Life

okay, so...
There's this foreign exchange student who I see every day at lunch. From what I've found out he's in my grade, and from Pakistan. Can you guess where this is going???
If you note my bleeding-heart personality, you probably guessed it-- he sits alone. Outside.
Last Wednesday Kathleen (Raphi... man I wish she'd make up her mind!) and I had first noticed him... I suppose that was the first day he had decided to sit at that bench. I saw her eyes flash towards him. "Foreign Exchange," she said, "He's often alone." And she intended to walk past.
And that is what happens when people are too shy to make introductions.
But that wouldn't stand with me. As we walked by he made eye contact-- and I saw loneliness, and a want to speak. He was dressed impeccably-- dress shirt, dress slacks, dress shoes. The heat he bore with unrivaled grace. His skin was dark, his hair like a raven's wing. His eyes were also dark with a certain beauty and soft loneliness. At the time I did not know his origins, and judging from his gentle, elegant features I could have guessed he was Spanish.
I turned sharply. He looked a bit startled, but also a bit pleased.
"Hi!" I chirped. "I'm Amber." I jerked a finger to Kathleen, "This is Raphi." He smiled. "How come you're sitting out here alone?"
"It is loud in the lunchroom," he said, an almost-reflexive response. His smile dropped a little, "Plus I don't know anyone."
I smiled even more brightly, "Anyone would invite you to join them." He looked confused. "Despite you knowing no one, you're foreign exchange-- everyone knows you." I added "But we would very much like to be the first." Something glowed about his face. "Would you care to do lunch in the Drama room?" I could feel him hide back into himself. "I don't know anyone..."
"We'd hate to leave you alone." I said, tossing a glance to Raphi. "We could eat out here with you."
"I am fine," he said, still radiating shyness and nerves. I could tell he wasn't ready even for us to join him. Too shy. He'd need time to get used to the idea of others. I could tell that he really wanted company though, as I glanced over my shoulder to see him staring longingly after us.
Back in the Drama room, Raphi and I began to plan. Nobody should have to eat alone. Especially a foreign exchange student. He came to America for a great experience-- no lonely experience is a great one. If it was nothing else, then it was our duty as Americans and high school students to make him feel welcome.
But it is more. There is something kind and gentle about him-- he is not merely a person, but a good person. Not only does he have his entitlements as a fellow human being, but extra rights for being a good one. He is worthy of friendship-- aither our own or our help to grant him the friendship of others.
We were going to do it Thursday-- sit with him, until he is comfortable with the Drama room-- but I left in second period, too sick to stay. That was the day I helped the old lady. As much as I wanted to be at lunch for him, had I left school a minute earlier or later, I may not have been in the right place at the right time to help. So I am okay with that.
Friday, I didn't even bother going to school.
Today I had a million things to make up from my absence. Tomorrow, I have built my schedule around doing this.
We're befriending the foreign exchange student-- Raphi and I. And we're going to enjoy it.