Friends Forever

Karen and Cathy

I would like to tell you a story about two little girls named, Karen and Cathy. Karen had a quick temper that she was learning to control.    Cathy, by nature, was a more quiet, calm little girl, quick to forgive and a faithful friend. They had been best friends since they were very young, growing up in  Cooperstown. Their friendship had been tested many times, but the greatest test of their friendship lay ahead.


In the Spring the home school artist show was announced. Karen and Cathy decided to enter. The topic was "Our environment and the importance of caring for it". The winner would win an all expense paid trip to Disney World with their family. Karen and Cathy were very excited to start their project.


They both were very talented artists for their ages. For the next three weeks, the girls met together at Cathy's house to draw. They chose water colors to be their medium. Karen was interested in drawing how to keep water clean, while Cathy drew how to keep  air clear.  Both girls worked very hard to get their paintings ready for the art show.

Cathy

With the contest only one week away, the girls met to put their finishing touches on their paintings.  No one really knew how it  happened, but, Cathy accidentally tipped over the glass of water that held their paint bushes..  Karen's picture was  totally ruined. Cathy felt so horrible for what happened, but Karen was furious.  Her temper was out of control, yelling at her all kinds of names and accused her of trying to ruin her picture on purpose, so she would win the prize.

Karen

"Karen, why can't you forgive me?  It was an accident.  I will even give you my picture for the contest,"pleaded Cathy.


"I will never forgive you Cathy, never,never never.  My picture is ruined and it is all because of you." Karen lashed out.


Cathy couldn't take any more and headed  home.  She was heart broken. Her best friend was still angry at her. What was she going to do?  Cathy's mind wasn't paying much attention to where she was walking, and as she stepped off the sidewalk to cross the street, a car bushed too close  and knocked her to the ground. The driver in the car returned and found Cathy unconscious.  He called the police and they quickly arrived with an ambulance. As Cathy laid  unconscious on the sidewalk, they put her on a stretcher and   took to a near by hospital.  The police called her mother and she  immediately  drove to the emergency room to be with Cathy.


Karen didn't hear the news until the next morning. When she heard the news, Karen begged her mother to take her the hospital to be with Cathy.  Cathy was still unconscious when Karen entered the room.  Karen went over to her best friend and the first words out of mouth were, "Cathy, will you ever forgive me for being so beastly.  I was wrong to speak to you the way I did. You are my very best friend forever".  She no sooner confessed those words, when Cathy began to open her eyes for the very first time.

Karen and Cathy, friends forever

Reaching down to hug Cathy, she excitedly explained, "Oh, Cathy, Cathy, you are going to be o.k.  I promise I will never talk that way to you again no matter what happens.  Your picture is the best anyway and I hope that you win the prize." 

I believe that Karen's kind words asking for forgiveness healed Cathy's broken heart. The art show was more than anything that the friends expected.  The winner could take not only her family but also a friend with her to Disney Land. Guess who the winner was? Guess who the winner was? From that day on, Cathy and Karen grew to enjoy the fruit of forgiveness and encouraged each other no matter what they were doing.  That is what friends do!!!