Emotions – we all have them. Have you ever noticed how people behave when they are happy, or frustrated, or sad, or simmering about something that happened that they had no control over, or so angry they seem ready to erupt?
Most people experience a whole spectrum of emotions, usually over the course of time, but occasionally all at once – that is especially true with teenagers. It seems like younger children experience one emotion at a time, but teenagers seem to have a great many emotions which can come tumbling out all at once. Vicky was a young teenager, so her emotions sometimes came in bunches.
Vicky and I were about the same age and we lived next door to each other after her family moved to Colorado. We became good friends. We felt comfortable together and enjoyed each other’s company. When I saw her, I could usually tell what her mood was. Now and then she confided in me because she learned that I wouldn’t betray her confidences; I’d never tell her secrets to anyone else. Other times I may not have known why she was frustrated, or sad, or whatever because there were times when she didn’t really feel like talking to me about what was bothering her. We seemed to understand each other’s needs though, like sometimes friends don’t need someone yakking at them. They may just need some quiet time, so they can think things through. Every so often, with a good friend, you just have to wait for some indication of their readiness to talk, to move on, or perhaps to socialize.
I knew that Vicky’s dad died suddenly a couple of years back and that her mom decided to move the family here to our little town in Colorado. Vicky wasn’t really happy about moving away from their home in Ohio. There were times when she seemed lonely and sad. Sad about her dad, I was sure, but also sad that she had to leave her friends at her old house. Young children seem to adapt easier to change – wherever their family is is where they want to be, and they accept whatever changes come along. Vicky, however, did not seem to be adapting to her new environment very easily.
So when I saw Vicky out and about, I sometimes paid her a friendly visit. I just wanted her to know that I was there for her, just like she was always there for me. Every now and then, a friend just needs comfort, so I did my best. This particular day just seemed like one of those days, so I walked over to her house, stood quietly by her side, and wagged my tail.
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