Carol had looked forward to the day she was to spend with Nancy. They always had such fun together, and since Mother was going to be away most of the day, she had arranged for Carol to stay until three o'clock that afternoon at her friend's house. Then Mother was to pick them up and take them to a party at the library. At the party Carol expected to win an award for having read so many books during the summer.

When she arrived at Nancy's house, she was a little surprised to see that Margie was there. At first Carol felt a tinge of resentment because Margie lived close by and could play with Nancy any day. "Why should she crowd in on our friendship?" she thought.

After Mother left, things didn't go quite right. First, Margie and Nancy ran off and hid from her. Then they whispered to each other and giggled, but they didn't include Carol in any of their secrets. Carol had a hard time holding back the tears. After several more efforts to play with the girls, she decided to go off alone and read a book. Finally Mother came to pick them up for the party. Nancy and Margie began to say, "We don't want to go to any old icky party—yuuk!" And Carol, wanting not to be different agreed, "Yeh, we don't want to go to the party."

Mother saw how close to tears Carol really was. So she said, "None of you need go to the party if you don't want to, but Carol can come with me now anyway."

Carol, still wishing for a few moments with Nancy, reluctantly went out the door. It was hard to remember her manners and thank her friend for having her over.

When they got in the car, Mother asked, "Did you have a good time?" Then the tears really came, and Carol told her mother of all the unhappy moments. Mother persuaded Carol to go on to the library party, and on the way she reminded her of some of the things she knew from Christian Science. "Carol, you know that God is Love, and that He is the only power and presence. Did you feel today that Love wasn't where you were?"

"Yes," said Carol.

"Do you think Margie and Nancy have the power to stop God from being with you?"

"Of course not!" replied Carol quickly.

"Then they can't stop Love from being with you—and no matter what they say or do, they can't keep you from being loved, from feeling Love's presence, or from expressing love to them just as Christ Jesus said we should."

Carol thought a moment, and said, "Yes, Nancy is my best friend, and no matter what, I'll always like her!"

"And Margie can't be left out of God's presence either. She must be included in your love," added Mother.

That wasn't easy, for Carol still somewhat felt that Margie had come between her and Nancy. So Mother continued, "Can a ray of light be separated from the sun?"

"No," said Carol. And she thought, "But what does that have to do with us?"

"Neither can Love be separated from any of its ideas or expressions. Just as they can't keep you from feeling the presence and power of Love, so you can't keep either of them from being aware of Love's presence. You can't hold Love back from them!"

About this time they arrived at the library. Carol did receive an award and lots of candy, cake, and bubble gum. On the way home she unwrapped a piece of bubble gum and read the cartoon that was wrapped around it. At the bottom of the cartoom was a little "Thought for the Day." It said, "The way to get love is to give love."

"Hey," said Carol, "here's a real good thought for me." And she read it to Mother.

"Why, yes," said Mother. "Carol, do you know why we love? Is it just because someone is nice to us or because everything has gone our way?"

"No," said Carol thoughtfully.

Then Mother went on, "You know, the Bible says 'God is love,' ^{I John 4:16;} and you can't help expressing love because you express God, you are His idea."

Carol felt very good about this, and warm thoughts toward Nancy and Margie filled her thinking.

The next day a wonderful thing happened. A new girl moved into Carol's neighborhood. Carol had never had anyone her age live close by, so here was an opportunity to really give a lot of love. Just one week later another little girl moved into their neighborhood. And still another friend came to live nearby. Not only did Carol have many new friends to love, but Nancy and Margie were kinder too. The next time she was with them, she really saw what Mrs. Eddy says, "No power can withstand divine Love." ^{Science and Health, p. 224.} She really felt Love's presence.