ThePopularStudent 　　JusthowpopularwasMini?Very.Everyyear,herclassmatesvotedherasthefavouritestudent.Shewaseasytogetalongwithandgreatcompany.Thenumberoffriendsshehadbyfaroutnumberedthoseofanyoneelseinhergroup.Onedaythe10-year-oldwascaughtyakkety-yakkingintheclassandorderedtostaybackaspunishment.Stayingbackmeantdoingsomething'useful',likehelpinginthegardenorlibraryafterschool.NowtheschoolinwhichMinistudiedhadaruleofsorts.Onceamonth,youcouldinterchangeyourpunishmentschedulewithsomeoneelse.Ifyouhadsomethingelsetodothedayyouwerepunished,youcouldaskafriendtostandinforyou.Ofcourse,youhadtoreturnthefavour,butinthatsamemonthitself.Otherwisethefavourcancelleditselfout.Sothestudentswhostayedbackforothersandwantedthefavourrepaid,foundwaystobepunishedthatverymonth.Asithappened,onthatdayaverydearauntwasvisitingMinionherwaybacktoAmerica.ThatafternoonwastheonlychanceMinihadofseeingherforanotherfiveyears.Minineededsomeonetostandinforher.Thatwasaproblemthough-itwasthelastdayofthemonth.Soanyonewhohelpedher,woulddosooutoffriendship'ssakealone.ShesoughtoutPreeti,her'best'friend."OhnoMini,Ican't,"Preetisaid."Ihavetocoachmybrotherforhisnurseryentrancetest.Thekidjustcan'tseemtogetintoanydecentschool."AndshespentagooddealoftimetellingMiniofherbrother'sproblems."Mohit,willyoustaybackforme?"Miniaskedanotherfriendwhowasdribblingaballintheplayground.Sheknewheoftenjusthungaroundafterschool."Tohelpthelibrarian?Iwishyou'dtoldmeearlier.Ihavetogotoarelative'shousewithmyfather.Someotherdayperhaps,"andwiththatMohitfled.Bynow,Miniwasbeginningtodoubtifevenoneofherfriendswouldagreetostay.Butshetriedagain.Threemorefriendsandeachonerefused.Ofcourse,noonesaid"no"outright.Miniwasagreatpal,afterall.Buteachhada'reason'whytheycouldn'ttakeherplacethatafternoon,andifonlyitweresomeotherday...So,afterschoolMinistayedbacktohelpthelibrarian,MsMathur.And,whentheremoteMsMathurfoundhercryingaftereveryonehadleft,itwasshewhosurprisedMinibyallowinghertoleavetomeetheraunt."SomepopularityIhave,"Minimurmuredtoherself,asshewenthome."Imayhavemanyfriends,butinrealityIhavenone." 　　----------------------------------------------------------- 　　纪伯伦--论友谊 　　OnFriendship 　　Andayouthsaid,"SpeaktousofFriendship." 　　Yourfriendisyourneedsanswered. 　　Heisyourfieldwhichyousowwithloveandreapwiththanksgiving. 　　Andheisyourboardandyourfireside. 　　Foryoucometohimwithyourhunger,andyouseekhimforpeace. 　　Whenyourfriendspeakshismindyoufearnotthe"nay"inyourownmind,nordoyouwithholdthe"ay." 　　Andwhenheissilentyourheartceasesnottolistentohisheart; 　　Forwithoutwords,infriendship,allthoughts,alldesires,allexpectationsarebornandshared,withjoythatisunacclaimed. 　　Whenyoupartfromyourfriend,yougrievenot; 　　Forthatwhichyoulovemostinhimmaybeclearerinhisabsence,asthemountaintotheclimberisclearerfromtheplain. 　　Andlettherebenopurposeinfriendshipsavethedeepeningofthespirit. 　　Forlovethatseeksaughtbutthedisclosureofitsownmysteryis