Hi Starman,
Thought you might like this.
One day, when I was a freshman in high school,
>>> >
>>> > I saw a kid from my class was walking home from school.
>>> >
>>> > His name was Kyle.
>>> >
>>> > It looked like he was carrying all of his
>>> > books.
>>> >
>>> > I thought to myself, "Why would anyone bring home all his books
>>>on a
>>>Friday?
>>> >
>>> > He must really be a nerd."
>>> >
>>> > I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with
>>>my friends
>>> > tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on.
>>> >
>>> > As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him.
>>> >
>>> > They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and
>>>tripping him
>>>so
>>> > he landed in the dirt.
>>> >
>>> > His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about
>>>ten feet
>>> > from him.
>>> >
>>> > He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes.
>>> >
>>> > My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him and as he
>>>crawled
>>>around
>>> > looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye.
>>> >
>>> > As I handed him his glasses, I said,"Those guys are jerks.
>>> >
>>> > They really should get lives.
>>> >
>>> > " He looked at me and said, "Hey thanks!"
>>> >
>>> > There was a big smile on his face.
>>> >
>>> > It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude.
>>> >
>>> > I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived.
>>> >
>>> > As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had
>>>never seen
>>>him
>>> > before.
>>> >
>>> > He said he had gone to private school before now.
>>> >
>>> > I would have never hung out with a private school kid before.
>>> >
>>> > We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books.
>>> >
>>> > He turned out to be a pretty cool kid.
>>> >
>>> > I asked him if he wanted to play a little football with my
>>>friends.
>>> >
>>> > He said yes.
>>> >
>>> > We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the
>>>more I liked
>>> > him, and my
>>> > friends thought the same of him.
>>> >
>>> > Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of
>>>books
>>>again.
>>> >
>>> > I stopped him and said, "Boy, you are gonna really build some
>>>serious
>>> > muscles with this pile of books everyday!
>>> >
>>> > " He just laughed and handed me half the books.
>>> >
>>> > Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends.
>>> >
>>> > When we were seniors, we began to think
>>> > about college.
>>> >
>>> > Kyle decided on Georgetown, and I
>>> > was going to Duke.
>>> >
>>> > I knew that we would always be
>>> > friends, that the miles would never be a problem.
>>> >
>>> > He was going to be a doctor, and I was going for business on a
>>>football
>>> > scholarship.
>>> >
>>> > Kyle was valedictorian of our class.
>>> >
>>> > I teased him all the time about being a nerd.
>>> >
>>> > He had to prepare a speech for graduation.
>>> >
>>> > I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak.
>>> >
>>> > Graduation day, I saw Kyle.
>>> >
>>> > He looked great.
>>> >
>>> > He was one of those guys that really found himself during high
>>>school.
>>> >
>>> > He filled out and actually looked good in glasses.
>>> >
>>> > He had more dates than I had and all the girls loved him.
>>> >
>>> > Boy, sometimes I was jealous.
>>> >
>>> > Today was one of those days.
>>> >
>>> > I could see that he was nervous about his speech.
>>> >
>>> > So, I smacked him on the back and said, "Hey, big guy, you'll
>>>be great!"
>>> >
>>> > He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful
>>>one) and
>>> > smiled.
>>> >
>>> > "Thanks," he said.
>>> >
>>> > As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began.
>>> >
>>> > "Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it
>>>through those
>>> > tough years.
>>> >
>>> > Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach...but
>>>mostly
>>>your
>>> > friends.
>>> >
>>> > I am here to tell all of you that being a
>>> > friend to someone is the best gift you can give them.
>>> >
>>> > I am going to tell you a story."
>>> >
>>> > I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story
>>>of the
>>>first
>>> > day we met.
>>> >
>>> > He had planned to kill himself over the weekend.
>>> >
>>> > He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom
>>>wouldn't have to
>>> > do
>>> > it later and was carrying his stuff home.
>>> >
>>> > He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile.
>>> >
>>> > "Thankfully, I was saved.
>>> >
>>> > My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable."
>>> >
>>> > I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular
>>>boy told
>>>us
>>> > all about his weakest moment.
>>> >
>>> > I saw his Mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same
>>>grateful smile.
>>> >
>>> > Not until that moment did I realize it's depth.
>>> >
>>> > Never underestimate the power of your actions.
>>> >
>>> > With one small gesture you can change a person's life.
>>> >
>>> > For better or for worse.
Bobby