SUNLIGHT

SHAILEY BELLAMKONDA
Chapter one: AMY

(Radio on)
“Amy! Switch off that radio and finish your homework!” said Amy’s mother, Hannah.

(No answer.)
“Amy! What are you doing? Wake up!” said Hannah after she had come into Amy's room.

“Moms, if you do not have work then give me snacks. But don't…disturb…me! It’s weekend,
you know”, Amy with a mean face.

“Aaarrggh!” murmured mother and went out of the room.

Next morning, Amy, with a droopy face, went to school cursing everyone possible for having
to go to school.

Even in school, Amy has a reputation of sorts, for all wrong reasons.

She slept in class, did not finish her work. The class teacher while walking into the classroom
overheard Amy whispering into her next one’s ears ‘Aah, now enters Ms. Fatty’ with a crooked
smile. Class teacher’s name is Katie.

Its playtime and Amy had to go out and play, but a lazy bone she is always, she tried to find
excuse saying she’s all tired when someone caught her walking away.

She comes home with leftovers in her lunchbox with some or other complaint- almost every
day and that day also no different.

That day she got hurt during a tussle with a boy in her class. While putting a bandage, Hannah
tried to tell her not to get into fights in school and Amy walked out on her, shouting, “Now
don’t be a priest, Moms! Enough of your stupid preaching!”

“God, Please help her, help me change my daughter”, prayed a concerned Hannah.

Hannah never believed in raising her voice or raising her arm on Amy, with anyone for that
matter. She believed and wished that her love and patience will change Amy one day.

***

Chapter two: Amy's Neighbour

A new family had moved into Amy's apartment.

They were very friendly people. They wanted to acquaint with all the residents so their little
girl, Mary, was sent all around the apartment to find friends.

Mary soon came to Amy's flat.

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It didn’t take much time for Mary to understand Amy. However, she’s not put off by Amy's
behaviour. She knew that she has to help change Amy.

She told Amy an idea that her teacher once told the class in her previous school.
“Blow a balloon whenever you’re angry or upset over something or someone”.

At first Amy did not listen to Mary, but Hannah tried her best to add that it’s fun and brought
her a pack of balloons.

That day, Amy wanted to play ‘Guessing Junior’ with her mother but Hannah wanted to finish
her chores in the kitchen first. Amy got angry. She remembered what Mary told her and
thought she’ll give it a try. She picked up a balloon and started blowing and went on and on,
without stopping, venting her anger over her mother into the balloon. Shortly, the balloon
couldn’t hold anymore and bursted with a big sound. Hannah rushed to the hall. Amy could
not help but laugh out loud.

That controlled and eased her bad temper. Amy liked this and she liked Mary for the idea.
Soon both Amy and Mary became friends. Since Mary is elder to Amy by an year, she started
giving tuitions for Amy, helped her do several activities and sang out the lessons. She even
taught art to Amy. She conducted races and detective games with other children in the
apartment. She spoke nicely and encouraged her in everything.

One day, while playing ‘Knock, Knock’ Mary got hurt and Amy felt sad for her. She rushed to
her home , brought a lotion and applied on Mary’s knee. Despite her pain, Mary felt pleased
with the change in Amy and smiled at her fondly.

***

Chapter three: A New Amy

Amy is a changed person now. It’s a different Amy that her classmates, her teachers and even
her mother are seeing now.

Amy is polite to her mother. She helped her in chores and ate happily. She apologised for
being bad before.

She was alert in school and up in her grades at school. Amy even delivered a speech in the
school assembly about donating toys for the toddlers. She actively participated in games
especially she loved being the detective as she liked to chase and catch thieves.

She apologised Ms. Katie for her rude comment and the teacher was very happy. Amy is giving
her teacher a flower every day from her garden.

Hannah wondered if Mary could be Jesus's mother herself.

***

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Chapter four: Farewell

Amy and Mary became best friends. Mary even came in Amy's dream and said that she would
not ever leave her and so shouldn't Amy.

During a long weekend, Amy's friends from the apartment went for a trip. Amy couldn’t
because she had a fever. Mary wanted to stay back but her mother insisted that she shouldn’t
miss the trip. She joined the others for the trip. Amy felt bad for once but let Mary go and
wished her a pleasant trip. Mary promised her a quick return.
Mary did not return with the others. Amy cried and cried, couldn’t recover from the loss for
long.

She became the old Amy again, rude, harsh and troubled child.

***

Chapter five: Reunion

Amy sat near her study desk in her room. She is thinking about Mary. She suddenly felt the
room is hot. She opened the window and a gust of wind came in. She looked at the diary on
her table. The pages went turning with the air coming in from the window. She stared at
them. She got a feeling of anger growing in her. She slammed the window shut.
She looked at her diary. It was open at a page with only a small paragraph in glitter ink:

'Yesterday I had a dream. Mary was telling me that she never left me nor shall she ever. I
suddenly woke up and told myself that I shall neither. I realised that Mary is still there alive
with me in all the things she taught me, gave me. That means that I must do whatever she told
me to do, be the person she helped me to be.'

Tears came to Amy's eyes and she said, 'I will, Mary!’

Amy grew up, studied well, took up challenging jobs and became successful but she did not
forget Mary. She often went to churches so that if she could not meet Mary, she could meet
Mother Mary.

Mary also never forgot about Amy, sends her blessings and remains proud guardian angel for
Amy.

~THE END~

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This story is about a naughty and rude girl who was changed by a friend. This story is about
true friendship and transformation.

About the Author:

Shailey Bellamkonda is a 11-Yr old young author of short stories, musings and also short
poems. She reads and watches movies a lot. ‘Bridge to Terabhitia’, ‘Matilda’, ‘Mary Poppins’,
‘The Sound of Music’ are some of her all-time favourite fiction. She is a V Std. student at
Vidyaranya High School, Hyderabad. This is her first published work.

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