avatarPankhuree Khaneja | Kaleidostopia

Summary

Jack and Jill share their personal stories and form a deep bond during a school trip.

Abstract

The story continues with Jack and Jill sitting together on the bus after fetching water. They engage in a heartfelt conversation, during which Jill reveals her past experiences of being bullied and her desire to support others. Jack learns about Jill's struggles and admires her strength. They share laughter and secrets, forming a strong friendship. The trip ends with an amusing incident involving Jill's heavy bag, which leads to both of them falling and laughing. The story concludes with a reflection on the importance of understanding and accepting people for who they are, regardless of their perceived extroverted or introverted nature.

Bullet points

  • Jack and Jill sit together on the bus and start talking.
  • Jill reveals her past experiences of being bullied in her previous school.
  • Jill shares her goal of being kind and supportive to others, like Superman.
  • Jill tells Jack about a secret from her past, involving a relationship with her former bully.
  • Jack reassures Jill that he doesn't judge her for her past decisions.
  • The bus journey ends, and Jill's heavy bag causes both of them to fall, leading to laughter.
  • The story emphasizes the importance of not labeling people based on their perceived extroverted or introverted nature.
  • The story encourages readers to learn, accept, and help each other grow.
  • The story concludes with a bonus point about forgiving oneself for past mistakes and not judging oneself.

The real story of the famous Jack and Jill (Part 2)

The Jill’s version…

If you want to read Part 1, Click here!

Storytime…

Photo by Robert Bye on Unsplash

>Serious Start

Before Jack and Jill boarded the bus, they went down the hill to fetch a pail of water for the long journey back home.

After they came back, they sat together on the bus, now that they were bffs (sort of), and started talking.

Jack was thinking that he was finally sitting with a person. A real person. And was comfortable. It was an odd, old but new feeling.

But he was still feeling weird as Jill was not able to spend time with her other friends, so he asked Jill with diffidence, ‘Why are you not hanging out with your other friends?’

She answered, ‘Because they are not my real friends.’

‘Huh? What do you mean? Everyone in the school is your friend!’

She said, ‘But I am not everyone’s friend, no? I just happen to know everyone, but I too have my limits. I just talk-talk to one person in school who did not come to the trip because she had a bad cold… And, umm…now I talk to you as well. :)’

Jack was in awe of Jill. ‘Wow, Jill! You know how to study, maintain friendships, socialize, sports, etc., etc. So balanced. How are you so perfect, man? ’

To which, she replied, ‘No, I’m not. I just try to be. I talk to everyone to support them. To not make them feel left out because I was bullied in my previous school for being the short, weird, and quiet person who reads comic books about Greek Gods and Dragons in a corner.’

‘Oh, Palease! That is still counted as perfect and pretty cool.’

‘Yes. For you.’

‘I think for many people.’

‘Who are you to decide what is cool and what isn’t?

He was taken aback and replied, ‘Oh, okay! I am sorry.’

‘Yeah. Don’t worry ‘bout it.’

‘And I’m also sorry that you were bullied.’

Photo by Alvin Mahmudov on Unsplash

>Support System

Jill was quiet for a second and said, ‘No, it’s all okay. It made me realize that many people go through it and need help so it’s like my goal, to be kind and support people like Superman you know? ;)’

This lightened the mood again.

‘HAHA! Oh! So, you are sitting with me because you want to be Superman?’, Jack teased as he wanted to make her comfortable while she was pouring her heart out.

‘No silly! I always wanted to be your friend. You are cool, you make sketches, you won a spelling bee competition and you get full marks in Algebra. I was even about to offer you a seat while we were on our way to the camping site.’

Jake could not believe his ears. Because when someone has low confidence, it is difficult to accept even small and obvious compliments. One is not able to see who they really are.

Jack was suddenly feeling shy… good shy. But he was also confused, so he probed her by asking, ‘Then why didn’t you ask me, Jill?’

‘Oh, I thought you were enjoying with Mr. Bob. His complementary history lessons and you know… his apples :P’

Jack rolled his eyes but asked another question, ‘You know that all the things you mentioned about me are nerdy and not considered cool for everyone, right? I’m not jock-like.’

‘Again, who are you to decide what is cool and what isn’t?’

‘HAHA! Yes, Ma’am!’, blushing inside.

Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash

>Spilling Secrets

Jill was in deep thought for a moment. She looked at Jack. Suddenly felt the feeling of solace gushing inside her and decided to tell him a secret.

‘Do you know the worst part about when I was bullied?’

Jack did not answer. Just looked at her and waited for her to continue.

‘When we grew up, the bully asked me out and I said…yes. Just to be accepted by the rest of the school. Just to not feel that alien feeling again. It was still humiliating as people were ‘kind’ enough to point out the same thing to me even when I deliberately tried to take out just one minute to forget about it. But I dated that apple-hole for 4 months until I couldn’t take it anymore.’

‘Oh…’, Jack fell short of words.

Jill looked at Jack, worried what his new friend might be thinking. ‘I know you are judging me. I know what I did was not cool. I regret it, Jack.’

‘Hello, Madam! And who are you to decide what is cool and what isn’t?

Jill laughed out loudly, ‘You got me!!’

Jack continued, ‘Plus, if you are not judging me for my spelling bee, I am definitely not judging you for your decisions.’

‘Thank you, Jack! You know I am so glad I changed my school!’

‘So am I’, Jack muttered.

Jill blushed this time.

Photo by Church of the King on Unsplash

>Safari Stop

Conversations hit differently when you are traveling with people you like deeply.

So, they kept talking and did not realize that their ‘long journey’ had come to an end at the double. The bus had stopped at the school and the trip was officially over.

Jill sadly got up and tried to lift the bag from the upper aisle but it was so heavy that it fell on her head and she fell down and broke her crown.

Jack was about to lift her heavy af bag to help, but he couldn’t. He tried again. ‘Did you bring rocks in this bag for a 2-day trip?’

Instead of lifting it up, he fell too and came tumbling after her.

They both stared at each other, half-embarrassed half-amused. But started laughing so loudly that all the other students were startled.

Photo by Sarah Noltner on Unsplash

>So…

I have come to realize that extroverts also have a tendency to be introverts (and vice-versa). They are not always ‘ blu bla’ ‘hoo haa’, and ‘too taa’. Everyone has insecurities.

And just because they are outspoken, does not make them confident or strong enough to take anyone’s poop for no reason. They need your help and kindness too. (Not if they are apple-holes.)

So, why label them or yourself at all?

Why not just try to not categorize people as extroverts or introverts (or ambiverts ¿)? Let people have their own versions of who they are. Learn them, accept them, and help each other grow.

Bonus point: Also, forgive yourself for making the most bizarre decisions of your life. They are your blunders, acknowledge them, try to come out of them, and be proud of yourself. Others will stop judging you when you will stop judging yourself.

Until then…

Toodles!

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Social Behavior
Acceptance
Friendship
Travel
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