David learns to share

David was an energetic eight-year-old boy. He studied in St. Patrick’s Jr. School in Cobb County. He liked to run and was selected in the school track team this year. His dream was to run in the Olympics and win a gold medal for his country. David was good friends with Sally. Sally studied in his class. She was a strong girl and was the Junior Karate champion of their school. David and Sally stayed close by and would walk to school together every day.

David was generally a good boy. But, he had one problem. He was over possessive about all his things. He rarely shared anything wilfully. He never shared any of his toys or any other stuff with even Sally. His parents had gifted him a bicycle on making it to the track team. He was delighted. He told Sally that he would now go to school every day on his new bike. Sally told David that she felt glad for him. But, she was feeling sad inside bbecause they would not be able to walk together anymore.

David enjoyed riding his new bike. He would ride to school every day and show off his bike in front of his classmates who would walk to school. He learned to do wheelies and some other stunts as well. Sally used to watch him quietly zip past her every day. He never offered to ride her pillion or try his bike anytime. Still, she always waved and smiled at him as he sped past her. In the class, he used to boast to Sally about how he could speed past all the other kids and reach home early to watch his favorite cartoon “The Space Cats”. Sally used to just remain quiet and nod her head.

One day, as David was speeding on his way to school he heard someone calling his name. It was his classmate, Peter. Peter was a lean boy and wore thick eye glasses. He was an intelligent boy and generally got good grades in the class. David stopped and asked him what the matter was. Peter replied in a tense tone that he had forgotten his maths assignment at home and wanted David to lend his bike so that he could get back home and collect his homework. David thought for a while. He made up an excuse saying that he had to rush to school as the track coach was expecting him to come early. Peter sensed that he was lying and said nothing. David rode on to school. On reaching class he told Sally what had happened and how he had cleverly fooled Peter.

Now, Sally was not very amused on hearing this. She told David that he must have helped Peter. David accused her of taking sides with Peter and told her that she was just jealous of him. Sally could not believe what David was saying. She got upset and decided not to be friends with David anymore. The two kids who were so inseparable stopped talking to each other.

David made some new friends who also drove on their bikes to school every day. They would speed along the roads doing various stunts. One day while driving fast a big Alsatian dog came in David’s way. It seemed that the dog had escaped from his owner who was walking him in the park next to the roadside. Since the dog came suddenly in his way David lost his balance and fell from his bike. His friends on bikes saw him fall and turned back. They thought it was a minor accident and told him that he would be fine. Saying this, they just drove away. However, David was in great pain. He could not get up. Some people came to help him up. The dog’s owner also came and called an ambulance. They took him to the hospital and the doctors told him that he had broken his leg and would need at least a month’s bed rest.

When Sally heard about David’s accident she started crying. When she returned home she picked some flowers from her garden and went to visit David. David felt embarrassed. But, the two friends quickly resolved their differences and hugged each other. Sally would come to visit him every day and share the school assignments. Peter also came to visit him a few times. David admitted his mistake and asked his forgiveness. Peter was happy that David had realized his mistake.

After a month David had completely recovered from his injury.  He asked his Dad if he could make a Christmas wish in advance. His Dad agreed. Next day, he went to Sally’s house and gifted a new bike to her. He then went to Peter’s house and offered to pick him up every day from his home to school. A little sharing had helped David to become a better person and a great friend.

The End