Walking down the street in no hurry eight year-old Roberta headed to the playground near her home. She sat on her favorite swinging chair but stood still, thinking about life.

The year had been good. Despite not having been devoted especially to studying, she had passed at school and felt relieved.

The Christmas party was very good with plenty of food, fruit, sweets and chocolates. Moreover, she had gotten several gifts, including a new bike, which was exactly what she wanted.

However, despite things being fine, something bothered her. Remembering Christmas, a date that represented the birthday of Jesus, she came to the conclusion that she had only thought of herself. The year was about to end and that caused her some grief.

As the new year would arrive within a few days, Roberta thought she should change her life to make it even better. But change what?

Regarding school, she should study more, not just to pass but to really learn.

When thinking of school, the image of Theresa immediately came to her mind. Theresa was a classmate with whom she had had a fight and they had not spoken to each other since. She missed her friendship.

Remembering the school year's closing party, Roberta relived the moment when a group of students presented beautiful dance acts. She was moved because ballet was her dream! She had always wanted to learn to dance! Perhaps the time had come?

Right then, Roberta saw a very poor little girl arrive at the playground, and she was timid and unsure what to do. While her mother was standing on the pavement deep in conversation with a woman, the girl stood there, undecided. Intimately, Roberta made a decision:

- That's right! The new year will be different! And I'll start now.

So Roberta left the swinging chair and approached the girl, asking:

- Would like to swing? Come, I'll help you!
 

The mother was very happy and grateful:

- You do not know what this means to us. Because we have no money, I couldn't buy anything for Carolina this Christmas. We have no food at home.

Feeling sorry for them, Roberta took both mother and daughter to her house. She introduced them to her mother and as lunch was ready and her father had already arrived, they all sat down to have lunch together.

As they were leaving, the woman was moved to tears. She was grateful for the help and the welcome she had received at that home. Carolina threw herself into Roberta's arms and said:

- Thank you, Roberta. You are now a dear friend to my heart!

Upon receiving the little girl's hug, Roberta noticed she had never felt such a sense of well-being, peace and happiness.

Later that day, she went to Theresa's house. She rang the bell and to her surprise, it was Theresa herself who opened the door. Seeing her, the girl's eyes widened in surprise:

- Roberta! You... here at my house?...

- I came to apologize, Theresa. I'm sorry about what happened that day.

- Roberta, I am the one that needs to apologize. I said things that I should not and we ended up fighting. Will you forgive me?

The two looked at each other and burst into laughter.

- Well, I guess we're friends again, right?

They embraced each other with affection, glad to have resolved the issue.

Roberta left Theresa's house, returned home and told her mother what had happened: she had made peace with Teresa and thank God everything was fine between them now.

- My dear, I am glad that you and Theresa have made amends. We'll never be fine if someone has something against us.

- You're right, Mom. I'm relieved. Ah! I also decided that the new year will be different, so I would like to ask you: Can I take ballet classes next year?

- If you would really like to, of course you can!

- Thanks, Mom! I'll call the teacher and enroll in the class.

In the coming days, Roberta made a schedule of everything she would like to do for the next year, and used the opportunity to accomplish some things that were missing before the end of the year: she paid her grandparents and a classmate who was sick a visit, bathed the dog, got her room tidy separating what she needed from what she could donate and many other things.

On December 31, she felt at peace with herself and the world.
 

	When the midnight bell rang and the festivities began, the sky was all lit up with burning fireworks. The city gained new life with the sound of car horns, shouts of joy and people who left their homes to
greet neighbors, relatives and friends.

Under the starlit sky, the mother looked at her daughter and said lovingly:

- Happy New Year, my dear!

- Happy New Year, Mom!

Roberta was now sure of what she wanted: NEW YEAR, NEW LIFE!...

Aunt Celia