Making friends....Jake style

Jake had one of his new friends over today. They laughed and laughed and laughed together as they engaged in various activities. As I watched them play and listened to them, I couldn't help but smile to myself. I was remembering the way Jake went about meeting new friends when we first arrived here in Newfoundland.

It was one of our first days here and he wasn't about to wait for people to come to us. No. He set out to meet the people of our new neighbourhood. He went up and down our street, talking to people who were out in their yards. If there was nobody around, he went to the door and knocked. He knew exactly what he was going to say and it went something like this, "Hi, I'm Jake, I'm 9 years old and I've just moved here from Ontario. I'm looking for some friends and was wondering if you have any children around my age I could play with?"

He came home, pleased to find out there were at least a couple of children in our new neighbourhood.

A few months later, Larry started tutoring a high school girl who happened to have a younger brother. The first night he came home and told us there was a boy about Jake's age there and he reminded Larry alot of Jake. They were similar in personality and he thought they'd get along well. So, Jake was determined to meet this boy and thought it would be a great idea to go with his Dad the next week for the tutoring session. Hesitant at first, we were unsure how this would appear and if it would be too many distractions for Larry, trying to keep an eye on Jake while he was supposed to be tutoring.

We told Jake, we'd think about it though and see if we could come up with a way for the two boys to meet.

Jake didn't need any of our ideas. No. He had his own, thank you very much.

He knew the boy's mother worked at our little general store here in town. One afternoon, on his way home from the library, he decided to stop in and have a talk with her. The conversation went something like this:

Jake: Hi....are you L.......M's mother?

L: Well....yes I am

Jake: Oh ok.....I'm Jake.....my dad is Larry and he tutors your daughter. My dad told me you had a son about my age and I just wanted you and him to know, if he's looking for a new friend,....... I'm available. I could come to your house with my Dad when he tutors.

L: Ummm....sure that would be fine.

Then Jake handed her a piece of paper with all of his 'stats' written on them. Important things like, where he was born, his birthday, his favourite colour, his grade (kind of like one would see in a magazine about a movie star). He asked the boy's mother if she could give that to her son.

Soooo....with that, Jake went with Larry. The two boys hit it off, really well. Jake has been going every week now. The last time he had Larry stop at the store first. Using some of his birthday money, he bought a chocolate bar for his friend, one for his sister that Larry tutors and two for me (he knows how much I love chocolate ;0) ).

Jake thought it would be a good idea to invite the boy to our house today and had planned on asking him last week. With all the excitement though, he forgot. So, this morning Jake got up and patiently waited and watched the clock for a "reasonable hour to call his friend." He gladly accepted the invitation and Jake was beside himself with excitement. It's been awhile since we've heard Jake laugh as hard as he did today.

I'm glad he has a new friend.....especially since he found him with his own unique method.