Making Friends

Andrew is a young child in a local village who has no friends. Andrew is an outcast and is given no chance by any of the other kids for reasons he doesn’t quite understand. The story starts with him sat on his porch looking out to the street. Andrew notices a new family moving in over the road, and a new boy, Lewis. Andrew sees this as an opportunity to potentially make new a friend, who doesn’t have the pre-existing attitude towards him. The next day, Lewis is in his front garden and notices Andrew sat in his front garden. Lewis decides to go over and introduce himself. The two share an awkward but harmless conversation as they introduce themselves to each other. The next scene shows us a glimpse of how Andrew lives. It appears he is quite independent, as he makes his own cup of tea and sits down alone in front of the TV as he eats what appears to be a microwaveable meal. The next day, Andrew goes to a park. Andrew sits on a bench just outside of the playground, looking in. Andrew looks upset that he cannot join in with the other kids. A group of parent’s spot Andrew and one of them come over. The parent tries to understand Andrew before becoming very stand off like and suggest that Andrew should leave. Andrew does leave, angrily and upset. Andrew is walking away from the park. On the way back, he spots Lewis and a group of children who have stolen his ball. The group keep the ball away from Lewis and Lewis gets distressed. Andrew comes over to the group and orders them to return the ball to Lewis. One of the kids gets cocky to Andrew before another kid whispers in his ear. Suddenly, the kid gives the ball back and decides to leave. Andrew and Lewis walk off. The kid shouts at Lewis and tells him to be careful with Andrew. Andrew and Lewis are then sat on Andrew’s porch. They talk about how hard it is to make friends. Lewis says he is struggling because he is new and moved here in the summer, he doesn’t know anyone from school yet. Andrew discusses his loneliness and explains that people are scared of him but he doesn’t know why. Andrew then explains that he lives alone because his parents died. He explains that he doesn’t need anyone and that he can care for himself, except for a person who comes and provides his food. Andrew also explains that his father before he died was quite abusive and that Andrew has had it hard. The conversation is halted when Lewis’s mum from across the street sees Lewis and shouts him over back to the house. Lewis heads back over. Lewis’s Mum talks to Lewis and expresses her concern about Andrew. She explains to Lewis that he is not to be around Andrew again as she believes that he is not safe. Lewis is confused by this, but Lewis’s mum says that she gets a bad feeling and pleads with Lewis to stay away. The next day we see Andrew walking back from what appears to be the shops. He is carrying two plastic grocery bags. He walks past a group of older children, who are ganged up on the side of the pavement. They spot Andrew and appear to know who he is. They shout at him and head over to Andrew. Andrew tries to get away, but the bullies taunt him before they start attacking him. Andrew is then later limping down his street. Lewis sees Andrew and runs over to see if he is okay. Lewis helps Andrew into his house, and they discuss what happened. Lewis then becomes suspicious and asks why he was beaten up, as his mum told him that he is not safe. Andrew pleads that he doesn’t know why the group attacked him and explains again that it’s just everyone hates him for no reason. Andrew then explains that he dropped his shopping, and they ran off with it. Lewis then offers to go and get what he needed for him. Andrew gives him some money and tells him to get himself something whilst he is there. Later, Andrew is sat in his chair smiling, whilst still covered in bruises. The caterer he mentioned earlier is here supplying him with his food. The supplier seems disinterested in Andrew as Andrew tries to talk to this person. Andrew talks about his new friend. At the same time, Lewis is sat in his house at the dinner table with his mum and his dad. Lewis is struggling to finish his tea and his mum reveals that its because he’s been eating chocolate raisins before tea. His dad gets confused as they didn’t buy any chocolate raisins, so questions where he got the raisins from. Lewis then explains that he got it when he went to the shop for Andrew. His dad explodes and tells Lewis that he is not to see Andrew again, otherwise he’ll get the police involved. He gets sent to his room. Andrew is sat on his porch the next day. He sees Lewis and shouts him over. Lewis hesitates but then eventually goes over. The two talk bluntly again as Lewis explains that he can’t be around him, otherwise the police will come. Andrew tries to calm Lewis down as they talk. Andrew confesses his likeness to Lewis and says that he has made life better. Lewis smiles and seems to be happy. Andrew then kisses Lewis on the cheek. In a rush, Lewis stands up all flustered and gets angry at Andrew. In confusion, he runs back over to his house. Andrew looks concerned. Andrew is sat in his house later that day, when suddenly there is a loud banging at his front door. He answers the door and is met by Lewis’s Dad. Lewis’s Dad is furious and hits Andrew sending him to the floor. Andrew begs and cries saying that he wants all this to stop, and he wants people to like him. Lewis’s Dad says the police are on their way to deal with him. The door is then knocked on again, Lewis’s Dad opens it expecting the police, but it is instead the caterer. The caterer is confused as to why Lewis’s Dad is here and is then shocked to see Andrew lay on the floor. Lewis’s Dad reveals what happened and the caterer is shocked. The caterer explains that he works for meals on wheels and is here to give Mr. Collins a.k.a Andrew his dinner. The camera then shows Andrew, except Andrew is now an old man rather than the young child we saw before. The child we had been following through the story was how Andrew sees himself, due to him experiencing a traumatic childhood with an abusive father. The scene ends with Andrew being taken to a police car by a few police officers and an older Andrew narrates over what is happening and how he is feeling.