"Andy, come and have your breakfast", shouted Mrs. Smith as she laid down the table. Today, the platters were served with loads of dishes including fruit cream, sausages, hot pan cakes, cranberry bread with fresh fruit jam. Mrs. Smith had purposely prepared Andy's favourite dishes to cheer her up as last night had been a little rough for her twelve year old daughter.

A student at Middletown Folks, Andy was a bright girl. She had topped almost all classes since she started going to school and was always an instant favourite with her teachers. But sadly, this was not the case with her classmates who found her a bit dominating and annoying, with the consequence that Andy was left with a handful of friends. She hardly had anyone to talk at school. Mrs. Smith was aware of this fact and tried to make up for it by spending more time with Andy, so that she didn't feel ignored. But it was not enough. Lately, Andy had started spending more time in her room. She didn't watch T.V. as much as she used to , nor did she talk to her dearest  goldfish Benny. She just sat in a corner, all day staring at the ceiling. But, last night she finally gave into tears ." Why can't they be my friends?? Whats wrong with me?? They say I poke my nose in everything...I just want to help them...Why can't they understand??" She was crying and asking her mother. Poor Mrs.Smith could do no more than to pacify and reassure Andy.

So this morning she got up early to prepare for Andy's feast. It was seven in the morning when Andy got down the stairs with swollen eyes and a tear stained face. She was glad to see her breakfast and so was Mrs. Smith to see her daughter smile. After breakfast , Andy headed off to school along a deserted boulevard lined with orange trees. As she was walking, something hit her head hard. ''Aaah", she wailed and found that an orange had fallen off the tree. She looked at it with inquisitive eyes as the orange seemed a bit queer to her. It was not perfect round, in fact a bit distorted. "Nature has so many surprises for us".. Andy said to herself and kept the orange in her bag. She decided to show it to her mother on her way back.

Today was a busy day at school. Miss Venessa, Andy's teacher had asked the students to form groups and prepare for the upcoming annual skit. The students were excited and formed groups with their respective friends. Almost everyone had found a group except for Andy. Miss Venessa,being the least aware of the situation that Andy was presently facing in her class  thought that Andy was not interested in the skit. She scolded Andy and dismissed her from her class. Poor Andy went straight to the girls washroom,locked the door and cried her heart out. It seemed to her that things will never go right. She could not end coaxing herself and God ,when the familiar lunch bell broke the monotony. Andy came out sobbing ,sat down in a corner and shuffled her bag for the lunch-box but in vain. This morning, she forgot to keep the lunch box . Annoyed with herself, Andy slammed her bag on the floor to her side and sat in distress with palms covering her face. All of a sudden, she felt something clinging to her toe-side. It was the queer orange she had found on the road-side this morning. Although Andy wanted to show it to her mother but hunger burnt her stomach. She couldn't help eating the orange. Not only did the orange look queer but also taste queer but she didn't mind. After all this was the only thing left to satisfy her hunger. While eating, she imagined how easy life could have been with friends around.She had eaten the orange only half-way when the familiar lunch bell sounded again marking the end of lunch-break. She got up and headed for her class. As she settled down in her seat, someone tapped her on the back..."Hey Andy! Will you be a part of my group", it was Michelle, who hated her the most. Andy could not believe her ears. She saw that not only Michelle but several others in her class were willing  to take her in their group. Andy's joy knew no bounds..After all, wasn't this the thing she always longed for, always dreamt of , always imagined like she did today while eating the queer orange. Suddenly several thoughts clouded her mind....."Is it because of the orange??? ....is it magical...or am I day-dreaming" ....she could not reach to a conclusion.

With a confused mind, she reached home and confided into Mrs. Smith who couldn't help smiling at her daughter's innocence. After all a sane mind couldn't believe on a magical orange..instead she took it as a heart-transformation of Andy's classmates. Back upstairs in her room , Andy searched her bag for the orange that she had left...and was glad to find five pieces in a corner. She gulped another three pieces and saved two for the next day . That night, Andy had a strange dream. She saw an orange plant which seemed familiar to her. She realized it was the one planted by her and her granny in the backyard of their old house. She could see the faint images of the day and suddenly granny's voice echoed in her ear....          "O dear orange bear a fruit, With Magical pieces three or two,
 May One piece grant a wish for you,The second teaches a lesson anew
The third  fulfills what you've dreamt,Only when from the second a lesson is learnt.."  

Granny's voice seemed to be banging in Andy's head , even at the next day of school. Failing to comprehend the enigma of her granny's words, Andy entered her regular class-room which however didn't seem so regular. Michelle , Sarah and a number of girls awaited Andy. They all had a seat reserved for her and were almost quarrelling to have Andy seated beside them. Andy was overjoyed to see this. She was finally living her dream, her wish had come true. Secretly,she thanked the second orange piece that she'd eaten this morning and went ahead to sit beside Michelle. During break time Michelle was saying to Andy.."Could you lend me your history notes, I can't seem to assimilate the long book pages" and Andy had replied in the positive. When the school bell rang and Andy was about to leave for home, Sarah requested her if Andy could help her for the essay competition. Andy heard herself saying yes. The next day was the dreaded history test . Andy was already very nervous and to top it she had forgotten to bring her ink pen. She saw Michelle sitting with an extra pen and was relieved as she knew her friend won't mind sharing a pen with her. "Michelle, can I take this pen", Andy heard herself asking. "No"....the words came banging in her ears.."No I won't..what if I need it myself during the test?" Andy was shocked to hear it from Michelle whom she'd handed her history notes this morning. "But how can she do this, isn't she my friend?",thought Andy. Before returning from school she decided to apologize to Sarah as she couldn't help her with the essay. But to her surprise, Sarah was not even ready to talk to her. Andy was so hurt that tears rolled down her cheeks. She thought " It was better when these mean people were not my friends. They know only how to take advantage. God save me from such selfish people. Its better to have a handful of good friends than to be surrounded by a crowd of self-centered people".

That night before sleeping she ate her last orange piece and wished to meet a person who could be her best friend. However she wondered as to who would  fit to be her best friend because the bunch of people she knew were all mean. With these conflicts in her mind she finally dozed off. The next day was special as it was Andy's birthday. Mrs. Smith had already left for her office. When Andy came downstairs , she found a cake on the dining table reading.."Happy birthday dear!!......from your Mom and best friend for life".