A promise of friendship (from 6 years)
It was a sunny warm summer day, so Kim and her friend Johanna decided to spend the day outside. Fortunately, Kim's grandmother owned a large garden plot, where the two of them made themselves comfortable. The warm wind rustled softly between the delicate branches of the trees, while the blackbird happily joined in her favorite song.
Kim had already opened the large red and green checkered picnic blanket, while Johanna had set her sights on the cherry tree. She had promptly retrieved a small bowl from the picnic basket to pick off those sweet juicy cherries. Kim was sitting on the picnic blanket and had already taken out of the basket the plastic plates and the homemade sandwiches that the two had prepared at home. While Johanne liked to top hers with ham and cheese, Kim ate hers with eggs, lettuce and tartar sauce. "You know, Johanna," Kim spoke after taking a few bites of her sandwich, "Today is such a beautiful day, don't you think?" Johanna nodded with a grin. "And because today is such a beautiful day," Kim continued, "I want to tell you a secret! But you have to promise me never to tell anyone about it. Do you understand?"
Johanna looked at her a little surprised, "But of course, Kim! It's nothing bad though, right?" I wonder what Kim's big secret was? Kim just laughed. "Oh nonsense," she spoke and added, "Not at all! I'll tell you." She took a deep breath, "I hid a treasure chest. Right here in grandma's backyard. Two years ago or so. I want to find and open it together with your help." Johanna looked at her friend in wonder, "Oh, so that's your big secret? What's in the treasure chest?" Kim crossed her arms, "To be honest, I don't remember what I hid in the box back then, that's why I want to find it and open it. So, are you in or out?"
"Of course I'm in," Johanna finally replied, "We're best friends!" Kim was very happy about that and she had to laugh, "I knew I could trust you. I buried the chest right under the cherry tree." So they both ran to the big cherry tree that had cut its roots deep into the fresh green of the grass. "I'll start digging on the left, you search on the right" Kim spoke and handed her friend a garden shovel. Johanna agreed with an eager nod. So they began to search for the treasure chest together. After a short time, Johanna came across what turned out to be a small tin box. Carefully, she lifted the treasure chest out of the ground and handed it to Kim, who carefully opened the box.
An old jacket button, a keychain in the shape of a bear and various crown caps of old Coke bottles: The small chest actually contained only boring odds and ends. "The contents are a bit disappointing," Kim noted, "But it doesn't matter. At least now I know what I had packed in the chest back then!" Kim always tried to make the best of every situation. That's why Johanna had to smile a little and finally asked, "And what are we going to do now that we've found the chest? We can't give it away again empty, can we?" Kim agreed with her friend. She thought about it for a moment, but then an idea came to her. She quickly reached for the picnic basket, dug out a pen and a piece of paper, and then drew on them without showing Johanna any of it. When she was done, she finally said, "Johanna, you are my best friend. Our friendship is very important to me. That's why I would like to keep this in the treasure chest!" Johanna looked at her friend in confusion at these words, "Our friendship? How are you going to do that, Kim? Our friendship is not something we can just put in a treasure chest" Johanna objected. This made Kim laugh: "Oh Johanna, I realize that! I mean symbolically. Look here!" Kim showed her the painted piece of paper.
On it, the girl had drawn herself and Johanna. Above the painting was written: "Johanna and Kim - Best friends forever! We hereby promise that we will be there for each other forever. Johanna eagerly read through what was written and finally had to laugh: "Oh Kim, we don't have to write something like that down. It's logical that I'll always be there for you!" "Better safe than sorry," Kim replied and pressed the pen into her hand, "Sign here once!" Johanna took the pen down and put her name under what she had written. Then she handed the pen back to Kim, who now signed the sheet as well. She folded the piece of paper and closed it in the chest. "Now it's in black and white that we're friends," Kim rejoiced. At these words of her friend, Johanna had an idea. "You know what, Kim? We should come back to your grandma's garden every year and see if the chest is still there. Then we can always make sure we keep the pact and are still best friends," she spoke, smiling happily at her friend. "Deal?" she finally asked, extending her hand to Kim. The latter was also beaming from ear to ear and finally smacked Johanna's hand, "Deal!"
By now it was getting late. Kim packed up the picnic basket while Johanna picked a few more cherries for the way home. The wind was still gently roaring through the treetops and the blackbird started a farewell song. Kim and Johanna knew they would return to this place every year; after all, they were best friends and that would never change!