My Very First Friend

Translated…

Thirty years ago, when I turned eight, I’d transferred to a new school, the teacher told me to go to the front, and introduce myself to the rest of the class, being very nervous, I’d spoken, in a barely audible voice said I liked singing, hiking up trails, swimming and art; actually, I’d not known that very many songs, only gone on hiking trips no more than a handful of times, not a good swimmer, not good in art either, I’d just, made it all up, hoped, that after I’d squeezed the words from my lungs, I can, go sit back down quickly.

not my photograph…

I’d not have any friends, the classmates were together, for over a year, at break, they were all, playing together, I’d sat on the chairs, day after day, day, after day.  Until one day, she walked over to me, said, “Let’s play together,” and ever since, we’d become, inseparable, walked home from school together, and, as we walked home, we’d shared our thoughts and feelings with one another, it’s just, that I’d needed to, focus really hard when she talked, because she talked a little funny; after she’d walked me home, she’d needed to walk a long way, to get to her home.  Later on, I’d found, that I was the only one in my class who would play with her, I felt that it was weird, but, I’d not looked deeper into it.

We were, reassigned to new classes in the third grade, and I’d wondered if she would be in the same class as I?  After all, she was, my only friend.  Later on, the fates allowed us to be in the same class together, it’s just, that on the day we were assigned our seats, she was ill and didn’t come to class; the very next day, the teacher asked the class, “Who is willing to sit next to the cleft pallet?”, the rest of the class burst out laughing, at which time, I’d finally understood what was going on: she couldn’t articulate herself, the space between her nose and lips was crooked, so, nobody wants to be her friend.  But, as I was hanging out with her for an entire year, these things never crossed my mind.

not my art…

In the laughter of the rest of my classmates, I was the only one who raised my hand, to show, that I wouldn’t mind, sit next to her, and the teacher assigned her, to sit next to me; we’re together again, although I’m happy about that, but, I can’t help, but feel a bit sad.  Having a cleft pallet wasn’t even her fault.

It’s now, thirty years later, I’d lost contact with her, but, I’d still remembered, the very FIRST friend I ever had, she was called “Chun-Ju”.

So, this little girl was casted out, because she had a physical deformity, and, the rest of the class, being how young they were, made her an outcast, but, the narrator didn’t, because their friendship started before, from when the narrator was new in town, and she was her very first friend!

not my photograph…