Written by: Syeda Munnaiem Saqib
Once upon a time, in a vibrant land of sweets, there lived four ice cream friends: Coconut, Strawberry, Mango, and Chocolate. Coconut, Strawberry, and Mango often left Chocolate out of their fun, making her feel sad and alone. Despite her feelings, Chocolate never complained; she cherished the moments they shared, hoping things would change.
One sunny day, Chocolate realized she was running low on ice for her favorite treats. Excitedly, she asked her friends if they wanted to join her on a trip to the ice store. To her dismay, Coconut, Strawberry, and Mango quickly came up with excuses she had heard a million times before. “I have to check my sprinkles,” Coconut said. “I need to count my cherries,” Strawberry chimed in. “I can’t; I’ve got a busy schedule of melting,” Mango added with a grin.
Chocolate felt a pang of disappointment but decided to go alone. After buying the ice, she stepped outside and spotted her so-called “friends” sitting together on a bench, laughing and enjoying their time without her. Heartbroken, she turned away and ran back to her home, the refrigerator.
Once inside, Chocolate felt a wave of frustration wash over her. In her moment of anger, she prayed to the fire lord, wishing for her friends to experience a little heat. To her surprise, a little while later, she received a call: her friends had melted!
At first, Chocolate was taken aback, but then she couldn’t help but laugh. She realized that sometimes, it takes a little chaos to understand what true friendship means. Chocolate vowed to herself that she would seek out friends who valued her and included her in their adventures. From that day on, she made new friends—sweet, kind, and always there for her.
And so, Chocolate learned that real friends lift each other up, and it’s better to be alone than to be with those who don’t appreciate you.