The Primadonnas

A Better Place

Ashley sat there thinking about what her life was all about. At a first glance, Ashley’s life seemed perfect. She was the most popular girl in school, president of the student council, had the perfect boyfriend, and lived the life that most teenage girls her age only dreamt of. But something was missing, although she did not know what it was, that was until, a certain day came along that would change her expectation of life and show her how truly meaningful it was.

It was a Friday; a normal Friday. Ashley got up that morning as she always did at 7:45. She already had her clothes laid out, as she always did that the night before so that in the morning she would save on her time. She got ready and got in her car, a birthday present from her un-present parents, and took the usual route to school. Her first class was Chemistry, Ashley hated Chemistry, but she excelled in all her subjects even if she hated them.

Lunchtime came along and Ashley ate lunch as she always did with all her friends, that seemed as though they were with her because she was wealthy and popular. Ashley was sure that if she was just a normal high school girl, no one would like her. That day, Ashley met someone that would change her life. A new girl was in the lunchroom; she seemed new to the school and to the neighbourhood. Ashley thought it was her duty to go and speak to the new student, considering that she was the president of the student council and it was her duty to set an example for all of her classmates.

The new girl's name was Becca, short for Rebecca; she had just got to Kingsville the day before. Kingsville was Ashley’s hometown. They struck up a conversation and there was an instant connection between the two. The two girls figured out that they had a lot in common, and they thought it strange but in an overwhelmingly good way. Ashley invited Rebecca to her home to have dinner and to talk a little more and just have a nice time together.

They arrived at Ashley’s home and as usual her parents were not there. Her mother was a corporal lawyer and her father was a high-powered stockbroker. They gave her all the comfort she needed financially, but never enough love for her to feel at home in her own home. Ashley and Becca spoke about how lonely they both felt because of the lack of attention from their parents. They were both excellent students, but only did well to catch their parents’ attention so that they would feel proud of their daughters.

Ashley and Becca soon became best friends. They would share everything with each other and they even signed up to go to the same University. They both wanted to work with children and make the world a better place for humanity, especially for children. Ashley and Becca spent hours together under a tree near an abandoned mansion. They both agreed that they would one day buy the mansion and restore it and open up a community center for children. That place was the only place they really felt at home. All they needed was each other and promised to stay best friends until the end.

Graduation came along and everyone was excited to finally be out of high school and on to the real world. Ashley would be giving her valedictorian speech that night. She felt nervous; she knew that now her life would be different. Ashley would be living on her own and having to worry about things that never crossed her mind before. Becca was not accepted into the same University as Ashley. They promised that they would remain best friends, despite the distance, and that they would live out their dream of the community center for children.

Ashley’s speech was a real heart tugger. There was not a dry eye in the whole theatre; even the teachers and parents were wiping away a tear from their eye. Ashley spoke of her dream, and of what everyone’s dream should be. She dreamt that everyone would have a home they could feel safe in, that children would not cry and that they would all be happy. She congratulated her classmates and told them to remember to do some good in the word, even if it would turn out to be the most insignificant act of kindness. Graduation was over, and now Ashley and Becca would go their separate ways.

Ashley excelled at her subjects at University, but this time she did it for herself and not for her parents. Ashley was living on her own and for the first time in all her life, she felt at home in her own home. Ashley missed Becca; they hardly ever saw each other any more because of the distance between the two Universities. They still spoke to each other every week on the telephone and reunited every month or so.

In the blink of an eye, University was over. Ashley would be graduating again, and strangely, she felt as though she had just graduated from high school the day before. Ashley thought that as she got older, time passed her by more quickly, so she might as well start thinking about her future. Becca would be attending Ashley’s graduation, and Ashley would then do the same for Becca.

Ashley began working as a primary school teacher and Becca began working in a social services office. They were both living a modest life and both starting a family. They were finally happy and felt loved in their home. The two women did no longer feel that they had to leave their home to feel at home.

A few years later, Ashley and Becca returned to Kingsville. Naturally, the abandoned mansion with the tree was still there and identical to what it looked like ten years ago when they would go there to feel safe. They informed themselves about purchasing the home and surprisingly, it was at a bargain price, so they got the paper work done as quickly as possible and started the construction once the mansion was in their name.

Two years later, the “Sunny Side Up Community Center”, was open for business. They had after-school programs for children and so many activities for all ages. Everyone was happy with the only community center in Kingsville. Ashley and Becca are glad that they can now help children to feel safe and at home in a place rather than their home. Children were happy and always smiling and playing. This was what Ashley and Becca thought about that Friday, the normal Friday when they met each other. They never thought that their dream would take them so far.

They were glad that they were able to make the world a better place by helping those who felt the same way as Ashley and Becca when they were younger. Everyone deserves a home, even if it is not a house. A place where they can feel safe and comforted and a place where they know they will get a smile. Sometimes a smile can light up your day, no matter how badly your day has been. Ashley and Becca changed something in the world and they were able to take part in making the world a better place for humanity.

posted by Psithurism @ 4:55 PM