Ignored at School

After eating, KK put away her lunchbox and went to the restroom. She wanted to pray in private.

To Sabbath School teachers: This story is for Sabbath, Oct. 13.

By Andrew McChesney

The bell sounded at 9:50 a.m., and KK joined her eighth-grade classmates in sprinting for the classroom door for a 15-minute recess in Korat, Thailand.

On the playground of Adventist International Mission School – Korat, KK saw a ninth-grade friend, Kelly, and went over to chat about their studies. Before she knew it, it was 10:05 a.m. and time to return to the classroom.

Back at her front-row desk, KK looked over at her best friend, Sarah, and smiled. Sarah looked away. KK was puzzled.

“How are you?” she whispered.

“Fine,” Sarah said, still looking away.

Sarah didn’t sound fine. KK whispered a few more times to Sarah during the lesson, but Sarah wasn’t her usual self. She looked unhappy and was oddly quiet. KK wondered why Sarah was acting so strangely and suddenly realized that she might be upset about what happened at recess. She remembered seeing Sarah standing alone near the classroom door while she had chatted with Kelly.

At lunchtime, KK and Sarah sat together as usual in the dining area, but they didn’t talk. KK felt terribly uncomfortable as she picked at the rice, broccoli, and carrots that her father had packed for her lunch. She didn’t know what to do.

After eating, KK put away her lunchbox and went to the restroom. She wanted to pray in private.

“God, I don’t know what to do,” she said. “I’m really sad about my best friend. We aren’t talking to each other. Let me know what to do and let me have the courage to talk to Sarah and say sorry if I made her upset by ignoring her during recess.”

KK came out of the restroom and sat alone at her desk in the classroom. She wasn’t sure where Sarah had gone.

When the bell rang, Sarah returned to the classroom with the other eighth graders. KK looked at her. Sarah looked away.

After a few minutes, KK whispered something to Sarah. To her relief, Sarah whispered something back. Soon the two girls were talking like old times.

During the last period, KK whispered, “I’m sorry for hanging out with my other friend and not you, and that you felt ignored by me.”

“It’s OK,” Sarah said.

When KK reached home later that afternoon, she went to her bedroom and prayed to God.

“Thank You for letting me know what to do and for helping me get back together with my best friend,” she said.

Today, KK is best friends with Sarah and Kelly, and all three girls enjoy hanging out at school.

Part of this quarter’s Thirteenth Sabbath Offering will help KK’s school construct a new campus. The new classrooms will allow the K-9 school to expand to the 12th grade and to accept more students. Thank you for your mission offering.