Friends

Setting: The Community Pool
Time: This afternoon, after the clouds cleared and the sun came out

Julia and I went to the pool to meet a friend, Dawn, and her two daughters. Dawn and I were going to talk PTO; the kids were there to swim. One daughter is older than Julia by about a year and the other is younger, going into kindergarten this fall. Julia was already swimming when they found us, and the sisters went into the deep end of the pool before Julia noticed them. When the younger one came out to sit on her mother's lap, Julia came right out of the water. The possiblity of meeting a new child, of finding a new playmate, bring such a smile to Julia's face.

Julia was quick to introduce herself. She stood an appropriate distance away from the little sister and did not try to hug her or shake her hand. When the little sister did not answer because she was feeling shy, Julia did not insist on some answer. The little one said she wanted to go to the sand pit and Julia quickly agreed.

One day, Julia is going to be such a good friend.