CHILDREN’S BOOK & TOY BANK

Daniel and Katy are excited. A new family is moving in today into the house across the road. They decide to play in the front garden where they can see the house across the road.

A car arrives and two grownups and a boy, about Daniel’s age, get out and go into the house. Then a very large van arrives and men carry all sorts of things into the house. After a long time the lorry drives away.

The new family come out, get into the car and drive away. The new boy turns, looks through the rear window of the car and…. puts his tongue out at Daniel and Katy! They cannot believe their eyes.

Next morning Daniel is in his front garden kicking his football about. He hears sobbing but cannot see anyone. It seems to be coming from the garden of the house opposite. Daniel looks over the wall of the garden, and there is the new boy crouched by the wall crying softly to himself.

“What is the matter?”, asks Daniel.

“Go away”, says the new boy. “Leave me alone.”

“Not until you tell me what is wrong”, says Daniel.

Gradually the boy’s sobs grow less, and then he says, “I hate being here. We used to live in a comfortable house a long way away, and I had lots of friends. Here I have no friends, the house has no carpets and there are piles of things everywhere.”

Daniel thought for a moment and said, “We moved here a few months ago and it was just the same for me; but I was lucky. I had my sister, Katy, to play with.”

Daniel bounced his football and they both played with it for some time. Then the new boy’s mother called him in for lunch.

“My name is Mattthew,” said the new boy. “I am very sorry that I was rude to you and your sister yesterday. I just felt very lonely. Can we be friends?”

“We already are,” said Daniel. “See you this afternoon.”

When they met after lunch Matthew said, “It is not so bad here after all. Mummy says that new carpets will come tomorrow, all the mess is being sorted out and I have a new friend.”

“Yes, you have, and so have I,” said Daniel, and they stayed friends ever after.