I have a little story about this beautiful girl.
I can't remember her name so forgive me. I didn't remember her from my trip back in May and was struck by her harsh stare this trip. She was cold and distant and would come around but only for things she might get. Her abrupt and firm gestures were hardly unnoticeable. I wasn't quite sure how to handle it. Other children at HCRM behave similarly and it is sometimes very difficult to know what to do especially when there are no words you can say to communicate any ideas greater than,
"Hi, how are you?"
Anyway, one day toward the end my stay she was hangin' out by my room with some of the other kids and she asked me if I had anything for her. I thought about it for a minute and remembered that I was nearing the end of my stock pile of things to give away, but I suddenly remembered that I still had this little unicorn. It was unlike any of the other toys I had given away and it was the only one, a rare item. I handed it to her and a smile came to her face from ear to ear. She looked up at me and said, "You be my friend always." I nodded and repeated it back to her. Then pointed to the braid sticking up in the middle of her head and then pointed to the unicorn's horn, she laughed and set her little pet up there and skipped away. I had broken the barrier and not long after that, she was holding my hand and being quite gentle.
That little unicorn is probably covered in dirt, trampled and almost unrecognizable by now but I have a forever friend and she has one too. Sometimes friendships just have to be unlocked by a small gesture of kindness.
