This is quite a story... there is a message at the bottom also.

Mark was walking home from school one day, when he noticed the boy ahead of him tripped and dropped the books he was carrying, along with two sweaters, baseball bat, a glove and a small tape recorder. Mark knelt down and helped the boy pick up the scattered articles.

Since they were going the same direction he helped the boy carry part of the burden. As they walked, Mark discovered the boy's name was Bill and that he loved video games,baseball, history, and he was having trouble with his other subjects and that he had just broken up with girlfriend.

They arrived at Bill's house first. Mark was invited in for a coke and to watch some television. The afternoon passed pleasantly with a few laughs and some shared small talk, then Mark went home.

They continued to see each other around school, had lunch together once in a while, then both graduated from junior high school. They ended up at the same high school where they had brief contact over the years. Finally the long awaited senior year came and three weeks before graduation Bill asked Mark if they could talk.

Bill reminded him of the day, years ago when they first met. "Did you ever wonder why I was carrying so many things home that day?" asked Bill. 

"You see, I cleaned out my locker because I didn't want to leave a mess for anyone else. I had stored away some of my mothers' sleeping pills and was going home to commit suicide. 

"But after we spent some time together talking and laughing, I realized that if I had killed myself I would have missed that time and so many others that might follow. So you see Mark, when you picked up those books that day, you did a lot more, "you saved my life."

Friends are rare jewels, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their heart to us. Show your friends how much you care....