Winchester School.
Note from the author: This was one of my earliest stories that I wrote. Both Fern and Sunny were based on myself when I was in both elementary and middle school. Sunny represented my energetic and outgoing side while Fern represented my softer, more distant side.
Since the beginning of school, Fern, a shy middle-schooler, would head to the water fountain at the end of the hallway where she can listen to her music in peace. Every day she would walk, every day she would hide, and every day she would listen. That is, until halfway into the school year when a new girl transferred to the school.
Her name was Sunny and she was an elementary school student. She was the complete opposite to Fern in both personality and sociability. Sunny was cheerful, lovable, and not shy at all like Fern was.
After Sunny settled in school, she began to notice an older, quieter student sitting alone near the water fountain while listening to her music. Curious, Sunny skipped over and wanted to befriend the girl. Looking up from her music playlist, Fern rejected her offer of friendship, wanting to be left alone. Not willing to give up, Sunny stared with her puppy-dog eyes until Fern eventually gave in.
Unbeknownst to Fern. she actually enjoyed Sunny’s company. Nobody would come up to Fern and talk to her previously. Instead of sitting by herself, Fern started expecting Sunny to arrive during break and lunch just to talk about what happened in her class that day. Fern stopped hiding with her music and started conversing with Sunny. Sometimes, Fern would bring little pieces of candy for Sunny, just to see her face light up with pure joy.
This happened for many months until one day, Sunny didn’t show up. Fern thought Sunny was sick and had to stay home for the day, so Fern just waited. Days flew by, and Fern waited for Sunny to come back, to see her face light up with bliss.
Wondering what was wrong, Fern stood up, but before she could walk to Sunny’s teacher, the loudspeakers called for Fern to go to the principal’s office. Her heart now filled with anxiety and worry, Fern bolted to the office only to find Sunny’s teacher’s face draped with sorrow like he lost a dear friend. He told Fern that Sunny was run over when she was walking home days ago. Sunny was in the hospital, recovering, but unconscious.
Grief stricken, Fern wanted to help Sunny in any way she could, but Fern knew there was nothing she could do except watch and encourage Sunny to recover quickly. For several days, Fern would go to the water fountain and set up posters to rally support for Sunny. Every day, a picture was added, a flower taped to the wall, a pile of cards placed on the ground for Sunny to see when she came back. Everyone participated, but the person who cared the most for Sunny was Fern.
Eventually, Fern was able to go to the hospital to see Sunny. When she got to Sunny’s room, Fern was pale from the sight in the room. An ashen, skinny girl with tubes and wires sticking out from every direction of her body lay still in the clean hospital bed, yet she was awake. Thankful and yet scared, Fern smiled and wept tears of joy, knowing that Sunny was still alive and well.
Upon seeing her friend, Sunny glowed as she beckoned Fern to a hug. Fern ran to Sunny and enveloped her, never intending to let go of her friend any time soon. Sunny seemed to radiate hope; her future with Fern as a friend will not dim as much as she had previously thought.
After Fern left the hospital, she returned to school to thank the whole school for their support and to report on Sunny’s condition. For the next two weeks, Fern would go to the hospital daily with a piece of Sunny’s favorite candy, just like Fern used to back at school. Sunny recovered, but she couldn't walk because of the accident.
With everyone’s support and Fern’s dedication and love, Sunny continued to thrive at school, bringing happiness to the hearts of others. And as for Fern, well, she kept a close eye on Sunny for the rest of the school year.
Her name was Sunny and she was an elementary school student. She was the complete opposite to Fern in both personality and sociability. Sunny was cheerful, lovable, and not shy at all like Fern was.
After Sunny settled in school, she began to notice an older, quieter student sitting alone near the water fountain while listening to her music. Curious, Sunny skipped over and wanted to befriend the girl. Looking up from her music playlist, Fern rejected her offer of friendship, wanting to be left alone. Not willing to give up, Sunny stared with her puppy-dog eyes until Fern eventually gave in.
Unbeknownst to Fern. she actually enjoyed Sunny’s company. Nobody would come up to Fern and talk to her previously. Instead of sitting by herself, Fern started expecting Sunny to arrive during break and lunch just to talk about what happened in her class that day. Fern stopped hiding with her music and started conversing with Sunny. Sometimes, Fern would bring little pieces of candy for Sunny, just to see her face light up with pure joy.
This happened for many months until one day, Sunny didn’t show up. Fern thought Sunny was sick and had to stay home for the day, so Fern just waited. Days flew by, and Fern waited for Sunny to come back, to see her face light up with bliss.
Wondering what was wrong, Fern stood up, but before she could walk to Sunny’s teacher, the loudspeakers called for Fern to go to the principal’s office. Her heart now filled with anxiety and worry, Fern bolted to the office only to find Sunny’s teacher’s face draped with sorrow like he lost a dear friend. He told Fern that Sunny was run over when she was walking home days ago. Sunny was in the hospital, recovering, but unconscious.
Grief stricken, Fern wanted to help Sunny in any way she could, but Fern knew there was nothing she could do except watch and encourage Sunny to recover quickly. For several days, Fern would go to the water fountain and set up posters to rally support for Sunny. Every day, a picture was added, a flower taped to the wall, a pile of cards placed on the ground for Sunny to see when she came back. Everyone participated, but the person who cared the most for Sunny was Fern.
Eventually, Fern was able to go to the hospital to see Sunny. When she got to Sunny’s room, Fern was pale from the sight in the room. An ashen, skinny girl with tubes and wires sticking out from every direction of her body lay still in the clean hospital bed, yet she was awake. Thankful and yet scared, Fern smiled and wept tears of joy, knowing that Sunny was still alive and well.
Upon seeing her friend, Sunny glowed as she beckoned Fern to a hug. Fern ran to Sunny and enveloped her, never intending to let go of her friend any time soon. Sunny seemed to radiate hope; her future with Fern as a friend will not dim as much as she had previously thought.
After Fern left the hospital, she returned to school to thank the whole school for their support and to report on Sunny’s condition. For the next two weeks, Fern would go to the hospital daily with a piece of Sunny’s favorite candy, just like Fern used to back at school. Sunny recovered, but she couldn't walk because of the accident.
With everyone’s support and Fern’s dedication and love, Sunny continued to thrive at school, bringing happiness to the hearts of others. And as for Fern, well, she kept a close eye on Sunny for the rest of the school year.