Erabaru.net. Ellie felt that she had lost everything when the tsunami hit her hometown. But thanks to the kindness of her grandmother, and the community that supported her, she was able to get back on her feet.
Ellie was only eight years old when a tsunami hit her old neighborhood. He was out of town on a school trip when disaster struck. Her parents, Jude and Rachel, went missing during the tragedy.
“We’re sorry, Ellie. Your grandmother is on her way to pick you up,” said Ellie’s teacher. With her house completely destroyed, all Ellie is left with is the bag she brought for her school trip. Her grandmother Louisa welcomes Ellie into her home because the young girl has nowhere else to go.
Her grandmother lives in a different state from Ellie’s hometown, which means Ellie has to move to a new school. He felt alone and isolated, far from his old friends and in a new environment. Louisa knew her granddaughter was struggling and hoped she could help.
He was retired and barely had enough money to cover their needs. Even worse, Jude and Rachel’s belongings were destroyed in the tsunami. Louisa can’t afford Ellie’s new clothes.
“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about, Ellie,” Louisa assured him. Ellie was very embarrassed because she was getting taller, meaning her clothes looked small. Ellie avoids attending class and often hides in the bathroom. After school, he would run home before his classmates could see him.
Ellie keeps a notebook full of designs and often dreams of how she would dress if she were rich. Meanwhile, Ellie’s teacher, Mrs. Roberts, begins to notice her absence from class. His classmates also don’t know anything about him or why he never existed.
“The new girl never spoke to us,” one student explained to Mrs. Roberts. Mrs. Roberts decided to understand the situation and called Louisa. It was then that the old woman tearfully explained to Mrs. Roberts that Ellie had lost everything and was feeling inferior.
“I found some pictures. I think she was embarrassed because we couldn’t afford her new clothes for school,” Louisa explained.
Mrs. Roberts felt guilty for the young girl who had suffered from the tsunami. She contacted the school’s parent-teacher association and asked everyone to donate clothes for Ellie.
Everyone in Ellie’s class donated, giving away any old clothes they could to help her out. Even though the clothes didn’t fit, Ellie was very grateful.
“Thank you very much, Miss Roberts. It means a lot to me,” Ellie said to her teacher.
Ellie has the perfect plan to use ill-fitting clothes to make something special.
Ellie’s mother, Rachel, was a seamstress and taught her daughter how to sew when she was very young. Ellie sees in old photos that her mother had a brown sewing machine years ago.
“I think the material is enough to make a new batch of clothes. Can I use your old sewing machine?” Ellie asked Louisa.
Louisa kept all of Rachel’s old stuff in her attic and knew exactly where to find the machine. That night, Ellie went straight to work. He used all of his classmates’ old clothes and was able to recreate some of the designs in his notebook.
For the first time since the tsunami, Ellie felt happy. Louisa helped her granddaughter through the night, and it warmed her heart to see Ellie smiling again.
“She looks a lot like Rachel,” Louisa muttered to herself and sighed. He finds his old polaroid camera in the attic and takes a picture of Ellie working on the sewing machine.
Ellie felt relieved. For the first time in months, she felt comfortable in her clothes. She is excited to go to school and thanks everyone for sending her clothes even though she has been quiet since arriving.
“Wow, Ellie! You look really cool,” her classmate Erika told her. “Did you do this yourself?” asked his classmate, Jonathan. He told his class that he was grateful for their help and promised never to miss class again. From that day on, he never skipped school again and made new friends at his school for the first time.
They were all impressed with the designs and even asked Ellie to design their Halloween costumes. Ellie excels in her art class, and Mrs. Roberts decides to make a suggestion.
“In a few years, when you get to college, I highly recommend you take a design course,” he suggests.
Ellie took his advice and even dedicated her graduate degree to Mrs. Roberts years later. After several years, Mrs. Roberts and old friend Ellie accept an invitation to open a new design studio called “The Old & The New”.
At the event, Ellie paid tribute to the class that donated clothing for her. She creates custom pieces for everyone, using designer clothes from thrift stores. Ellie also donated clothing to local charities as part of the launch.
“This is for the children who helped me rebuild my life after I lost my parents. Your kindness is why I am here today. From the bottom of my heart, thank you,” he told the audience.
Louisa and Mrs. Roberts congratulate Ellie on a successful launch. “You look great there. You could say it fits perfectly,” Louisa said to Ellie.
Ellie has one more surprise for her grandmother, a t-shirt. On the front of the shirt are two pictures, side by side. On the left is Rachel using the sewing machine. Next to it is a photo of Ellie that Louisa took years later, using the same device.
What can we learn from this story?
Ask for help. In a moment of need, Ellie felt as if she couldn’t turn to her classmates. In the end, they are very helpful when knowing the situation.
Always show appreciation. Years after becoming a successful designer, Ellie shows love to those who help her in times of need.
Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them. (yn)
Source: amomama
