Secret Singing Superstar

Thirty-six ~ ♫♪♫

"Do you need help?" Anna asked the little girl gently. The little girl - who had shoulder length straight hair and a side fringe - stiffened and she turned to look at Anna slowly. She didn't speak. Instead she stared at the ground, her cheeks becoming a dark shade of red. She was very embarrassed.

Anna was in Coles, because she had to buy snacks: chips, chocolate and lollies for the movie day later on in the afternoon. She was running low on treats; mainly because her brothers stuffed their faces with them all the time.

Deciding to end the awkwardness between the two of them, Anna then picked up the Coles basket that the little girl had been trying so hard to hold. She usually wasn't a helper, but this little girl obviously needed help. She was so small; there was no way she could carry the basket by herself with all those foods in it, and spending time with Leanne had changed Anna for the better. She had learnt a lot from her about friendship and all that.

The little girl then stared at Anna in surprise, but she allowed her to carry the basket.

"Where are your parents?" Anna asked her.

"My dad is getting something from somewhere else," said the little girl. She didn't say more. Smart girl. Anna decided not to ask more personal questions, in case she seemed like a stalker. She was a stranger to that girl after all.

Anna looked sideways at the little girl. "That side fringe is annoying, isn't it?"

The girl, who was halfway through pushing her fringe behind her ear, nodded.

"I have a friend whose fringe is so annoying," said Anna, speaking as if she were talking to a close friend. "I've always told her to cut it off, but she never does." It was obvious that she was talking about Theresa.

The little girl laughed a little.

"Hang on. I've got something for that fringe," said Anna. She reached up and took a bobby pin out of her hair, and clipped it onto the little girl's head. "There. Now it shouldn't bother you."

The little girl felt the bobby pin and stared at her in awe. "Th - thank you."

"Hey, it's okay. I'm just being a friend."

"But...you're thirteen."

Anna frowned. "How did you know that?" She had a feeling it wasn't just a random guess.

"I have a sister that is thirteen," the little girl explained. She was starting to be more comfortable when talking to Anna. Which was fine, because Anna didn't have any bad intentions. "You look around the same age as her."

"Oh. Well, lucky guess, then."

The girl fiddled with the ends of her little white skirt that she was wearing with a white jacket. Cute outfit for a cute girl. "Sorry..."

"Why are you apologizing?" asked Anna, surprised. "You did nothing wrong."

"My sister always tells me to say sorry to my friends when I say something to offend them," the little girl recited.

Anna couldn't stop the smile that spread across her face. "I'm your friend?"

The girl blushed. "Well, yes?"

"Then you're my friend too," said Anna. She bent down and gave the little girl a small hug. To her utter shock, the little girl hugged her right back, but even harder. "You know, you have a really good sister."

"Why? Do you know her?" the little girl asked curiously.

Anna shook her head. "I don't think so." She frowned, staring at the little girl. For some reason, the little girl's smile reminded her of someone, but she couldn't remember who.