YELDA FINDS A FRIEND. Children’s

Yelda Krupper sat alone as she slowly nibbled at her lunch. It hurt to see the other children chasing each other and playing games in the school yard.

School had commenced a few weeks earlier, so it was not long before all the children made friends, and formed their groups for ball games, marbles, skipping and basketball. Teams sat together at lunch break before they enjoyed their games period. Sadly, Yelda watched, unable to understand their language.

Yelda’s mother and father migrated to Australia from Europe, and Yelda knew less English than her parents. Despite the patience and kindness of her teacher, the children did not realise Yelda’s loneliness, even when she sat by herself as she ate her lunch.

It was Mary Young who first noticed how often Yelda sat in the corner of the lunch shed. That afternoon when Mary hurried home from school and almost reached the gate, she bumped into Yelda who ambled around the corner.

‘I’m so sorry….Please forgive me,’ called Mary, as she realised that Yelda failed to understand her. She ran to put her arm around Yelda, and lightly kissed her on the cheek. However, Yelda burst into tears, and hurried off.

‘How strange,’ said Mary, aloud,’ She must be cross with me,’ as she opened the gate, walked along the brick path, and into the kitchen.

Tantalising smells greeted her, and Mary knew her mother had baked cookies.

‘Baking again?’ questioned Mary, who knew that Mother always baked in the morning.

‘Well I had a visitor this morning, and I persuaded her to stay for lunch.’

‘Who?’

‘Mrs Krupper, Yelda’s mother. She is worried because her daughter eats so little, and lies awake most of the night. She looked for me at the supermarket where I shop on Thursday mornings, but I was late this morning, and Mrs Krupper was disappointed.’

Mrs Young hesitated. ‘ Go on , Mum. What happened?’

‘Well, Mrs Krupper walked so slowly from the shop just as I walked in. You should have seen her face when I greeted her. She seemed so unhappy, and then out tumbled her story. So she waited while I shopped, and then I invited her home for coffee, and for a chat.’

‘Yelda is so unhappy at school without friends. This morning Yelda told her mother she wished to change school, or even to stay home.’

Mary bit her lip, feeling guilty and sad. She and Yelda were in the sane class, but now realised Yelda’s feeling lonely and unwanted.

Mrs Young wrapped scones in a clean tea-towel, as she went on with the story. ‘ I talked to Mrs Krupper of God Who understands all our troubles and helps us in times of need. I said that I would pray that someone would show kindness to Yelda.’

‘Then she said, ‘ ‘But that is impossible. You must go to a church, and pay some money to the priest, then light a candle, and pray before the altar. ‘

‘Oh no,’ I told her. ‘I can pray right here in my kitchen, in the name of Jesus, that someone will be kind to Yelda this day.’ And she prayed.

When Yelda’s mother left Mrs Young’s home, she wondered why Mrs Young was so certain, yet she gratefully appreciated the friendship, the meal and the prayer. Actually the bag of groceries now seemed lighter.

That afternoon Mrs Krupper waited for Yelda’s return from school. Usually the girl walked slowly into the house with her head bent and feet scuffing. Mother looked through the window as she waited for her daughter. Finally she heard the gate squeak as it opened, and then click as it closed. With hurried footsteps the usually sad and quiet Yelda opened the door, rushed in, with her face wreathed in smiles.

‘Mother, Mother,’ she cried, as she hugged, and the words tumbled out in her own native language, of course. ‘Mother, I’ve found a friend. Mary hugged me and kissed me.’ And Mrs Krupper remembered how Mrs Young prayed that morning for something special to happen to Yelda. She was right.

Next day Mary looked for Yelda at school. She asked one of the teachers, who understands Yelda’s language , to tell her that Mary wished to be her friend. ‘ I will help her to speak our language, too,’ said Mary helpfully.

And that lunch time Yelda and Mary sat together, just like friends.