friendship:
new Chance
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Aleah and Bobby
Aleah comes to college with the mindset that she isn’t there to make friends, but this resolve is broken when she realizes how much she enjoys spending time with Bobby. Aleah and Bobby mutually enjoy each other’s company, and find that both serious and lighthearted conversations flow easily between them. Bobby confesses his insecurities about his faith to Aleah, and she is happy to give him advice and pray with him. They have fun together at the carnival and meeting for lunch several times a week.
Aleah realizes that it is unfair for her to keep the fact that she has kids hidden from Bobby, but she isn’t quite sure how to tell him after so long. Her reluctance to tell him is exacerbated by her fear that he won’t want anything to do with her anymore.
When Bobby does discover her secret, he is stunned. He starts questioning everything he thought he knew about Aleah, wondering if there’s anything else she’s hiding. Things become awkward between the two of them for a while, since both misinterpret each other’s behavior and neither knows how to act around each other.
Slowly, they begin re-claiming their friendship, starting with Aleah telling Bobby a little bit about why she acted the way she did. Things are still tenuous at first, but everything changes the night Aleah calls Bobby over to stay with the kids while she goes to help Rebecca. Aleah feels more comfortable around Bobby after that—even comfortable enough to agree to his idea of carpooling.
Bobby and Aleah continue to get together both in school and out of school, growing closer and closer. Even though Bobby still has romantic feelings for Aleah, he respects her wishes of remaining only friends. Eventually, Aleah realizes the extent of Bobby’s loyalty and trustworthiness, and decides to tell him the story she’s kept hidden for so long. Bobby responds by letting her know that he appreciates her trusting him enough to tell him, and reassuring her that the knowledge of who she was in the past doesn’t make him like her any less now.
Aleah realizes that it is unfair for her to keep the fact that she has kids hidden from Bobby, but she isn’t quite sure how to tell him after so long. Her reluctance to tell him is exacerbated by her fear that he won’t want anything to do with her anymore.
When Bobby does discover her secret, he is stunned. He starts questioning everything he thought he knew about Aleah, wondering if there’s anything else she’s hiding. Things become awkward between the two of them for a while, since both misinterpret each other’s behavior and neither knows how to act around each other.
Slowly, they begin re-claiming their friendship, starting with Aleah telling Bobby a little bit about why she acted the way she did. Things are still tenuous at first, but everything changes the night Aleah calls Bobby over to stay with the kids while she goes to help Rebecca. Aleah feels more comfortable around Bobby after that—even comfortable enough to agree to his idea of carpooling.
Bobby and Aleah continue to get together both in school and out of school, growing closer and closer. Even though Bobby still has romantic feelings for Aleah, he respects her wishes of remaining only friends. Eventually, Aleah realizes the extent of Bobby’s loyalty and trustworthiness, and decides to tell him the story she’s kept hidden for so long. Bobby responds by letting her know that he appreciates her trusting him enough to tell him, and reassuring her that the knowledge of who she was in the past doesn’t make him like her any less now.
Aleah and Rebecca
At first glance, Aleah and Rebecca couldn’t be more different – Aleah is serious and studious, working hard on her assignments, paying attention in class, and completely avoiding the party life, while Rebecca treats college as an opportunity to meet as many new people as possible and drink to her heart’s content. When they first meet, Aleah finds Rebecca young and annoying. As time goes on, though, Aleah’s desire to help Rebecca make better choices leads into a genuine care and friendship.
Aleah is a good friend to Rebecca, making it clear why she believes Rebecca’s choices to be harmful, but continuing to spend time with her no matter what. Rebecca is a good friend to Aleah, respecting the fact that Aleah’s convictions and lifestyle are different from her own.
When Rebecca is in trouble, Aleah is the person she calls for help. Aleah jumps right up and helps her, despite the difficulty of the situation. Even though Aleah knows she’ll be assaulted by flashbacks upon entering that party, she still goes in to help her friend.
Aleah acts as somewhat of a mentor for Rebecca, the way Pastor Steve and Christine have been for her. Rebecca appreciates Aleah’s care and states that Aleah should be a counselor for teenage girls, so Aleah can help them the way she’s helped Rebecca. They end the school year promising to keep in touch and see each other over the summer.
Aleah is a good friend to Rebecca, making it clear why she believes Rebecca’s choices to be harmful, but continuing to spend time with her no matter what. Rebecca is a good friend to Aleah, respecting the fact that Aleah’s convictions and lifestyle are different from her own.
When Rebecca is in trouble, Aleah is the person she calls for help. Aleah jumps right up and helps her, despite the difficulty of the situation. Even though Aleah knows she’ll be assaulted by flashbacks upon entering that party, she still goes in to help her friend.
