9-year-old Jo was flying her new kite, looking up occasionally to see her progress. She ran to her favorite place – a green hill surrounded by a sea of trees. Distant shouts from her older sister and mother calling for her reached her ears, but Jo being Jo, she ignored the cries. She took in a deep breath, exhausted from her little exploit, and sat down on the top of the hill to rest. She then heard leaves moving unnaturally behind her, and spun around, eyeing them suspiciously.
"Who goes there?" She shouted, practically to no one but the trees.
There was a long silence.
"Hmph. Good." She huffed, sitting down. Then she heard the rustle of leaves again.
"Now who goes there?" She exclaimed, infuriated with her mysterious intruder. "This is my secret place, so go away!"
Then a tall boy around her age emerged from the shadow of the trees.
"I discovered it before you did." The boy proclaimed.
Jo, puzzled at the newcomer, ignored his last statement and said: "Who are you?"
"I won't tell unless you tell yours," he said.
"Fine. I'm Jo, Jo March. How do you do?" She walked to him and held out her hand. This made the boy gawk at her. "I'm afraid we started off at the wrong foot. Now tell me, what is your name?"
"Laurie."
"Your full name, if you don't mind?"
The boy rolled his eyes but said: "Theodore Laurence, but don't call me that – I hate it. Call me Laurie instead, or Teddy, whichever you prefer."
"Okay, Teddy. Want to be friends? Marmee always tells me that it's never wrong to make friends." Her hand was still held out, awaiting the boy's hand.
"So does my grandfather say. Yes, I would like to become your friend, Jo March." Then he took her small hand and shook it.
"Say, have you ever flown a kite? I got this for my birthday present." Jo said.
"Is it your birthday today?" Laurie asked, excitement in his voice.
"Why, yes. That's why I'm out here flying my new kite."
"Well, then, happy birthday! How old are you now?"
"I'm nine years old."
"The same as me! I had my birthday last month."
"Well, happy belated birthday, Laurie." She greeted him. "Do you want to fly my kite?"
"Yes, please." Then he took it and ran around the hill, which Jo was perched atop, staring at the kite in the sky and her newfound friend. Thus a beautiful friendship was formed.