“It’s not fair!  Why did Missy have to move?” Samantha kicked at their porch railing. 

 

“I know it’s not fair.  She was your best friend and it hurts she had to go away, but that’s no reason to say such a mean and ugly thing.”

 

“I’m sorry, Mama. I just want Missy to come back. We had all these plans and now they’re ruined because she’s gone.”

 

“Oh, Samantha. I know this is hard for you, but you can always write Missy.  We have her new address.”

 

“But it’s not the same.”

 

“I know it’s not, baby. You’ll just have to make other friends.”

 

“I don’t want other friends. I want Missy.”  

 

Samantha glared at the moving truck as they watched the movers unpack. They carried a pink bicycle into the garage. 

 

“It looks like our new neighbors have a little girl,” Mama said cheerfully. “Maybe she’ll be your age and then you’ll have someone next door to play with again.”

 

Samantha remained silent.

 

A car pulled up to the front of the house. Mama waved to the couple who got out of the front seat. A little girl about seven got out of the backseat and looked around. She saw Samantha, smiled shyly, and waved. Samantha just stared back with her arms crossed over her chest.  

 

“Jenny, why don’t you play with your ponies in the front yard while we start unpacking?” her mother suggested.

 

“Okay.” Jenny reached into the car and popped out with an armful of different colored ponies. She shot another shy glance at Samantha, then sat down on the grass and started to play.

 

“Hey, don’t you have ponies like those, Samantha?” Mama asked.

 

“Yeah. So?”

 

“Well, wouldn’t it be nice if you got yours and went over there and introduced yourself? I bet she’d like to play with you.”

 

“I don’t want to introduce myself. I don’t want to play with her. I don’t even like her.”

 

“How do you know you don’t like her? You haven’t met her yet.”

 

“She’s not Missy!”

 

“No, she’s not Missy, but she’s new and she looks like she could use a friend. You know, Missy could be sitting in her new yard playing. What if there was a girl next door thinking she’s not so and so, I don’t like her and I’m not going to be her friend? So Missy is in a new house, in a new town, and has no one to talk to or play with just because she’s new. Would you want that? Would that be fair?”

 

Samantha watched the girl. “No.”

 

Samantha went inside her house. She filled a basket with her favorite ponies, crossed the yard, and stood in front of the little girl.

 

“Hi, my name’s Samantha. Want to play ponies?”

 

“Sure.” Jenny smiled. “My mom said I’d find someone to play with at our new house. I didn’t believe her but I’m sure glad she was right.”

 

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