Aleah acts as somewhat of a mentor for Rebecca, the way Pastor Steve and Christine have been for her. Rebecca appreciates Aleah’s care and states that Aleah should be a counselor for teenage girls, so Aleah can help them the way she’s helped Rebecca. They end the school year promising to keep in touch and see each other over the summer.
Friends' influences
Jacob from Bible Study talks a lot about the influence friends can have in one’s life. Everybody’s friends influence them in some way or another, and those influences can be positive or negative.
Bobby and Aleah both influence each other positively, encouraging one another and helping each other grow spiritually and emotionally. Similarly, Christine is a positive influence on Aleah, giving her good advice and holding her accountable. We see another example of a positive-influence friendship with Lauren and Heather, in which they both ask questions about each other’s lives and Heather expresses her sympathy for Lauren’s unrequited feelings for Steve.
Rebecca and her friends are slightly more negative influences on each other, encouraging one another to go to college parties to drink, smoke, and make out with cute guys. However, when someone at a party brings out some hallucinogens, Rebecca’s friends decide it’s time to leave. They try to persuade Rebecca to come with them, not wanting her to end up in a bad situation.
Aleah is a positive influence on Rebecca, and Rebecca recognizes this. Even though she may roll her eyes at some of the things Aleah says, she admires Aleah’s maturity and convictions, and tells her, “You make me want to be a better person.” Aleah continues to encourage Rebecca through her words and actions, eventually sharing the story of her own past to let Rebecca know “I understand you; I’ve been there too.”
Bobby and Aleah both influence each other positively, encouraging one another and helping each other grow spiritually and emotionally. Similarly, Christine is a positive influence on Aleah, giving her good advice and holding her accountable. We see another example of a positive-influence friendship with Lauren and Heather, in which they both ask questions about each other’s lives and Heather expresses her sympathy for Lauren’s unrequited feelings for Steve.
Rebecca and her friends are slightly more negative influences on each other, encouraging one another to go to college parties to drink, smoke, and make out with cute guys. However, when someone at a party brings out some hallucinogens, Rebecca’s friends decide it’s time to leave. They try to persuade Rebecca to come with them, not wanting her to end up in a bad situation.
Aleah is a positive influence on Rebecca, and Rebecca recognizes this. Even though she may roll her eyes at some of the things Aleah says, she admires Aleah’s maturity and convictions, and tells her, “You make me want to be a better person.” Aleah continues to encourage Rebecca through her words and actions, eventually sharing the story of her own past to let Rebecca know “I understand you; I’ve been there too.”
Lauren and Mason
Although Lauren is an adult staff member and Mason is a student, the two of them share a bond that goes slightly beyond the relationships Lauren has with most of her students. Lauren is first drawn to Mason because he reminds her of Ben. Her first impression is that he’s a kind, friendly, helpful kid, and even once she sees that there’s another side to him, her opinion of him doesn’t change.
Lauren and Mason joke around with each other in class, calling each other “Pizza” and “Chocolate.” When Mason doesn’t want to do his work, Lauren finds fun ways to motivate him. When he’s having a rough day, she walks with him in the hall, letting him share what’s on his mind and giving him words of encouragement. Mason appreciates the fact that Lauren is there as someone he can rely on and trust.
Lauren is devastated when she hears about what happened to Mason at home, and her devastation is compounded by guilt. Guilt for not probing deeper and finding out what was going on with him, and guilt for not going after him in the hallway that day to tell him God loved him.
Based on the ending of New Chance, do you think Lauren and Mason will see each other again in the future? What do you think will happen?
Lauren and Mason joke around with each other in class, calling each other “Pizza” and “Chocolate.” When Mason doesn’t want to do his work, Lauren finds fun ways to motivate him. When he’s having a rough day, she walks with him in the hall, letting him share what’s on his mind and giving him words of encouragement. Mason appreciates the fact that Lauren is there as someone he can rely on and trust.
Lauren is devastated when she hears about what happened to Mason at home, and her devastation is compounded by guilt. Guilt for not probing deeper and finding out what was going on with him, and guilt for not going after him in the hallway that day to tell him God loved him.
Based on the ending of New Chance, do you think Lauren and Mason will see each other again in the future? What do you think will happen?
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The cover on the left is the Kindle cover, and the one on the right is the print cover. Note the differences in coloring-- the Kindle cover was the original design, but while it looked really good on the computer, those exact colors would not print well, so the coloring needed to be adjusted for the print version.
Go to the New Chance summary page
Maybe someday the wounds in her heart would heal enough that she would change her mind. But even if they didn’t, Bobby knew where he would be in the coming weeks, months, even years.
Right here by her side.
Right here by her side.
-p. 365
