The Girl In the Tunnel

I have always enjoyed meeting new people.

It was a very rainy afternoon, and I was about to start my daily walk home from school. Living in a neighborhood with lots of children, I, a relatively new addition to the neighborhood, had been commissioned to another school. This other school wasn´t really that far away, but for a child at the age of seven, it felt like miles.

The school had a policy that children under the age of ten were not allowed to bike to school (this due to the higher risks for accidents and such). Thus, going home to school meant a smaller daily hike.

I had just embarked on this daily afternoon hike when a heavy shower surprised me. Knowing my way home very well, I knew that there was a tunnel coming up just ahead, and this is where I was going to take refuge from the rain.

Now, I was almost certain that I knew all the children in the area, being as I was the only one in school coming from another area. That’s why I was very surprised when I found a girl, roughly my age, taking refuge from the rain in my tunnel. It was a very tall girl, very fashionable. I still remember she had her sandy blonde hair in a very 80’s fashion style ponytail, you know, one of those to the side of the head?

She looked as though she came straight from one of those clothing catalogues with images of smiling, picture perfect children displaying the latest fashion for your purchase pleasure. I, on the other hand must have been a sight; rain drenched like a rat, big frizzy hair (it still does that when it rains, although previously straightened to perfection) and dressed in my sister’s layaway clothes (my mother did not believe in buying new clothes for children who grew like weed unless absolutely necessary). Adding to the picture that I was a very short and skinny kid.

The girl was skipping, alternating from one foot to the other. She explained that she only had a short walk left before she would reach her home, and that she really needed to use the toilet. Hence the skipping.

-“What’s your name?” I started, eager to determine whether or not she was friendly.

She answered shyly, much to my surprise. Here I was thinking that such a fashionable girl would have a world of confidence! She asked me for my name and yet again there was silence in our tunnel.

-“Do you go to the other school?” I asked.

-“Yes”, she replied quietly

It turned out that this girl lived just in front of my school, however she attended the school that was closer to my house. This girl had to do the same daily hike as I, only the inversed!

We had a short and pleasant conversation, the way children usually do, mainly about who we knew and who we didn’t know (it turned out we didn’t have any acquaintances in common). When the rain stopped, we said our goodbyes and went our separate ways.

Next time I saw this girl (again, our paths crossed in the tunnel) she had a little friend with her. As I passed them they said hello, followed by a very loud whisper from the girl to her friend: “See? She is the one I told you about. That is the girl with the shining blue eyes”.

I still laugh out loud when I remember this moment.

It became a daily routine, crossing paths with my new friend. Exchanging a word or two. It was a very big deal back then, knowing a kid that was not a kid from school. Later on, when I was transferred to the other school, I already knew a girl. The girl from the tunnel.

To date, we remain good friends.