Read Online Chicken Soup for the Kid’s Soul by Jack Canfield - Free Book Online

Before I could explain, my mother yelled at me and grounded me because she thought I had broken the vase. I went to my room to think about what had happened. I was grounded and I was also going to have to go to school looking like an idiot!
    While I was lying on my bed looking up at the ceiling, I realized that what I had done for my brother was an act of friendship. I knew that even though my brother and I fight a lot, I had made a sacrifice for him. This was a huge sacrifice though—my hair and my freedom!
    “Knock, knock,” sounded someone at my door.
    “Who is it?” I asked.
    My brother walked in and gave me a hug.
    “Thank you,” he said.
    “You’re welcome,” I replied. “I guess that’s what a big sister is for, to be a friend when you need one.”
    Belladonna Richuitti, age 12

“My mom's not a big believer in accidents.”

    Used by permission of Hank Ketcham and © by North America Syndicate.

A Friend . . .
F riendships multiply joys and divide grief.
Thomas Fuller
    Recently, one of my best friends, whom I’ve shared just about everything with since the first day of kindergarten, spent the weekend with me. Since I moved to a new town several years ago, we’ve both always looked forward to the few times a year when we can see each other.
    Over the weekend we spent hours and hours, staying up late into the night, talking about the people she was hanging around with. She started telling me stories about her new boyfriend, about how he experimented with drugs and was into other self-destructive behavior. I was blown away! She told me how she had been lying to her parents about where she was going and even sneaking out to see this guy because they didn’t want her around him. No matter how hard I tried to tell her that she deserved better, she didn’t believe me. Her self-respect seemed to have disappeared.
    I tried to convince her that she was ruining her future and heading for big trouble. I felt like I was getting nowhere. I just couldn’t believe that she really thought that it was acceptable to hang with a bunch of losers, especially her boyfriend.
    By the time she left, I was really worried about her and exhausted by the experience. It had been so frustrating, I had come close to telling her several times during the weekend that maybe we had just grown too far apart to continue our friendship—but I didn’t. I put the power of friendship to the ultimate test. We’d been friends for far too long. I had to hope that she valued me enough to know that I was trying to save her from hurting herself. I wanted to believe that our friendship could conquer anything.
    A few days later, she called to say that she had thought long and hard about our conversation, and then she told me that she had broken up with her boyfriend. I just listened on the other end of the phone with tears of joy running down my face. It was one of the truly rewarding moments in my life. Never had I been so proud of a friend.
    Danielle Fishel
    A Friend . . .
Won’t allow you to self-destruct.
Will take all the time that’s needed, no matter what time of day, to listen to your problems and give you her best advice.
Is someone who can open up and be herself around you.
Will swallow her pride to take your advice.
Will never write you off.
Danielle Fishel
Is someone who keeps promises, tells the truth, makes time for you and is someone to laugh with.
Leah Hatcher, age 14
Is a person who knows what you are saying, even if you’re not talking.
Understands what you’re feeling, even if you don’t understand your own feelings.
Will always forgive you, usually before you forgive yourself.
Sarah Bennett, age 13
Will do something for you and not ask for a favor in return.
Comes and cheers for you at your games.
Roman Zaccuri, age 12
Will always say that you look great—even if you don’t.
Will tell you if you have something in your teeth.
Katie Adnoff, age 13
Doesn’t talk bad about you.
Martina Miller, age 12
Has a special place in