The first meet

Rrrringgggg... the bell rang and the primary school children were happily running out of their class rooms, some young ones ran over to the playground, some were walking towards the cafeteria and some were just sitting and talking with their friends. It was late noon and the weather was just fine for the boys to enjoy the rest time.

The cafeteria, as usual, was packed with hungry children waiting in line to buy their meals. Daniel, 12, was among them, anxiously waiting in line while waiting to get his most favorite "Meal of the Day", his favorite spaghetti with some tomato sauce, broccoli and minced bacon. A boy, about the same age as Daniel, was standing just right in front of him, waiting in line to get his usual plain spaghetti. He was holding with him a clear plastic food container, containing mayonaise-laced salad and tomatoes with some minced chicken meat and tuna. Daniel saw it and began talking to the boy, though in the past, he had always seen him in the same queue everyday, and wanted to approach him, just that he was too shy then. This time around, Daniel was very much confident.

Daniel: Wow, your lunchset seems nice. Your mum packed the lunch for you?
Boy (smiling): Yeah, my mum prepared it for me.
Daniel: I see you queueing up here everyday, getting your plain spaghetti.
Boy: Yup, I love the plain spaghetti very much.
Daniel: Oh I see. And, I think you have a loving mum.
Boy: Very much. She has been doing this for the past 5 years.
Daniel: It is indeed very nice to hear that.
Boy (began to wonder): Oh, why is that so?
Daniel: It's a long story. Ohh, it's your turn now. We will chat over lunch later. Let's sit over there. (pointing to the row of table at the quiet corner where there were only 3 boys sitting having their lunch)

Having bought their respective meals, they both sat at the corner Daniel was indicating.

Daniel: Oh, my apologies, I didn't get your name. I am Daniel.
Boy: I am Roger. Nice to meet you.
Daniel: Nice to meet you too.
Roger: So, where did we stopped chatting just now? Ah yes, I was wondering why you said it was nice to hear about my loving mum.
Daniel (Sigh): It's really a long story. Well, to cut it short, my mum left us years ago. She divorced my dad and married a rich man. I will tell you more about that later.
Roger: Oh I see. I am so sorry. I would like to hear more about it when you feel OK about telling me.
Daniel (trying to change subject): So, I see you are from Primary 6 Kensett?
Roger: Yeah. A lot of my classmates are really studious type. You are from?
Daniel: 6 Horley. My friends are also much like yours, too. Kinda hard to catch them up. A lot of them are really competing for top marks.
Roger: Yeah, me too. Kinda hard. My mum is pushing me to study harder. Really.

Their conversation was cut short with the loud bell ringing, indicating the end of the meal rest time.

Daniel: See you soon, Roger, it was nice talking with you.
Roger: Yeah, me too. Nice chatting with you too.

The boys went back to their respective classes and resumed their lessons in class till 5pm. At the end of the day, the class lessons were over. Time for the boys to go home. Roger was about to ride his bicycle back home when Daniel saw him from afar. Daniel called out to him.

Daniel: Hey Roger!
Roger: Hey Daniel! How are you doing?
Daniel: Oh just fine. Got scolded by Miss Shelby for some Maths homework badly done.
Roger: Oh I know her. She's really strict and very much concerned about her students doing her homeworks. Luckily she isn't teaching us in 6 Kensett.
Daniel: Good for you. Oh by the way, can you fetch me home on your bicycle? Where do you stay?
Roger: I stay at Brooke Heights. You?
Daniel: Oh we are staying in the same neighborhood.
Roger: Oh great, what are we waiting for now? Let's go home!
Daniel (excited): Yes, let's!

Brooke Heights was just about a mile away from their school, The Xavier Boy's School. The evening weather was still as fine as it was the afternoon, not too sunny and not too cloudy, either. Daniel was standing on the pedal fixed securely on the back wheel, holding onto Roger's shoulder, while Roger cycled. Both boys were enjoying the ride back home together and soon they were cracking jokes with each other. How well they clicked with each other on their first day meet, as though they were friends of many years.

Days after days passed by. After school hours everyday, they rode back home together, on Roger's bicycle. And they even helped each other with their homeworks and catch up their studies together, not forgetting about playing with each other too, like those typical school children. Soon, they were best buddies.

Daniel was so happy being together with Roger that he had almost forgotten about his unhappy childhood days. Roger had come to his so-called "social rescue", since Daniel was always a very quiet boy and seldom mix with other boys in class. He had been happier since then. As for Roger, he was glad he had caring parents who loved and took care of him so much. Life was never the same again for both boys since the first day they met. Of course, that was just the start for them.

From stranger to friend,
From friend to buddies,
Life was never the same again,
When fate tied them together.

They laugh together,
They cry together,
They do things together,
When two people are together.

The day I met you is the day when Heaven came down to Earth.
Written by: Paul Rainbowpluboy