A NEW FRIEND:

a children’s story

By Lillie Ammann

Delia Zuniga frowned as she rode the bus to school. The day before, Mrs. Jones had told the class Sherry Anderson, a new student, would start school today. The chance to make a new friend sounded like fun, until Mrs. Jones said that Sherry had a disability. She used a wheelchair because she couldn't walk. Delia looked out the window and stopped listening to Mrs. Jones until she heard her own name.

"Delia, I'd like you to be Sherry's buddy. Show her around and introduce her to the other students. Please give her any help she needs." The teacher probably chose Delia because she wasn't paying attention.

She didn't want to spend recess helping someone in a wheelchair. Sherry probably couldn't play any of the games, and Delia wouldn't know what to do.

Delia left the bus and walked to her classroom. She saw Sherry right away. The new girl sat at a table higher than the other students' desks so her wheelchair would fit.

"Good morning, Delia," Mrs. Jones said. "This is Sherry. I've told her you'll be her buddy."

"Yes, ma'am," Delia answered. She would do what the teacher said, but she felt uncomfortable.

Later in the morning, Delia and Sherry traded papers to grade each other's spelling tests. When she saw the high grade Sherry made, Delia realized Sherry was as smart as she was.

When the bell rang for recess, Delia stepped behind Sherry's wheelchair.

"Please, don't push me," Sherry said. "I can do it myself." She placed her hands on the wheels and rolled the chair forward.

Delia thought Sherry sounded angry. Delia was the one who was giving up her play time to help Sherry.

"What should I do? Mrs. Jones told me to help you," Delia said.

"I'm sorry. I'm just tired of people treating me like I can't do anything just because I can't walk," Sherry answered.

"How should I help then?" Delia asked. She was more curious than angry now.

"Aren't we supposed to be going to the playground?" Sherry asked. "I'll show you on the way."

Delia walked toward the door, and Sherry rolled along beside her. When they reached the door, Delia stepped ahead to open the door and hold it for Sherry. They started down the hall toward the playground.

"Thank you for holding the door," Sherry said.

"Is it all right to hold the door for you?" Delia asked.

"Yes. It's easier for you than for me," Delia said. "If you saw a student with armload of books, you'd hold the door because it's polite."

"Right."

"You're doing it because it's easier for you to open the door when their hands are full," Sherry said, "not because they can't do it themselves."

They were at the door to the playground. Delia held the door, and Sherry wheeled her chair to a corner of the playground.

"How am I supposed to know when you need help?" Delia asked.

Sherry answered, "I'll ask for help if I can't do something. So many people think that just because I can't walk, I can't do anything. There are things I do well, other things I can do, not very well, and some things I can't do. Everybody's like that."

"I know what you mean. Joey is good at soccer, and Tommy can play the piano. Betty is better at math than I am, but I'm better at spelling than she is," Delia said. She added, "You made a better grade on the spelling test than I did."

"I can't play sports, but I make good grades," Sherry said.

Delia said, "I've never been around anyone with a disability before."

"Of course, you have," Sherry said. "Do you have any friends or relatives who wear glasses?

"Sure. I know lots of people who wear glasses."

Delia realized what Sherry meant. "Needing glasses to see is something like needing a wheelchair to walk, isn't it?"

"Yes, it is. I'm glad you understand," Sherry said. "Some people need to take allergy shots. Some need to take medicine, and some need a hearing aid. I need a wheelchair."

"I didn't know what to expect when Mrs. Jones asked me to be your buddy," Delia confessed. "Now that I'm getting to know you, I'm glad to be your buddy."

Delia smiled as she rode the bus home from school. Sherry had seemed different at first because Delia saw only the wheelchair. Now she realized Sherry was a person in a wheelchair, but the person was much more important than the wheelchair. Delia had learned how to treat a person with a disability from listening to her new friend Sherry.