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KIDS UNITED
It is so much fun to belong to a circle of friends. It lets us share ideas and find out how we all live. Sometimes we live differently, but that's part of the fun. Sometimes we talk differently, but that's how we communicate exciting ideas. Sometimes we look different, but underneath our hair and clothes and skin, we're really all the same. We're a circle, and whether we're boys or girls, we're friends. And that's the most important thing in the world.
The Best Kind of Day
One day, the friends gathered around in a circle. It was a beautiful spring day, and the weather was warm. They were in a field by a stream, and in the trees birds were singing. It was the best kind of day. There was Chehn and Ana, there was Heidi and Niklas. Natasha was there and so was David. There was Luc in his suspenders and Maria. Abebi was there in her flowing, colorful robes, and they were all singing together.
The new kids were standing off to the side, watching and listening to all of the languages. Each of the friends was singing in his or her native language but they all seemed to blend together seamlessly. The new kids could hear Chinese and French, Spanish and Russian. They could hear German and Hebrew.
"They're from all over," whispered one of the new kids, Suzie, a girl with blond hair.
"All over where?" asked one of the boys, the one called Tommy. Tommy had his dog Sam with him, and Sam wagged his tail.
"All over the world," whispered the girl.
"How'd they get here?" asked the other boy, whose name was Sean.
Suzie, Tommy and Sam the dog all shrugged.
"They sound really good, don't they?" Suzie asked. And they all agreed. The sound was melodic, all of these voices and languages blending together under the sun to make music.
"Do you think they'll let us in?" asked Tommy.
"Why wouldn't they?" asked Sean.
Tommy shrugged again and pushed his hands deep in his pockets. He didn't want to say it but he had heard that some people in the world don't like Americans and as soon as he and Sean and Suzie went over to the group, the kids in the circle would all know that these three musketeers were Americans. They'd know because of the way they spoke English, because of the way they dressed, because of their rootbeer.
"They're not going to care about us having rootbeer," Suzie said, a little exasperated. "Everyone all over drinks rootbeer."
"Do they really?" asked Sean. He wasn't so sure about that.
"Sure," said Suzie. "Rootbeer is like a universal drink. It's cold and refreshing, and kids like it everywhere." She hoped she sounded convincing.
The three Americans stood listening to the music of the other kids, the kids in the circle, and they soon found themselves humming to the song. They didn't know the words, but the tune was catchy and they could feel themselves starting to smile.
Just then, the circle of friends noticed the three new members standing outside the circle with their dog Sam, and they stopped singing. Even the birds stopped singing. They all looked at Sean and at Tommy and at Suzie.
It was Heidi and Niklas who spoke first. In their native language of German they asked what Sean and Tommy and Suzie's names were?
"Wie isch ire Name?" means what is your name?
Sean and Tommy and Suzie didn't understand.
"Ich bi d' Heidi," said Heidi which means my name is Heidi.
"Ich bi dae Niklas," said Niklas which means my name is Niklas.
And Heidi and Niklas pointed to themselves and smiled.
"My name is Suzie," said Suzie as she smiled, understanding. "And this is Tommy and Sean, and that's Sam," she said, pointing to each of her companions.
"Bis so guet," said Heidi and Niklas. Please. And they held out their hands for the three newcomers to join them.
"Thank you," said Suzie and Sean and Tommy all together. Sam barked and wagged his tail.
The circle opened up to accept the three new members and they all began to sing in their own languages. The birds sat high in the trees and chirped along. Even Sam joined in with an occasional bark. It was the best kind of day in the field by the stream.
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