Quality Friends

It was Mona Lisa who interrupted. "How dare you! What would we do if we weren't painted or sculpted? We wouldn't exist. We were painted because some artist felt something and wanted to share it with the rest of the world. They wanted to recreate something, whether it was a person or just a mood. You have to appreciate that The Thinker is here for a reason, just like I am. Why did you want to paint The Thinker? I would like to know."

Will looked a little sad, as if he would rather not admit the real reason. He said, "I thought The Thinker looked smart, and I wish I were smarter. Then maybe I would be more popular."

Mona Lisa no longer looked upset with him. "Life isn't just about being popular and people liking you. I don't even live in this century but I am sure about that," she said.

Kate and Gina both put their arms around Will. They both gave him a hug, not caring that they blocked the hallway or that the whole class saw them hugging Will. "It isn't the amount of friends anyway, it is the quality," said Kate. "And your friends think a lot of you."

Kate couldn't explain it, but she felt like Will had received much more than a hug in the hallway. His bright smile seemed to restore any doubts in himself that he had. Even Kate felt the benefit of the hug. Maybe she was starting to fit in here after all.