Heart speaks, mouth talks.
Lub-Dub, Lub-Dub
A fun story with something to think about.
The clock reads 9 pm, signalling the start of my me-time. I settle into my couch, a blanket wrapped snugly around me with a bowl full of crispy, buttery popcorn and my screen filled with Tom and Jerry's timeless humour.
Ah, what a time to be alive.
“Oooh… I think Jerry's going to get caught.”
I giggle, stretching my legs onto the coffee table while adjusting the popcorn bucket in my lap.
“I don't think Jerry has ever been caught.”
“Aaaah!” I exclaim, startled, and jump, sending popcorn flying everywhere.
Meanwhile, my best friend cackles like a hyena.
“What the heck, Bee? Stop scaring me! This is getting old now,” I yell, picking up the scattered popcorn while she ignores me and heads to my kitchen to raid the fridge. No doubt.
“I can't do that and give up one of my best sources of entertainment. So, if you could stop asking me things I couldn't do, that'd be great.” Her voice echoes from the kitchen.
She comes back grinning with a bowl of fruits.
My fruit bowl! Those were my breakfast plans for tomorrow.
That's it; I'm locking my fridge.
I narrow my eyes and try to growl.
She winks with a smile and plops down on the couch while I tidy the area and then come and sit down beside her.
We silently watch the movie for some time, but then she starts sighing continuously, her shoulders sagging with each exhale. I thought she was just trying to annoy me, but after the fourth sigh, I couldn't take it anymore.
“Just come out with it and stop releasing air from your mouth like the exhaust of a truck!” I tease, hoping she cuts her dramatic antics and shares what's on her mind.
“Hey! I'm clearly sad, and that is why—you know what? Forget about it,” she says, her voice low, and then turns away from me with her arms crossed.
I should be given a Nobel Peace Award for dealing with this, her.
Really.
“Okay, I'm sorry, you're not a truck. You are very, very beautiful. Now tell me what's going on.”
She side-eyed me for a moment, then fully turned towards me with her huge eyes sparkling with hurt and confusion.
“A new girl started working at the cafe today, and she seemed a little harsh, you know?” she began.
“When I tried to talk to her, she completely ignored me. During break, I saw her eyes were red, and she was sitting all alone. So, I tried to share my egg sandwich with her.” Her voice dropped to a whisper.
“She stared at it for a minute and then took it from me and threw it away, saying it smelt bad. I mean, who would do that? And also…” Her tone turned indignant, saying the next line. “She didn't even laugh at my toot joke!”
I continue eating fruit, silently listening to her vent. “Maybe she didn't understand the joke. Some of us just say fart and not toot, you know?”
She wrinkled her nose, wearing an unpleasant expression.
“Gross! Anyway, I don't know how to deal with her. She's just so mean.”
I think this new girl got some pain inside, and it is coming out as hurtful behaviour towards others, which is not right, really.
Facing mean people can be really hurtful, and knowing how to respond is crucial.
“You know what I learnt recently, Bee?
Our mouth speaks what our heart is full of.
If our heart is filled with negative energy, insecurities, or unwanted fears, our actions and words would be synced with them, and similarly, if our heart is filled with positivity, goodness, and courage, we speak and act with kindness too.”
Bee nods silently as I reflect on my own experiences, memories of past bullying flooding my mind.
Meanwhile, Bee's face remains a mask, revealing nothing.
Is she pondering her encounter with the new girl, contemplating dinner options, or simply repeating an absurd phrase like “bum chika bum bum” on repeat?
With Bee, anything is possible. You can't presume with her. Trust me.
We continue to watch the movie, and as the ending credits roll, she finally breaks her silence.
“I understand that her behaviour reflects how she feels, but I'm not going to be as patient tomorrow if she repeats the same.” Her voice firms, determination etched on her face. “I'll tell her I empathise, and she can talk to me if needed, but her behaviour is unacceptable. Boundaries are drawn.”
A sly smile spreads across her face.
“Then, I'll walk away with my sassy walk, so she knows who she's dealing with.”
I laugh loudly at her awful attempt at snapping her fingers, the sound barely materialising.
“That's my girl!” I exclaim, beaming with pride, and her face lights up with a radiant grin.
Now, let's give a thought about what our hearts are truly filled with and ensure they're flowing with glowing goodness and peaceful power, resonating our words with the gentle echoes of our heartbeat: “Be kind, be kind.”
“Lub-dub, Lub-dub”
