A Lesson In Friendship

by BlackJack

There was a little kitty named Rose, and she learned quite a bit about desiring something one fine summer day. Rose always wanted the other kitties to love her, and so often she would agree with things that she didn't feel were quite right. She thought this was the key to making friends and being popular.

She always tried very hard to be agreeable and kept wondering why this wasn't working. She got along with everyone, never quarreled, but of course, no one really knew how she felt about things. Her opinions were not her own, but what she thought everyone wanted to hear.

One day, all the kitties were gossiping about Fuzzy, who was a scrawny runt of a kitty, but oh so sweet. Rose considered Fuzzy her special friend, they seemed to have a bond that went deeper than merely friendship. Now the other kitties were being very cruel in what they were saying about Fuzzy. Poor Fuzzy wasn't there, thank goodness, so she couldn't hear all the mean things being said behind her back.

Rose was getting more and more upset hearing all of this talk, and she was squirming because she knew she should say something. She who had always agreed with everyone, needed to speak her mind and tell them how wrong they were about Fuzzy. Fuzzy was such a nice kitty, always there to lend a paw, listen to troubles and just so special. Rose steeled her nerves, then spoke up to the other kitties, mewing loudly, she told what a good friend Fuzzy was, how kind she was, and that they should quit being so cruel. The other kitties mouths hung open as Rose spoke, they had never heard Rose say anything except "yes I agree".

Suddenly, the other kitties realized that Fuzzy was standing there behind the bushes. She had crept up wanting to talk with Rose, and she heard everything. The other kitties were terribly embarrassed, and as they were introduced to Fuzzy, they found her to be most intelligent, very caring and forgiving them of what they said.

Rose was amazed, because suddenly she and Fuzzy were being talked to like real friends, not like someone on the outside. Rose had found out how important it is to speak your mind, and that simply being agreeable wasn't the way to make a friend.