MODERN FABLES, Loyal, Ch. 7, A Friend in Need

  

“Denise! You did what?” Tess couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

 

“Tore my ACL hopping off a pogo stick.”

 

“Your ACL?”

 

“A ligament in my knee. I’m in a cast for at least a month.”

 

“Will you be back in school?”

 

“No. We hope to have a tutor.”

 

“Oh, no! That sounds awful! What can I do to help?”

 

“That would be great. Could you pick up my assignments and bring them to school with you?”

 

“Sure. Your house is not that far out of my way. I’ll be happy to do that.  Can I do more?”

 

“Not that I can think of. Thank you so much, Tess.”

 

“Denise, I know you’d do the same for me. I’ve got to run. Call you later.”

 

Thus began a month in which Tess picked up Denise’s assignments at school and returned the finished work. She also called Denise daily and visited her at least once a week. The ACL took months to heal, and Denise endured painful physical therapy, but she made it through and returned to school.

 

When Denise got back, she and Tess talked some more about what Denise had gone through, which had been rough. Something other than the knee had been painful, though.

 

“Tess, you were the only friend who really helped out. Others offered to do things but failed to follow through. Some seemed to be avoiding calling me. It was disappointing.”

 

This failure surprised Tess, and she discussed it with her parents. Her dad said there is an expression that covers it, “A friend in need is a friend indeed.”

 

“What does it mean?” she asked.

 

“You can tell who your true friends are when you find yourself in need, in a situation in which you need help. In the Fire Department, we can rely on each other, partly out of obligation, partly out of friendship. In school, there is less of a sense of duty, but real friends help friends.”

 

Tess’s mom added, “When you need help, some people suddenly get too busy, pretend they don’t know about your problem. True friends show up and ask what you need. That’s how you can tell friends from mere acquaintances.”

 

Tess wondered, which of my “friends” would actually help me if I needed something? I think Denise would and May Lee would, but I am not so sure about some of the others.

 

Tess said, “I hope I am the kind of friend who can be relied on.”

 

Her mother responded, “You’ve already proven that, with Denise.” 

 

 Moral: "A friend in need is a friend indeed." When you need help, it is good to have a friend you can rely on, whose deeds will help indeed.