Helping a Fighting Friend

By Melissa Allen, age 11

Gresham, Oregon

Once my friend Mac* got into a fight with another friend, George. All the other kids decided to not be Mac’s friend anymore. I said that I wouldn’t be his friend, either.

I felt rotten. My mom and dad told me that we were going over to Mac’s to talk. I groaned but nodded.

I prayed for a plan to help me. I had a very good one. When we went to talk to Mac, I told him, “Mac, I’m going to give you as many chances as you need to be a little nicer.” We shook hands on it.

The next day at the bus stop, when Mac came, all the other kids backed away from him. I went right up next to him and started talking to him.

I felt happy for myself that I did the right thing.