my butt.
She reaches forward to hug me again, but I knew she would do that and scootched backwards, causing her to miss.
She fell face down onto the dirt and the ridiculousness of what just happened makes me laugh.
She stares at me with a pouting face.
“I’m sorry, but it’s just too funny!” I try to say, laughing all the way.
I continue to be by her side as she continues to stare at me with a more relieved face.
“Just curious, can you speak?”
I figure since we are friends, I should get to know her name.
She remains silent. Maybe she never learned how to speak English? Wait can she even read?
What can I do to help? Well, I guess I should have her try to say my name.
I pointed at myself.
“I’m Arthur.”
At first she gave me a head tilt, confused in what I was doing. But I continued to point at myself.
“Ah-tur.”
She can speak! Her voice was pretty low, as if like an adult, but it was still pretty.
“That’s my name! Well almost, we can practice how to say it right.”
I smile and give her a hug, and she hugs me back. I guess she learned what to do when someone hugs you.
I started to point at her.
“What is your name?”
She continues to stare at me very confused. Oh, I guess I should explain what name means.
“My name is Arthur. What is your name?”
I continued the same gesture, going back and forth, hoping she would understand what I’m trying to do here.
“Name…S%t*#*e$#ll^a”
What? I don’t think that was even a word?
“Can you say it again?”
I point again hoping she’ll repeat.
“S%t*#*e$#ll^a”
Ok, so that is probably her name. Let’s see, I think I heard an S, T, E, L, and an A.
“Stella. Is it ok to call you Stella?”
She looked confused again, but I think she figured out what I mean. She nodded.
Alright! Now I know her name! I think it would be great if I could continue to help her speak so we can have more fun! But, I didn’t bring anything so we’ll just play today.
“Stella, let’s play!”
I stood up and gave my hand to her. She grabbed my hand, and we started to play on the playground.
****************************
The sky is now orange again and I need to go back home.
“I’m going go home now. I’ll see you tomorrow!”
I turn around only to find Stella hugging my back. Oh no, maybe she is worried that I’m going to leave her alone all week again.
I turn around to face her. Stella’s eyes were a little wet with a sad face that would even make puppies ugly. I want to stay, but I need to go home. What can I do?
I suddenly have a great idea. I’ll make a pinky promise with her. I made the hand gesture to start one and Stella mimic back. I start linking my hand with hers.
“I promise I’ll come back tomorrow! I won’t leave you alone again!”
After I made my promise, I let go and Stella did as well.
I waved my arms at her, and I went back home.
“Mom. Dad. Buy me study books!”
I yell at my parents as soon as I enter the door. They both looked shocked.
I mean, they yelled at me to study more, and here I am. What is the big surprise?
***********************
Tomorrow, my parents took me shopping. I picked out some English books so that Stella can learn.
“Why are you picking first-grade study books?”
Oh that’s why my parents were looking at me weird. It would be weird to pick out books 4 grades lower.
“I want to help a friend learn how to speak English!”
Both my parents again gave weird looks to each other and then back at me.
“And who is your friend?” my mom asks.
Someone I met in the playground. She doesn’t speak any and I want to talk to her.
“When do you plan on playing with your friend next?” my dad asks.
“Later today at the playground.”
“Here, why don’t we see your friend together?”
I nodded, bought the books, and went to the car.
**************************
“Have you been going here to play, Arthur?”
My mom ask in surprise. I guess it’s a little far.
“Yeah, I think my friend lives near here.”
In the distance I see Stella again and she starts running towards me. This time I prepared myself and was able to hug her back without falling down.
“Mom. Dad, this is Stella. My friend who lives near here.”
When I introduced my parents to Stella, Stella immediately stood and stared at my parents, just like what she did when I first saw her.
“Stella, this is my mom and dad!”
I tried to introduce her to them, but there was no reaction between my parents and Stella.
I start to hear my parents whisper to each other in a very worried tone and face. Oh no, did I do something wrong?
Stella must also feel the same way, as she started to stare strongly at my parents.
Then my parents suddenly stopped whispering with each other.
“Stella, would you like to come home with us.”
My mom asks Stella. Would Stella even know what she said?
But then, Stella nods and starts to grab my hand.
“Let’s go home Arthur, Stella.”
My dad orders us.
“But what about her parents?” I ask my dad.
“I think she doesn’t have one, so we’ll take care of her.”
I was really confused, but I mean ok. My parents would know better.
I walk with Stella to the car, and we went home.
