First impressions

To be honest, the first time I met Jamal, I didn’t imagine that we would ever be close friends. He arrived about a year ago at our school. I saw him in the playground. He made friends quickly as he was very friendly and funny. He told jokes and made all the other students laugh. In class, he was clever and hard-working. He didn’t take much notice of me that first week – we seemed so different. I’m quite serious and really shy.

Well, one afternoon, about a week later, I met Jamal on the basketball court. We were alone and we started to play basketball together. We soon discovered that we had a lot in common: we both love basketball and music. From that day on, we became really good friends. Jamal is actually a kind and reliable person. He’s a really skilful basketball player and he thinks I’m talented because I play the piano really well.

Our classmates find it strange now to see us together – the outgoing Jamal who always has a big smile, and me, the quiet and shy boy. They find it difficult to believe we’re best friends. After school, we usually sit and read or listen to music together. > Every Saturday, we go and watch a basketball match or practise together on the courts.

It just goes to show how first impressions can be so wrong.

Rashed