Choosing Friends - PVV Satyanarayana (classic books for 13 year olds .TXT) 📗

CHOOSING FRIENDS

BETTY DEER AND Nitty hyena were not only classmates, but bench-mates too. While Betty studied well and stood first in the class, Nitty never concentrated on studies and instead, indulged in pranks that hurt others. Nitty by herself was not bad. But her company was. Her close friends – Willy fox, Jerry jackal and Fretty wolf – studying in the same class, were notorious.

Nitty always felt envious of Betty. Added to that, the teachers and Nitty’s parents often cited Betty as a good example, and chided Nitty to mend her ways. They also advised her to emulate Betty. This had made Nitty hostile to and jealous of Betty. With the instigation by her friends-trio, she had developed enmity towards Betty and it grew by the day.

THE HALF-YEARLY EXAMINATION results were out. While Betty had topped the class, Nitty and her three friends got the lowest marks. The teachers had severely admonished Nitty for her dismal performance. Her parents too had scolded her, while praising Betty for her achievement.

This had enraged Nitty. She thought that Betty was the cause of all her problems. Willy, Jerry and Fretty added fuel, prodding her to decide to eliminate Betty. All of them conspired to take Betty to the lake and drown her in it, as she did not know swimming.

Betty was a nice girl. Though hurt by the bad behaviour of her bench-mate quite often, she had never nurtured any ill-will towards Nitty.

ONE DAY, AFTER the school was closed, Nitty had invited Betty for playing at the lake. Though Betty liked to play at the lake, she was reluctant to go, as she did not obtain her parents’ permission. But Nitty had assured that they would be back soon; so she had accompanied her to the lake.

At the lake, Willy, Jerry and Fretty too joined them. After playing on the shore for a while, they had proposed to swim in the lake. They tried to force Betty to join them, but Betty declined, as she did not know swimming.

The others had got into the lake. As per their plan – after swimming for a while, Nitty would ask Betty to lend her hand to get on to the shore. Then she would pull Betty into the waters. Once in the lake, the friends would drown her, when she would suffocate to death.

Betty watched them from the shore with excitement, as the friends dived, played and swam in the lake. She regretted that she did not learn swimming.

As the sun had set, the wily friends wanted to put their wicked plan into action. Willy, Jerry and Fretty had started for the shore, while Nitty followed them.

At that moment, the unexpected had occurred suddenly. A crocodile had caught hold of Nitty’s leg and tried to drag her inside. Nitty was terribly scared and cried. She had called out to her three friends to come and rescue her. But the trio ran fast to the shore on seeing the crocodile. No amount of wailings and pleadings by Nitty could move them.

Betty, who was playing on the shore, had heard the frightful cries of Nitty. She was startled at the dreadful sight. As she did not know swimming, she had pleaded with Nitty’s friends to save Nitty. But the trio had refused saying bluntly that they were not prepared to risk their own lives for the sake of Nitty.

Betty did not lose further time. She had suddenly jumped into the lake and went to the aid of Nitty, who by now was struggling hard for life. Trying to steady herself in the disturbed waters, Betty joined Nitty in fighting the crocodile. She pricked and pierced the reptile on its body with her sharp horns. The fierce battle went on for quite sometime … Astounded at the courage of Betty, the trio watched from the safety of the shore.

Now, forced to face two fronts simultaneously, the crocodile had to loosen its grip a little on Nitty. As Betty continuously inflicted injuries, the crocodile became furious. It had left Nitty and turned to Betty. But, undaunted, Betty had pierced deep into the reptile’s eye with her sharp horn. Bleeding and blinded, the crocodile made a sudden U-turn and made a hasty retreat. Betty and Nitty reached the shore fast and safe, holding hands.

Wonderstruck, the trio asked Betty how she could rush into the lake when she did not know swimming.

“I was damn worried seeing the plight of Nitty. Saving her life was foremost in my mind and I never bothered that I didn’t know swimming,” replied Betty gasping. “God is great! We could survive by His grace”.

Now, Nitty understood who was a real friend. Her heart bled when she had realized that Betty had risked her own life to save her. And this in spite of herself being hostile towards Betty. Willy, Jerry and Fretty, who she had considered her true friends, had ditched her in the hour of need. Despite their being expert swimmers.

A deep repentance had surged over her. She had confessed her hostile plan to Betty and sincerely begged for forgiveness. Betty embraced her lovingly and told her to forget the past and to be a good friend.

From then on Nitty had left the bad company of the trio. She had now become a close friend of Betty. She made combined studies with her, and got good grades at the school. Not only Betty, even the teachers and Nitty’s parents became very happy at the pleasant change that had come in her.

So, dear children, it is always important to choose your friends carefully.

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Publication Date: 11-20-2010

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