A couple of days later on the sixth day of the week, the emerging friends met again, a bit hesitant at first, shy that their vulnerability or full expression of thoughts might hinder in the way of their relation. Adrian wondered if what he had talked about to his new friend might scare him away or reveal Adrian’s weakness to Russel, had he given another thought to their chat.
The reluctance, however, wore off quick as another story excited the boy’s imaginations. Eventually, Russel and Adrian started to meet on the other days of the week. It all started with Adrian peeking into the sheet of the alleys, following something. Russel bet that Adrian had lost something precious so he must have been finding it. After following him for several paces, Russel finally offered a hand of help.
Baffled Adrian laughed and told him what he was doing. Again, at first careful that this might show Russel that Adrian had nothing better to do but once spoken out loud, it sounded like a real adventure to Russel and together they uncovered a colony of ants.
Adrian’s life was a lot better now, it had separated ways with solitude and broken through the train of monotony. And Adrian finally understood what it felt like to have a friend, someone who understood all his thoughts and activities, without judging him or giggling at him. Eventually, word also reached Adrian’s parents from the people in the town. They learned that their only son was on a quest of making friendships.
The moment they were aware of it, they started criticizing it. This was something that Adrian had unwillingly expected. His parents always mocked, always saw that there was no meaning to any relationships. So he let it go, he did not register a single word they said, he only heard their warnings, for the sake of hearing.
Most of the town was appreciative of seeing Adrian play with a new friend. They always pasted a smile and welcomed his new friend. He also heard the baker’s wife tell him that a part of growing up harbored making relationship, exploring new things, and breaking through the homely shell to learn new things.
