Friday

It was becoming increasingly difficult for Alvin to be a better person. Alvin knew that Dave had told him that good people at heart make good friends. And even though Alvin didn't quite get it, he decided he would make a change, not only in how he was a friend, but in how he was a person. Because, by Dave's logic, the path toward being a good friend is being a good person.

He'd always heard that the good people do their deeds in secret, but he didn't see how that would clear his reputation. He didn't get how people would now know: oh, Alvin's an actual thoughtful person now. He felt like he was on the right track, but it wasn't helping him make friends. Yet he still did it.

After his first class on that Friday, he made sure that he put all the borrowed supplies back where it belonged. He used to just leave everything where it was and have the teacher pick it up. But Alvin noticed that would be unthoughtful, and in an attempt to better himself, he did the thoughtful thing.

For his second class, he didn't talk when the teacher said to stop talking—which wasn't really a big accomplishment, as he had no one to talk with. Still though, he paid attention to the teacher, a sign of respect that all people should have.

And in his third class, he erased all the drawings and scribbles he had made on the desk over the past months. Normally, he would have the janitor clean the desk at the end of the month, as it was their job. However, he felt pitiful that the man had to do it always with Alvin, so he was moved to take a wipe and clean it.

For all of these, he told no one, nor did he boast about them. He felt like a good person, but he was still questioning Dave on how this could change his appearance to the school. Still, Dave was way smarter than him, and he knew Dave wanted only the best for him, so he continued with his good deeds.

He ate his lunch in silence for yet another day. He sat with people—every table had people—but nobody spoke to anyone. They didn't sit there because they were friends; they sat there because they had nowhere else to sit. Everyone understood: we're not friends, we're just here to eat our lunch. So he clearly wouldn't get a friend at lunch.

After lunch, everyone headed outside for their break, which was their chance to play with friends and get their muscles loose. Alvin, unfortunately, had no friends to play with, so he stood in the shadows—like so many did—watching the "cool" kids play basketball.

Alvin, only a few months ago, would have been playing with them too.

There were many basketball courts at the high school, however, so he naturally noticed other kids—though nowhere near as good—playing basketball. That's when he saw that there was an interesting competition going on, so he diverted his attention to the people playing.

They were playing on the last court with the last available ball. It was a group of about three freshmen against a group of about four juniors. So not only did the juniors have the age advantage, but they also had the number advantage.

From what Alvin could gather, the freshmen got the ball first and started playing, but the juniors wanted the ball anyway. The freshmen refused to give it to them, but seemed to be peer-pressured into playing a game for the rights to the ball and court. The freshmen did not know they would go up against four juniors, however, but they already gave their word.

Just as Alvin felt bad for leaving his supplies, just as Alvin felt bad for his teacher raising her voice, just as Alvin felt bad for the janitor having to clean Alvin's desk, Alvin felt bad that these three freshmen had to go up against four juniors. Especially for something they already rightfully had.

Like normal, it was a pick up game to 10—two's and three's included. Soon, it was 7 to 0 in favor of the juniors, and Alvin had enough of what was going on. He decided to make the short trek over there.

"Hey guys," he greeted while the ball was out of play, "I noticed the teams are uneven. Could I join?"

"Oh, look who it is," one of the juniors taunted, "it's Alvin."

"It depends," one of the others grinned, "if the freshmen want another loser on their team."

"Hey freshmen?" the third one asked. "You want your handicap to be this loser?"

The freshmen, all desperate for help—or at least someone to share the embarrassment with—nodded their heads vigorously. So Alvin ran over to join them.

He quickly noticed that his team, while they loved the sport and tried as hard as possible, were not the best players on the court—which is probably why they wanted the ball: to practice.

The juniors so far had been able to dominate over the freshmen due to their height advantage. Alvin, however, had a hidden strength: despite his small stature, he could jump really high. He blocked multiple shots.

Alvin also made two baskets—both worth two points—so the score was now 7 to 4. The atmosphere changed for the freshmen. They now believed, unlike before, that they had a chance to win.

The juniors quickly realized that Alvin could be a threat, so they paid extra attention guarding him. Alvin, meanwhile, noticed the extra coverage on him, so when he got the ball, he acted like he was going to shoot a two, then passed it to his teammate, who successfully shot a three.

The score was now even: 7 to 7, tied. Normally, Alvin would have the adrenaline pumping through his veins from everyone watching, but no one was watching the match. It was a little strange: he had no desire to impress, like he so often had—only the desire to win.

And his team did. Alvin blocked a shot, a freshman rebounded it, and he threw the ball to another freshman, who sunk a three.

Alvin and his teammates all high-fived each other, celebrating their comeback victory. He savored the moment while it lasted: he fully expected to be kicked out after he helped them win...it's what some of the popular kids would do to someone who joined.

But before Alvin could say goodbye, one of the freshmen said, "Thanks, Alvin. Wanna shoot some hoops with us?"

Alvin froze for a second, then replied, "Uh, I don't know. I wouldn't want to interrupt whatever you guys were gonna do."

"C'mon, man, you gotta shoot with us," one of them offered again. "If it weren't for you, we wouldn't be able to shoot hoops!"

Alvin smiled, and then accepted the offer. He learned all their names—James, Peter, and Thomas—and he introduced himself, though they all knew very well who he was.

But, and here's the great part, they didn't care.

They didn't care about how he fell from popularity. They only cared that he helped them, and he got the feeling really quick that they could very well be the "good friends" type. Then Alvin realized something else.

Doing good in secret had helped Alvin, just not in the way that he expected. Alvin learned to do good, even if he wouldn't get rewarded. The same thing happened when he joined the basketball game: he didn't join wanting to impress them.

He joined so that he could help the students he was feeling sorry for. The students must've seen this, and saw Alvin as a good person, thereby wanting him to say.

Thank you, Dave. Couldn't have a better father!

It was very ironic. The number one rule of climbing the social ladder is to not make friends with a freshman. However, these freshmen were the first students to make friends with him. Popularity isn't everything.

He and his new-found friends played basketball, having lots of fun in the process. Alvin was astonished at how fast the bell came, signaling the end of their recess.

Alvin didn't have any classes with them, as they were taking freshman classes. But they made plans to meet up playing basketball again new week. Alvin was ecstatic—he felt that he was finally doing something right. He was being a good person, and he was meeting good friends.

And Alvin didn't know it, but far away, Brittany was smiling. For once, it wasn't at Albert...it was at him.