Amy was a heavenly vision and glowed with happiness.
‘Are you going to wear THIS?’ – Hannah asked scornfully, ‘SERIOUSLY?’
Amy smiled happily.
‘Yes, and I love it!’
‘You’re a real nerd sometimes, Amy Loften!’ – Hannah shouted, and after a few pictures they left.
I turned on the TV and watched my favourite programme, then had dinner.
I kept thinking about Hannah and hoping she would have a magical evening to remember.
I was lying in bed reading when at about midnight I heard the front door open.
A little while later, someone knocked on my door.
‘Come in!’ – I shouted, and Hannah walked in.
She had clearly been crying and her carefully applied make-up was smeared across her cheeks.
She was wearing sparkling shoes with thin straps.
‘Mummy,’ she whispered, ‘may I speak to you?’
“Of course, darling! What’s wrong? Are you okay?” – I asked, concerned.
Hannah quickly walked over to the bed and clung into my arms. She started to cry.
“Oh mum, it was HORRIBLE!
There were two other girls wearing the same dress as me and it was so embarrassing! And the price…”
Hannah sobbed in a way I could barely understand her.
‘Amy won with YOUR dress, and everyone just started freaking out, and I was so DONE, Mum, and I’m so sorry…’
‘It’s okay, honey,’ I said, and like I used to when she was little and scratching her knees, rocking my girl in my arms, ‘It’ll get better.’
‘But I was so awful to you, Mummy… I’m so sorry… I was an idiot, wasn’t I?’ – She asked.
I smiled.
‘A little… But how about you wash up now while I make us some hot chocolate, and then you tell me all the good times from prom?’
Hannah sobbed.
“Okay… Can I have extra marshmallows? And mum?
Do you think I can stay at your place tonight?”
With a smile on my face, I went downstairs to make hot chocolate.
Hannah had learned an important lesson, but she was my favourite little girl again.
What can we learn from this story?
The price of an item doesn’t always reflect its true value.
Value and significance are two completely different things.
What you dismiss as worthless can easily be the greatest treasure for someone else.
Share this story with your friends. It may brighten their day and inspire them.