“This couldn’t be happening”, thought Colleen. “It just wasn’t possible.” Colleen Peterson thought back to how it all began.
Just a week ago, Pastor Edwards, the youth pastor at her church had given out the assignment. Pastor Edwards ran the high school Sunday school program. He asked each of the teenagers to write down the name of the one person in their life, who was the meanest, or most unfriendly.
After each of them had written down a name and put their own name at the top of their paper, Pastor Edwards put all of the papers in a large envelope and then he sealed it.
For Colleen, she did not have to think for very long. She wrote down the name right away; Janet Harris, a girl at her high school that was in the same grade as her. Janet had started going to Colleen’s high school at the end of her freshman year.
Nobody liked Janet. She was a bully and was always mean towards others. She did not have any friends.
After he sealed the envelope, and put it away, Pastor Edwards told the class the assignment for the new school year. “I want each of you to develop a friendship with the person that you wrote down. This year, we are going to learn what ‘Love thy neighbor’ really means.
Colleen raised her hand and asked Pastor Edwards if she could change the name that she wrote down. He told her that her first choice was her assignment.
Colleen decided to give it a try. The next morning, between classes, she walked up to Janet in the hallway and said “Hi Janet. How was your weekend?”
Janet just looked at Colleen with a look of disgust on her face and said, “Get away from me, geek.”
The next day, Colleen tried again. She walked up to Janet and said “Hi. My name’s Colleen.”
Janet just walked on past her as if she had not seen or heard her.
The next two days were not much better, and by Friday, Janet had started spreading false rumors about Colleen.
On Sunday, Pastor asked the class how their assignments were coming along. Most of the teens said that they had made a little progress. Colleen did not say anything, because she was too upset.
After class was over, and everyone else had left the classroom, Colleen told Pastor Edwards that she wanted to change her assignment to someone else. “This girl is really mean and a real bully. I have tried to be nice to her, but, by Friday, she had other kids laughing at me. I am serious, Pastor Edwards. Even Mother Theresa would have pulled her own hair out if she had to deal with her.”
Pastor Edwards listened quietly and patiently. When Colleen was finished, he told her, “Colleen, I’ve known you for fifteen years, since the day you were born. I baptized you and have watched you grow into a spiritual, compassionate young woman. I know in my heart, that you can get through to her. I know that if you are patient, and keep trying, you can find out the reason that she is so mean and angry. I will not let you give up this early. Stay with it just a little longer, okay?”
Colleen threw her hands up in the air and said “Okay, I’ll give it one more week, but only because you have so much faith in me.
The next day at school, during Biology class, Colleen got another chance to try to reach Janet. Mr. Jackson, the Biology teacher assigned a project to the class, and told them to form groups of two for the project.
Colleen acted without thinking, she raised her hand and said “Janet and I will be partners for the project.” and Mr. Jackson wrote down their names.
As the other students paired up, Janet just stared at Colleen. Janet never spoke up in class, and today was no exception. Colleen could feel Janet’s eyes burning a hole in the back of her head.
After class, Colleen went up to Janet and said, “How about meeting at the library after school, to start working on the project?”
Janet just pushed past Colleen, knocking her books onto the floor, and then she kept walking, without saying a word to Colleen.
After school, Colleen waited at the library for thirty minutes and then she went to the front office. She told the school secretary that she was supposed to meet Janet Harris after school, but she had lost her address.
Janet knew that Pastor Edwards would not approve of her lying, but this assignment was his idea, after all. Colleen was determined to become Janet’s friend.
After Colleen got Janet’s address, she got on her bike and rode to Janet’s house. When she found the address, she got off her bike and walked up to the door. She hesitated for a moment, and then rang the bell.
A moment later, the front door opened and an older woman was standing there. Though she looked ten to fifteen years older that her own mother, Colleen guessed that the woman must be Janet’s mother.
Colleen introduced herself and said that she and Janet were partners for a Biology project and that she had missed Janet at the library.
As Mrs. Harris, went to get Janet, Colleen noticed that under the scarf she was wearing on her head, she was bald. She suddenly noticed that Mrs. Harris looked very tired.
Janet stormed into the room in a very agitated state, and asked Colleen why she was there. “I missed you at the library, and I figured that you forgot,” said Colleen. “So, I brought some books from the library so that we could work on the project here.”
Janet was furious and started raising her voice. When Janet’s mother came into the room to see what the shouting was all about, Janet told her mother, it is nothing to worry about, Mom. You should lie down and get some rest. We’ll try to be quieter.”
After her mother went back to her bedroom, Janet started talking in a hushed voice and asked Colleen, “What do you want from me?”
“I just want to be your friend,” said Colleen.
Janet started to get angry again. “I don’t need any friends. Just leave me alone.”
Colleen did not say anything for a moment and then asked Janet, “Why are you so mean and unfriendly? What has life done to you, to make you so angry?”
“You really want to know why I’m so angry?” asked Janet. “I’ll tell you why. About a year and a half ago, my dad left us. He did not leave a note or anything. We have not heard from him since then. Nine months ago, with bills piling up, we had to sell our house and move her, to a smaller house, one that we could afford.”
By this time, Janet’s story was beginning to make Colleen feel bad for talking to Janet the way she did.
Janet continued. “Wait, it gets better. Six months ago, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. She has had radiation treatments and chemotherapy, but her prognosis is not good. I have already lost my father and now I may lose my mother as well. Mom’s health insurance only covers some of her medical bills and the unpaid bills keep piling up. We may even lose this house. I am only fifteen, and I have lost just about everything in my life. My mom is all I have left, and I may lose her too.
By now, Janet’s anger had turned into hopelessness and despair, and was trying hard not to cry.
“I will help you in any way I can,” said Colleen.
“You still don’t get it, do you?” Janet asked her. I do not have time in my life for friends. My life consists of going to school, and taking care of my mother. That’s it!”
Janet looked like she would start crying at any moment. She suddenly looked as if she had aged ten years. “Please go now,” she told Colleen