"Be happy. Not because everything is good, but because you can see the good side of everything." 

 "A person's most useful asset is not a head full of knowledge, but a heart full of love, an ear ready to listen and a hand ready to help others."

          H is for happy and helpful. Now I know that you can't always be happy, and sometimes it's hard to look on the bright side, but happiness is always there. I would know this from first-hand experience.

          Through thick and thin my friends, Alyssa, Hayley, Amy, Sofia, and Erin, have all been there for me. I have known Alyssa and Hayley since second grade. They were both there for me when my grandfather died. The two would always find a way to make me smile during those hard times no matter hard much I didn't want to be happy.

          Amy, Erin, and Sofia, I met those three in fourth grade. For the past three years, they helped Alyssa and Hayley help me. These five would help me through things such as family problems and being bullied.

          Without those five I don't know where I would be right now. They keep me sane and calm. When I am upset, they manage to pull off some magic trick and cheer me up. If I were to say how each friend helps me I could go on forever, so I'll tell only a couple of ways.

          Hayley has a gentle and optimistic way. She always points out the good things in everything no matter what's wrong. Another thing is that she will talk things out, mostly somehow leading to puppies and kittens. If her way doesn't work, then she'll call on Alyssa to help her.

          Alyssa is always cheerful, weird, and fun, so she is going to help in an interesting way. She will use jokes and weird raps that I have yet to understand. It's always fun to be cheered up by her.

          Amy has a weird way of helping, but it works. She points out everything that could have gone wrong. She will even bring up new news about our favorite show, Criminal Minds.

          Erin will talk and laugh with you until you are happy.

          Sofia was one of the best. She would listen to what you had to say and would find ways to relate. It was always nice to talk to her. My favorite time to talk with her was when we were the only two in the band room. I remember one day when it was just the two of us. We put away instruments and talked. Sofia let me say whatever I needed to, and she wouldn't judge me.