This is my story. It might be similar to other stories
that you have read, but then again I feel that I have to tell it. It happened
around the time when I was five and in kindergarten. Oh, where are my manners?
Let me introduce myself. My name is Bell. It is not a miss spelling Bell named
after the metal thing that makes noise when you hit it. It does not come from
Isabel, although I wish it did so I did not have to explain the origin every
time I have to say my name to some one. I am not going to leave you hanging.
The story of my name is very simple. When I was born, my mom had been in labor
for 12 hours, as soon as I came out into the world I was lifeless. My mom says
that she prayed and while she was praying she heard a bell ring three times and
right after the third stroke I started to cry. She says that it was the bell
that made me come to life therefore named me Bell. Guess it is better than
ding-dong or bong!
Back to the story. Like I have already said the story
takes place when I was five in Kindergarten. Going to school then was pure
delight (I wish I could say the same for nowadays). We would play, dance, sing,
draw, listen to stories, have cookies at the break time and take a nap in the
afternoon. I was a rather quiet child who loved being alone looking at books in
the library wondering when I would be able to decipher all those letters on the
pages.
It was in the library that I met my best friend ever,
August. She was a foreigner, though I never asked her which country she was
from. She was a bit older than me, but she went with me everywhere I went. At
that time, I couldn´t understand why she was in my class if she could read and
write. I met her in the library on a rainy day. It is very clear in my mind.
It was pouring outside so the break was indoors. As
usual I went to the library. I was looking at a book that had a princess on the
cover when she came through the bookshelves and asked if I wanted her to read
me the story I had in hands. I was marveled at the idea but scared that we
would get into trouble because in the library you were not allowed to talk. She
told me not to worry; the only person who could see or hear her was me. I felt
privileged and special. I had a friend to myself and did not have to share her
with anyone. I was so curious to find out what happened to that Princess that I
accepted her offer without a second thought. So that is what happened every
break time we would be in the library and she would read to me. It was an
awesome feeling to be read to and to finally see the world through those
marvelous stories.
I felt real lucky to have August with me in the halls,
in the classroom and especially at lunch time. In the classroom, she spent most
of the time standing behind me. Besides helping me with the work I had to do, she
always told me funny things and I got into trouble several times for laughing
in the classroom out of the blue. I had made a promise not to tell anyone about
August. So I was sent to the principal´s office on several occasions for
misbehaving in the classroom. Between you and me, the teacher didn´t appreciate
all the laughing; that was all I ever did.
As I grew up, August also grew up. Well, not
physically, but in ideas. She was more mature than I was and I could talk to
her about anything. She always knew the answers and would whisper them to me. I
was the brightest student in the class. On one hand it felt great to know all
the answers to the teacher´s question. But, on the other hand, she was my one
and only friend. The other kids in the class did not invite me to any parties
or other events.
Sometimes I felt bad about not having other friends,
but August made up for their absence. She did not go home with me. It seemed
like she was a prisoner at school. So on weekends, I felt very lonely.
Grade after grade, year after year, I grew up and was
an honor student in all the subjects. I learned a lot and loved going to school
especially because I would have some quality time with my dear friend. But then
one day this all changed.
I was in the bathroom when I overheard some girls from
my classroom talking about the freak in class that is always alone talking to
herself. It dawned on me that that freak was me. I never talked to myself so
how could that be me? When I left the bathroom stall the girls giggled when
they saw me. I then knew that they were talking about me.
On that day I was very sad and felt sick. The school
nurse called up my mom and asked her to take me home. I was coming down with
something and it would be wish of her to take me to my doctor.
It turned out that I had a virus. The doctor told me
to stay home, so I felt miserable for not seeing my best friend. I was ten
years old at the time. Those days that I spent in bed, I wondered about August.
I wondered whether she was a special friend or just a figure of my imagination.
My mom came into my room to see how I was feeling.
´Sweetie, how are you?´
`My stomach hurts a bit, but I am ok.´
`Honey, what is happening to you? I got a call from
your teacher and she said that she has noticed that you have been acting
strange lately.´
`I don´t know, mom. I have been myself.´
`How come you never bring a friend home? Don´t you
have any friends?´
`I have a very dear friend. Her name is August. We
have been friends since Kindergarten.´
`That´s nice sweetie. So why don´t you invite her over
so I can meet her?`
`It´s
complicated mom.´
After this talk Bell´s health got worse. She was
admitted into the hospital and it had been months since that she had been away
from school.
Nobody came to visit her. No one called to see how she
was doing. Her mother thought that was strange and decided to go to school to
see if August could come to the hospital to spend an afternoon with Bell so
that she would cheer up a bit.
When she arrived at the school, the secretary checked
her files and the computer came up with the name August Smotthers. Her face was
in awe.
´Mrs. Renadals, I am afraid that August Smotthers
studied here in the 80s before your daughter was even born. It says here that
she passed away when she was 10. She died of an unknown virus.´
Bell´s mom thanked the secretary and ran to the
hospital. It was happening all over again. The same thing happened to one of
her cousins. It seemed to skip a generation, but it was getting to her daughter.
No, she wouldn´t allow it. But what could she do?
When she reached the hospital, she saw Bell prepped up
on her bed and cheerfully chatting away.
`Mom look who is here to visit me, August. She says
she has come to get me out of this hospital.´
Mrs. Renadals fainted.
(Written November 18, 2014) Todos os direitos reservados a Meire Marion.
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